“Leave us,” Night Shadow Star ordered as she strode into her palace. Clay String stopped short at the door, waited to ensure the rest of the household servants scurried out, and then he, too, slipped away.
Night Shadow Star crossed to the corner where Fire Cat huddled on the floor, his back braced against a sleeping bench. His knees were drawn up, his head down. The sight of him brought a knot to her throat.
As shivering and vulnerable as he’d been that first moment she’d seen him hanging in the square, he hadn’t looked this broken. The depth which with Swirling Cloud had hurt Fire Cat sent currents through the impotent rage within her.
She settled herself beside Fire Cat, her back supported by the bed. She carefully laid his breechcloth and cloak on the matting before his feet. Then she took a deep breath, propping her forearms on her drawn-up knees.
“This, too, shall pass, Fire Cat. Our time will come.”
He reached out with a trembling hand, feeling the fabric of his breechcloth. “You got my clothing back?” He swallowed hard. “I am even more ashamed.”
“They waited around long enough to taunt me with it.” She ground her teeth as a way of burning off her frustrated rage.
“I have failed you, Lady.”
“You haven’t. Not yet.”
“Had I been able, I would have bet your lance and stone. Even my life. As it was, all I had was my clothing.” He took a wavering breath. “I lost by five!”
Doing her best to sound reasonable, she said, “Power has its ways. Are we supposed to learn something from this, maybe take it as a sign?” But of what? Why had Piasa insisted that Fire Cat prepare for a critical game of chunkey?
“Ultimate defeat?” His fists knotted, the muscles in his forearms bulging. “You marry him tomorrow!”
“I will do my duty. In the end, I am told, it is the only way to destroy him.”
“That…” Unable to finish, he shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
“I don’t either. Not completely. Old-Woman-Who-Never-Dies insisted that the Itza has her protection. You and I are not permitted to kill him. Yet Piasa has cleverly hinted that a way exists to get him to destroy himself.”
“How?”
She lifted questioning hands. “Do you think I haven’t asked? All Piasa will tell me is that I must wait, learn, and that if I am clever enough, the way will become clear.” She paused. “That he won’t tell me straight must mean that Piasa fears Old-Woman-Who-Never-Dies’ wrath should he be found out.”
Fire Cat dropped his head again. “I was to play an important part. You warned me. Gave me the chunkey stone. You said our lives might depend upon it.” His voice dropped to a miserable whisper. “I didn’t want to play him. Not yet. And then, because of my pride, I did. And I failed you.”
“This may not have been the game Piasa—”
“I wish to be released from my oath.”
Her heart seemed to stop. “Why?”
“If I am not in your service, Old-Woman-Who-Never-Dies cannot hold you responsible for any actions that I might take.”
“Do you know what you’re saying?”
His head bobbed in a nod. “I thought Power had abandoned me when Spotted Wrist sacked Red Wing Town. And again when I gave you my oath. When I fought the Tula, and saved you in the river, Power flashed in my souls. Bright. Pure. Perhaps in a way I would never have known had I not been taken captive and sworn to you.”
“A setback is not the end.”
She saw his cheeks line with a bitter smile. “Tomorrow, you will marry the Itza, Lady. The Natchez, the Itza warriors, they will be here, in this house. And I…”
“Yes?” Her throat had gone dry, her own hands knotted into fists.
“I…” He swallowed a groan deep in his throat. “I will have to wait just beyond your door when he takes you to your bed. While the Itza and Natchez watch and grin, I’ll have to…”
Her souls went mute as she closed her eyes, her own distaste at the coming ordeal surfacing. She’d tried so hard not to think about it.
Instinctively, she placed her hand on his knee, squeezing in reassurance. “It’s just a mating, Fire Cat.” She smiled wistfully. “If I can endure, so can you.”
“Knowing that you don’t…” He bit off the words, avoiding her eyes.
To spare him, she said, “My souls will be somewhere else, thinking about other things. If I think hard enough, I won’t even realize he’s done until he rolls off.”
He sat silently.
She tightened her grip on his knee. “If you would serve me, you would help make this as easy to endure as you can. I need you strong, proud, and in control. We’re not beaten, Fire Cat. We’re playing for time. Can you do that for me? Give me your word?” She took a deep breath, adding, “I have no one else to rely on.”
He lifted his head, a glittering pain behind his eyes. “Whatever I have to do, Lady. Whatever it takes.”
“Then, for just a moment, let me sit here.” She wound her arm into his, leaning her head against his shoulder. “I just want to pretend that life is simple, and that I have at least one friend.”
The crazy notion came to her that they were one, she and this man—this supposed enemy who served her. If only she could open his skin, crawl inside him, and escape to where it was warm and dark, and safe. Where his heart beat only for her.