Reading Online Novel

People of the River(97)



"Where is this, Wolf Slayer?"

"You don't recognize it?"

"No, I—" Another thatched house ignited, and Wanderer glimpsed the looming shape of a mound. "Cahokia?"

"Yes. The time is short. Prepare yourself, Dreamer. When Gizis' father, old Keran, decided that his people could pillage the land, he tipped the Spiral out of balance. But when Tharon broke one of the people's most sacred taboos, the Spiral flipped. And now war has sprung from the drought and famine. First Woman has turned her head. She believes humans deserve to tread the path of Mammoth and Saber-Tooth Cat. She has spun such a veil of illusion around the entrance to the Cave that no Dreamer has been able to pass to talk to her.

"Badgertail left today. Petaga will be waiting for him. Beware. Mother Earth's hold on life in this land is frail, and growing more so the longer First Woman bars the entry to the Cave. If Lichen cannot enter the Cave, First Woman's wrath will sweep humans from this land like bits of goosedown in the wind."

Wanderer gasped when red Spirals burst from Wolf Slayer's chest to unwind into arms and legs. The tall youth vanished, and a huge red spider rose on those spindly limbs. It loomed over Wanderer, leaning close to peer into his eyes. Wanderer fell to his knees. "I'll help you! I promise. Just tell me what to do! Don't hurt me!"

"Watch . . . see the future that will come if Lichen cannot enter the Cave."

The spider turned and raced up the rainbow, then leaped into the frosty, twinkling heart of Wolf Pup.

"Wait. Wait!" Wanderer shouted, startled. "Don't leave me! Wolf Slayer? Come back! How much time do I have left to teach Lichen? How much time remains?"

Wanderer glanced in fear at the battle raging around him. The wild flames silhouetted a crowd of people rushing up from the bottom of Cahokia Creek . . . and he recognized Nightshade. Her expression could have been molded from white clay. Hard, unforgiving. But if the shrieking warriors frightened her, Wanderer could not see it. When she reached the palisades, she ran around to the gate, her long hair streaming out behind her.

A horde of enemy warriors flooded over the top of the palisade. When they saw Nightshade, they whooped and pursued her. One shouted, "It's her! The traitor. Kill her quickly!" The lead warrior dove and tackled Nightshade, knocking her to the ground. A second warrior lifted his war club over her head. Nightshade screamed.

Wanderer cowered as an earthquake shook the rainbow. Glistening threads shot through the stars, crackling like lightning as they lanced across the sky. One bolt soared straight toward Wanderer's chest. Beady spider eyes grew larger and larger as the thread approached, until Wanderer could see the web spinning around him in rainbow shades, drawing so tight that he couldn't move . . .

He bolted upright in bed, screaming, "Wolf Slayer! No!" Cold sweat drenched his body. Outside, an owl hooted as it glided through the darkness that capped the bluff.

"Wanderer?" Lichen called.

He turned and saw her kneeling in bed, an eagle-feather fan clutched to her bare chest. Her braid draped over her shoulder, the tip touching her green-and-tan kilt. She gazed at him through wide eyes.

"Wanderer, are you all right?"

"Lichen, a ... a spider is trying to take over my soul!"

"What? Jtist now?"

"Yes, it sent out a web to catch me."

Lichen bounded to her feet like Deer does when an arrow thwoks the tree at her back. Her feet thudded on the hard floor until she leaped into bed with him. With fumbling fingers. Wanderer pulled his blankets up around her chin, then snuggled close to her. Oh, Nightshade . . . so much rests on my daughter. Am I good enough to teach her in time? The Power symbols watched in stunned silence.

"It didn't have antlers, did it?" Lichen inquired in a small, anxious voice. "The spider, I mean. Did it have antlers?"

"No, just beady eyes."

She relaxed a little. "But it was a Dream? A Spirit Dream?"

"Yes."

"What was it about?" She flopped onto her back to listen better.

"War . . mostly."

"You shouted 'Wolf Slayer!' when you woke up. Did he come to you?"

Wanderer smoothed his sweaty gray hair. "Yes. Yes, he did. But Lichen, let's sleep. I'll tell you about it tomorrow, when I take you home. Dreams have so many hidden meanings. Spiders and rainbows and warriors. I need time to think."

Lichen nodded and nuzzled more deeply into the shelter of his arms. "I guess it was pretty bad, huh?'*

"Pretty bad."

Wanderer fiercely kissed her temple while his eyes drifted over the room, taking in the firepit, the prayer fans, and finally the rip in his sleeve. Blood. Through the hole, he could see the gash that tore his arm.