"Ah, it's easier to think about him belonging to another woman, is it?"
"I can fight another woman. I can't fight the whole spirit world."
"No, you can't. But he won't be the first person you ever lose in your life. There's worse things."
"Like what?" she scoffed miserably.
Talon eyed her seriously. "Like the death of the People. If he's sacrificing himself to the Dream, it's for the People. You understand that? It's not because he hates you."
Dancing Fox stared at the dark figure of the old woman, heart in her throat. "I'll learn to understand it."
Talon's voice warmed as she looked longingly up at the dim stars. "I know you will."
Long minutes passed while they listened to the rasping of Wind Woman over the rocky plains and watched the flickering northern lights.
"You're not coming back to camp . . . really?"
"No, I'm going to wait here and talk to the Star People." Talon squinted upward a little fearfully.
"I'm staying with you. It's not right that you die by yourself."
Talon shooed her away. "Dying's a private thing. I don't want you here."
A sob welled in Dancing Fox's throat. She forcibly choked it back. "Are you sure?"
Talon scrutinized her tormented expression. "You really need to be close to me to the end?''
' 'I can't stand the thought of you getting weak . . . and the wolves ..."
"Well, I can't much either. You going to keep them off?"
"If you'll let me."
"You think you can face it? It'll mean that much longer before you find out what's happened to Runs In Light."
Dancing Fox's eyes locked with the wrinkled old woman's and some silent communication passed between them, tender and intimate. "I can face it."
She lifted the broken shell from the nest, tender fingers caressing the sharp edges.
Chapter 39
The lodge stretched twenty feet across the base, rising six feet over Ice Fire's graying head. Caribou and mammoth robes were stacked neatly in the far comer, their hair glittering in the light of the fire burning in the rock-lined fire pit. Multicolored medicine bundles dotted the walls, each carefully placed to correspond to the direction that gave it Spirit Power.
He looked up, frowning at the bundle on the southern wall, the sea bundle. For days it had taunted him, its sweet voice disturbing his sleep. "I haven't closed my ears," he assured it softly, reaching out to stroke the bundle. "Keep talking. Eventually, I'll understand your message."
"Ice Fire?"
He dropped his hand, seeing Broken Shaft's face peeking through the door flap. He motioned the young warrior in, getting to his feet to hug him. Twenty Long Lights old, Broken Shaft stood tall and heavily muscled with a button nose and round face. His full lips were sensual as he smiled and pushed back a little, eyes drifting over the elder. ' 'Thank the Great Mystery that you're all right. With all the attacks from the Enemy, I feared for your life."
Ice Fire smiled. "Don't worry. I know the time of my death, and it isn't for a while yet."
Broken Shaft cocked his head skeptically. "On occasion, I've known your visions to be wrong."
Ice Fire laughed. "But only on occasion."
"True, but it worries me nonetheless."
They exchanged a warm smile.
"You made excellent time." Ice Fire changed the subject. "I hope that means it was an easy trip with no troubles."
'' Smoke proved difficult
Ice Fire frowned. "Why? He's a good—"
"He met a girl from the Round Hoof Clan and lost his head. He brought her bouquets of autumn leaves for days before she reluctantly gave in and agreed to spend time with him. But the rest of the trip was uneventful."
Ice Fire's eyes crinkled in amusement. "Smoke stayed, I take it?"
"Indeed, he did."
Putting an arm around Broken Shaft's broad shoulders, Ice Fire guided the warrior to the fire, where they both settled on the sandy soil. "You look tired. Can I offer you a hot meal?"
"That sounds wonderful. I could eat an entire mammoth." The young man placed his darts to his lips a moment, apologizing for letting them out of his hands, before he carefully laid them to the side.
Ice Fire scooped up a horn full of the thick musk-ox stew, handing it to the grateful warrior.
"Thank you, Elder. I've much to tell you."
"Ice Fire?" Red Flint appeared in the doorway.
"Thank you for coming, old friend. Come in."
The middle-aged man ducked beneath the flap and ambled tiredly to settle on his knees across the fire. His eyes looked down, the lines around his mouth remained tightly drawn— as they had since the Enemy carried off his daughter, Moon Water.