The Broken Land(104)
As he rose to his feet, his heavy moosehide cape waffled around his tall body. Powerfully built, he’d seen twenty-three summers pass. His thick eyebrows were obsidian black and formed a single line over his slitted eyes.
A flock of children veered wide around him, laughing, running to see the latest spectacle. Their dirty feet were bare and caked with mud.
Warriors marched the doomed man up the platform steps and tied him to the middle pole. Ohsinoh couldn’t tear his gaze away. He had never even met the victim, but—like everyone else here—he yearned to watch him die. The prisoner was a warrior from White Dog Village, a village of the Standing Stone People. That was enough reason to hate him.
The man’s head hung down, and he breathed heavily. His muscular body had endured much over the past few days. Slashes and punctures adorned his flesh. All had been cauterized with fiery brands. Even from this distance, Ohsinoh could smell the taint of burned skin and muscle.
The esteemed and powerful Atotarho emerged from the Wolf longhouse and with great ceremony marched toward the platform. Two holy men followed him. As he climbed the steps to stand before the doomed man, the circlets of human skull on Atotarho’s black cape flashed. The prisoner had no strength left. His chest heaved, and he panted as he licked parched lips. With little ceremony, Atotarho drew out his flint knife and slit open the man’s belly. When his entrails fell onto the platform, the man let out one final wail and slumped. As was his right, Atotarho cut the still-beating heart from the warrior’s chest and presented it to the glorious war chief, Sindak, who’d won the battle. Sindak bowed and strode away to eat his prize in private.
Ohsinoh chuckled. The rest of the human carcass was soon cut up and distributed among the villagers. Three little girls ran by him carrying bloody pieces of meat, their faces alight.
When the crowd dispersed, Ohsinoh stood for a while gazing up at the three dead men. They’d gotten better than they deserved. The Standing Stone People were savage beasts, cowards not worthy of life. Even Wrass and Odion had chosen to be adopted by other nations.
He moved a little closer, standing in the rear, waiting to catch the great Atotarho’s gaze. The chief stood atop the platform speaking with the holy men.
Finally, Atotarho turned, glimpsed Ohsinoh, and paled. His crooked body careened down the platform steps, his walking stick clacking. “I told you never to come here. You were supposed to send a messenger telling me where to meet you.”
“But, Father, I wished to see my home. Surely I have that right. I’ve been away too many summers. I’m certain my relatives have missed me.”
He smiled at the old man, and the chief’s eyes narrowed. Atotarho looked around to see who was watching and whispered, “Give me your message and leave.”
“I’ve accomplished both tasks.”
Atotarho blinked. “Really? Because it isn’t apparent. If anything, my daughter’s husband is even more a problem now than before. Last night in council he urged peace. Peace! And after everything we’ve gone through, his words had power. Two clan matrons sided with him and the Coldspring Village council. It was a disgusting display of arrogance.”
Ohsinoh leaned down to whisper in an amused voice, “Sky Messenger has pitied the little children, and soon, very soon, the Crow will come to sit upon Hiyawento’s head.”
“That’s gibberish. Are you saying you’ve seen Sky Messenger?”
“Oh, yes.” Ohsinoh chuckled. “Sky Messenger met with Hiyawento last night outside of Coldspring Village, just before Hiyawento rejoined your council meeting.”
It took a few instants for the words to sink in; then rage twisted the old man’s wrinkles into frightening lines. “Are you certain of this?”
“I personally followed him from Atotarho Village to Coldspring Village. I saw them sitting together in the aspen meadow.”
Atotarho stamped his walking stick on the ground as though to punish Great Grandmother Earth for allowing such an abomination. “My own daughter’s husband is conspiring with the Standing Stone People behind my back? What did they talk about?”
“I couldn’t get close to hear, but given what he said in council, it isn’t hard to figure out.”
Enraged, Atotarho said, “Very well. You’ve brought your message. Now get out of my village before someone recognizes you. When it is clear to me, and it isn’t yet, that you have accomplished both of the tasks I gave you, I’ll send your payment to the usual place.”
Ohsinoh laughed and gave him an exaggerated mocking bow. As he strode across Atotarho Village, he drew magical symbols in the air, cursing his relatives. When people noticed, they hastened to flee from him. Even the dogs trotted away growling.