Red Dog had pledged his loyalty to Rain Bear over a cycle ago. He’d been badly wounded in a fight with Talon. Dzoo had worked day and night to save his life. Since then Red Dog had periodically passed information about the happenings in Fire Village. Of course, Rain Bear wasn’t gullible enough to believe all of it. He knew for a fact that Red Dog played his own game for his own reasons, many of them no doubt unsavory, but he seemed to worship Dzoo. How many times had Rain Bear seen that look of longing in Red Dog’s eyes as he watched her from afar?
“Thank Raven it’s all downhill from Fire Village. I’ve never felt so tired.” Red Dog sighed. “Kaska needs instructions. What do you want her to do with her warriors?”
Rain Bear outlined the proposed plan of attack. When he finished, he asked, “Do you understand?”
“Yes. You want her people to fall on the rear of the North Wind warriors that are fighting Dogrib.”
A weight seemed to lift from Rain Bear’s shoulders.
“What have you got for warriors?”
Rain Bear chuckled. “I have a core of eight tens of capable men and a couple of women. The rest are an angry rabble. They’re the ones who are unpredictable.”
Red Dog said, “Tell me truly, old friend. Are you ready for this?”
Wind Woman swept the forest, and the firs creaked in the wind.
“I’d better be. We set out at dawn. Did you speak with Dzoo?”
“Yes.” Red Dog licked his chapped lips and winced as though they hurt. “Dzoo heard the slaves whispering. Cimmis will be dressed as an ordinary warrior—blue war shirt, hide cape. Spotting him is not going to be easy.”
“Will he walk with the Four Old Women?”
“No.” Red Dog looked bone weary. “He will march in the rear.”
Rain Bear frowned. “Why?”
“If you ask me, it’s so he can run away if it all goes wrong.”
“What does White Stone think of this?”
“He’s not happy. He growled to me that since the chief insists upon exposing himself, he can defend himself.”
Rain Bear plucked a twig from the ground and twirled it in his calloused fingers. If White Stone had gone so far as to tell his warriors the chief could defend himself … he was a very discontented war chief. Could Rain Bear use that?
Red Dog shot a curious look at Rain Bear. “He also told us to expect an attack around Gull Inlet. Anything to that?”
Rain Bear rubbed his jaw with the back of his hand. He hadn’t given Gull Inlet more than a passing thought.
“What’s at Gull Inlet?”
Red Dog drew the U-shaped inlet in the frost. “The trail turns along the sea cliff like this—and branches here. A wise war chief could use the cliffs to his advantage to box his enemies in and slaughter them like scurrying mice.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. How soon can you go back?”
Red Dog smoothed a hand over his dirty face. “Ecan knows I’m up to something. If he hasn’t already hired someone to kill me, it’s just a matter of time.”
Rain Bear steeled himself. “I must ask that you go back, my friend.”
Red Dog stared at the frosty ground. “Isn’t there someone else?”
“My message to Kaska must be delivered by someone she trusts. That leaves you or Sand Wasp.”
Red Dog’s burly shoulders sagged. He closed his eyes for a few moments. “I can’t guarantee I’ll make it. The first war parties headed down the mountain trail two days ago. If they catch me coming up from the coast, don’t assume I’ll be able to talk my way out of it. Do not count on Kaska receiving the message I’m carrying.”
Rain Bear gave Red Dog a sober look. “Do you have friends among the warriors who guard Kaska?”
“I did when I left. But if Ecan has gotten to them, told them I’m a traitor …”
An owl sailed over their heads, and its dark shadow flitted among the branches.
“One way or another, this is almost over. If you and I both live through this, I’ll find some way to reward you for the risks. I don’t know what or how I—”
“Forget it.” Red Dog grinned wearily. “I’m doing this for Dzoo. I wouldn’t be here but for her.” He shrugged self-consciously. “And, who knows, perhaps someday she will be ready to marry again.”
Rain Bear nodded in sudden understanding. Then he tugged open the laces of his belt pouch and drew out a bag of seaweed cakes. “Here. Roe made these. She flavored them with smoked salmon and hazelnuts.”
“Thank you.” Red Dog stuffed them in his belt pouch and playfully punched Rain Bear’s shoulder.