Authors: Kathleen O'Neal Gear
It Dreams in Me (7 page)
“Who?” Long Fin asked.
Wink said, “Rockfish.”
“Rockfish?” Wigeon blinked, still confused. “Chieftess Sora’s husband? What does he have to do with all this?”
“Nothing,” Wink said. “Yet.”
THE SENSATION OF THE BLANKETS BEING LIFTED, AND someone crawling beneath them with her, roused Sora from a deep dreamless sleep.
Flint’s hand petted her long black hair. “Forgive me for today. But I couldn’t help it, Sora. I needed some time away from that priest.” He said the last word like a curse. “I swear he’s driving my reflection-soul out of my body.”
Sleepily, she opened her eyes. Through a gap in the roof, high above her, tree branches whipped in the wind and stars glittered on a deep blue background. “I was worried about you. Where did you go?”
“Not far. I just walked along the shoreline until some of my anger went away.”
A fierce gust of wind thrashed the forest’s ancient cypresses, and she drew the worn softness of the blankets up over her bare shoulders. The scent of the lake was powerful tonight, something more than moss and water. In the distance she saw
lightning flash. The roar of diving Thunderbirds rumbled across the sky.
lightning flash. The roar of diving Thunderbirds rumbled across the sky.
Flint looked up at the crude shelter built of poles and rotted thatch that had once formed the walls and roof on the old lodge. “There are holes in this roof big enough for a buzzard to fly through. If it starts to rain again, we’ll get soaked.”
“By the time we started building shelters, it was dark. We did the best we could.” She rolled to her back and yawned.
Flint turned toward Strongheart’s shelter five paces away, making certain the priest was asleep. He smoothed his hand over her naked hip, and ran it up her side to stroke her breast. As he squeezed it, he whispered, “I need to talk with you.”
She yawned again. “Can’t it wait until tomorrow?”
“No.”
He bent down to kiss her, and his black hair fell around her like a dark silken curtain. The tenderness of his lips felt as comforting tonight as it had eighteen winters ago.
“What’s wrong?”
He rolled on top of her, and she felt his rigid manhood. A tingle shot through her. “I think he’s plotting against you.”
“Who is?”
Flint lowered his hand and caressed her little manhood. “The priest.”
“Why would he do that, Flint?”
“Our people destroyed his village and murdered his family. That’s reason enough. His people would consider him a hero if he killed you.”
“He hasn’t made a single move against me, Flint.”
“Of course not. I’ve been watching him too closely.”
He kissed her hard and inserted two fingers into her opening. They moved gently at first, then probed deeper. In less than ten heartbeats, he used his knee to pry her legs apart and slipped his manhood inside her. A groan escaped his throat. In
the starlight, she saw the expression of ecstasy on his handsome face. When he began moving, she matched his rhythm.
the starlight, she saw the expression of ecstasy on his handsome face. When he began moving, she matched his rhythm.
In her ear, he whispered, “What did he say to you today? After I left.”
“Nothing important.”
He thrust harder, striking fire along her nerves. “He told you to get rid of me, didn’t he? He knows that as soon as I’m gone, he can kill you. There will be no one to stop him.”
Warmth began to course through her veins. She said, “Stop talking.”
They had loved each other for fifteen winters; he knew her body as well as his own. She locked her legs around his back so that he could force himself deeper. He kept saying, “I love you. I love you, Sora.”
When their movements became feverish, she clenched her inner muscles, holding him tight while he lunged against her. Her entire body felt as though it were on fire. The blaze built until she cried out and Flint sagged atop her, panting, “Oh, gods, gods, I need you.”
A short distance away, she heard Strongheart’s footsteps.
They were headed away, up the shoreline to the north.
Flint’s eyes glittered as he watched him.
SEA GRASS HOBBLED ACROSS THE FLOOR OF THE COUNCIL chamber in the High Matron’s House with her faithful guards flanking her. Everyone else was already here, which surprised her. Had Wink asked the other matrons to arrive before Sea Grass, as a subtle way to slight her?
Wink stood in the far corner, speaking with Rockfish. Both had dressed regally, Wink in an azure-colored dress covered with elk ivories, and Rockfish in a knee-length white shirt with black diamonds woven into the hem and around the collar.
Sea Grass’ eyes narrowed at the sight of Rockfish. The old gray-haired man had seen more than sixty winters. He had a triangular face with large dark eyes. Most of his muscles had evaporated, leaving loose flaps of skin where bulges had once been. His marriage to Sora had been one of convenience, an alliance of political advantage. They’d married three winters ago, after Flint had set Sora’s belongings outside the door and
headed home to Oak Leaf Village. The divorce had disgraced Sora. Not only that, she’d loved Flint. She’d made a fool of herself, running after him, begging him to return. It had embarrassed the entire Shadow Rock Clan, much to Water Hickory Clan’s delight. As the matron of Oak Leaf Village, Sea Grass had thrown a celebration for Flint when he’d arrived home, and had begun working with his mother to find Flint a new wife. White Fawn was perfect for him: beautiful, clever, and already a skilled warrior … .
headed home to Oak Leaf Village. The divorce had disgraced Sora. Not only that, she’d loved Flint. She’d made a fool of herself, running after him, begging him to return. It had embarrassed the entire Shadow Rock Clan, much to Water Hickory Clan’s delight. As the matron of Oak Leaf Village, Sea Grass had thrown a celebration for Flint when he’d arrived home, and had begun working with his mother to find Flint a new wife. White Fawn was perfect for him: beautiful, clever, and already a skilled warrior … .
She grunted as she lowered herself to the south bench and straightened her lavender dress. The torches on the walls cast fluttering light over the sacred masks, making the eyeholes seem alive. Sea Grass silently offered a prayer to the gods, begging them to strike Wink down and allow Water Hickory Clan to rule the nation, as was their due for the men and women they’d lost trying to protect it.
Wigeon glanced at Sea Grass, then ducked her head and twisted her hands in her lap.
Sea Grass’ brows lifted. As she looked around, she noticed that Chief Long Fin seemed to be concentrating on the numerous shell rings that adorned his fingers, while Birch stared at Sea Grass with her wrinkled mouth pursed.
“If it won’t trouble you, Birch,” Sea Grass said, “I’d like to know why your mouth is screwed up like that.”
“It wouldn’t trouble me to tell you, either, if the high matron hadn’t ordered me to keep my tongue to myself today.”
“Well, that was a waste of breath on Wink’s part. When have you ever kept your tongue from waggling?”
Birch started to say something nasty, but Wink hurried across the floor to intervene, saying, “Matrons, let’s not waste our strength arguing when we have more important things to consider.”
She stopped in front of the eastern bench and extended a hand to Rockfish. “Chieftess Sora’s husband, Rockfish, requested this meeting, so I yield to him.” She sat down beside Long Fin, and the elk ivories on her dress clicked musically.
Rockfish folded his arms across his chest. “Matrons, first let me say that my winters in the Black Falcon Nation have been some of the happiest of my life. I hope that my abilities as a Trader have helped the nation, and that the three hundred warriors my people rallied to help defend Blackbird Town have kept more of your young people alive. But …” He took a deep breath, and seemed to be struggling with what he wished to say next. “I want your permission to go home.”
A soft murmur of voices filled the chamber as people leaned sideways to whisper to each other.
Rockfish continued, “As you know, I have dispatched many search parties trying to find my wife. None has found even a trace of her. It grieves me to say this, but I have been forced to conclude that Sora is dead.”
Birch straightened, and her head tottered on the wrinkled stem of her neck. “You are a valued member of the Black Falcon Nation, Rockfish. I ask you to stay. If you go, we will miss you.”
“I appreciate your words, Matron, but I am tired. I want to go home and try to Heal my heart.”
Blessed gods, what Sora had given Rockfish in prestige he’d given back to her—to the entire Black Falcon Nation—in Trade goods! Every moon another flotilla of canoes appeared, filled to overflowing with rare cherts and mica, silver nuggets, pounded sheets of copper. What would happen if he left?
Sea Grass said, “I hope this will not dissolve the beneficial Trading relationship we have established with your people, Rockfish.”
He shook his head, and a lock of gray hair fell over his forehead.
“It will not, Matron. I assure you that my people value our Trading relationship as much as you do.”
“It will not, Matron. I assure you that my people value our Trading relationship as much as you do.”
Wink said, “Rockfish, I realize that the past moon has been difficult for you. As the husband of a missing chieftess, your position here has been precarious. But it’s been difficult for all of us. If you stay, we will do everything in our power to restore your stature in the nation. Tell us what we may do to convince you?”
He gave her a frail, grateful smile. “You were Sora’s lifelong friend, Wink, and a good friend to me. I thank you for your words, but”—he exhaled hard—“home and family are calling to me.”
Sea Grass said, “I vote to allow Rockfish to return home to his own people.”
“As do I,” Birch said.
Widgeon sighed. “I also vote to allow Rockfish to return home.”
Long Fin nodded. “I agree.”
Wink said, “Then you are free to return home, Rockfish. There is only one thing I ask.”
“Yes?”
“I fear that the Black Falcon Nation is still vulnerable. If it is not against the laws of your people, I would ask that you leave your three hundred warriors here for a time longer.”
Sea Grass gave Wink an evaluative look, suspecting she was up to something. But what?
Rockfish nodded. “Of course, Wink. Is there anything else?”
“Yes. Remember that you will always be welcome here. Please return as often as you can.”
Rockfish bowed to the council, but when he rose, he had a curious expression on his elderly face. “I thank you. Now, there is something else I must tell you.”
Sea Grass’ ears perked up like a hunting dog with a rabbit in
sight. His tone of voice alerted her that he was about to venture into dangerous territory.
sight. His tone of voice alerted her that he was about to venture into dangerous territory.
“Go on,” Wink said.
“My people have already approached me about initiating several new Trading alliances.”
“That’s none of our concern,” Wink said. “Your people may establish alliances with whomever they wish. Just as the Black Falcon People may.”
“And do,” Birch added.
“Yes, I know that we ‘may,’ but I want to be forthright with you that my people wish to establish a trading alliance with the Loon Nation. They—”
“You wouldn’t!”
Sea Grass blurted, and stammered, “That w-would set your people up against ours!”
Sea Grass blurted, and stammered, “That w-would set your people up against ours!”
Rockfish responded, “I don’t believe it would, Matron. Currently, the Black Falcon Nation has no alliances of any kind with the Loon Nation.”
“Of course we don’t! They’re animals, and deserve to be treated as such! We—”
“Matron,” Rockfish interrupted. “The fact that they are animals may be advantageous. Animals often have furs and meat that are useful to another nation. What we want, in fact, is access to their oyster beds.”
Sea Grass stared at him agape. “In that case, I change my vote. I vote not to allow you to go home. Wigeon, what do you say?”
Wigeon, who almost always voted in support of Water Hickory Clan, hesitated, and it infuriated Sea Grass.
Has Wink gotten to you, my old friend?
Has Wink gotten to you, my old friend?
In a small, trembling voice, Wigeon said, “My vote stands. High Matron Wink is right. If we begin telling other nations who they may or may not establish trading alliances with, then
we can expect them to do the same to us. It is wrong to interfere in the affairs of other nations.”
we can expect them to do the same to us. It is wrong to interfere in the affairs of other nations.”
Her eyes narrowed as though she expected Sea Grass to shout at her.
Instead, Sea Grass rose from the bench and announced, “Since I have been outvoted, I assume this council meeting is over.”
“It is,” Wink said.
Sea Grass waved to her guards and hobbled toward the door. As her guards rushed to pull the curtain back for her, she heard Chief Long Fin whisper,
“You … playing with … leashed bear, Mother. I pray … Skyholder …”
“You … playing with … leashed bear, Mother. I pray … Skyholder …”
He stopped abruptly, and just before she ducked beneath the curtain, Sea Grass glanced back to see Wink glaring at the boy. Obviously Wink feared that his voice had been too loud.
Sea Grass sternly motioned for her guards to follow her.
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