Thirty-six
Rain Bear shoved a low branch aside and continued up the trail behind young Feathers. He was just a skinny boy, little more than gangly bones, but his body betrayed the terrible importance of his current position. He was guiding the great chief. No doubt his young friends were going to hear about it over and over.
The fire in the clearing ahead threw long, dancing shadows over the firs and boulders. It made the forest seem alive with translucent wings. As they drew near, Rain Bear saw Dogrib standing with three men. He was binding the middle man’s hands behind his back. Two others held his arms in viselike grips.
Rain Bear called, “What have we got? Who is he?”
Dogrib called, “One of Ecan’s assassins. We captured him crawling through the boulders on his belly.”
“That’s a lie!” the man shouted in response, and struggled against Dogrib’s hard hands. “I came in peace, openly!”
Rain Bear entered the halo of firelight and recognized the burly form. “Red Dog?”
“Yes. It’s me. My friend, I must speak with you!” The dirt on his face had mixed with his sweat and turned to mud in the deep furrows in his forehead. “Rain Bear, get these young wolves off me! You, of all people, know I am no assassin!” He glared at the two warriors holding his muscular arms. They grinned like cougars over a freshly killed carcass.
Rain Bear halted on the opposite side of the fire. Dirty hair had come loose from Red Dog’s bun and framed his round face. He appeared on the verge of panic. Good.
Rain Bear said, “You came in peace to do what? Try to kill one of us? Or to rescue Ecan’s son?” He paused. “Sorry, old friend. Sleeper’s warriors beat you back. I have just been in council with Goldenrod. He said they almost had you and White Stone more than once.”
Red Dog nervously scanned the faces of the people around him. “I bring you a message from Fire Village.”
“From whom?”
“Astcat, matron of the North Wind People.”
Red Dog’s deerhide cape had large patches of hair missing. Not the usual garb of one of Fire Village’s best warriors, but he’d probably shed everything that would tie him to Cimmis.
“Astcat has not attempted to communicate with me in six and ten cycles—not since she made her own daughter Outcast for running away with me. Why now?”
Red Dog sucked in a breath. “I can’t tell you, but believe me, you truly do not wish to kill me until I’ve spoken with you!”
“Go ahead. I’m listening.”
Red Dog glanced suspiciously at Dogrib and the rest. “My message is for you alone.”
Rain Bear composed his face, deepening the lines as if in great study. “Bind him up like a trussed walrus.”
He watched as a length of sturdy rope was located and Red Dog was thoroughly wrapped and secured with doubled knots. Then Rain Bear pulled his war club from his belt and motioned for Dogrib and the other men to back off. “Give us a few moments.”
Unhappy with the arrangement, Dogrib said, “As you order, but we’ll be close enough to see, if not hear. Should he even look like he’s moving against you—”
“I expect you to kill him,” Rain Bear calmly said, and thumped his club into his palm. “The fact that he knows that should make our discussions more straightforward.”
Red Dog nodded. “I assure you, it will.”
Dogrib strode to the edge of the clearing with the other warriors.
Rain Bear took his time walking around the fire toward Red Dog. The grizzled warrior watched him warily.
“All right, old friend,” Rain Bear said in a low voice. “Tell me what’s happening.”
Red Dog gave him a foxy smile. “Why on earth am I doing this to myself? Look at me! I’m trussed like a pig, covered in filth! My legs feel like wooden stumps, and I’m so tired I could fall flat on my face.”
“It’s because you’re such a scoundrel, and you know it.”
Red Dog grinned like a maniac. “That’s it, all right.” Then his expression fell. “You have to believe me—I didn’t know what was coming at War Gods Village. When you took Ecan’s weapons and let him continue, I really thought we were on a peaceful errand.” He made a face. “After some of the things I’ve seen … done … I don’t want to do this anymore.”
“What would you do instead?”
He jerked his head westward. “There are islands out there. I could take all of my wealth and sit on a rock, surrounded by the sea. Once a moon, I could palm off one of my trinkets to a fisherman for bringing me food.”
“You’d be crazy within five days.” Rain Bear crossed his arms. “I know you too well. You enjoy scheming; it’s part of your soul. You find a crooked pleasure being in the presence of people who underestimate who and what you are.”