People of the Thunder(145)
“There are no Yuchi warriors,” Trader growled. “What would lead him to think I could command a Yuchi war party?”
“He wasn’t smart enough to hear the Yuchi messenger out,” Old White mused.
Seven Dead asked, “What do we do about Great Cougar’s raid? If Morning Dew has taken him the war medicine, it will be a sign to him, proof that we’re ripe for slaughter.”
“It is not too late,” Old White said. “Great Cougar is no fool. If we can talk to him before anyone looses an arrow, peace could still be negotiated.”
“Smoke Shield will hear none of it,” Blood Skull said through gritted teeth.
“There are higher authorities than Smoke Shield,” Old White replied.
“Don’t count on Flying Hawk,” Seven Dead told him. “He’s scared to death of Smoke Shield.” He glanced at his brother. “I’m surprised that the old man had the courage to act behind the war chief’s back and send warriors north.”
“No matter how this works out, Smoke Shield will kill him when he finds out.” Blood Skull rested his chin on his hands, lost in thought. “Why would the Contrary tell him we had the war medicine? Why would she warn him?”
“For reasons of her own,” Trader told them. “The Seeker is right. She serves Power.”
“That doesn’t make sense,” Heron Wing added. “Smoke Shield murdered a man under the protection of a white arrow. That alone should make Power turn its back on him.”
“Patience,” Old White added gently. “Power didn’t bring us here just to abandon us.”
“You place such faith in Power?” Night Star asked, her oversized jaw thrust out.
Old White smiled. “After all that I have seen, good chief, I do. Somehow, this is meant to serve us.”
Trader sighed. “Even after all this, yes, I put my faith in Power.”
“And you’d better be right,” Seven Dead told him darkly. “From here, tonight, it doesn’t look like it favors you at all.”
“Ah,” Old White said with a smile. “That’s why we need your help. It’s a small thing, really. We just need you to sneak us into the tchokfa tomorrow. Well, us and a few others. Oh, and a couple of other items as well.”
Trader swallowed hard. Tomorrow, it would all come to an end. One way, or another.
The water lapped at Two Petals’ toes. She stared out at the river, seeing the swirling surface, watching the ripples move as though churned by a great serpent’s back somewhere in the deep. To her right, the sun remained but a glow beneath the eastern horizon. The surface had taken on a silver gleam, the same color as the nugget Trader had given the Kaskinampo chief.
Her husband’s musical Song was like a soothing tonic. It washed around her souls with a warm gentleness that lulled her. She need not be excited; it was only a matter of time. And she had grown accustomed to time. After having watched it flow past her for so long, what was another short observance? She had almost reached the headwaters of her journey. Were she to turn inside herself, she could see her long-awaited goal.
She tilted her head back, sniffing the wet scents of mud and water. Through it, she thought she could detect a subtle musk.
She said wistfully, “I’ll be coming soon.”
“Yes, I know.”
“So little, and so much is left.”
“What will be, will be.”
“Will the Dreams end?”
“Only the confusion.”
She smiled at that. A sense of relief washed through her.
“He comes.”
“Of course.”
She heard the first faint slaps of his hard feet on the damp sand, seeing him through the eye of her soul. That vision had greater clarity than anything her eyes observed.
She knew the moment that he saw her, could feel his curiosity as he pounded toward her. She could sense the rhythm of his heart, knew the swelling of his lungs and the heat of his muscles. Her tongue tasted the sweat that glistened on his skin.
He slowed, panting. “You’re here again?”
“I wished to speak with my husband.”
“You don’t have a husband yet,” he chided.
“Yes, I know. But soon.” Before he could say more, she told him, “You have a trial coming in the tchkofa today.”
“What kind of trial?”
“Those who oppose you have gathered forces. Green Snake has laid his plans.”
“Green Snake?” Smoke Shield’s voice was laced with acid. “He has been in contact? With whom? Blood Skull?”
“Among others. They know what you’ve done. They have evidence.”
“Evidence!” He spat the word. “They have nothing but accusations. I’ve heard them all before.”