It Dreams in Me (13 page)

Read It Dreams in Me Online

Authors: Kathleen O'Neal Gear

BOOK: It Dreams in Me
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WHEN IT GREW TOO DARK TO SEE, SORA CRAWLED BACK into the moldering lodge and slipped between her blankets. She could see Strongheart and Flint talking outside. Flint was angry. Strongheart responded to Flint’s every accusation in a calm voice that apparently maddened Flint. Flint finally stamped away, toward Sora’s lodge.
When he ducked inside, he said, “Where were you today? I returned to camp to find both of you gone. Strongheart gave me some fool story about going to look for a cave. I was worried about you.”
“Were you?”
“Yes, of course I was. I’m the only protection you have against the curs in the Loon Nation.” He jerked his shirt off over his head and crawled beneath the blankets with her. “Not only that, I had something important to discuss with you.”
“We’ve been back for over a hand of time, Flint. If it was so important—”
He rolled over, propped himself on one elbow, and whispered, “I don’t trust Strongheart.”
“Well, we’re alone now. What is it?”
Flint peered through the frayed door curtain to make certain Strongheart still stood before the fire finishing his cup of tea; then he dragged her very close. As he looked down at her, their noses almost touched. “I met a Trader today. He told me alarming things.”
A Trader. Of course. The man had just been passing by … .
But there was something about the way Flint had said it, his tone or the twist of his lips, that made her think he was lying.
Suspicious, she said, “What would a Trader be doing out here?”
“He said he’s been forced to beat his way through the brush to avoid the warriors on main trails.”
“Warriors?”
He nodded gravely. “Yes, Loon warriors. Apparently the Loon Nation is planning on attacking Blackbird Town.”
A surge of fear seared her body. “When?”
“He didn’t know. But he said they’re massing their forces, calling in warriors from all over Loon country.”
Dear gods, can it be true? It makes sense. They must avenge the murders of their relatives at Eagle Flute Village.
“But why Blackbird Town? It’s too big, too well protected. If they were smart they’d start attacking smaller Black Falcon villages, to force us to negotiate.”
When the fingers of her left hand started to twitch, she grasped them and held on until they stopped. They’d been spasming like this ever since she and Strongheart returned to camp. It was probably just lack of sleep. Flint had kept an eye on her hands throughout supper.
“I don’t think they want to negotiate, Sora. I think they’re planning one massive strike at the heart of our nation. If they
succeed, they won’t have to negotiate. We’ll give them whatever they want.”
He smoothed his fingers over her face, then down to her throat. As he lowered his head to kiss her, he said, “Don’t you find it interesting that you are here?”
Her fingers twitched again, and this time, Flint grasped her hand to hold it still.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean it’s very convenient. You are the most valuable hostage they could ever hope to capture. And they got you without a fight.”
She pulled away and stared up at him. “I’m not a captive. I wanted to come here.”
“You’re not a captive
yet.
But I’m sure the Loon leadership knows exactly where you are. You’ll be healthy until they need you.”
She swallowed hard. The possibility had never occurred to her, but he was right. The most valuable hostages were kept far away from the fray to make certain they were safe. Then, at the critical moment, when the opposing side needed leverage, the hostage was revealed.
Flint kissed his way down her throat, and she felt his warm mouth on her breast.
“Flint, if I were a captive, surely the Loon Nation would have me under heavy guard. It hardly seems like one priest is enough.”
Flint chuckled against her breast. “What makes you think there aren’t one hundred warriors watching from a safe distance in the forest?”
She raised her head to look at him. His tongue encircled her nipple before he gently bit it. To think straight she had to fight the sudden warmth that stirred her loins. “Have you seen Loon warriors in the forest?”
“No, but they wouldn’t be very good warriors if I had. I’m sure the Loon Nation has their best people out there.”
“I don’t believe it. I can’t be a hostage.”
He laughed softly. “Even more tragic is that I am also a hostage. And I’ll be the first one they offer the Black Falcon Nation—since I am of lesser value. They’ll save you until the end.”
Wink despises Flint. She won’t bargain for him. She’ll let the Loon war chief kill him … .
His hand smoothed down her hip and then moved between her legs. She grabbed it to stop him. “Flint, I’m too frightened to enjoy—”
“No, you’re not.”
He shoved her hand away and tucked his fingers inside her. As he began probing her depths, she arched.
“See,” he whispered. “I know you.”
Flint rolled on top of her, and a tingling flood rushed through her body. She locked her arms around his back and opened herself to him. Within moments they were lunging against each other as though both of them realized they might not see tomorrow’s sunrise.
Just before his seed flooded into her, he lifted his head and gazed down at her with dreamy eyes, saying, “I love you. I have always loved you, Sora. No matter what happens, I want you to remember that.”
He thrust wildly.
She gasped at the same time that his cry tore the stillness of the night.
He collapsed on top of her, and for a long time she held him tightly.
When he was on the verge of sleep, she asked, “Flint, where was Skinner during the two days you were apart searching for White Fawn?”
Sleepily, he replied, “I don’t know. I wasn’t with him. He was out hunting for the wedding procession. Why?”
“Did he travel south toward Eagle Flute Village?”
He yawned. “To do what, Sora?”
“Perhaps to meet someone.”
Flint heaved a disgruntled sigh. “Are you still trying to convince yourself that Skinner killed White Fawn? He didn’t, Sora. You did.”
Pain flickered around her heart. “Yes, I probably did.” “You certainly did.” He rolled to his back and slipped his arm beneath his head while he stared sightlessly at the ceiling. In a low pained voice, he said, “I’ve answered many questions for you over the past quarter moon. Now, I want you to answer one for me. And I want it straight and true.”
She lifted herself on one elbow. “What do you want to know?”
His black eyes were like caverns in his handsome face. “Are you in love with Strongheart?”
She hesitated, and he put his hand around her throat and started squeezing. “Are you?”
She grabbed his arm and tried to pull it away, but couldn’t. He was so much stronger than she. “I take that as a yes,” he snapped, and shoved her away.
Rubbing her throat, she slid to the far side of the lodge and glanced out the door. She did not see Strongheart. He must have retreated to his own lodge farther down the shore.
She said, “You always make me want to run away from you.”
Flint aimed a finger at her. “Don’t try it. I’ll find you. You know I will.”
Her skin prickled.
He rolled over, turning his back to her.
How many times had she heard those words? The last winter
of their marriage, he’d been insanely jealous. Nearly every evening he’d forced her to get into a canoe with him and row far out into the water, where he’d loved her several times a night. When morning came and she demanded to return to Blackbird Town he’d always hissed in her face, “Don’t try to run away from me. I’ll find you. You know I will.”
She hugged herself to keep from shaking.
Yes, I know you will.
LIGHTNING CRACKED OVERHEAD AND BRIEFLY STROBED the forest. Branches, torn from the towering pines and oaks, tumbled across the ground.
Wink clutched her hood closed beneath her chin and watched the rain-swept darkness for Feather Dancer.
“I think he’s coming, Matron,” Clearwing said, and stepped in front of her to shield her in case it was not Feather Dancer but a Water Hickory Clan assassin.
His cape whipped around him in snapping folds, blocking much of her view, but she saw the darkness ripple, then glimpsed the two men moving up the trail.
Feather Dancer had one hand twined in Red Raven’s cape while the other gripped his war club. His hood had blown back and flapped against his shoulders. Rain drenched his scarred face and plastered his hair to his head.
Red Raven squirmed, trying to break free of Feather Dancer’s iron hand. “Let me go!”
Feather Dancer shoved him hard. “Walk.”
The ugly little man careened forward with his arms wheeling for balance. “This is ridiculous! Matron Sea Grass has spies everywhere. Within moments she will know where I am!”
“I don’t think so. Who would be out on a night like this?” Feather Dancer used his war club to gesture to Wink. Red Raven squinted, and when he made her out, he said, “High Matron! You should be home before a warm fire! What are you—”
“I’m out here because I thought you might be.”
Red Raven stopped a pace from her and glanced uneasily at Clearwing, then Feather Dancer. “What made you think that?”
“My scouts tell me that your trip takes you four days. Two days to get there. Two days to get back.”
He grinned sheepishly. “Yes, and the trails to our far northern villages have been badly flooded. I—”
“Which northern villages?” He hesitated too long. Wink said, “
Who
are you meeting with?”
“High Matron”—he extended his hands in a pleading gesture—“the last time you questioned me Sea Grass threatened to have my heart cut out and left bleeding on the floor!”
Lightning flashed again, and his rotted front teeth looked dark and jagged.
Wink drew her cape more tightly about her shoulders. “That’s a much quicker death than the one I’ll order if you don’t tell me where you’ve been going and who you’ve been meeting.”
“Please, Matron, I—”
Feather Dancer thumped him hard in the back of the head with his warclub. Red Raven let out a cry and staggered forward. Holding his head, he glared at Feather Dancer. “You’ll be sorry,” he blurted, “when Sea Grass is the high matron of the Black Falcon Nation! All of you are going to be dead!”
Wink stepped closer to him and stared into his eyes. “Who are you meeting with?”
Red Raven’s mouth puckered as though he might cry. He said, “Flint!”
“Where is he?”
His lips pressed into a thin line. “North of Minnow Village.” “What was the last message you carried to him?”
Red Raven shifted his weight to his other foot and looked around. “Matron, I …” He must have seen Feather Dancer’s club from the corner of his eye, or maybe he heard it whistling through the air, for he yelled and fell to the ground, holding his head. The club sliced the air just above his hands. “High Matron, tell him to stop!”
Wink knelt in front of Red Raven and stared into his eyes. “I don’t have much time. I want this over with quickly.”
His expression slackened. “What do you mean?”
Slowly, she repeated, “What was the message?”
“Nothing important! Flint is—”
She rose and walked away into the darkness. Behind her, Feather Dancer and Clearwing took turns beating Red Raven with their clubs. Grunts and cries of rage, then pain, filled the darkness.
After thirty heartbeats, the dull thuds of clubs against flesh stopped, and Wink walked back. Red Raven’s face was a bloody mess and he had at least one broken rib, for he held his chest and seemed to be having trouble breathing.
She stood over him. “Was it about the attack on Fan Palm Village?”
He shook his head miserably. “No, Sea Grass told him to kill her.”
“Who? Kill who?”
Red Raven chuckled hoarsely. “You’ve been outmaneuvered,
High Matron. You’re about to lose everyone you care about.”
Wink felt like the world had fallen away beneath her feet.
Sora.
Shaky and light-headed, she had to take a deep breath to steady her nerves. “Why?”
“Because Sea Grass doesn’t need her any longer.”
Wink shook her head in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
Red Raven wiped the blood from his nose and smeared it on his wet cape. “You’ve been such a fool, High Matron. You still don’t know what happened at Eagle Flute Village, do you? You haven’t even guessed why Flint took Chieftess Sora there.”
“Flint told me …” And it occurred to her that at this point anything Flint had told her was probably a lie. “No. Why?”
“Sea Grass ordered him to. The chieftess had killed her son, War Chief Skinner. She figured the Loon People would kill the chieftess; but even if they didn’t, they would certainly try her for the murder of Blue Bow, and that would keep them busy while Sea Grass and Wood Fern continued to organize the attack on Eagle Flute Village.”
She used the jade to keep me busy and used Sora to keep Eagle Flute Village busy. What an elegant plan … .
Red Raven laughed at the expression on Wink’s face. “Sea Grass was furious that the chieftess escaped the village massacre. She—”
“Just before she died, Matron Wood Fern told me that Flint didn’t know anything about the attack, that he was genuinely trying to Heal Sora.”
Red Raven smiled grimly. “Well, that part was true. He didn’t know anything about the attack. But as to Healing the Chieftess …”
“That’s not why he went to Eagle Flute Village?”
Red Raven laughed. “Flint was Matron Wood Fern’s best-placed
spy. He’d made it into Eagle Flute Village, and they considered him a hero! He could go anywhere, listen to any conversation. Do you think she would have endangered him? Never.”
“Then why did Flint—”
“He wanted to avenge Skinner’s death more than any of the rest of us! He’s the one who came up with the idea of using the chieftess to get into Eagle Flute Village!”
He tricked me.
Rage warmed her veins, but she lifted her chin and calmly asked, “How did you know Sora was north of Minnow Village?”
He ran his tongue over his rotted front teeth, stalling, before he answered, “In case one of us failed, Sea Grass sent two messengers to tell Flint that if the chieftess had survived the Eagle Flute Village attack, he should take her somewhere and hold her in case we needed her in the future.”
“You were one of the messengers. Who was the other?”
“Not even I know that.”
The wind had died down. Wink studied the raindrops while she considered her narrowing options. Feather Dancer and Clearwing kept their gazes on Red Raven.
“What message are you carrying from Flint to Sea Grass?”
Red Raven chuckled, but it was an insane sound. “He’s trying to convince Sea Grass that the chieftess is still a powerful bargaining tool.”
“A bargaining tool?”
“Yes. With you. Flint says you’ll do anything to save your friend, including step down as high matron.”
He knows me too well—a weakness I cannot afford.
Wink looked at Feather Dancer, nodded, and walked away up the trail. Clearwing was right behind her. When they were ten paces away, she slowed down and turned to him. “As soon as we return, find Lean Elk. I want to see him right away.”
“Yes, Matron.”
She’d taken no more than twenty steps when she heard Red Raven’s shrill scream rise, only to be cut off in the middle by a dull thunk. A few heartbeats later, another thunk echoed through the wet forest.
She didn’t look back.
Feather Dancer caught up with her. “I think we should hasten our plan, Matron. Things are happening faster than we expected.”
Wink nodded and took the fork in the trail that led around behind Blackbird Town. She didn’t want to walk across the open plaza where anyone would have a clear shot at her.
Just before the mounds came into view, she stopped and looked up at Feather Dancer. In a low voice, she said, “Two of them. Tell our ally. Then we’ll talk.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes.”

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