People of the Thunder(131)

“I’ll keep that in mind next time I have to burn a southwestern town.”

Trader checked under the lid to see the stew boiling. “How do you think Great Cougar is doing? He and his warriors must be having a miserable time of it. If he’s on the way, the trees are lashing, branches cracking and falling. Some of the old forest giants will be crashing to the ground.”

“Better him than us.” Old White stared thoughtfully at the coals. “Might slow him down some. If he’s at the head of that big a war party, it’ll give him fits.”

Trader pulled out their bowls. “You really think Smoke Shield has Two Petals?”

Old White took his bowl, lifted the lid off the pot, and dipped out some of the boiling stew. “That would be my best guess. If she were anywhere else, we’d hear. A Contrary, as you well know, causes commotion. But if he had her hidden away in the palace he might be able to keep a lid on her just like we’ve done with that pot.”

Trader sighed. “What if she’s actually up there?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been wondering.” Old White blew across his steaming bowl. “The thing is, Trader, we can’t just climb up there and start searching the place.”

“Maybe we should go as soon as we eat?” He nodded his head toward the shaking walls. “This is about as good a distraction as we’re going to get. Smoke Shield might be out trying to be useful, you know, tying down roofs and such.”

Old White shot him a disbelieving glance.

“Well,” Trader said in frustration, “we have to do something! She’s our Contrary! The gods alone know what he’s doing to her up there. Beatings? Rape?”

“May the ghosts of the long dead help him if he does.”

“You sound pretty unconcerned given what you’ve learned about Smoke Shield.”

“You didn’t see her with Black Tooth at Cahokia.”

“Could we be so lucky with Smoke Shield?”

“We can hope.”

“I still think we should go up there.”

“If she’s up there, it’s because she wants to be,” Old White countered. “She’s seen it all. Trust her.”

“All right,” Trader muttered. “I’ll go. Alone.”

Old White screwed his face into disgust. “Now, that’s just—”

“Anyone there?” a woman’s voice called at their door.

Swimmer barked happily, his tail wagging.

“A moment!” Trader called. He lowered his bowl and walked over to unlace the ties.

Heron Wing, followed by a slim man, ducked past the flap. Trader took long enough to glance out at the houses around him, seeing ripped thatch and naked ramadas. Then he retied the flap and turned.

“Dark in here,” Heron Wing said wearily. Her hair was in disarray despite having been pinned back into a severe bun. Her cloak was speckled with bits of matting and other debris. She wore a plain brown dress, belted at the waist.

The man who accompanied her was a little older than she, with pleasant features. He was staring at Trader, a slight smile on his lips. He wore a white knee-length shirt. Pouches were tied to a rope belt. A large gorget and strings of white shell beads hung at his throat. The cougar-hide cape had been thrown back on his shoulders. Gleaming black hair was pulled in a bun held in place by a long copper pin. His face had been tattooed in dotted lines.

It took a moment, then Trader smiled. “Pale Cat?”

“Green Snake?”

They clasped each other, a warm joy in Trader’s heart as he held the man at arm’s length. “You look good, old friend.”

“As do you.”

“What are you doing here?”

Pale Cat gave him a sober look. “The southern palisade just blew over. People are swarming over it like ants. That is, when they’re not dodging flying baskets and ramada roofs. My sister thought it was a perfect opportunity to meet with you.”

“We have stew. Hot and bubbling,” Old White said.

“Thank you, but I must fast on the equinox.” The man reached down, taking Old White’s hand. “I am Pale Cat, Hopaye to the Hickory Moiety of the Panther Clan.”

“I am Old White, known as the Seeker.” He made a sour face. “Well, Hopaye, I hope it wasn’t your greeting ceremony this morning that set Mother Sun off.” He gestured around at the creaking walls.

Pale Cat raised his arms, and let them fall. “I leave it to others to call the winds. If Power is annoyed, I’m sure Smoke Shield is at the bottom of it. But half of the southern palisade falling flat? It may be an even stronger sign that Power is displeased.”

“Oh, yes,” Old White agreed.