Red Dog gave him a sly glance, hesitated, and whispered, “The end of Cimmis and the Council.” With an offhanded gesture, he added, “If we had different leadership, perhaps there would be peace.”
Ecan’s heart leapt, but he said, “Before you go, you should know that your friend Mica is dying.”
“Mica?” Red Dog grimaced. “What happened? He was fine when I left.”
Ecan shrugged. “I wish I knew. White Stone came to me yesterday to tell me they’d found Mica lying on his floor shaking. Every muscle in his body is twitching. I suspect he’ll be dead by morning.”
Red Dog’s brows knit. “Isn’t Mica the one who opened the witch’s pack right after the battle—”
“Yes.”
“But you said the bags were filled with harmless things: bat droppings and dirt!”
Down in the plaza, Dzoo stood in the same place, watching them, her full lips slightly parted as if in anticipation. He said, “Lion Girl and Dance Fly are also ill with the shaking disease.”
Red Dog glanced at Dzoo and whispered, “The slaves who were tending Dzoo?”
“Yes.”
“Hallowed Ancestors! And the great chief? How is he taking this?”
Ecan smiled grimly. “Cimmis wants to make her happy here. He seems to think she could be a rallying point for the Raven People if she’s harmed. He’s had her old lodge prepared and ordered his slaves to bring her new clothing and moccasins. He even ordered his personal jewelers to make her pendants and bracelets from the finest polished stones and shells in Fire Village. Oh, and she’s free to wander about as she pleases.”
Red Dog raised a pensive eyebrow. “Free! But that’s insane! Doesn’t he understand who she is? What she is?”
Ecan rubbed his jaw. “Yes, well, apparently we can’t keep her locked up anyway. She might as well be free.”
Red Dog stared at him. “Excuse me?”
“Depending on which story you believe, she walked through the wall of the captives’ lodge one night. Deer Killer was standing guard. He thinks she changed herself into a bird and flew out the smoke hole. White Stone is convinced that she used the ‘missing ropes’ to climb out.”
Red Dog’s gaze fixed on Dzoo. “But if she climbed out, why didn’t Deer Killer see her? He didn’t fall asleep on duty, did he?”
“White Stone believes he did. That’s why Deer Killer is standing double shifts.”
“I’m surprised he didn’t have Deer Killer skinned alive.”
“Apparently Cimmis forgot to give the order. There were four other guards posted around Fire Village that night. No one saw Deer Killer fall asleep. No one saw Dzoo escape.”
Red Dog tapped his chin. “Why is she still here? If she could get out of the punishment lodge, the village palisade would be like a net bag is to a bowl of water.”
Ecan gave him a thoughtful look. “That, my friend is a good question.”
“Anything else odd happen while I was gone?”
“Oh, one man said he saw ball lightning around midnight one night.” Ecan lifted a hand to demonstrate. “He said it plummeted out of a starry sky, bounced around the roof of Dzoo’s lodge, and vanished.”
Red Dog instinctively gripped the stiletto on his belt. “Who said that?”
“Deer Killer.”
Red Dog relaxed. “Why, imagine that! Deer Killer again. He probably dreamed it when he was asleep on duty.”
“I think his fear has gotten in the way of his senses. He also told me he …”
Cimmis ducked out of his lodge and walked out into the plaza. He wore a plain knee-length blue war shirt belted at the waist with a braided sea-grass cord. Rather than the ruler of the North Wind People, he appeared to be nothing more than an aging warrior. Astcat was sick again, which meant Cimmis rarely left his lodge.
Ecan said, “Come along. He’ll wish to see you right away.”
When they started down the rocks toward the palisade, Cimmis saw them and stalked for the gate.
They met him at the entry, and Ecan lifted a hand, calling, “Red Dog has returned, my Chief.”
Warily, Cimmis asked, “Red Dog, when did you arrive?”
“Just now, my Chief. I was on my way to see you.”
“But you stopped to report to Ecan first. Why?” Cimmis wore his gray hair in a single braid. His thin beard flipped in the wind.
Red Dog gave Ecan an uncomfortable look.
Ecan spread his arms in appeasement. “Forgive me, my Chief. I called to Red Dog and distracted him from his duties.” He smiled. “If you will excuse me, you have things to discuss.” He stepped through the gate, not bothering to look back.