Yosha cried, “Mother!”
“Now get down on your hands and knees and pick up every crumb. Do you hear me? If I find anything larger than a gnat’s toe on that floor mat when you’re done, you’ll be licking it up with your tongue. When you’re finished, I want you to personally take the bread outside and give it to one of the refugee children.”
“But that’s demeaning!” Yosha burst into tears and dropped to her knees to begin collecting the morsels.
“Feeding a hungry child is demeaning?”
Kittle glowered at her daughter. It galled her almost beyond bearing that one of her daughters could care so little about the needs of others. All those summers that Kittle had spent in loyal service to the clan, and for what? Her children and grandchildren to act like spoiled vermin? Neither Yosha nor her daughter knew anything of sacrifice or loyalty.
Kittle rose, walked to the entry, and shoved aside the leather curtain. She stepped out beneath the porch to survey Bur Oak Village. The rainy plaza stood empty, but for a few dogs that loped through the downpour. If the storm kept up, the rain would soon turn to snow.
Despite Kittle’s hopes, Koracoo would not be back today. She would wait, let Kittle worry, then she would return and offer almost nothing. Kittle chuckled. It was the way of things.
Tomorrow would be an interesting day.
A young Trader, a man she had not seen before, ducked out of the Bear Clan longhouse and trotted across the plaza toward her. His Trader’s pack bounced upon his back. He was tall, unusually tall, and had a very pleasant square-jawed face. As he approached, he said, “Good day, High Matron. Would you mind if I enter your longhouse to Trade?”
Kittle smiled for such a long time that the man blushed. “What is your name?”
“I am Hiyade, of the Hawk Clan in White Dog Village.” He smiled back, but it was a shy, uncertain gesture.
“Of course you may Trade. After you are finished serving the rest of my kinsmen, return to me.”
He bowed. “I’ll be happy to, Matron.” He darted into the longhouse like a frightened rabbit.
Kittle smiled to herself and stood for a time longer, watching the rain fall, before she returned to the warmth.
Fifteen
Storm winds buffeted the forest, sending showers of red and gold leaves gusting down the trail toward the two men who walked ahead of Hiyawento. The sharp gazes of his guards constantly roved the trees, searching for hidden enemies. Both men carried bows, quivers, and war clubs. They dressed in warrior garb, their capes painted with clan symbols. The red spirals of the Hawk Clan coiled around the bottom of Disu’s cape. Saponi’s bore a series of interlocking green-and-blue rectangles across the middle, marking him as a member of the Snipe Clan. Disu stood two heads taller than Saponi, but what Saponi lost in height, he made up for in muscles. His burly shoulders spread twice as wide as Disu’s. When War Chief Sindak had met him on the trail two hands of time from Coldspring Village, he’d said, “These are good men. I would trust my life to either of them. They will guard you well on your journey.” Then he’d pulled Hiyawento aside and softly added, “Listen to them. Believe them,” and trotted back for Atotarho Village.
A fierce gust of rain struck Hiyawento, shoving his hood back. He pulled it up again and held it tightly beneath his chin while he studied the two warriors. They’d barely spoken all day, apparently concentrating on their duty instead.
When they reached the fork in the trail, rain pounded down, and the rocky trail ran with water. Disu and Saponi took the right fork.
Hiyawento frowned and called into the wind, “That’s the wrong trail. That leads to Sedge Marsh Village. We need to take the left fork to get to Bur Oak Village.”
Disu propped his hands on his hips and said something soft to Saponi. Saponi pointed to his own chest, and walked back to face Hiyawento. The man had a pockmarked face with brown eyes and a nose like a flattened beetle. He halted two paces away and adjusted his hood, pulling it lower over his face. “Do you trust War Chief Sindak?”
Hiyawento stared at him. Sindak had been one of the people who had rescued him after he’d been stolen away from Yellowtail Village as a child. “Yes. Why?”
“Because our instructions are to take you to Sedge Marsh Village first. Then, if you wish to proceed on to Bur Oak Village, we will escort you there.” His hood flapped around his face.
Hiyawento looked from Saponi to Disu and back. Both men wore stern expressions. “Why wouldn’t I wish to continue on to Bur Oak Village?”
Neither answered. They appeared to be waiting for him to figure this out by himself. “What’s going on? You know very well that the Ruling Council of Matrons ordered me to head straight to Bur Oak Village without delay.”