People of the Raven (North America's Forgotten Past) (15 page)

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Authors: W. Michael Gear,Kathleen O'Neal Gear

BOOK: People of the Raven (North America's Forgotten Past)
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“Hallowed gods,” Talon whispered, “I can’t believe he’s this insolent! Does he think he can walk right in here and we will do nothing?”
Rain Bear noticed the little boy holding Ecan’s hand, then surveyed Ecan’s warriors. It was a small party: five and ten men. White Stone led the way, his jaw hardening when his gaze met Rain Bear’s. A long time ago, when Rain Bear had been a lowly warrior in Fire Village, he’d often butted heads with White Stone. The man was a
tough and shrewd opponent, but honorable. Or, at least, he had been.
The villagers who’d fled had begun to return in ones and twos, each bearing a weapon, even if it was but a piece of firewood. Their voices built to a hostile din, shouting challenges and accusations.
Ecan didn’t reply. He held the boy’s hand and kept his eyes locked with Rain Bear’s. He stopped five paces away and in a clear voice said, “Greetings, Chief. I enter your village openly to speak with you.” Then he glanced at Evening Star, the barest flicker of an eye betraying the cold fury burning within him.
People said Ecan had the soul of a weasel, and it was true. He had a handsome face with glistening, inhuman green eyes.
Rain Bear gave the man stare for stare. “Why are you here?”
“Matron Weedis has invited me to attend the Moon Ceremonial again this year. I have come as I have every year. But given the current unrest, I wanted to stop and ask your permission to pass in peace.”
“That is all you want?”
“I see you’ve captured my escaped slave.” Ecan turned fierce eyes on Evening Star. “What do I owe you for her return?”
“She has sanctuary here.” Rain Bear could sense the growing desperation in Evening Star.
Ecan’s smile didn’t extend to his eyes. “I will give fifteen pieces of dentalium as a token of my appreciation for her return.”
Evening Star’s fists balled; back stiff, she glared her hatred. Rain Bear placed a hand on her shoulder. The muscles beneath were like rock.
Ecan’s smirk grew as he added, “And I might be able to guarantee some extra rations—food for your people here, Great Chief. You know, something to tide your village over during these trying times.”
In a commanding voice, Rain Bear stated, “She has sanctuary.”
Ecan’s green eyes seemed to swirl with implied threat. “Think carefully about what you do here today, Rain Bear.”
“The subject is closed.” He inclined his head toward the menacing crowd. “Unless you want to test your luck, Starwatcher.”
Ecan, fully aware of the volatility, smiled knowingly. “I assure you, we will revisit this problem on another day.”
“Do you have any other business here?”
“Why? Did you hear I’d come to attack you?” He waved a hand at the small party that accompanied him. “With my five and ten warriors?”
His men, despite their half-panicked eyes, forced a laugh. To Rain Bear, it sounded staged, hollow.
The villagers pressed closer, hissing questions, their eyes daggers of hate. Talon was shifting from foot to foot, as if in his mind he was driving a long bone stiletto into Ecan’s whip-thin body.
Rain Bear glanced down at Pitch. His son-in-law, wounded and half dazed, had drawn his stiletto from his belt and held it out of sight against his belly. It would only take a gesture, a single wrong word, and this could degenerate into a massacre.
Rain Bear considered the little blind boy behind Ecan, wondering what kind of arrogant fool would lead a child into a mess like this. In a calm voice, he said, “I think you should leave, Starwatcher.”
Talon’s gruff old voice rose above the din. “Where are the rest of your warriors? Circling to hit us from behind? That’s the sort of sneaking cur thing you’d do, isn’t it?”
Ecan was either totally oblivious, or exercised incredible control as he answered, “They are on their way back to Fire Village with tribute. I am here on a peaceful journey. To attend to spiritual matters.” He gave Evening Star an oily smile. “No matter what you might have heard.”
Talon stepped forward, his stiletto up. “You murdering filth!”
Rain Bear reached out with a restraining hand, hissing, “Easy, old friend. This isn’t the time.” He met Talon’s eyes. “Trust me.”
Talon growled and stepped back, his upper lip twitching.
White Stone’s warriors were fingering their weapons, many damp with fear-sweat as they took the measure of the hostile crowd. Ecan’s expression did not change. “Circling to attack? Where did you hear that? From my
slave
? Ah, yes, the pitiful Evening Star. Are you telling them lies? In return for what? Hmm? Bedding Raven People to save your pretty neck?”
The look on Evening Star’s face was one of disgust and loathing. Rain Bear realized she was trembling, sensed the fraying of her rawhide control.
Talon gave her a slitted look, and Rain Bear said, “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play the fool with me, Rain Bear. The instant the news reached me that she was here, I was certain she would be filling you with stories about my wicked intentions.” He spread his arms. “That’s
why
I came. I wanted to assure you that I had no plans to attack your village. You fulfilled your obligations to Fire Village. Neither I, nor any of my people, wish you harm.”
“Lying slug!”
Evening Star hissed.
Rain Bear raised a fist. “Refugees flooded in all day yesterday and for most of the night, fleeing your attacks. Do you—”
“I want to speak with my slave,” Ecan rudely interrupted. “Alone.”
Ecan’s son gripped his father’s war shirt and stared blindly at Talon as a deafening roar of disbelieving voices rose from the crowd.
Someone shouted, “There are tens of us! Let’s kill them!”
Rain Bear swung around, but saw only a swimming sea of hateful faces. “Stay where you are!” he ordered. “Ecan and his party are under my protection until we’ve finished speaking! Back away!” He signaled several of his warriors.
Shouts and curses rose as they used their spears to move people back.
A small smile curled Ecan’s lips. He petted his son’s hair, but said nothing. Something wiggled and whined inside the pack on the little boy’s back. A puppy?
Evening Star shook her head, stepping forward. She seemed to have found her control. “We will speak here, piece of filth. Where all can hear, and where no warrior will sneak up and slip a stiletto into my back.”
Blessed Spirits, she was beautiful. Her long red hair hung in thick waves to her slender waist, and she had skin like white chalcedony.
Ecan tapped one of his warriors on the shoulder, and the man opened a space in the protective circle. Ecan and the boy walked through. The Starwatcher bowed respectfully. “Slave, I come at the invitation of Matron Weedis to attend the Moon Ceremonial. That is all. Since I must pass through Rain Bear’s village, I came to ask his permission. Did you tell these people I was going to attack them?”
She nervously wet her lips. “Where are the rest of your warriors?”
“I thought it might be provocative to arrive with such a large party. I told no lie when I said they were on their way to Fire Village.”
“More like Antler Spoon’s village,” Talon muttered under his breath. “Which is close enough that they could double back and strike us at any time.”
Ecan’s green gaze shifted smugly to Talon. “Then I’m sure your scouts will give you ample warning, War Chief. All the more proof that my story is true.” He sniffed in derision. “My slave, here, wouldn’t know truth if it caressed her in the daylight.”
The hissing of the crowd grew louder, and people began to glare at Evening Star, as though angry that she’d lied to them about Ecan’s intentions.
Evening Star shot Rain Bear a pleading look. “Don’t let him pass. He’s not on a holy mission.You must believe me.”
Before Rain Bear could respond, Ecan said, “As you see, she knows nothing about me or my plans. We stand here at your mercy, Rain Bear. Would I bring my son into the middle of a battle?”
Rain Bear glanced down at the frightened boy. What man in his right mind would place his only son at risk?
Ecan added in a bored tone, “You may kill us, or respect Matron Weedis’s wishes and grant us permission to attend the sacred rites at War Gods Village.” He tilted his head, eyes narrowing. “What kind of message would that send, hmm? Killing the Starwatcher on his way to conduct one of the most sacred rituals in your calendar?”
The refugees began shouting,
“Kill him … . Kill them all!”
Rain Bear lifted a hand, and the angry voices dwindled. “We will allow you to pass, Starwatcher.” The crowd roared. “We will even send a party of warriors to make certain you arrive at War Gods Village in safety.” He smiled. “After all, it is a sacred ceremony. We would want nothing to jeopardize it.”
Rain Bear turned and, one by one, singled out several warriors. They trotted forward, following his signals to surround Ecan’s party. He could sense the humiliation and anger boiling up within Evening Star. She perplexed him, and just looking at her, he could see her trembling with hatred and desperation.
The Starwatcher watched suspiciously, as if trying to read what might lie between them. Layers upon layers, that was how his mind worked. “That is very kind of you. Now, if you do not object, we will be on our way. I’m sure your villagers wish us to leave as much as we do.”
Rain Bear stepped close to Ecan. “Please do
not
make me regret this. If anything were to happen to mar the Moon Ceremonial, I would take it as a
personal
affront.”
The threat in his voice was clear for all to hear.
Ecan nodded obligingly. “It is my great respect for you that has brought me here today.”
“Then perhaps you have a dose of wisdom in addition to audacity.” He turned to the lead warrior. “Running Cat, collect their weapons.”
“What?” Ecan stiffened.
White Stone shouted, “We will not surrender our arms!” His warriors crouched in a defensive circle, gripping weapons in sweaty hands.
Rain Bear looked straight at Ecan. “You claim to be on a peaceful mission. If that is true, you will not need arms. And, regardless, I will not allow you to enter Matron Weedis’s village with armed warriors.
We will keep your weapons here. You may retrieve them after the ceremonial.”
Ecan’s jaw clenched. His warriors shot panicked looks back and forth, waiting for his instructions. “You will leave us defenseless. What if we are attacked on the trail?”
“My warriors will protect you with their lives.” Rain Bear looked at Running Cat, and the muscular young man squared his shoulders. “Do you understand?”
“Yes, my Chief,” Running Cat said. “But I will need at least two tens of warriors to protect them.”
“Call upon as many men as you require.”
“And if we
refuse
!” Ecan declared hotly.
“You may deal with them.” Rain Bear waved at the angry refugees.
While Running Cat trotted through the crowd, speaking to warriors, Ecan’s angry gaze turned on Evening Star. She stood stiffly, looking as if about to explode.
Talon leaned sideways and whispered, “Let me send some of my warriors along.”
In a low voice, Rain Bear replied, “If something happens, I want them to blame us. Not you. Your clan has suffered enough.”
Talon’s bushy brows pulled together. “Very well, but you won’t mind if a party of my warriors follows yours up the trail, will you?”
“No, if you will give me your word that they will make no trouble.”
“It is given.”
Running Cat trotted back through the shifting crowd with a large party of warriors. He walked straight to White Stone and said, “War Chief, order your men to lay down their weapons.”
White Stone gritted his teeth, measured the hungry faces of the people encircling him, and turned his hot eyes on Rain Bear. They traded looks; then White Stone growled, “Put down your weapons!”
His warriors pulled war clubs, stilettos, and knives from their belts and placed them on top of their casting spears. The little boy removed a crude stone knife from his belt and laid it down with the rest. Rain Bear saw a button nose sniffing from inside the pack. The boy did carry a puppy.
Running Cat turned to Rain Bear. “Shall we escort them up the trail now, my Chief?”
“Yes. Detail a runner to go ahead and tell Matron Weedis you are coming.”
Running Cat nodded and used his spear to gesture to Ecan. “You may proceed, Starwatcher.”
Ecan’s lips curled into an unpleasant smile. He gripped the boy’s hand again and gave Evening Star a final promissory glance as he passed.
Villagers followed in a flood, shouting curses, waving fists and weapons. In a matter of heartbeats, the area around Rain Bear was virtually empty.
Pitch said, “Thank the Spirits. I don’t think I’ve taken a breath since he arrived.”
“I don’t think any of us has,” Rain Bear said.

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