People of the River(13)

How had the world gone so wrong?

Before them rose the tallest mound in the village, the Temple Mound. Squared steps of red cedar had been placed in the steep ramp, and Badgertail ascended, his booted feet patting quietly against the wood. By the time he had made it halfway to the top, he could see the temple. It spread two hundred hands long and fifty hands wide. The peaked roof jutted fifty hands high.

He and Bobcat passed through the final gate in the wall that guarded the truncated top of the mound and crossed the flat past the effigy pole that rose the height of ten tall men. Offerings had been left at the base to appease Spider, the Spirit Helper carved into the pole top so high above.

Mallow waited for them, standing before two brawny men who stood on either side of the main door of the huge temple building. Each man was dressed in the flashy robes of temple guards. Thin triangles of pounded copper covered the arms and chests of their red garments. Hardwood clubs hung from their belts.

Recognition glinmiered in Mallow's obsidian gaze. Were those warm summer nights no more than fading memory?

Mallow dropped his lance across Badgertail's path. The barest odor of smoke from the sacred fires inside escaped on the morning breeze.

"Stop, War Leader of Cahokia. I've been instructed to tell you to remove your weapons."

Bobcat stuck his chin out. "Why? Leader Badgertail swore no bows would be raised until he'd finished speaking with the Moon Chief. Does Jenos doubt his word?"

Mallow stiffened. "You may ask him yourself—once you've removed all of your weapons."

"You want us to go inside your temple, out of sight of our forces, unarmed? Ha!"

"Do as he says," Badgertail directed. "/ trust the Moon Chief." A pause. "And I trust Mallow. He is a man of courage and honor."

Something flickered behind Mallow's stone-hard control.

Bobcat's eyes flamed. "But Badgertail! We can't—"

"Doit. Now."

Bobcat grudgingly unslung his quiver and bow and kissed them before placing them gently on the bosom of Mother Earth. Badgertail put his weapons beside Bobcat's and took a step backward, dragging his brother with him. "That's all of our weapons."

Mallow scrutinized them suspiciously. He was taller than Badgertail, and in the subtle light, his beady eyes seemed too small for his round face. "You brought no knife?"

Bobcat took a hostile step forward. "Don't insult my brother! If he says that's all, it is!"

Badgertail gripped Bobcat's shoulder and tugged him back reproachfully. "We brought no knives. But you may search us if you want."

Mallow signaled one of the other guards to come forward and cover them while he knelt and patted down their legs and arms. Rising, Mallow said, "Go ahead, War Leader. The Moon Chief is waiting."

Badgertail inclined his head respectfully and strode to the door. He stopped to bow to the east, north, west, and south, and to cast a glance heavenward and then downward, acknowledging the Six Sacred Persons who held the winds in their hands. Then cautiously he pulled aside the woven-bark hanging to enter the temple.

He heard Bobcat's sharp intake of breath as he stepped within. Badgertail's eyes widened. He had been inside the temple before, ten cycles ago, but he had forgotten the magnificence of the place.

A dim hall stretched fifty hands in front of them, lined by doors that diminished in size, drawing the eye inevitably to the huge room at the end, where dozens of firebowls gleamed. Badgertail's gaze lingered on the bright symbols running the length of the hall: the stylized images of Eagle, Father Sun, and Serpent, the odd, concentric squares painted in black and encircled by rings of white eyes. Intricately carved stands dotted the way, topped by bird-headed effigy bowls and beautiful offerings such as exotic necklaces and bracelets.

Badgertail might have forgotten the majesty, but he had not forgotten the tingle of Power that filled Nightshade's temple. He shook his head. Tharon had been an idiot to cast her out of Cahokia. Of course River Mounds had accepted her with open arms. Nightshade's reputation spanned half of the world. But he wondered how she had ever learned to live without her Tortoise Bundle. Old Marmot claimed that after Nightshade left, he had barely been able to use its Power at all; it was as though the Spirit of the Bundle had retreated ... or had died from grief. The Bundle still graced the main altar in the Great Sun Chamber, but Badgertail rarely heard anyone mention it these days.

"Come. We haven't much time." As Badgertail walked, his thoughts went to Nightshade. Was she here? He hadn't seen her in ten cycles, and the last time there had been so much hatred in her eyes that he'd been unable to gaze at her directly. She must have passed twenty-four summers now, and her Power had increased with each one. A flutter, like butterfly wings, titillated his stomach.