“The new moon is seven days away.” Morning Dew watched as Blood Skull took his mark, sprinted forward, rolled the stone, and then cast.
“Blood Skull is one of the opposition?” Trader asked, seeing the man make a good cast.
“He has no love for Smoke Shield.”
Trader struggled to keep his attention on her words. His bones itched at the chance of playing his brother. What a match that would be.
“What do you plan to do about Great Cougar?” Morning Dew asked. “How do we stop a Chahta raid once it is in Sky Hand territory?”
“We could send a white arrow,” Old White noted. “Invite them to a feast. Offer gifts in retribution for the dead at White Arrow Town.”
“Good idea. Who’s going to wander in and explain it all to the Council?” Trader countered. “Not that I don’t like the idea, but this city is swarming with angry Chikosi. They all firmly believe that the last raid was committed by Great Cougar.”
“Both the Chahta and Chikosi need a reason to stop the fighting. Finding that reason”—Morning Dew shook her head—“that defies me.”
“Chikosi is a derogatory term,” Trader reminded. “As a Chikosi myself, I can’t abide the word.”
“Guests?” Heron Wing’s voice interrupted as she walked around the corner of the house, stopping cold at sight of Trader. Neatly folded clothes were in her arms.
He smiled up at her. “Morning Dew told you the plan?”
She gave him a humorless smile. “You are lovers, yes. Somehow, the notion doesn’t leave me excited. How far does this go?”
Old White sighed heavily. “I suppose it falls on me to ensure that they maintain the proper decorum. Especially since you refuse Trade for the woman.”
“Is there a reason why your words do not reassure me?” she asked warily.
“What reason would both the Chikosi and Chahta have to cease fighting?” Trader ignored the barbed exchange. He was watching Smoke Shield, his eyes narrowed. His brother set himself, raced forward, and released his stone. “He’s better than he once was.”
Heron Wing looked out at the chunkey court. “I suppose you’ve given some thought about what you’ll do if he comes over here?”
Trader nodded. “Morning Dew and I will stroll off, hand in hand. Seeker? Do you want to stay under some petty excuse? Take the measure of our enemy?”
“I do indeed.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Heron Wing said as she stepped inside. Moments later she reappeared, her hands braced on her hips. “What are you doing here?”
Old White said, “We couldn’t find the Contrary, so we decided we’d come see if there was a way to turn Great Cougar’s raid into a happy celebration of peace. We thought of inviting the Chahta to an exchange of gifts. You arrived in the middle of our discussion about just which one of us was going to call the Council and give them the happy news.”
“I think it should be you,” Trader said.
“The two of you being here is like coals on dry tinder,” Heron Wing said worriedly.
Trader looked back. “I don’t suppose you’d want to come sit next to me? Just to see if we could get Violet Bead to make an appearance?”
Heron Wing gave him a pleading look. “We could still be in your canoe in a hand’s time, Green Snake. That offer stands.”
He nodded, aware of both Morning Dew and Seeker’s inquisitive stares. He almost started as Blood Skull made his cast. “Not good. He’s gripping the shaft too tightly.”
“Invite the Chahta warriors to a celebration?” Heron Wing asked. “An equinox feast?”
“Does anyone know when the new moon falls?”
“Seven days,” Morning Dew reminded.
“A feast? Will that be enough?” Old White wondered. “Besides, if the dates coincide, wouldn’t Great Cougar be afraid to time his attack then? Or is he the kind of man to worry about a little thing like Power?”
“He is, and he does.” Morning Dew tossed a piece of dough to Swimmer. “Great Cougar pays close attention to the rituals. So much so that just hearing rumors about an attempted Yuchi assassination under the Power of a white arrow might make him reconsider who his enemy really is.”
“But we know that was a ruse.” Heron Wing had taken up a position, leaning against her door.
“Exposing Smoke Shield’s fraud is going to change a lot of minds,” Trader reminded. “According to the way Morning Dew explains it, when Great Cougar hears Smoke Shield killed the messenger, he’ll be twice as anxious to hit the Chikosi.”