People of the Thunder(149)

Instinctively, he cast a glance at Wooden Cougar, who sat with Cleft Skull, the dent in the latter’s head catching the light. Flying Hawk nodded, feeling curious sympathy for the clan chief and his worry about Two Beavers. There had been truth to the claim that if Smoke Shield had spent more time seeing to his domestic duties, none of this would have occurred. Two Poisons and Smells-His-Death stood at their places, looking slit-eyed at Smoke Shield.

For his part, the war chief stood stiffly, his muscular arms crossed; his unbending expression was for Flying Hawk alone.

Well, let the gaming pieces be cast. What I did, I did for the safety of the people. If that led Smoke Shield to kill him, so be it. Knowing his people, they would prepare his body with great ceremony and give his souls a proper start to the west. There, if he had the fortitude of Spirit, he would pass through the Seeing Hand as the great constellation set in the west. After that, he only had his murdered brother’s souls to contend with.

He chuckled. After Smoke Shield, it would be a relief.

Flying Hawk clapped his hands, and Seven Dead stepped forward with a cup of black drink. Then, as was proper, the man tipped tobacco into the Eagle Pipe, careful not to touch the leaf. He tamped it with a wooden rod and lit the bowl from the fire.

Flying Hawk stepped forward, taking a drink of the hot, bitter tea, then puffing on the pipe. He exhaled the blue smoke and looked up at the morning light angling through the smoke hole. Then he considered his words. He could sense Power in the room, some brooding presence that demanded satisfaction.

“We send our earnest prayers to you, Breath Giver, and pray that you will bless us with sunshine and rain. We ask you to send us the order and harmony of the white Power. Let it fill our hearts with peace in these trying times. From the red Power we beg courage, strength, and the creativity to solve the terrible problems we face. Today, here, I ask you to grant us wisdom and health.”

Grunts of assent came from the chiefs. Smoke Shield, he couldn’t help but notice, remained silent.

Flying Hawk took a moment, wondering if this would be the last time he addressed the Council as high minko. One by one, he looked at the chiefs, even nodding to Amber Bead where he stood in the back. The old man behind Seven Dead was unfamiliar. And to his surprise, Heron Wing stood behind Pale Cat and Night Star. Another stranger stood obscured by the shadows in the rear.

Seven Dead and Blood Skull were watching him with a curious intensity. He glanced back at Smoke Shield, could see his barely contained rage. Was this more than just the problem of the palisade?

“Today,” Flying Hawk began, “we must address the situation of the palisade. Our good councilor, Amber Bead—”

“I think there is something more pressing,” Smoke Shield interrupted, stepping forward.

Flying Hawk sighed, turning his weary gaze to his nephew. “Yes, War Chief? What is it?”

Smoke Shield ground his teeth. “May I have the floor?”

“You may.”

Smoke Shield stepped forward, lifted the large shell cup, and drank of the black drink. Then he bent, taking a pull from the pipe and blowing smoke toward the opening. He raised his head to the sunlight. “Breath Giver, hear my words and know they are true. I have come to address this Council, my heart weeping.”

He turned, staring at each chief in turn. “I have come to speak of treachery!”

Flying Hawk shook his head. “There is no treachery. I ordered the warriors to move in your name. I could not—”

“What?” Smoke Shield cried in amazement. “You did what?”

Flying Hawk spread his arms. “It is not treachery to order our warriors north to intercept the Yuchi.”

Smoke Shield gave him a look of utter disbelief. “Great Cougar comes from the west! Our palisade is down, and you have ordered the warriors to the north?”

Flying Hawk explained, “The war chief has been under some distress. His—”

Smoke Shield stomped up to glare into his face. “You are Green Snake’s agent! You are the one setting us up for betrayal! And now you have ordered the warriors away! Great Cougar could be here at any moment!”

“This is a fantasy, War Chief. Told to you by your witch. Only you believe that Great Cougar is making some impossible strike at Split Sky City.”

Smoke Shield’s muscles were knotted, his mouth working. “Old man, you may have killed us all!”

Flying Hawk heard the gasp from the chiefs.

“You see,” Wooden Cougar said just loud enough to be heard, “he has lost his wits.”

“Enough!” Smoke Shield thundered, his finger lancing out at Wooden Cougar. “Power has sent me a Prophet. Here we sit, blaming each other, and all the while, Green Snake is working his evil to undermine us. I tell you, Great Cougar is coming, and I have no doubts that Green Snake is plotting with the Chahta, as well as the Yuchi. The coward seeks to destroy us so that he is declared high minko!”