It Wakes in Me (15 page)
Authors: Kathleen O'Neal Gear
“THERE SHE IS,” WINK SAID AS SHE AND LONG FIN DESCENDED the steps that led down the face of the Matron’s Mound in Blackbird Town. In the distance birds fluttered over Persimmon Lake, soaring and diving after insects. The scent of cypress fires mixed curiously with the sweet fragrance of redbud blossoms.
Wood Fern wore a buckskin cape adorned with iridescent circlets of shell. She was hard to miss, standing in the plaza propped on her walking stick and surrounded by Sea Grass and her warriors. Amid the white fuzz of hair that covered Wood Fern’s age-spotted scalp, a black buzzard feather gleamed. She was known to be a great Healer. At one time, Chieftess Yellow Cypress had even hired Wood Fern to Heal her sick daughter, Sora. But Wood Fern’s specialty was arrow wounds, not casting out Evil Spirits. At the end, when all her treatments had failed, Wood Fern had flatly told Yellow Cypress that it would be kinder to kill the little girl than allow her to grow up with a malignant Spirit swelling inside her.
Yellow Cypress hadn’t had the heart to do it. Or perhaps the Shadow Rock Clan had refused to condone it. Only one thing was certain: After Walks-among-the-Stars’ death Yellow Cypress had worked very hard to keep her last child alive, to assure that no one else’s child could ascend to the chieftainship of the Black Falcon Nation.
Slaves—dressed in plain brown robes—scurried about, carrying water pots to and from the corn and squash fields that surrounded Persimmon Lake, chopping wood for the fires with stone axes. Two large looms sat at the base of the Chief ’s Mound, where young women wove beautiful blankets.
As they walked toward Wood Fern and Sea Grass, Long Fin said, “What do you want me to do, Mother?”
“Just tell them your heart has changed. You do not wish to send warriors after the jade. That will settle the matter.”
Long Fin’s mouth pursed, as though he found the idea distasteful. “I’ll do it,” he said, “but you know I don’t believe it. I think that brooch came from the Scarlet Macaw People, just as Grown Bear said, and we would benefit enormously from going after it.”
“You can believe whatever you want; just don’t tell them. Not today.”
“I understand.”
Sea Grass’ voice dropped when she saw them coming, and both she and Wood Fern turned to look at them. The warriors parted to create a path for Wink and Long Fin.
“Greetings, Wood Fern,” Wink said and smiled. “My son tells me you stopped him this morning to ask that he reconvene the council to discuss the jade.”
Wood Fern tipped up her shriveled face, and her white-filmed eyes gleamed in the sunlight. “Yes. I spoke with Rockfish earlier. He tells me that in two or three days, the warriors promised by his people will march into Blackbird Town, and
we will have one last chance to join them. Since our new chief supports sending warriors, I thought—”
we will have one last chance to join them. Since our new chief supports sending warriors, I thought—”
Wink interrupted, “But in the last council meeting, you voted no. Has your heart changed?”
Wood Fern exchanged a secretive glance with Sea Grass. “It has not
.
I think sending warriors south into an unknown land is a fool’s errand. But some of my village matrons disagree with me. They have asked me to hear the arguments again.”
.
I think sending warriors south into an unknown land is a fool’s errand. But some of my village matrons disagree with me. They have asked me to hear the arguments again.”
Long Fin stepped forward, bowed to Wood Fern, and said, “It’s not necessary, Matron. After further discussing the issue with my mother, I’ve decided that both of you are right. We should not risk the lives of our young men and women for a few boatloads of stone.”
The deep wrinkles around Sea Grass’ mouth hardened. She glared at him, then fixed her eyes on Wink. “It seems you have the ear of our new chief, Matron—which I should have suspected. I had just hoped that Chief Long Fin would prove more”—she seemed to be contemplating the right word—“independent.”
Long Fin bristled and opened his mouth to respond to the insult, but Wink put a restraining hand on his arm. “Wood Fern, since Long Fin’s ‘no’ vote would make another meeting pointless, I assume you wish to rescind your request that we reconvene the council.”
Wood Fern turned to Sea Grass, as though expecting her to answer. Sea Grass glowered at Wink. She’d obviously been counting on another vote.
Why is Water Hickory Clan suddenly so obsessed with the jade? Especially when Sea Grass believes it was ours to begin with?
Or …
is
this sudden?
is
this sudden?
Even as a small child, Wink had been particularly skilled at smelling out political intrigue, and Sea Grass’ expression had her nostrils quivering. Had they been planning this all along?
Perhaps Wood Fern’s ‘no’ vote in the council meeting had been designed to buy more time for Water Hickory Clan. To do what?
Perhaps Wood Fern’s ‘no’ vote in the council meeting had been designed to buy more time for Water Hickory Clan. To do what?
Assemble warriors behind my back?
Wood Fern put a skeletal hand on Sea Grass’ arm and walked a few paces away. While they whispered to each other like furious bees, Wink went over every moment of last night’s discussion with Sea Grass. The strands of the weave were pulling tight, but she couldn’t quite make out the pattern yet.
Long Fin leaned close to her ear to ask, “You look like you want to murder someone. What are you thinking?”
“Just wondering.”
The Water Hickory Clan had a bloodthirsty reputation. Only last winter, they’d voted to make war upon the Conch Shell People to gain control of their oyster beds. The winter before, they’d wanted to kill the Red Owl People to capture their buffalo-hunting territory. Sora and Wink had blocked them by convincing the other clans it was far more profitable to work out Trade agreements than to lose their own warriors in a war over lands they could occupy but never fully possess. Then, when the Oak Leaf Villagers had been taken hostage by the Loon People, Water Hickory Clan had instantly wanted to wipe Eagle Flute Village from the face of Grandmother Earth.
“Wondering about what?”
Wink took a difficult breath. “About how desperate Water Hickory Clan is to lead this nation.”
“You mean you think they might …”
His words faded when Wood Fern turned and walked back toward them at an agonizingly slow pace, carefully propping her walking stick to brace every step.
Sea Grass remained standing twenty paces away, with a grim expression on her old face.
Wood Fern stopped in front of Wink and tilted her head in a birdlike fashion. “While I will still vote no, Sea Grass tells me
that she spoke with the other clan matrons and some wish to change their votes. In deference, I think we should reconvene the council.”
that she spoke with the other clan matrons and some wish to change their votes. In deference, I think we should reconvene the council.”
Wink bowed respectfully. “Then I will, of course, do as you ask. I only wish—”
Everyone turned when a man burst from the trees, shouting, “
Matron Wink! I must see the Matron! Where is she?”
Matron Wink! I must see the Matron! Where is she?”
“Here!” Wink called, and walked forward with Long Fin behind her.
“Who is he? Do you know him?” Long Fin asked. He had drawn a deer-bone stiletto from his belt and held it out in front of him as though ready to protect her if the runner turned out to be dangerous.
“Yes, it’s … it’s that Trader who was here a half-moon ago, Storksbill.”
Wink hurried to meet him, and the crowd followed her. Storksbill was young, twenty-two winters, but he traveled a good deal, which made him a perfect messenger. He’d twisted his black hair into a bun and pinned it on top of his head with a rabbit-bone skewer. The run had shaken strands loose, and they dangled around his face and stuck to his cheeks. “What’s wrong, Storksbill?”
He knelt before her. “It’s … Chieftess Sora … . She was kidnapped by the Loon People.”
Gasps went up, and Sea Grass shouted, “When? How did this happen?” She shoved her way forward to study the young Trader.
Storksbill replied, “The chieftess and her party were ambushed on the south side of Jasper Lake three days ago. The Trader who passed the message to me was in Eagle Flute Village when War Chief Grown Bear arrived with the three prisoners.”
Sea Grass gave Wink a suspicious look, as though she were responsible, then pushed through the crowd to get to Wood
Fern. A smug half-smile turned her lips as she cupped a hand to Wood Fern’s ear to whisper.
Fern. A smug half-smile turned her lips as she cupped a hand to Wood Fern’s ear to whisper.
Wood Fern nodded.
Wink turned to Storksbill. “The Black Falcon Nation thanks you. Long Fin, please see that Storksbill is handsomely paid for his bravery.”
He said, “Yes, Mother,” but gave her a look similar to the one Sea Grass had just given her. “I’ll see to his needs in a few moments.”
Long Fin took Wink by the arm and walked her well away from the crowd surrounding the Trader before asking, “I saw the look Sea Grass gave you. Is this some game you’re playing? Did you arrange the ambush?”
Wink gripped his hand where it rested on her arm, and squeezed it hard. “When you’re done with Storksbill, come to my chamber and we’ll discuss it.”
AS WINK PACED IN THE FIRELIGHT, THE SHELLS SEWN TO the hem of her pale green dress sparkled. She kept glancing at her son where he crouched before the flames with his jaw clenched. On the wall behind him, a stylized image of Black Falcon flying into Mother Sun’s heart blazed in brilliant shades of red, purple, and yellow.
“And you believed him?” Long Fin asked in a dazed voice.
“Yes, I believed him. Grown Bear told Flint that once the news of Blue Bow’s murder reached Eagle Flute Village, they would certainly kill every one of our hostages. It made perfect sense. I had to do something!”
“Then you
did
arrange for Sora’s party to be captured?”
did
arrange for Sora’s party to be captured?”
“No. I left that up to Flint. He told me that he had good reason to believe he could buy off Grown Bear, and all he needed was to get into Eagle Flute Village. Once there, he promised he would find a way to distract the new chief until he could release the hostages.”
“Mother, I can’t believe I’m hearing this. Are you telling me
that you risked the life of your best friend, Chieftess Sora, for—”
that you risked the life of your best friend, Chieftess Sora, for—”
“To save our people?” she shouted. “Yes, I certainly did! And I would do it again tomorrow if I thought it would work.” At his stricken expression, she added more softly, “Don’t look at me like that. What are three lives compared to a terrible war? There’s more at stake here than you know. I’m trying to save all of us. Including Sora!”
A swallow went down his throat, as though he’d eaten a very bitter fruit. “Is that why you insisted that Feather Dancer go along? You were hoping he would be able to keep her safe?”
“Of course I was. Flint didn’t want me to send Feather Dancer. He strongly objected, but I couldn’t help myself. If anyone can get Sora out of the village alive, it’s Feather Dancer.”
Long Fin reached for a cup that rested near the hearth, keeping warm, and dipped it into the tea pot that sat in the ashes. “Would you like a cup, Mother? It may soothe your nerves.”
Wink ran a hand through her graying black hair. “Yes. Thank you.”
After she walked to the hearth and knelt down on the woven mat, Long Fin handed her the cup, and dipped another for himself.
For a time, he just watched her sip her tea, then finally, he said, “Now let’s speak of the other matter at hand.”
“Which one?”
He drew up his knees and propped his cup on them. “Do you truly believe Sora is sick and needs to be Healed, or was she just bait to get Flint into Eagle Flute Village?”
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