"Shut up," Green Water growled. "Raven Hunter wants to couple with her. It's not too much for a woman to ask shelter from a man like that."
"Wants to couple ..." One Who Cries' voice drifted off.
"I'll leave," Dancing Fox murmured. "I didn't mean to cause—"
"Hush," Green Water ordered firmly. "These robes are -plenty big enough for all of us."
"No, that's all right. Crow Caller cursed me anyway. It's not right that I should taint your souls with mine. I didn't think first.''
"Crow Caller! He couldn't curse a maggot into becoming a fly." One Who Cries laughed.
"The robes are big enough," Green Water repeated. "I agree with my husband. We've seen Dreamers. Crow Caller is a fake."
"He threw me out. Cursed me," Dancing Fox reminded.
"I heard what he did to you. And I know why it happened in the first place. He beat you!"
"Hey!" One Who Cries started. "Doesn't a husband have a right to his wife any time he wants her?"
"You come at me like a bull mammoth in rut, and see how long it takes for your robes to be piled in the snow!"
"I'd never—"
"Of course not," Green Water relented softly. "That's the point."
"I'd better go," Dancing Fox insisted.
"You stay." One Who Cries pushed her down easily. "Like Green Water says, the robes are big enough."
"And you be careful," Green Water added dryly, punching One Who Cries sharply in the ribs.
"Ouch! Why'd you go do that?"
"Just a warning. The last thing you'd want to do is embarrass yourself by trying to stick that little thing in Dancing Fox.'' Green Water slid under the thin summer hide.
"Little thing? Little! OUCH!"
Chapter 30
"So, there you are."
Dancing Fox stiffened, hearing Raven Hunter's cool voice'. She braced herself on the digging stick she used to pry starchy arctic potato roots from the mucky soil. In her bag, sour dock and fat roots bulged. Before her, the lumpy hills piled toward the mountains to the west. They looked so clear in the heady light. As if she could just reach up and touch the perpetually snowy peaks. About her, grasses and tussocks undulated in green—a stark contrast to the weathered gray of the colluvial rock washed down from the slope.
She turned. He stood tall, arms crossed, head cocked as he watched. The breeze tugged at his long hair, lying loose about his shoulders in a shining blue-black mantle. His too-perfect face reflected curiosity, challenge, a gentleness behind his heavy-lidded dark eyes.
"I looked for you the last night of the Dance."
"I thought you were up praying for a vision."
The smile curled his lips. "I've seen." He filled his lungs, expanding his chest. "This year, we'll be successful. This year, we'll push them back to the north. Breathing room for the People ... for a while."
She watched him, feeling cornered. Green Water and
Laughing Sunshine, she knew, were just over the small hillock. All she need do was cry out.
' 'What do you want?''
A curious look of surprise flickered across his smooth face. "Why, to save the People from the Others. To—"
"With me," she clarified coldly.
He laughed. "Ah, but you've already become mine. Who else will have you? My silly brother is off to be a Dreamer. Fool!" He made a gesture of futility. "Used to tell me about his visions. About Father Sun living far to the south and strange animals. Red-brown caribou with butts the color of tanned leather. About a smaller deer, buff and white, that sheds its horns and can outrun Wind Woman. He went on about a little dog-wolf. Brown, he said, with a bushy tail and nose like fox. Quick, he said. Smarter than wolf." He barked a laugh. "Smarter than wolf? I'll bet his beloved spirit loves that!"
"I wouldn't discount his Dreams," she added stiffly.
"Oh?" He walked arrogantly toward her. "And why not? v Tell me, Fox. I value your counsel. You'll be my wife one day.''
She looked up at him, aware of how close he'd come. The faint odor of his body traced delicately in her nose. Almost fearful, she met his eyes, felt the magnetism of his personality. Were he not so handsome ... no, unthinkable! Not him. Memories came back of the Long Dark, of Raven Hunter's body sliding under her robes.
"No, I won't," she whispered, struggling to keep her voice even.
The deep pools of his eyes stirred, drawing at her soul. A light shiver played along her spine as those eyes softened, beckoning her.
"You're going to be a leader of the People, Fox." The gentle tones of his voice soothed, caressed. A tingle warmed inside her. "But only if you're with me."