"Yes, Grandmother," Spoonbill replied. "And if he has joined up with the other missing parties, he could have six hundred warriors at his disposal."
Gopher blurted, "Then why haven't we seen them? We've had lookouts perched on the highest points on the bluff, and they've reported nothing!"
"True," Petaga acknowledged. "But our lookouts wouldn't have seen anything if Elkhom moved his warriors in spurts through all of last night and kept them under cover today."
"Which means"—Mother Sassafras pointed a gnarled finger at Gopher—"that Elkhom could have abready joined up with Badgertail and be flanking us at this moment."
Petaga stiffened. Runners had come in earlier that evening with news that Hailcloud had engaged Badgertail's war party near Redweed Village, won, and captured Locust. Even now, Hailcloud was trying to glean information from her, but Locust was being stubborn. No one had reported seeing Badgertail.
"For that matter," Petaga said softly, "Badgertail could have gone back to Cahokia and gathered those warriors himself."
People muttered uncertainly. No one liked the idea that Badgertail still Kved.
"Stop this silly talk!" Gopher called out. "Who cares if Badgertail or Elkhom returns to bring the last warriors from Cahokia? Even with those forces, we outnumber them by at least two hundred! I think the time has come for us to attack and wipe these thieves and murderers from our land. I'll lead the attack. Tomorrow at dawn. Who will follow me?"
The anxious hush gave way to the hoots of a great homed owl that sailed over their heads before swooping sharply across the face of the moon. People watched uneasily, then lowered their gazes to Mother Sassafras and Gopher.
Sassafras cocked a gray eyebrow. "I'd rather follow a child in diapers than you. Gopher. What do you know of war? You've barely exposed your butt to the wind in the past twenty cycles, let alone organized and led a battle-walk."
A few irreverent snickers fluttered through the gathering.
"And what of Nightshade?" someone murmured from the shadows.
"What?" Gopher demanded. "What did you ask? Who's there?"
Shellgourd, a little old woman with a formal, brittle air and the nervous eyes of one afraid of her own shadow, leaned into the light. It wrapped her white hair in gold, accentuating the length of her overgrown nose, and flashed from the red-and-yellow porcupine quills that ringed her hide collar. She lived in a backward village on the river far to the south, more isolated than any other village in the chiefdom.
Shellgourd lifted her chin. "I said, what of Nightshade? Is she on our side?"
"Who knows if she's even alive?" Gopher responded. "All we hear are rumors."
Petaga had been wondering the same thing. What had happened to her? As a child, he had fallen in love with the tall, willowy priestess who came to sit at his father's feet every night and report on the spiritual life of River Mounds. He had gotten over it—mostly. But his heart continued to need her. For advice. Just as his father had needed her.
Petaga lifted a hand to gain attention. "I believe that she is alive and being held captive by Tharon—but she's fighting on our side."
Shellgourd twisted her hands. "If she's as Powerful as legends say, why doesn't she just turn herself into Raven and fly out of Tharon's hands?"
Petaga bowed his head as murmurs eddied around the fire. "I've seen Nightshade perform some miraculous acts, Shellgourd, but I've never seen her change herself into an animal, though I know that legends say she can. My father used to use the Power of those stories to his own benefit. I assure you, if Nightshade could come to us, she would."
"How do you know she's on our side? She may have turned traitor. If she's fighting for us, and locked in Tharon's temple, why hasn't she just killed him?"
"Perhaps she hasn't had a chance to yet. I don't know. Remember, she fights with Power . . . and Power has its own ways. But I feel her on our side." He put a hand over his heart. "In here. She's with us. I know it."
The words seemed to calm Shellgourd. She sank back into the shadows.
Old man Plantroot pulled himself up to his full height of ten and a half hands. "Let's get the question of when we attack resolved. I, for one, agree with Mother Sassafras. We don't know Elkhom's numbers. What if White Clover Mounds joined him? That would add at least three hundred more to his forces. The warriors of Bluebird Village came on this battle-walk because Petaga and Hailcloud led it. I will follow wherever Petaga leads." He bowed to Petaga before tottering away on ancient legs to find his blankets.
Petaga kept his face blank to hide his emotion. Plantroot had been a boyhood friend of Petaga's father. His loyalty to the Sunbom of River Mounds had clearly not perished with Jenos. That fact eased Petaga's soul.