People of the Thunder(124)
“It is.”
“Why? By the gods, they’re our eyes on the Chahta!”
“I did it to allow Great Cougar to send his warriors into my trap.”
“Trap? What trap? This afternoon the Albaamaha mikkos are meeting to discuss moving our supplies north!”
Smoke Shield chuckled to himself. “Do you trust Power, Uncle?” He cast it away. “Of course you do. That’s why you’ve been brooding over the murder of the Yuchi. Forget it. White Power is weak, draining away like the falling river after a flood. Soon it will be gone. Faded. The red Power is in ascendance.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Let me ask you, what is the last thing you would expect Great Cougar to attempt?”
Flying Hawk frowned. “A massed strike at Split Sky City.”
“Good answer—and the right one. I should have seen it myself.” Smoke Shield looked down at his glistening body. He tightened the muscles in his belly, enjoying the way the light gleamed on the rounded knots outlined under his skin. He could almost feel Two Petals’ fingers skipping lightly across them before dropping lower. No, don’t think about it. Not now. He didn’t want his shaft stiffening in front of Flying Hawk.
“Great Cougar is going to strike at Split Sky City?”
“That’s just what he’s going to do.” He forced his gaze to meet the old man’s. “Uncle, did you know that our scouts have grown bored? Did you know that some have even taken to gambling with the Chahta, sharing fires?”
Flying Hawk blinked, slowly shaking his head. “What?”
“They’ve been out in the forest for how long? Think about it. What’s a lonely, bored man going to do? The Chahta speak our language. We have the same customs and rituals. And now that they’re sharing food, gaming, swapping stories, what kind of easy prey would they be for the cunning Great Cougar?”
“I don’t believe it.”
“Of course not. We aren’t meant to.” He looked around at the city. “Not that I have any particular fondness for the fools, but I have called most of them back rather than allow them to be needlessly butchered.” He waved it off. “Oh, I left just enough to be captured by Great Cougar. He’s probably on his way now, followed by a horde of warriors.”
“How do you know all this?” Then Flying Hawk’s face brightened. “You have a spy?”
“Oh, yes. One sent by Power. She has told me things.”
“This woman you keep in your quarters?”
“The very same.” Smoke Shield flexed his right arm, watching the muscles bulge.
“And how does she know these things?”
“She has seen the future and told me how it will all happen,” Smoke Shield said, looking off to the south.
Flying Hawk clearly thought he was raving, but just enough doubt remained. To still it, Smoke Shield said, “Oh, it will occur just like she says it will, Uncle. And what if I had ordered our warriors north? When Great Cougar drove his forces through the hills to the west, there would be nothing to stop him. Split Sky City would be like a fresh ear of corn, ready for the shucking.”
“But our plans . . .”
“I have changed them.” Smoke Shield crossed his muscular arms. “So when the Great Cougar’s warriors arrive, we shall crush them like a nut between two stones.”
“What of the outlying farmsteads? Even if the scouts are captured—as you insist they will be—we’ll see smoke, and the Albaamaha will come fleeing before them!”
“Great Cougar’s plan is to make haste. He’ll leave the Albaamaha alone for the time being, figuring he can burn them out on the way back as a distraction to lure us into ambush after ambush. I don’t intend on letting him do that. Just the opposite, actually. I want to drive his survivors east, into the hills. They’ll be easier to hunt down that way.”
“Your spy told you all this?”
“She sees the future. Power is my ally, Uncle.” Smoke Shield’s eyes narrowed. “And don’t you forget it. Act against me, and I will know.”
He had asked the Prophet, “Should I kill Flying Hawk now and become high minko?”
“No.” She had stared into his eyes, a slight smile on her lips. “He still has a role to play. Flying Hawk’s moment of surprise must be complete. Only when sad tears well in his eyes will he fully understand.”
Smoke Shield narrowed his gaze as he studied his baffled uncle. Yes, he would enjoy the sight of the old man’s tears. For that promised moment alone, he would bide his time.
Flying Hawk lifted his arms helplessly. “Blood Skull also tells me that you have ordered the warriors to make camp north and east of the city.”