Authors: Kathleen O'Neal Gear
It Sleeps in Me (2 page)
As Sora ran, she caught the glances of the men standing at the edge of the field. She ran lightly for a woman who had seen thirty-two winters. Their gazes followed the curves of her tall body as though they could see through her thin white dress.
She gave Rockfish a worried smile as she raced past. He nodded his encouragement, silently telling her he didn’t doubt for an instant that she would win. The burly man who stood beside him watched as though his very life depended upon the next cast … .
Grown Bear. That’s War Chief Grown Bear from the Loon Nation.
Grown Bear. That’s War Chief Grown Bear from the Loon Nation.
Short Tail and Pocket Mouse reached the throw line first. Pocket Mouse cast.
The crowd roared and pointed as the spear arced heavenward with the white chert point glittering in the morning sunlight.
When they were five paces from the line, Wink called, “You or me?”
Sora mouthed a prayer and shouted, “Me!”
She quickly judged the speed and direction of the rolling stone, then, as her foot hit the line, cast her spear. Its flight was birdlike, sailing up into the cloud-strewn blue sky like a falcon.
Pocket Mouse’s spear plunged down first. It landed ahead of the still-rolling stone.
“Oh, gods,” Wink groaned. “The stone is headed for his spear. At this speed, the stone will fall right beside it.”
Sora’s heart hammered against her ribs. She slowed, waiting for the final moment …
And felt eyes upon her—not the ordinary watchfulness of the crowd, but something more intense. She glanced down the field, past the multitude of onlookers, and directly at Skinner. His expression was calm, intimately knowing, as though her darkest secrets belonged to him.
Terror shot through her veins.
What’s he doing here? I haven’t seen him in three winters, and suddenly …
Wild cheers went up from the crowd, and she jerked her gaze back in time to see her spear bounce off the chunkey stone and cartwheel away across the grass.
“You did it, Sora!
You did it!
We win! There will be peace!” Wink hugged her hard enough to drive the air from her lungs. People
rushed onto the field, shouting and embracing each other, the judges, the opposing villagers—anyone who didn’t shove them away.
You did it!
We win! There will be peace!” Wink hugged her hard enough to drive the air from her lungs. People
rushed onto the field, shouting and embracing each other, the judges, the opposing villagers—anyone who didn’t shove them away.
Rockfish trotted up and, in her ear, said, “You just saved lives. I’m proud of you.”
“It was a lucky cast.”
“Luck is the tool of the gods, my wife.”
Shoulder-length gray hair fell around his wrinkled face as he bent to plant a gentle kiss on her mouth. At moments like this, when relief overpowered everything else, she felt genuinely contented.
“The Loon People secretly sent a representative to watch the game today,” Rockfish whispered. “He wishes to speak with you.”
“I thought that looked like War Chief Grown Bear. He’s brave—I’ll say that for him. Tell him I’ll speak with him this evening.”
“I will.”
Rockfish backed away to allow Short Tail and his clan matron, Wood Fern, to approach. Wood Fern, almost blind, held tight to her chief’s arm. She had seen fifty-seven winters. A white fuzz of hair covered her old head. She wore a buckskin cape adorned with iridescent circlets of conch shell and had a buzzard feather prominently displayed in her hair. She was known to be a great Healer. Buzzard feathers were worn only by those who could Heal arrow wounds. Fox skins were worn by those who could Heal snake bites; and if a person wore an owl feather, it meant he or she could trail an enemy in the dark.
“You won today, Chieftess Sora.” Wood Fern cocked her head in a birdlike fashion, not quite certain where Sora stood. “But our problem remains. The Loon People are holding eleven men, women, and children from Oak Leaf Village hostage, and Chief Blue Bow says he will kill them if we try to reach our root grounds again without paying him the ridiculous amount of rare Trade goods he demands.”
Sora stared into the woman’s white-filmed eyes for a long moment before saying, “I hear you, Wood Fern. Truly, I do. Chief Blue
Bow assured me only six days ago when I was in Eagle Flute Village that they genuinely want peace. He claims the hostages are being well treated. I promise I will work out an agreement that is fair to both sides. I just need more time.”
Bow assured me only six days ago when I was in Eagle Flute Village that they genuinely want peace. He claims the hostages are being well treated. I promise I will work out an agreement that is fair to both sides. I just need more time.”
“Time will not change the greedy nature of the Loon People. You’ll see. In the end, your negotiations will fail. Killing the Loon People will be the only way we can rescue our hostages and maintain what is ours.”
Sora mopped her sweating brow with her sleeve. “Your nephew, Walking Bird, died to save me from a Loon arrow, Wood Fern. I have not forgotten his sacrifice. If our negotiations fail, my warriors will proudly lead yours into battle.”
Short Tail gave her a grim smile. “I would speak with you about that. I think it is wise to discuss a war plan now, in case your efforts fail and we must act quickly to defend ourselves.”
“I will be happy to discuss it—providing you help me lay out a peace plan first.”
He inclined his head. “Of course.”
As more and more people crowded around her, asking questions, Sora felt as though she were being crushed. She glanced down the field and said, “Please excuse me. I must see to the feast preparations.”
She trotted away with people slapping her back and calling congratulations.
“Excellent cast, Matron!” Wink’s son, Long Fin, yelled.
“I’m fortunate, that’s all,” she responded.
“You mean
we
are fortunate! To have you as our chieftess!”
we
are fortunate! To have you as our chieftess!”
She smiled. To the north, in front of her, stood the seventh mound they’d built for War Chief Feather Dancer. Their newfound wealth had allowed them to undertake several mound-building projects, both here and elsewhere in Black Falcon country, that would have been impossible before her marriage to Rockfish. The effect had been stunning. As they raised mounds so that Grandmother Earth could touch fingertips with her daughter, Mother
Sun, their lives improved dramatically. It was as though the gods saw and approved. The bright fabrics, elaborate copper and silver jewelry, and glittering shell beads were testaments to a time of riches beyond anyone’s belief.
Sun, their lives improved dramatically. It was as though the gods saw and approved. The bright fabrics, elaborate copper and silver jewelry, and glittering shell beads were testaments to a time of riches beyond anyone’s belief.
Unfortunately, the other thing that came with wealth was power. She was always uncomfortable when people lifted their chins and got that superior glint in their eyes. It seemed that half her life was spent in the vain attempt to dampen the fires of conceit.
Her favorite slave, Iron Hawk, stirred the main stew pot with a long wooden paddle. The rich scents of venison and moss filled the air. “Is everything ready?” Sora asked.
Young, with a heart-shaped face, Iron Hawk nodded. “Yes, Chieftess, just as you requested. We may have to ladle out smaller portions, but I think we can feed everyone who came for the game.”
“If you have any doubts, come to me immediately,” Sora instructed. “I will order the storerooms opened. We cannot afford to offend any of our honored guests.”
“I will, Chieftess.”
People had gathered in knots around the plaza, talking, laughing, and complaining. A few foul glances were cast her way. Most of them came from warriors who’d been looking forward to killing Loon People. Sora shook her head. The cool flower-scented air invited breathing. The redbud trees were in full bloom. She took deep breaths and let them out slowly. For a brief time, there would be peace. But who could say how long it would last? Wood Fern was right about the Loon People; as the wealth of the Black Falcon Nation increased, the Loon Council demanded more and more for crossing what they considered to be “their lands,” despite the fact that those gathering grounds had belonged to the Black Falcon People for generations. Negotiations would be neither easy, nor swift.
When she turned to head back to Rockfish, she saw War Chief Skinner walking purposefully to Wink, and blood surged so powerfully in her veins, it left her feeling shaky.
Skinner bowed and pulled Wink aside to speak with her alone. As he talked, Wink’s expression grew increasingly more severe.
Sora had known Skinner for more than half her life. His gestures, the way he stood, told her he brought dire news.
The edges of her vision suddenly went gray and sparkling, and an irrational fear possessed her.
“No,” she whispered, “not now …”
As she had a thousand times, she spread her legs to brace herself and forced deep breaths into her lungs. All of her life an evil Spirit had tormented her. As her vision went black, it came like a hot glittering torrent, and before she knew it she was lying flat on the ground with her limbs jerking and her teeth gnashing.
She’d been seven winters old when the first attack came. She didn’t remember it. She never remembered them. She just awoke in a sea of people with a mouthful of blood, feeling exhausted.
Throughout her childhood, her mother had forced her to see one Healer after another. She’d eaten so many Spirit Plants even the smell of them now sickened her. Nothing had worked. As she aged, the Spirit seemed to come less often, but she still felt him watching her. He was always there, right behind her eyes, ready to leap for her throat when she least suspected it. Stress seemed to bring on his attacks.
During her tenth winter, she’d named him:
the Midnight Fox.
the Midnight Fox.
Sora hurried toward the Chieftess’ Mound.
As she started up the steps, she couldn’t help it. She looked back.
Skinner studied her with a predator’s unwavering attention. He’d been her first husband’s best friend—and a good friend to her. She hadn’t seen him in three winters. He wouldn’t be here if it weren’t absolutely necessary.
Obviously trying to make certain she didn’t miss it, he stepped several paces away from Wink, out into the open, and placed two fingers beneath his nostrils in an eerie gesture of respect. Then he tipped his head slightly to the left. His smile turned seductive, as though they shared something she’d forgotten.
Sora hesitated, startled. Deep inside her, long-dead fear fluttered its wings.
She rushed up the steps. Every time her foot landed, she had the overwhelming urge to run. She made it to the top of the mound before her knees started to tremble.
Torches burned on either side of her doorway, the flames waffling in the cool breeze that swept the lake. Made of logs set into a rectangular wall trench, the house measured fifty paces wide by seventy long. The roof soared four times the height of a man. On the very peak, an enormous wooden carving of Black Falcon perched. His seashell eyes glistened in the morning light.
“Sora?” Rockfish called as he trotted up the steps behind her. “Are you all right?”
She sucked in a breath. “Yes, fine.”
The polished mica birds encircling the collar of his blue shirt flashed as he walked toward her. “I saw you run up the steps. You didn’t look well.”
She made an airy gesture. “It’s the upcoming negotiations with the Loon People.”
“We’ll work it out,” he assured her. “We always do. It does no good to worry.”
She forced a smile. “You are, of course, right.”
Rockfish tenderly pushed away the sweat-soaked ends of black hair that stuck to her forehead. He looked like he wanted to say something, but didn’t know how.
Sora said, “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. Something. Matron Wink asked me to tell you that she’ll be up as soon as she can get away. She’s talking with the Loon People’s representative, but she needs to speak with you immediately.”
As though Sora’s souls knew something her heart couldn’t stand to believe, she stiffened. “What did War Chief Skinner want?”
“I couldn’t hear. He spoke with Wink in private.”
“A man I haven’t seen in three winters walks into our town and
goes straight to the high matron? Something terrible has happened, hasn’t it?”
goes straight to the high matron? Something terrible has happened, hasn’t it?”
Rockfish put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. “He is the war chief of Oak Leaf Village, Sora. Perhaps he came at Chief Fireberry’s request, to offer his warriors. It is their people who are being held hostage by Blue Bow. They stand to lose more than we do from a war with the Loon People.”
She gently pushed away from him. “Fireberry would never offer us his warriors. Skinner would vote against it.”
“Why do you say that? Do you know him so well?”
Rockfish folded his arms defensively, and Sora knew she’d just swung out over a precipice on a very thin rope.
“No,” she lied, “not really. He was a friend to my first husband. But I hear things, Rockfish. He is reputed to hate us. Not only that, Oak Leaf Village is Water Hickory Clan. If he did come to offer warriors, he should have gone to his own clan matron, Wood Fern, first. Instead, he went directly to Wink.”
Rockfish gave her a look like he suspected she’d been Skinner’s lover. He wouldn’t ask, of course. If she’d slept with Skinner while married to Flint, it would have been a crime worthy of banishment. Commoners could dally with each other’s spouses and people just glared and hissed behind their hands. If adultery occurred among the elite clans, it was dealt with swiftly and harshly. Because leadership was hereditary, matrons had to
know
a child’s parentage.
know
a child’s parentage.
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