The Broken Land(117)
Taya wet her lips. Wind Mother whispered through the trees. A wall of dark clouds had formed in the north, blotting out the campfires of the dead. “Sky Messenger, since our meeting with War Chief Hiyawento, I’ve been thinking a lot about the Beginning Time story. It was Sapling, the Good-Minded Twin, who brought order after the creation. He made lakes and rivers, brought good weather, ensured the corn grew, and released the animals from the great cave where they were being held. It was his brother Tawiscaro, the Evil-Minded Twin, who tried to undo everything good that Sapling had accomplished. He sent bad weather and brought chaos and death to the world.” She took his one hand in both of hers and held it to her heart. “I think, one day, there will be stories told about you. Great stories of life and death, and good and evil. I truly believe that you are the human False Face.”
He flinched and drew his hand away from her. “I am not.”
“How do you know? You wear that gorget that matches the stories, and you—”
“My gorget is a copy; it’s not the original. Chief Atotarho wears the original—or half of it.”
Annoyed, Taya said, “The stories speak of two gorgets crafted just after the creation. One must have been made first. So the other is obviously a copy. No one knows whether the human False Face wears the original or the copy. Yours could be the sacred gorget, and the other is just a distraction.”
He hurled another rock. He appeared uncomfortable with the entire discussion of legends. “I am not the human False Face.”
Taya shrugged. “All right. But maybe you are the person who clears the path for the arrival of the human False Face. That’s still critically important.”
His head dipped once. “Yes, it is.”
In the distance, the geese started flapping their wings and honking, as though preparing to take flight. Their beautiful calls serenaded the night. “My Spirit Helper told me something tonight that worries me.”
Almost breathlessly, she said, “Shago-niyoh was here? What did he say?”
He watched her closely, as if trying to anticipate how she would respond to what he was about to say. “He told me that I must dive headfirst into the darkness and blood. If I do, others will follow.”
Taya’s breathing went shallow. “But … that sounds like … it sounds like you’re talking about dying. I’m mistaken, aren’t I? That’s not what you meant?”
Sky Messenger didn’t answer.
Taya slid away from him. “If you’re planning on dying, tell me now.”
“Why? So you can start looking for another husband?”
“No, so I can beat you senseless for being an idiot!”
“Taya, I’m not planning to die, but if it’s the only way—”
“It’s not the only way!” She leaped to her feet. “We’re going home to convince Grandmother that it’s possible to create an alliance with several Hills villages to destroy Atotarho. That’s the way to end the war.”
“Yes, I hope so. But Taya, I have this feeling that things have gone too far, and we can’t—”
“We’re going to form this alliance; then everything will be all right,” she insisted.
“I hope so.” Sky Messenger rose to his feet and stood uneasily before her. After several heartbeats, she felt his hand stroke the long hair that draped down her back. “Earlier, you asked if there was something you could do to help me. I’ve changed my mind. There is.”
“I will not help you die!”
They stood for a long time, looking at each other. He lowered his hand. “I would never ask that of anyone. But there may come a moment in the storm when I need someone politically astute to act as a negotiator on my behalf. I know you are young, but—”
“I can do it,” she said with utter confidence. “I have watched and listened to my grandmother all my life.” She drew herself up and faced him squarely. “But …” She pointed a stern finger at him. “Not if I know that you’re planning on sacrificing yourself for the greater good, or some other stupid notion. Do you understand?”
His gaze went over her angry face as though memorizing it. “Yes. I understand.”
They stood for a time, just gazing out at the glimmers of starlight on the pond, until Sky Messenger said, “I’m going back to camp and try to sleep. Are you coming?”
“Not yet.”
He looked around at the darkness and seemed to be wondering why she wasn’t terrified to be more than a few paces from him. She was wondering that herself.
“Very well. I’ll be waiting for you.”