Pale Cat stepped forward. “How do you know this, War Chief? Tell us what you have heard.” He paused. “You do refer to your brother, don’t you?”
“My brother is a Yuchi traitor!” Smoke Shield turned, narrowing his eyes. “As to the rest, I have my own sources of information.”
Pale Cat nodded patiently. “Is that what the Yuchi messenger was coming to tell you under the white arrow? That Green Snake was returning to his people? Is that how you know?”
Smoke Shield’s hard lips curled. “I said, I have my sources. And they come straight from Power.”
Blood Skull then stepped forward. “If you knew Great Cougar was headed this way, why did you withdraw most of the scouts from the Horned Serpent River Divide?”
“They were becoming too fond of the Chahta. I told you that. You know that I was setting a trap for Great Cougar, and then you let this old . . . the high minko order them away? Are you plotting with Green Snake, too?”
It was Night Star who asked, “How do you know that Green Snake is plotting against us? From the rumors I’ve heard, all he did was Trade and play chunkey with the Yuchi.”
“Trade and play chunkey?” Smoke Shield laughed, clapping a hand on his thigh. “He sent an assassin to murder our high minko! That must have been some Trade.”
“Next you will be telling us that he murdered the White Arrow captives, and stole their war medicine out of the Men’s House,” Pale Cat said in an even voice.
“I wouldn’t put it past him.”
Seven Dead asked, “So, how did he do all this?”
Smoke Shield turned to Flying Hawk. “From right under our eyes. No one would notice the high minko in the Men’s House. He could have walked right out the door, the White Arrow war medicine in his hands.” His smile was a frightening thing. “Is that it, Uncle? Did you fear me so much that you had to call my cowardly brother back? Don’t you remember how he left? He didn’t even have the courage to kill that Yuchi captive, and now he marches with them.”
Flying Hawk raised his hands in despair. “You think I took the Chahta war medicine? I did no such thing. I know nothing more about Green Snake than what the Yuchi told us.”
Smoke Shield’s expression changed from rage to amazement that Flying Hawk would bring up the Yuchi messenger. “You go too far, Uncle! Do not change the facts. Next you will blame the Yuchi’s murder on me, when all I did was save you from Green Snake’s assassin!”
A strident voice called out, “There was no assassin! You have lied all of your life, and it stops now.”
Flying Hawk turned to see the man behind Heron Wing emerge from the shadows. He blinked as the stranger stepped past Pale Cat and into the circle before the fire. Smoke Shield gaped, as if in disbelief.
“Breath Giver take me,” Flying Hawk whispered as recognition dawned. The man—so different, so much older than the boy he had known—could be no other than Green Snake himself!
Green Snake met Flying Hawk’s incredulous gaze, asking, “Might your nephew address this Council, High Minko?”
Flying Hawk hesitated, confused. He took a breath to deny Green Snake’s request.
“You may not!” Smoke Shield bellowed. “Warriors! Seize this traitor!”
As Smoke Shield started forward, Flying Hawk placed a hand on his shoulder. By the gods, I am in charge here! “He will speak, War Chief.” And in a louder voice, “Or are you declaring yourself high minko without the Council’s confirmation?”
Flying Hawk felt the building anger, the boiling hatred seething in Smoke Shield’s body. Yes, do it. Attack him here, and finish my problems once and for all.
But Smoke Shield, sensing the danger, stepped back.
Through it all, Green Snake had stood, hands on his hips. His hard eyes had burned into Smoke Shield’s, daring him to attack. He hadn’t flinched; not even the slightest flicker of fear had betrayed itself.
Flying Hawk took a good look at him, seeing the corded muscle in his shoulders and arms. He wore a Chief Clan copper headpiece, and though the tattoos remained unfinished, this was a man to be reckoned with.
“You may take the drink, Green Snake.” He indicated the pipe and cup.
With great dignity, Green Snake lifted the black drink, offered it to the sky, and drank. Then he bent, taking a long draw from the Eagle Pipe. When he stood and blew the smoke upward, he called out in a clear voice, “Breath Giver, Power has sent me here. It called me from the north, and I have followed its call. I have come to speak the truth, and make restitution to my clan for the attack on my brother. I have come to bring Power back into balance.”