Ecan didn’t breathe until she turned away again to look in the direction of the man trotting up the trail. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes. As though she could feel him.
Ecan signaled to the guard who stood at the opposite end of the lava cliff.
The young man trotted toward him.
“Yes, Starwatcher?” Hunter bowed. His thin face bore a coat of dust. Dull-eyed, he must have been standing guard all day.
“Find out who that runner is. If it’s Red Dog, send him to me immediately.”
“Yes, Starwatcher.” Hunter bowed and trotted away.
A commotion broke out when Red Dog arrived at the palisade gate. He wore a dirty brown knee-length shirt and a red headband to keep his gray-streaked black hair out of his eyes. Hunter approached him, then turned to point to where Ecan stood on the crest of the lava cliff. Red Dog dusted off his sleeves, said something, and headed around the palisade to the trail that led up over the cliff.
When he’d climbed to within three paces, Ecan called, “Greetings, Red Dog. I pray your journey was uneventful.”
“Uneventful?” Red Dog walked toward him. “Sleeper’s warriors chased me half the way home. He’s canny. You never know where he is or what he’s up to. You just catch glimpses of him or his men running behind you.”
“At least you’re alive.”
“Yes, well, once I’ve eaten and rested, I might agree with you.” He mopped his sweating forehead with his brown sleeve. “I presented your offer.”
“Yes, and … ?”
“Rain Bear said he would not exchange your son for the witch. It seems he didn’t believe you could get Dzoo out of Fire Village.”
Red Dog had a strange gleam in his eyes that Ecan didn’t understand, but it made him nervous. He said, “Then he refused my offer.”
“I didn’t say that.” Red Dog braced his feet, as though he could barely keep standing. “He said he hated dealing with a spineless coward, but he had his own offer to make.”
Ecan bristled at the word “coward,” but said, “What offer?”
“He wishes to meet with you. Somewhere away from Fire Village. You may bring one guard, and he will bring one—”
“What?” he half shouted before he caught himself. “Does he think I’m a fool? Meet him with only one guard? I would never agree to something so ridiculous! Why is it important that we meet?”
“He doesn’t believe he can trust your messenger.” Red Dog grinned. “But then he doesn’t know how much you’re paying me.”
Ecan would be completely vulnerable. But if Rain Bear actually came as promised, so would he. No, no, it was too dangerous to consider.
“Did you see my son?”
“No.” Red Dog shook his head, and his graying black hair fluttered over his muscular shoulders. “The instant I got close to their camp, Dogrib grabbed me and had me trussed up like a deer ready for roasting. I never got inside the village. They kept me hidden in the forest. Which probably saved my life.”
Ecan felt suddenly hot. By now, Tsauz would be feeling utterly lost and alone. “Did you hear anyone speaking about my son?”
“Several of Rain Bear’s warriors whispered that Tsauz was sleeping in Rides-the-Wind’s lodge. They said the crazy old hermit was teaching your son.”
“Teaching him?”
“That’s what they said.”
Ecan frowned. “Why would that old fool choose to teach my son? Tens of young Dreamers come to Rides-the-Wind every cycle begging to be taught by him.”
Was it some kind of trick? Perhaps a way of turning Ecan’s own son against him? “I doubt you heard correctly, Red Dog.”
“Oh,” Red Dog replied with arched brows, “I heard correctly, but the guards might have been lying. Perhaps they knew I was listening and said it just for my ears. Why would that be? They wished me to tell you, so that you would … what? Call down the Sea Eagles to tear the old man apart?”
Ecan couldn’t think of a good answer to that. The information about Rides-the-Wind was inconsequential. It wouldn’t change his actions one way or the other. So, maybe it was true. Rides-the-Wind the Hermit was teaching his son to be a Dreamer.
Of all the would-be protectors Ecan could imagine, Rides-the-Wind was the only one with the Power to actually keep his son safe. A tiny thread of hope stitched across his chest.
“I’m tired, Starwatcher. I’ve told you everything important. If there’s nothing else, I’d like to go.”
“What about the Council’s offer?”
“Refused.”
Ecan narrowed his eyes, trying to think past Tsauz and his situation. “What does Rain Bear want?”