other. New Moon watched for any sign of life from James. She hated the way fear clung to her insides as she scrambled toward his blood-covered body. Before she could reach him, he rose smoothly to his feet and she slumped to the ground in relief.
With only a quick glance at New Moon, James moved silently to the fallen Mohawk. He dropped to his knees at the fallen warrior's side and reached down to take hold of his stiff scalp lock. Jerking the head up by the hair he slid his knife beneath the skin of his scalp. With a primitive grunt he jerked the hair up as it rent the last few inches from the fallen man's skull.
James held the scalp high above his own head and felt the warm blood drip onto his upturned face. He fought to refrain from whooping in his exuberance as the adrenaline surged through his body like a savage madness.
James turned to New Moon. She saw the bright glow of victory in his eyes and watched as he rose to his feet. He crossed the space that separated them in a few long steps.
He retrieved both his own quiver and hers and slung them over his shoulder before reaching down to jerk New Moon to her feet. Without a word he roughly pushed her ahead of him.
New Moon's emotions swung so quickly from fear to rage that her head swam. It was all she could do not to stagger. So now that he has killed a man in my sight he thinks I'll be properly submissive, she silently fumed. He takes my quiver and would proclaim me weak to the others'.
He pushed her again and she stumbled forward.
***
Silent Deer turned to watch as James and New Moon approached. James was covered in blood, but his easy movement indicated a lack of any serious wounds. After a quick assessing gaze Silent Deer's attention went to the scalp at James' waist. The warriors crowded around James and the air became electric with evidence of the first recounting of the blood lust.
An eagle's shrill cry pierced the hushed silence and the warriors immediately bounded into the countryside. James looked up and watched the flight of the proud and noble bird until he was out of sight.
New Moon pushed irritably at James' shoulder. When he turned his attention to her she pointed to Yellow Hawk who signed for them to move.
The three slipped silently down the bank of a dry creek bed. Several feet above and below their position, more warriors did the same. As they made their way up the opposite bank, a war whoop sounded to their right. James, New Moon, and Yellow Hawk dashed toward the battle, their voices raised in answering call.
Two Mohawk warriors sheltered behind a fallen log loosed their arrows as rapidly as any James had seen. Once all the war party assembled, they advanced on the two.
When the battle finally ended, it was to reveal one Mohawk dead to nine fallen Cherokee, one of whom was New Moon.
Chapter Eleven
James spotted her first. Her left arm and head were draped backward over a heavy log. The rest of her body was not visible from where he stood, but the stalk and feathers of an arrow were. Fear gathered like a fist in the back of his throat.
His heart screamed out, but his voice was lost to him over the loud din in his own ears. A small newborn spark within his soul began to dim. He swung around to see the Mohawk stripped and being prepared for the trail back to Chota, and something inside him snapped.
A sudden roar filled with pain and anguish erupted from his lungs. He raised his hatchet. His vision no longer included what was around him, only the Mohawk…only him…and New Moon lying lifeless behind him.
Another anguished scream rent the frigid morning air and James wondered briefly if the sound had come from him. How could he have let this happen? The strength of his legs sent him flying forward.
He was only partially aware of the three strong bodies that blocked his path and wrestled him to the ground. Through the buzz of anger and grief that rang loudly in his ears the sound of Silent Deer's voice reached him.
"You will stop
With only a quick glance at New Moon, James moved silently to the fallen Mohawk. He dropped to his knees at the fallen warrior's side and reached down to take hold of his stiff scalp lock. Jerking the head up by the hair he slid his knife beneath the skin of his scalp. With a primitive grunt he jerked the hair up as it rent the last few inches from the fallen man's skull.
James held the scalp high above his own head and felt the warm blood drip onto his upturned face. He fought to refrain from whooping in his exuberance as the adrenaline surged through his body like a savage madness.
James turned to New Moon. She saw the bright glow of victory in his eyes and watched as he rose to his feet. He crossed the space that separated them in a few long steps.
He retrieved both his own quiver and hers and slung them over his shoulder before reaching down to jerk New Moon to her feet. Without a word he roughly pushed her ahead of him.
New Moon's emotions swung so quickly from fear to rage that her head swam. It was all she could do not to stagger. So now that he has killed a man in my sight he thinks I'll be properly submissive, she silently fumed. He takes my quiver and would proclaim me weak to the others'.
He pushed her again and she stumbled forward.
***
Silent Deer turned to watch as James and New Moon approached. James was covered in blood, but his easy movement indicated a lack of any serious wounds. After a quick assessing gaze Silent Deer's attention went to the scalp at James' waist. The warriors crowded around James and the air became electric with evidence of the first recounting of the blood lust.
An eagle's shrill cry pierced the hushed silence and the warriors immediately bounded into the countryside. James looked up and watched the flight of the proud and noble bird until he was out of sight.
New Moon pushed irritably at James' shoulder. When he turned his attention to her she pointed to Yellow Hawk who signed for them to move.
The three slipped silently down the bank of a dry creek bed. Several feet above and below their position, more warriors did the same. As they made their way up the opposite bank, a war whoop sounded to their right. James, New Moon, and Yellow Hawk dashed toward the battle, their voices raised in answering call.
Two Mohawk warriors sheltered behind a fallen log loosed their arrows as rapidly as any James had seen. Once all the war party assembled, they advanced on the two.
When the battle finally ended, it was to reveal one Mohawk dead to nine fallen Cherokee, one of whom was New Moon.
Chapter Eleven
James spotted her first. Her left arm and head were draped backward over a heavy log. The rest of her body was not visible from where he stood, but the stalk and feathers of an arrow were. Fear gathered like a fist in the back of his throat.
His heart screamed out, but his voice was lost to him over the loud din in his own ears. A small newborn spark within his soul began to dim. He swung around to see the Mohawk stripped and being prepared for the trail back to Chota, and something inside him snapped.
A sudden roar filled with pain and anguish erupted from his lungs. He raised his hatchet. His vision no longer included what was around him, only the Mohawk…only him…and New Moon lying lifeless behind him.
Another anguished scream rent the frigid morning air and James wondered briefly if the sound had come from him. How could he have let this happen? The strength of his legs sent him flying forward.
He was only partially aware of the three strong bodies that blocked his path and wrestled him to the ground. Through the buzz of anger and grief that rang loudly in his ears the sound of Silent Deer's voice reached him.
"You will stop
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