People of the Raven(96)
He let the hanging fall. As it swung, bars and streaks of gold flashed over the faces of the men seated around his fire. Bluegrass, the oldest, had seen perhaps five tens of summers. A few stubborn white hairs clung to his bald head. Black Mountain, Talon’s chief, was next oldest, around three tens and five summers. He had shoulder-length graying black hair, a bulbous nose, and deep wrinkles. Goldenrod, Sleeper’s chief from Deer Meadow Village, was the youngest. He’d seen fewer summers than Rain Bear: two tens and six. They made a strange group.
Without waiting for them to speak, Rain Bear asked, “Do all of you want me to kill the boy? Or just Bluegrass?”
Goldenrod shifted to sit cross-legged on the mat, and long black hair fell around his broad shoulders. He extended a hand. “Rain Bear, surely you understand the position you place us in. Most of the people gathered around your village watched Ecan destroy their homes and families.”
“They want revenge. Yes, I know.” Rain Bear hung his otterhide cape on the peg, straightened his red knee-length shirt, and seated himself across from his guests. “I do not wish to fight over this. If all the chiefs agree that the boy should be executed to punish Ecan, then that is what I will do.”
Relieved smiles and nods went around the circle. Black Mountain gave old Bluegrass an unpleasant look. “See? I told you Rain Bear was a reasonable man.”
“Well, he wasn’t earlier today.” Bluegrass glared at Rain Bear. His bald head gleamed in the firelight. “What changed your heart?”
“My heart hasn’t changed,” Rain Bear replied. “I told you I needed to consult with the elders and other chiefs. Since we spoke, I’ve been trying to speak with as many as I can.” That was a fanciful lie. “Not everyone agrees about the boy. Several of my own clan elders don’t want him killed. They believe it’s possible to use him as leverage against Ecan.”
“I want him dead!” Bluegrass shouted. “His father tortured my wife and son to death before my eyes!”
“Bluegrass!” Goldenrod held up both hands in a please stop this gesture. “We can all make similar claims, but I would like to hear Rain Bear’s words before I decide.”
Bluegrass sucked his lips in over toothless gums and angrily flipped his arm at Rain Bear in a motion to continue.
Rain Bear said, “My elders believe that we may be able to use the boy to maneuver Ecan into a position where we can either kill him or pressure him into betraying Cimmis and the Council.”
Black Mountain tilted his head skeptically. Soot smudged his bulbous nose. “How?”
“First, we need to decide where our real interests lie. Do we wish to kill Ecan?”
A mingled roar of assenting voices rose.
Rain Bear raised placating hands. “Or try to destroy Cimmis and the Council?”
Another roar.
“Then I suggest,” Rain Bear said, “that we do not immediately kill the boy.”
“I want him dead!” Bluegrass’s elderly face contorted in rage. “I don’t just want him dead; I want to slit his belly open and pull out enough of his intestines to roast in a fire while he squeals!”
Rain Bear glanced at Black Mountain and Goldenrod. They both appeared embarrassed by the vehemence. Goldenrod squinted at his moccasins. Black Mountain roughly shoved graying black hair away from his brow.
Rain Bear said, “Killing Ecan will require every skill and tool we have. Shall we destroy our best tool before we’ve even tried to use it?”
The chiefs started talking at once. Bluegrass shook a fist in Goldenrod’s face.
Rain Bear lifted his voice. “And there is another thing I wish you to consider.”
The din died down.
Bluegrass gave Rain Bear an evil look.
“By now I think all of you are aware that Ecan took Dzoo captive. If we kill Tsauz, Ecan will kill Dzoo. Is that acceptable to you?”
Bluegrass’s withered mouth pinched as though he’d eaten something bitter. “I thought that was just a rumor. You’re sure she was taken captive?”
Goldenrod nodded. “My war chief, Sleeper, is tracking the war party. He sent a runner back to say he’d seen Dzoo. She is definitely Ecan’s prisoner.”
Black Mountain looked at Bluegrass. “I believe she spent several moons at your village two summers ago. Didn’t she Heal your sick son?”
Bluegrass clenched his jaw for several moments before expelling an explosive breath. “Yes. And many others in my village. She is worth ten tens of Ecan’s sons.”
Goldenrod looked around the circle. “If we are to save Dzoo, we cannot kill Ecan’s son. At least not right away. I say that later, when Dzoo is safe, we let Bluegrass roast his guts. Who knows? By then, perhaps Ecan will be ours and he can listen along with the rest of us.”