“We have heard the whisperings of witchcraft,” Three Moss said. “We are still unsure what to make of it. Is it really witchcraft, or just the jealousy of others? What proof do you have?”
“Just look at his life over the last turning of the seasons. Think about everyone who stood in his way. Some, like his brother, have been killed, others, like his mother, have had their wits blunted. His barbarian wife walks freely among us, wielding her ax while she slips away to spoon poison about us into her uncle’s thirsty ear. A suspicious young warrior follows her out into the swamp and disappears. People who oppose Salamander find themselves in very deep water.”
“Ah, like his Clan Elder, Moccasin Leaf? Do you consider her elevation in Wing Heart’s place a coup for young Salamander? Or do I recall a certain Speaker promoting her acceptance by the Council?” She didn’t let him answer, stating, “Young Salamander is most unassuming for a witch.”
“He seems innocuous, but when one looks past his misdirection and attempts at humility, they will find Salamander gathering ever more prestige and authority, especially, as you have noted, with the common people.”
“So,” Cane Frog cut straight to the hunt. “First, you placed him at the top, and now you want to remove him. Why, Speaker? Is it because he is better than you thought he’d be?”
“Oh, go ahead,” Three Moss chimed in. “Speak to us with a clear tongue. There is no one to hear. Your words will be carried in silence between our souls.”
“It’s not a matter of me,” he hedged. “Nor is it a matter of what my clan wants.”
“Indeed?” Cane Frog asked. “And who else might it be?”
“All of us,” he said pointedly, eyes making the challenge to Three Moss. “We have had Owl Clan’s leadership for too many generations. On the whole, I admit, Sun Town has prospered. Owl Clan, in particular, has prospered mightily. My clan wasn’t alone when it came to giving up certain resources because of obligation.”
“You are referring to those lotus ponds that I ceded to Cloud Heron the time of the bad drought?” Cane Frog asked in irritation.
“That is but an example.”
“How, Speaker, do you think you can badger Salamander into returning them? By simply accusing him of being a witch? Do you think he will surrender Owl Clan’s assets just to make the charge go away?”
“I am not that simple.” Mud Stalker watched the fingers move on the old woman’s shoulders. When he smiled, Three Moss tapped with an index finger. He shrugged, as if absently, and watched the thumb and little finger move. Fascinating!
“Then how would a complicated man make such a thing happen?” Cane Frog was interested now, sensing for the first time, that some advantage might be in the wind for her and her clan.
“I don’t just want to accuse Salamander of witchcraft, Elder, I want to convict him of it.” Mud Stalker smiled again, seeing the first finger tap.
“Killing Salamander as a witch will not bring my root grounds back!” Cane Frog reminded shortly. “Nor will it cancel my clan’s increasing obligation to Owl Clan.”
“Moccasin Leaf would see Half Thorn take Salamander’s place as Speaker for Owl Clan,” Mud Stalker said firmly.
Cane Frog’s wrinkles deepened as she made a sour face. “I’ve made cooking clays that were smarter than Half Thorn.”
“That’s just the point.” Mud Stalker leaned back, a satisfied grin on his face.
“How would this be done? Would you deal with Salamander? Or did you have someone else in mind?”
“If he is declared to be a witch, he would be Owl Clan’s problem. I happen to know that, odious as the duty would be, it would befall the Clan Elder to ensure that justice was done. I would imagine that someone like Half Thorn would use that opportunity to demonstrate his leadership abilities.”
Cane Frog’s expression seemed to sharpen, her lips pulling back and forth over her gums. Finally, she said, “If we were to support you in this, we would need a guarantee. Some assurance that our root grounds would be returned.”
“Let me see what I can do. As I said, Moccasin Leaf would have a great deal of obligation to anyone who assisted her.” Mud Stalker stood, seeing Three Moss’s fingers rippling. “We may be dealing with an entirely new alignment of clans by the time the summer solstice feast is over.”
“Just so Frog Clan isn’t on the bottom,” Cane Frog reminded. “If we are to be part of this, Speaker, we had better come out of it with renewed prestige.”
“Give me your vote against Salamander, and you will, Clan Elder. I have great things in mind for the future of the People.”