chiefs of the Socos did the inevitable. They declared that Inaj’s acts demanded much more than satisfying the cry of Tensa’s spirit for redress. This was no longer just a matter for Tensa’s clan or the need for balance in the world. “We are at war,” they declared, “with the Tuscas.”
That meant their new Red Chief was now the village governor. No Galayi band had ever been at war with another.
Sunoya and Su-Li conferred quietly with Ninyu. “Do anything to stop this declaration of war,” Sunoya said. “It will delight Inaj. It will make him all-powerful.”
Ninyu said, “I am no longer a chief—this was bound to happen.”
Word spread as fast as storms blew across the land. A runner came from the Cheowa village, begging the Socos to revoke the declaration.
“Did you tell Inaj the same?” the Red Chief asked.
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“Inaj mocked me.”
A runner from the Cusa village came with words even more urgent. The Cusa village was traditionally a place of sanctuary. They never entered into war for any reason, and offered refuge to any person being threatened. The messenger reminded the Soco chiefs of the great commandment of the Immortals when they created the People of the Caves, that no Galayi might ever shed the blood of another. He begged them to consider what punishments the Immortals might rain down upon the tribe if two bands made war on each other.
The chiefs told him to go home without even repeating this foolishness to the Tuscas. The Red Chief said, “The land is already aflame with war.”
“Now Inaj is laughing,” Sunoya told Ninyu. “He’s laughing at us, laughing at the world, laughing at the Immortals.”
Ninyu asked Sunoya, “How long will Inaj go on?”
“As long as we don’t turn Dahzi over to him. You’ve got to do something.”
“There’s nothing I can do. For the moment, Ahsginah, the Evil One, reigns.”
16
W hen spring came, the two warring villages risked going to the Planting Moon Ceremony. It was the dance that brought full bellies to the people for the entire year—the corn crop, ground, was a staple during the winter. Besides, no one would dare violate the truce of these sacred dances.
“Still,” said Ninyu, “we’ll keep two guards on you and the Hungry One all the time.”
As soon as they made camp along the river above the village, an old man brought Sunoya a message. “Tsola wants to see you tonight. You and the child.”
Sunoya smiled. She knew this old man for what he was.
She had made a full day’s travel carrying Dahzi already today, but for Tsola she could walk another hour up to Emerald Cave. “Eat with us and we’ll go.”
“We’ll wait until dark,” said the old man.
The two guards were mystified when Sunoya told them she and the child would be going to the Emerald Cavern that night with the old man. They were more scandalized when she said she’d be taking the child, and petrified at the edge of the camp when the old man began to change. Fingers to claws. Arms to forelegs. Skin to fur. Face to muzzle. Teeth to fangs.
The panther turned to the guards. “Just follow and keep calm. I see well in the dark.”
In the middle of the night, though the Cavern knew neither day nor night, Tsola held the Hungry One, the child of prophecy, and giggled. Sunoya laughed. She wasn’t used to seeing the Wounded Healer act this way. Tsola even held thechild toward the fire, for his sake, though she preferred the cool of the Cavern, and the darkness.
Sunoya reached up and stroked Su-Li’s feathers. He still disliked caves, especially this vast one, and he could travel to the spirit world without Tsola’s help.
Tsola got an extra blanket, wrapped the child tighter, and sat a few steps from the embers. “I have something on my mind.”
“Talk her out of it,” said the panther, Klandagi.
Sunoya frowned at him. She was used to Klandagi’s voice, human with a hint of growl, but this was abrasive.
“I’ll
That meant their new Red Chief was now the village governor. No Galayi band had ever been at war with another.
Sunoya and Su-Li conferred quietly with Ninyu. “Do anything to stop this declaration of war,” Sunoya said. “It will delight Inaj. It will make him all-powerful.”
Ninyu said, “I am no longer a chief—this was bound to happen.”
Word spread as fast as storms blew across the land. A runner came from the Cheowa village, begging the Socos to revoke the declaration.
“Did you tell Inaj the same?” the Red Chief asked.
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“Inaj mocked me.”
A runner from the Cusa village came with words even more urgent. The Cusa village was traditionally a place of sanctuary. They never entered into war for any reason, and offered refuge to any person being threatened. The messenger reminded the Soco chiefs of the great commandment of the Immortals when they created the People of the Caves, that no Galayi might ever shed the blood of another. He begged them to consider what punishments the Immortals might rain down upon the tribe if two bands made war on each other.
The chiefs told him to go home without even repeating this foolishness to the Tuscas. The Red Chief said, “The land is already aflame with war.”
“Now Inaj is laughing,” Sunoya told Ninyu. “He’s laughing at us, laughing at the world, laughing at the Immortals.”
Ninyu asked Sunoya, “How long will Inaj go on?”
“As long as we don’t turn Dahzi over to him. You’ve got to do something.”
“There’s nothing I can do. For the moment, Ahsginah, the Evil One, reigns.”
16
W hen spring came, the two warring villages risked going to the Planting Moon Ceremony. It was the dance that brought full bellies to the people for the entire year—the corn crop, ground, was a staple during the winter. Besides, no one would dare violate the truce of these sacred dances.
“Still,” said Ninyu, “we’ll keep two guards on you and the Hungry One all the time.”
As soon as they made camp along the river above the village, an old man brought Sunoya a message. “Tsola wants to see you tonight. You and the child.”
Sunoya smiled. She knew this old man for what he was.
She had made a full day’s travel carrying Dahzi already today, but for Tsola she could walk another hour up to Emerald Cave. “Eat with us and we’ll go.”
“We’ll wait until dark,” said the old man.
The two guards were mystified when Sunoya told them she and the child would be going to the Emerald Cavern that night with the old man. They were more scandalized when she said she’d be taking the child, and petrified at the edge of the camp when the old man began to change. Fingers to claws. Arms to forelegs. Skin to fur. Face to muzzle. Teeth to fangs.
The panther turned to the guards. “Just follow and keep calm. I see well in the dark.”
In the middle of the night, though the Cavern knew neither day nor night, Tsola held the Hungry One, the child of prophecy, and giggled. Sunoya laughed. She wasn’t used to seeing the Wounded Healer act this way. Tsola even held thechild toward the fire, for his sake, though she preferred the cool of the Cavern, and the darkness.
Sunoya reached up and stroked Su-Li’s feathers. He still disliked caves, especially this vast one, and he could travel to the spirit world without Tsola’s help.
Tsola got an extra blanket, wrapped the child tighter, and sat a few steps from the embers. “I have something on my mind.”
“Talk her out of it,” said the panther, Klandagi.
Sunoya frowned at him. She was used to Klandagi’s voice, human with a hint of growl, but this was abrasive.
“I’ll
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