“Not yet, perhaps, but you will, Rain Bear. One day, sooner or later, you will lead the Raven People against them, and the Council knows it.”
Five
Evening Star studied Rain Bear as he removed his cape and stalked a few paces away to throw it atop the pile of grass mats stacked near the entry. Long black hair fell around his broad shoulders. He looked angry and incredulous.
He was lean at the waist, broad-shouldered, and quick on his feet. He stood a little taller than she. The red leather knee-length shirt conformed to ripples of muscle as he moved. Several pouches, a stone-headed ax, and deer-bone stiletto were belted at his waist.
She said, “You have three, maybe four days before Ecan arrives.”
“Three or four days,” he said. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
The lines around his eyes and mouth deepened into a fiercely predatory expression. “How do you know he plans to attack us?”
Evening Star told him boldly, “I heard Kenada speaking with a runner. The man was very excited about the attacks on your northern villages. Kenada said, ‘Good. Within a quarter moon, my brother will take the struggle into Rain Bear’s own lodge.’”
Rain Bear’s unblinking gaze bored into her. “Why should I believe you? You are no friend to my people.”
“Friendship has nothing to do with it. I am bargaining with you. Information for protection.”
Rain Bear thought for a moment. “How many warriors does he have?”
“It was reported to Kenada that he had assembled ten tens.”
Rain Bear closed his eyes for a moment. “Sandy Point Village has barely three tens of warriors, and that’s if I pull every old man and boy from his house and force him to fight. Blessed Spirits, how can we—”
“You will defeat him.”
“Really? How?”
“Because now you have me.”
He didn’t speak for several moments. “Is your information that valuable to me?”
“I am that valuable to you.”
She couldn’t tell if it was amusement or suspicion that danced in his dark eyes. Rain Bear crouched, pulled a branch from the woodpile, and roughly tossed it into the flames.
Her heart hammered hollowly as she waited.
He appeared to be concentrating on the sparks that danced up from the fresh tinder. Then, suddenly, he rose to his feet and swung around to glare at her. His long black hair, bluish in the firelight, fell over the front of his red shirt.
“Matron, what makes you think I won’t turn you over to save my village?”
Fear shot ice through her heart. She hoped that no sign of the terror in her breast betrayed itself on her face. She took her most desperate gamble. “Because I am more valuable to you alive than dead at Ecan’s hand. I think you’re smart enough to know what my support will be worth to you. When you are pushed into war, you are going to need a woman from the Ash Fall Clan, someone who gives your cause validity with the North Wind People.”
He weighed her words before asking, “What kind of life do you imagine you will have here, Matron? If I give my people reasons to protect you, I think they will, but you will be forever Outcast. No North Wind man will ever dare speak to you, let alone consider marriage. You will grow into a lonely old woman.”
Evening Star turned away.
“Your life here will be miserable,” he continued. “If you help us, your people will label you a traitor. You will never be able to leave Sandy Point Village. Never see relatives again, Cimmis’s warriors will always be waiting somewhere nearby, hoping you will expose yourself.” He hesitated. “And then there are the Wolf Tails.”
Tears pressed hotly at the corners of her eyes, but her voice came out strong. “Kenada talked in front of me as though I was not there. He repeated many of the things said in Council by our Four Old Women.”
Rain Bear’s expression didn’t change, but the gleam in his eyes betrayed a new level of interest. Unlike the Raven People, the North Wind People traced descent through the female. The Four Old Women were the most powerful individuals in the North Wind world. They made all of the important decisions in Fire Village. Chief Cimmis just carried them out.
Rain Bear said, “For example?”
Evening Star struggled to control her emotions. How long would he torture her before telling her yes or no?
“They are considering replacing Cimmis as chief.”
“But … how can they? Matron Astcat is the leader of the Council.”
“That may not last long. My aunt is not well, Rain Bear. People have begun whispering that her soul is loose.” Which to the North Wind People meant either she was insane or unconscious.