A gust of wind flapped the leather door covering, and streamers of blue smoke swirled through the shafts of sunlight lancing through the smoke holes. People coughed and squinted against the onslaught while they considered the chief’s question.
Joondoh rose. When Atotarho nodded, he said, “I confess that I believe this rumor may well be to our advantage. It’s fear that causes the Flint People to abandon their villages when they hear we are on the trails. They leave so fast they abandon everything they have, including their meager food stores, for us to claim. Fear, it seems to me, will save far more lives than sending them Healers.” He cast a disgusted look at Hiyawento.
When Joondoh sat down, Hiyawento and Thona leapt up at the same time. Atotarho nodded to Thona, and Hiyawento reluctantly reseated himself.
Thona said, “I agree with Joondoh, and respectfully submit to this council that we should make no attempt to disprove this notion.”
Hiyawento stood again, but Atotarho silenced him by saying, “I think this matter has been adequately considered. Let us move on to discuss the next issue: the treachery of Sedge Marsh Village.”
The change of subject had the force of a war club’s impact. Warriors went silent. Many were obviously uncomfortable with dropping either the discussion of the fever, or the heinous accusation of witchcraft. On the east side of the longhouse, High Matron Tila of the Wolf Clan whispered to Matron Kelek of the Bear Clan. She nodded. Both women turned to speak to the other matrons. Moments later, they all turned to statues again.
Atotarho quietly said, “What have you all heard?”
“Treasonous dogs,” Joondoh spat the last word. “We hear they allied themselves with Bur Oak and Yellowtail Villages for a few baskets of corn.”
“It is obscene,” Thona agreed. “They deserved to die. They had no honor, no pride in the war we fight against our enemies.”
Hiyawento rose, and this time received the chief’s approval. “So you all believe it?” Nods went round. Warriors leaning along the walls hissed threats in voices that brooked no disagreement. “And does anyone have proof?”
“We’ve heard the same story from a dozen Traders,” Thona replied.
“And from Sedge Marsh captives!” Joondoh’s deputy war chief, Dahana, a tall wiry man, insisted. “Why would they lie about such a thing?”
“They have no reason to lie about it.” Joondoh squinted against the shifting smoke.
A chorus of soft voices went round.
At his side, Kallen expelled a breath and rose to her feet. “May I speak, Chief?”
Atotarho nodded, and Kallen said, “Coldspring Village has taken in five Sedge Marsh survivors. They have a different explanation of why they allied with the Standing Stone nation. They acknowledge that they accepted baskets of corn, but only after High Matron Tila refused to help them. They also say the alliance was one of mutual defense. They were afraid of the Flint People, and High Matron Kittle guaranteed them that she would place Standing Stone warriors on the southern trails to keep Flint war parties at bay.” She sat down again.
Thona sneered. “They should have asked her to place warriors on the northern trails as well, to protect them from the wrath of their own people.”
Joondoh added, “It might be wise for us to dispatch a runner to High Matron Kittle to inform her that she is responsible for the destruction of Sedge Marsh Village.”
Atotarho shifted to ease the pain in his hip, and the circlets of skull on his black cape flashed. “Is Turtleback Village suggesting that we dispatch an emissary to High Matron Kittle to warn her not to interfere with any other Hills villages or she will face the consequences?”
“We are,” Joondoh said.
“Riverbank Village sees no harm in this.” Thona’s scars gleamed whitely when he cast a respectful glance at the matrons, whose ancient faces remained impassive.
Atotarho rubbed his knee for a time before saying, “What message would the emissary carry?”
Joondoh replied, “We should tell her straightly that if she attempts to establish another alliance with a Hills Village we will attack Bur Oak Village and kill every last person.”
Thona blinked thoughtfully. “Yes, but who will carry the message?”
Joondoh nodded. “They will recognize any Hills warrior who tries to approach their border. They know us just by the way we move, as we do them. Even if traveling with a white arrow, I suspect our emissary will be dead in less than a heartbeat. Perhaps a Trader?”
The white arrow signified that the traveler was on a special diplomatic mission. Most people respected it, but some did not. Kittle had been known to return white arrows soaked in the emissary’s blood.