People of the Wolf(90)

"You have too much ambition for such a young man. Aren't an elder's words enough for you?" He gruffly started to stand.

Raven Hunter gently pushed him back to the ground. "Of course, I'm ambitious. I'm the salvation of the People. Do you Dream anything else?"

Indignantly, the old man said, "I Dream many things."

"Let's be honest, you and I. I've been keeping track of your 'Dreams.' Remember the prophesy at Mammoth Camp? Eh? All the hunters sinking darts into the calves? Hasn't happened yet. You Dreamed the birth of Strikes Lightning's first son. Remember? All that wondrous talk of him cradling the boy in his arms. It was another girl. Strikes Lightning is dead. Mouse is gone to One Who Cries' camp. And men there was the Dream about the—"

"Sometimes Dreams change."

"And sometimes the important thing is that people believe . . . whether Dreams are true or not."

Crow Caller shouted, "Are you accusing me of lying?"

Raven Hunter toyed with a dart foreshaft, avoiding the shaman's eyes. "I wouldn't want you and me to be enemies, old teacher. It wouldn't be good for the People."

Crow Caller digested that, hard lines forming around his mouth. Finally he said, "What are you after?"

"You've never really backed my raids against the Others."

"I've never spoken out against them, either."

"True, and I respect a man who waits to see where his best interests lie." He met the old man's gaze. "But the time

has come for you to decide." He leaned close, holding Crow Caller's good eye. The old man glared back defiantly. But after a few moments his stare wavered and fell.

"What do you want?"

"Are you with me ... or against me?"

"Why do you need my backing?"

"Enthusiasm for war during the Long Dark will be ... how do I say it? Lacking? No one wants to fight when the spirits might suck a man's soul away."

Crow Caller flashed his good eye to Raven Hunter's. "And a shaman's approval might make the difference?"

"Approval and promises of protection."

"And if I don't support this?"

Raven Hunter spewed a disappointed exhale. "A complete recounting of the times your Dreams were wrong could become the center of the People's gossip. Some might begin to openly mock you. Derision is the Dreamer's worst—"

"You're threatening me?" Crow Caller said, mouth open.

"No. I'm trying to give you enough information so you can decide quickly that your best interests are in supporting me."

Crow Caller's face puckered in rage. "My Powers reach far and wide. I have ways, uses for bits of hair, nail clippings, scraps of clothing. I know how to draw a man's soul out of his body and send it scurrying into the Long Dark. I can—"

"Shall we publicly test that?"

"What do you mean?"

Raven Hunter reached for his personal spirit bundle. "I'll give you this tomorrow where everyone can see. Then we'll all wait—the entire camp—to see what's stronger: your curses on me or my soul." His eyes glistened darkly. "Do you want to see that happen?"

Crow Caller squirmed, eyes darting nervously. "It would serve no purpose."

"Come, let's be honest, old teacher. Friend. We, who have so much to offer each other, shouldn't be adversaries."

Crow Caller sucked his lower lip, a pained expression heavy on his features. "You want to split the People? Make more disharmony when the Others are raiding and killing us?"

"No." Raven Hunter pursed his lips distastefully. "I want

unity. But that won't happen until you and I are on the same side."

A long silence passed as Crow Caller's face lined with uneasy thought. Raven Hunter waited patiently; the old man's shoulders slowly slumped. Before him, the Dreamer of the People appeared to wilt from the inside.

The words drawn out, anguished, Crow Caller finally whispered, "I ... I'll help you."

"I knew you would. Have more stew, my friend. You and I, we shall remold the People."

Crow Caller shook his head, reaching the horn cup into the broth. "So young, yet so powerful. Where does this come from when I, with all my wisdom, must work so hard for Dreams I cannot trust?"

Raven Hunter blinked thoughtfully, listening to the difficult admission. "Your Power will return, old friend, now that you've decided to fight to save the People. I'm sure Father Sun doubted your devotion before and that's why it fled. It'll be back."

Crow Caller cast a skeptical glance heavenward. "Maybe."

"I'm sure of it."

"And you think this war against the Others will succeed? You think you can drive them back, once and for all?"

Raven Hunter twirled his dart point. "Truthfully, I don't know, but we'll make them think twice. Convince them there are easier fates than facing the People. Suppose Blueberry is right? If there are more people pushing the Others—and we make them bleed enough—maybe they'll go back and retake the lands they've been pushed out of."