Kallen apologized, “Forgive him. A minor emergency. He meant no disrespect.” She bowed to the council and swiftly backed outside into the cold night.
Thirty-seven
Taya could not say what made the first sight of War Chief Hiyawento so impressive. He had no guards, no attendants, no extraordinary jewelry, none of the trappings of prestige and power; the man was not even armed. When he first glimpsed Taya and Sky Messenger in the forest, he stood alone, frozen, silent. A formidable man, tall, with a narrow beaked face and burning eyes, black hair blew around his shoulders. Dressed in a worn, knee-length buckskin shirt, he was dwarfed by the soaring height of the Coldspring Village palisade behind him. But if there had been hundreds of people assembled in this clearing, none of them would have had eyes for anything but this man. He was clearly a war chief to be reckoned with.
Sky Messenger’s words were like pebbles striking at the silence. “Wrass, it does my heart good to see you.”
The war chief strode forward and embraced Sky Messenger so hard his muscular arms shook. “Blessed gods, Odion, I have dreamed of this day a thousand times.”
They should have long ago given up their childhood names, and perhaps they had with every other person in the world, but it struck Taya as strangely intimate.
They continued to hold each other, their muscles bulging through their shirts, until the war chief pushed back. “I can’t believe you made it this far. Why are you alive?”
Taya noticed that Sky Messenger had tears in his eyes. “I know I’m placing you in danger, forgive me, but I had to see you.”
“What’s wrong?”
Sky Messenger extended a hand. “First, let me present Taya, granddaughter of High Matron Kittle. The woman to whom I am betrothed.”
Hiyawento’s mouth opened slightly, as though he didn’t know what to say.
Taya stepped forward, uncertain how to act; then her Grandmother’s training took over, and she extended her hand to the man who was the sworn enemy of her people. “I am honored to meet you, War Chief Hiyawento.”
He took her hand, and when he felt the slight tremor in her grip, he said, “You are here under my protection. Don’t be afraid.”
Warriors emerged from the trees, six of them, carrying nocked bows and quivers bristling with arrows on their backs. Hiyawento instructed, “Fan out. I don’t want anyone to get close enough to see my guests.”
The warriors ghosted away into the shadows, and though she knew they had to be close, she could not see them.
Sky Messenger and Hiyawento walked into the small clearing in the middle of the aspen grove and sat down on the fallen log. Taya trailed behind them. It was very late, and she was exhausted from running all day. Despite Hiyawento’s guarantee of safety, they were Hills People. They couldn’t be trusted. She kept glancing around, trying to see if anyone was sneaking up on them.
Hiyawento and Sky Messenger just stared at each other for a time, smiling, as though memorizing the other’s face.
Hiyawento finally said, “I returned from Bur Oak Village just last night. Were you aware of that?”
“No. Why were you there?”
“I delivered a message from our Ruling Council. Basically it was a threat to destroy the entire Standing Stone nation if it ever attempted to establish an alliance with a Hills village again. You can guess how High Matron Kittle responded.”
Sky Messenger nodded, but before he spoke, Taya said, “She must have shouted and threatened back. Believe me, she meant every word.”
“I did believe it,” Hiyawento said.
Sky Messenger propped a fist in his lap. “Mother will try to ease the situation.”
“Yes, Speaker Koracoo is a peacemaker at heart, but I’m not sure she can. We have a tidal wave of rage building here. I fear this next battle is going to be long and bloody. You heard the news?”
Sky Messenger’s forehead wrinkled. “No. We’ve been on the trail. What news?”
“Blessed Spirits, I thought that’s why you’d come.”
Hiyawento leaned forward and braced his elbows on his knees. “Six days ago Chief Atotarho, without consulting any of the other village councils, decided to attack White Dog Village. He—”
“Yes.” The rush of air behind the word made it sound like a gasp. “I know. We passed by it on the way here. How is the Hills nation reacting?”
Hiyawento hesitated. “Aren’t you concerned about your father? I heard Gonda and his wife escaped, along with most of the elders.”
“I’m greatly relieved to hear that, but right this instant I am more concerned about how your people are taking the news.”