People of the Thunder(24)

“Fast Legs didn’t consult with him?”

“No.” Bull Fish frowned. “That was odd, too. You’d think that he would have gone there, demanded Lotus Root, and had Sun Falcon do his dirty work for him. Sun Falcon is Chief Clan, after all, a cousin to High Minko Flying Hawk. Instead Fast Legs lurked out in the forest like the animal he is.”

“There is a reason Sun Falcon wasn’t alerted. He knows nothing of this. No one does. Smoke Shield did this against the orders of the Council. Don’t you people hear anything up there?”

“Our representative to the Chikosi Council is dead, Mikko!”

“Keep your voice down. You are welcome to your passions. I have my own. But that doesn’t mean shouting them at the top of your lungs is either smart, or necessary.”

The young man looked chastened.

Amber Bead considered. “So, we have War Chief Smoke Shield’s bow and arrows, Lotus Root’s accusation, and Fast Legs. Better yet, no one knows. The question now is how do we use it all?”

“We sneak our mikkos from up and down the river to see this man, hear the accusation, and inspect the war chief’s arrows, that’s what. Then, when the time is right, our people storm the Chikosi, and they serve us for a while.”

Amber Bead felt the corner of his lip quivering. “Is that how you people see this playing out?”

“Mikko,” Bull Fish pleaded, “it is our time! This is a sign, sent by Abba Mikko above, for the Albaamaha to reclaim our land.”

“I see. Tell me, has Sun Falcon acted in some atrocious manner in the last couple of moons? Anything I wouldn’t have heard about?”

“He’s still the same arrogant Chikosi he ever was.”

“But he hasn’t beaten any of our people? Raped our women after dragging them from their husbands’ beds? Hasn’t defiled any of our temples?”

“No. He’s just arrogant. Thinks we’re beneath him. He even has Albaamaha who grovel and go whimpering at his feet. Those people, we tell nothing.”

“How many Albaamaha do you know who go groveling?”

“Too many!”

Amber Bead nodded. “Yes, my young friend, and that is exactly the problem. Unlike some Chikosi, Sun Falcon is a just man.”

Bull Fish glared up. “We thought you were on our side! Red Awl was the one who constantly called for patience, who wanted to compromise. Look where that got him! We heard you were the one who chafed under the Chikosi burden basket.”

Amber Bead fingered his chin, nodding. “Chafe? Oh, yes, I do. Am I willing to undermine the Chikosi at any opportunity? Definitely. Here’s the thing you must know: If we strike at the Chikosi, we will be crushed. This is exactly the sort of thing Smoke Shield is hoping for. An Albaamaha revolt would shoot him onto the high minko’s stool up there in that palace yonder. It would solidify the Council’s support.”

“We outnumber them!”

“But they are better warriors.”

“We trapped Fast Legs! The fool ran right into it.”

“You manipulated one tired man in the forest.” Amber Bead raised his hands, stalling any outburst. “I am not your enemy. Do not mistake me. I do not like the Chikosi. I want to see them gone from our country, but that time hasn’t arrived. They must be weakened, made vulnerable. We just avoided one calamity; I would not instigate another.”

“They are vulnerable. You proved that when you murdered their captives.”

“I murdered their captives? Is that the story told upriver?”

“Who else? It is thought that you had Paunch do it. He’s missing, isn’t he? What better person to sneak in through the fog and drive a knife into the captives’ hearts?”

A cold chill ran down Amber Bead’s back. “First, let me make this painfully clear: I had nothing to do with the captives’ deaths! You must go back and tell everyone who will listen. No Albaamaha had a hand in that action. And it certainly wasn’t Paunch! He’s out hiding in the forest somewhere because the Chikosi think he had something to do with Crabapple’s attempt to warn White Arrow Town of Smoke Shield’s raid. Do you understand?”

“Then who did?” Bull Fish seemed perplexed.

Amber Bead sighed, fully aware of the danger he was in. “To the best of my knowledge, the Chahta did it. And, in the end, I fervently hope it was them. Let the Chikosi distract themselves raiding Chahta towns. I need you to make sure that everyone upriver knows it wasn’t us. And, in Abba Mikko’s sacred name, do not attach my name—or Paunch’s—to it in any way.”

“Why? It strengthens your position among our people.”