Chapter Six

Kangee battled to keep her fear and worry from edging into her voice as she narrated one last story to the older children left in the storytelling circle. Her movements felt stiff and forced, and to her own ears, she sounded flat and even shaky. But as she eyed her audience, she saw only rapt attention.

Tipping her head back, she glanced up into the branches above her head, then gasped and nearly stumbled when she spotted two silent vultures staring down at her. Light reflected from the fire pit between her and the first row of children made their eyes gleam red. One of them flapped its wings and let out a screech. She backed up, caught her heel on a root, and fell.

She had no doubt they were Shadowed Souls.

Above her, they hopped and flapped their wings. The children, thinking her fall was part of the story laughed. She stood and tried to hide her fear by adding the birds into her story. As she had done earlier that day, she used her abilities to aim a blast of wind at the vultures and, to the delight of the children, sent them head over tail through the trees.

Silence fell, and the children stared up at her expecting her to continue. Her legs shook so she sat on the stump with her hands clasped tightly together to hide her trembling. She tried to gather her thoughts but couldn’t even remember what story she’d been telling.

A deep voice came to her rescue. “Caw. Caw.” The children gasped, then giggled when Star Walker jumped out of the shadows behind Kangee. “What story should I tell?”

One young boy jumped to his feet. “How the Crow Turned Black?”

Grateful that her brother had come to her rescue, Kangee stood. “Star Walker has joined us. Who would like Star Walker to tell this story?”

Immediately, the twins jumped up and down. “Luc! Tell the story. Please.” Their voices rang in unison. Kangee smiled in relief for no one told this particular story as well as their brother.

Two girls in the front row giggled and whispered, “Monstre.”

Though sick with fear and worry, Kangee couldn’t help choking on a small laugh as several other children repeated the French word for monster. A warm glow in her heart chased some of the shadows from her mind. The children in her brother’s new home were getting to know him well. She indicated the seat of honor.

Luc Cordell, son of Conrad, took two giant strides, and without warning, he swooped low and grabbed a toddler sitting beside his elder siblings. The boy squealed. Star Walker growled. “Ze rug rats. Many rug rats. This monstre is hungry!” He spoke in a combination of Lakota and French.

Around him, the children laughed. Star Walker released the giggling boy and approached Kangee. Reaching out, he pulled her close with one hand. “Go. I’ll finish. “

Her throat seized, so she nodded and with a wary glance upward, she left the storytelling ring. Behind her, Star Walker jumped up onto the stump and spread his arms wide.

“Caw, caw, caw,” he shouted as he flapped his arms up and down. Most of the children now knew Star Walker’s exuberant style of telling a story. They stood and flapped their arms in the manner of the great black bird whose story was a favorite among children. The air filled with the call of the wahpa tanka, the large bird honored in tonight’s tale.

When Luc lowered his arms and sat, the children settled quickly. Kangee rested her back against one of the trees. Exhaustion swept through her as she used her sharp eyesight to scan the branches. She didn’t see the vultures, but if those birds had been the return of the Shadowed Souls, and she was positive they had been, then they could be anywhere, as anything—bird, insect, rodent. Shadowed Souls, like SpiritWalkers were free to shift into any shape and assume any form, the difference being that SpiritWalkers asked, Shadowed Souls took.

She returned her attention to her brother. Her gaze roamed the scene. There was nothing so sweet, so innocent as a child immersed in a world created especially for them. Not only did they follow the tale and learn the lessons in each story, but they experienced the story as though they were part of it.

Bodies tensed, then leaned forward with anticipation. Some squirmed, other shifted or held their arms folded tight to their chests or twisted their hands together. Even the small twitch of their fingers portrayed simple reactions and emotions.

“He is almost as good as you, Mithan.”

Kangee smiled faintly at Blaze. “Yes, he is good. Soon, he will have his own child begging him for stories.”

Blaze cupped her still flat belly where new life grew. “Yes, I will enjoy that.”

Kangee loved her new sister and admired her strength and abilities and wished she too had more to offer in the way of talents and gifts. She might have the eyes that marked her as a SpiritWalker but, so far, little else. Grandmother, and her own mother, had both told her that, in time, her special gifts would be revealed. She sighed. She didn’t have time. Her mother didn’t have time. She needed help now.

“Kangee?” Blaze’s voice drew Kangee back to the present. She met her sister’s concerned gaze. “What is wrong? What happened when you were telling your story?”

Kangee shook her head. “I’ll explain later.” Blaze knew nothing about Shadowed Souls as, up until a few weeks ago, she hadn’t even known that she was a SpiritWalker. To fill the awkward silence, she said, “I feel as though I’m trapped in a nightmare.” She hugged her arms to her chest. “Did you talk to Star Walker? Will he go find father tonight?”

Blaze nodded. “We leave after everyone is in bed.” She reached out and drew Kangee to her. “We will find your father and bring him back.”

Kangee watched the children and her brother without really seeing them. “We need Grandmother. Tell him this.” Whatever she had faced was beyond what any of them could handle, including her father. He was a SpiritWalker by marriage, but he didn’t have the knowledge or skills to deal with something that evil.

“Do not worry, Mithan.”

“What’s wrong, Kang?” Travers asked as he and Alex joined the two women.

Kangee shook her head, unwilling, even unable to voice the events of the day. She only wanted to tell everyone what happened once so she forced herself to smile.

Before she could change the subject, Travers grinned. “Heard what you did today—” A sharp jab from Alex stopped him. “Ow—” He subsided when the three women glared at him. “Sorry,” he muttered.

Alex rolled her eyes. “My brother doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut.”

Kangee sighed. Travers looked miserable. He was sweet, but at times, his mouth ran ahead of his mind. “It’s okay, Trav. Let’s not talk about it.”

Blaze patted her shoulder. “Star Walker and I are going to go find her father when he is finished with his story.”

Alex frowned. “My father and brother should be back soon.” She lifted worried eyes. “Neither of them have heard about William yet. Everything has changed.”

Each turned pensive, for Albert, the head of the Cordell family had left, along with his eldest son, to take the furs to the trading post and to purchase new supplies. He’d been gone when William had tried to kill Conrad and his family. It was because of William’s greed, hate, and resentment toward her father that her mother was missing and her father gone. Williams’s betrayal had hurt all of them.

“You’re right, Alex. Everything has changed.” And she didn’t like it.

Travers cleared his throat and stabbed his toe into the dirt. “Nice story back there.” Though he grinned, she saw the uncertainty in his eyes.

“It is one of the favorites of the children in our village. The twins and Skye love it.” She sent him a look of gratitude.

Leaning forward, Travers whispered, “You can tell me a story anytime.”

Kangee snorted, then rolled her eyes, but before she came up with one of her pithy comments, Alex jabbed him in the ribs. Again.

“You are a pitiful story, Trav.” Her eyes gleamed wickedly in the firelight. “Did you hear what happened on the hunt today?” Alex, dressed as a trapper in her buckskin shirt and pants, addressed Kangee.

“Shut it.” Travers shoved his sister.

Kangee lifted a brow as her cousin shifted from one foot to the other, a sure sign he was embarrassed, which meant that he had done something worthy of being teased and tormented over, in a loving, familiar way. “What happened?”

Grinning widely, Alex bent her knees to examine a small tear in Traver’s breeches. “He tripped over a log and fell,” she murmured. “Heard it was wider than a man’s shoulders.” She straightened. “Made enough noise to scare every living creature and wake the moon.”

Travers scowled. “Thanks for telling everyone, sis.”

Kangee raised her eyebrows, and her jaw dropped. “Travers. A log? How can you trip over a log?”

“Just did,” he muttered as he dug his toe into the dirt.

Alex shook her head with dismay. “Travers, you have to pay attention. You can’t stroll through the woods with your mind filled with cotton.” Her gaze cut to Kangee. “Or silly dreams—”

Eyes narrowed, Travers put his hand over his sister’s mouth. “Shut it, A-lex-see-us,” he said, drawing out Alex’s given name.

Alex, who despised being called Alexis, punched him in the arm.

“Hey!” he yelped.

Nearly a head taller than her younger brother, she leaned in close. “Say it again, and I will knock you onto your ass,” she promised sweetly.

Travers jumped back, then jammed his hands into the pockets of his breeches. “Geez, sis. Just jesting.” He spun around to leave.

The dark look in Alex’s eyes told her that the woman not only could but would flatten her brother on the ground. Taking pity on the man, Kangee reached out and pulled him back. “We’re just teasing you, Trav.”

Kangee shook her head at her cousins. They shared the same father yet were as different as night from day. She loved them both, but it was Alex she admired and looked up to as a big sister.

Thinking back to the day when the woman first joined their family, Kangee was amazed at the changes. Alex had been pale, thin, and distrustful of everyone. And filled with hate and resentment. But she’d learned fast, toughened faster, and in two years, embraced a life far different from the brothel she’d been raised in before running away.

Travers on the other hand hadn’t grown into himself yet. Though he was often a considerable pain in her side, he was a sweet boy. Just awkward and unsure of himself.

Someday, he’d make someone a good husband. But not her. She knew he thought himself in love with her, but Travers wasn’t her SpiritMate. His soul did not complete and complement her own.

He would love her more than life itself and he’d cherish her and any family they created, but Kangee wanted a marriage like her mother had found with Conrad.

She frowned as she thought of her birth father. It had been a long time since he’d come to mind. He’d left their village just after she’d turned six and had never returned so she barely remembered him.

He’d been a distant father, too busy being an important warrior to bother with a small girl. No one in her village talked of him, and no one missed him. Including her. She thought it was sad to not miss her father, but how can one miss what one never had? The day her mother had introduced her to Conrad Cordell, the man had become her father in every way that was important.

Kangee tuned out the conversation between her cousins and Blaze. She tried to focus on her brother’s story, but she was just too unsettled. The events of the day consumed her mind and threatened to swallow her whole.

Her gaze shifted and roamed across the peaceful village and, once again, latched onto Night Warrior. Here was the one warrior who not only drew her attention but also held it. She frowned. After several weeks in the village, why had they suddenly become so aware of each other?

Up until today, they’d never really spoken to one another. She shared the lodge belonging to his family, but other than a nod here or there, they’d had no contact, except in her dreams. Yet, she’d been very aware of him, especially once he’d been able to leave his sick bed.

Now, she sensed his presence no matter whether he stood in plain sight or was somewhere in the immediate vicinity, shielded by the forest. The air carried more than his scent. It carried the feel of him, the hum of life, of energy that he radiated.

He watched her. As she now watched him. Physically, he stood a good head taller than most of the men in the village. He wore his hair long, loose, and flowing. The wind pulled and tugged at the fine strands, drawing her attention to shoulders that were as broad as the trunk of the ancient trees.

Kangee studied his features—the piercing dark eyes that saw far too much, strong, straight nose with no hawk-hook like so many of the men in the village. His cheeks were bronzed by the sun and smooth but for the lines of pain that cupped his mouth. Stoic. The face of a proud man, yet earlier, he’d been gentle and caring.

Her gaze shifted to his taut jaw, then down his chest, over the healing wounds, and scanned his rock-hard belly. She held her breath as her gaze traveled over the flap of his breechclout.

As though aware of her perusal, he shifted and planted his feet farther apart, which revealed strong, muscular calves and thick thighs. The gash on his injured thigh seeped with fresh blood. She wanted to go to him and bathe his wound. And make the stubborn man rest. But mostly, she wanted just to be close to him, like earlier when he cradled her close and surrounded her in his scent. She’d felt safe.

This, she thought, as she lifted her gaze back to his face, was a man who drew her like a moth to the moon.

Especially at night.

Each evening, during the darkest part of the night, she dreamed of him and he came to her as a strong, healthy warrior. He was confident and he was whole, a proud warrior in his finest garments and a feathered headdress that proclaimed his status to all. During her dreams, he held her close against his solid, unblemished chest. His arms were strong yet gentle, and his voice soothed and comforted. And sometimes, he kissed her tenderly. Just thinking about her dreams sent heat flooding into her face.

As though she’d called his name, Night Warrior’s head whipped around and their gazes met and held once more.

Kangee sucked in her breath, tried to turn away, but couldn’t. This warrior, with his eyes, had drawn her down into a long, deep tunnel. She tried to break contact, but something flashed between them, a light that sparked like a star in the night sky exploding into tiny fragments.

His brows rose, as though he too had seen that flash and knew her thoughts. The air between them vibrated as strong wills clashed and neither broke contact. What did this mean, her attraction to him, her gut-deep awareness? Was it his troubled and tormented soul that drew hers, or was it something deeper? Stronger.

She rubbed the chill off her arms, refusing to break off what had turned into a silent staring contest, a challenge.

Why do I want you, Warrior? She asked the question in her mind and fought the urge to go to him, offer words of comfort, touch him as he touched her in her dreams. She wanted to ease his pain and reassure him that he was not a helpless warrior to be pitied.

Why do you see me as a whole man when I am not?

Kangee gasped, and her eyes widened. You cannot know my thoughts. You are not SpiritWalker. We are not related.

Normally, blood ties allowed people of her race to communicate with one another silently. Most often, it was a sensing of the other’s emotion more than actual conversation, with exception of SpiritMates who were bound—heart, soul, and mind.

For just a moment, he looked as stunned as she felt, as though he hadn’t realized that she’d heard his response. Then he sighed so deep, it vibrated throughout her heart and soul. We share dreams. Perhaps our dreams created this path.

Horribly embarrassed, Kangee tore her gaze from that of the wounded warrior. How could he know of her dreams and how she often found herself weaving a romantic setting around the two of them?

He couldn’t know whenever he wasn’t looking in her direction that she watched him, fully appreciating the width of his shoulders painted a warm bronze by the sun, the narrowness of his waist and hips, and his strong buttocks that peeked out when his breechclout swung side to side. And how many times had her fingers twitched with the need to touch him, to dig into his firm, bronzed flesh? He couldn’t know what she dreamed.

Low laughter rolled through her mind. I know more than you think, skuya, sweet one, for I am a DreamWalker. I come to you each night. You comfort me as much as I comfort you. I did not realize you were aware of our dreamtime.

“Stop it,” Kangee said. Realizing she’d spoken aloud, she subsided into embarrassed silence as her family stopped all conversation around her and were looking at her.

A small group of children ran up to her. “Brother Dragon! Tomorrow, will you tell the story of Brother Dragon?” Andre and Anika spoke together.

“We have no Brother Dragon story.” This came from a tall, gangly boy who stood a bit back from the other children.

“Our tribe has Brother Dragon.” The twins turned to glare at the older boy.

Kangee held up a hand to stop the twins from protesting. She addressed the frowning boy. “Our people have many Brother Dragon stories. Tomorrow, I will tell how he came to be.”

It amazed her that these children could so easily accept that, while she and her sisters were Lakota, same as they, they were also SpiritWalkers and very different.

The boy nodded respectfully. “I will come to listen to this story.” He walked off, his shoulders held stiff with pride.

Kangee hid her smile. Five nights ago, he’d sat among the rest of the children. Last night and tonight, he’d chosen to stand on the perimeter of the circle. Soon he’d leave childhood behind for the warrior’s world, but right now, he was both boy and man.

With everyone heading for their lodges, Kangee went to her brother. “You will leave and find mon père? I need to talk to him. It is important.” Her throat closed up, and her stomach seized. She didn’t want to speak of the evil, of the frightening visions or the Shadowed Souls. Not until her father was here, with her.

Star Walker reached out and pulled her close. “I heard about the storm and the tree—and Skye.”

“There’s more.” Kangee pulled back. Tears threatened and the words tumbled out. “I saw Shadowed Souls and a monster. With our mother. She is trapped—”

A tug on her skirts stopped the flow of words. Skye held up her hands. Kangee bent and gathered her sister close, resting her check against the child’s baby-soft skin.

Star Walker gave his sisters a hug. “Stay calm. I will leave and find our father.”

Kangee watched him walk away with Blaze. They faded into the shadows. She knew they would go up to the cave hidden on the ridge of land where they shared Blaze’s cave. From there, they’d shift into eagles or owls and soar over lake and forest together.

“Tired, Skye?” She ran her hands through her youngest sister’s silky strands of hair, gently combing out tangles.

Skye’s answer was to relax into her sister, letting her small body conform and her eyes close. Around them, voices were hushed as everyone made their way back to their lodges. A small group of men still sat around a fire, the gentle breeze carrying the scent of tobacco from their pipes.

A lump rose in her throat as the scent made her think of her father, and a prick of yearning brought tears to her eyes. Though he wasn’t her blood father, over the years, he’d earned the respected title of father and it was her love, and admiration for Conrad Cordell that set her standards high in her search for a husband.

Her arms tightened around her young sister. The worry and fear she’d worked so hard to hide while telling her story returned as she searched the sky, then the thick undergrowth of brush. Did the darkness hide the Shadowed Souls? Not everyone could shift shape for it was a gift given by the spirits of the Earth. But Shadowed Souls took and stole.

They could be hidden in the shadows, watching. She shivered as she turned away from the forest. In her arms, Skye shifted. “Father comes.” Skye’s sleepy voice was a wisp of sound, but Kangee drew comfort from it.

“Thank you, Mithan.” There was no doubt that Skye knew her father was on his way for the little girl’s gifts and talents were many. Unlike Kangee who wasn’t so gifted. She was plain, ordinary, couldn’t even shift shape to help search for her mother.

Exhaustion was making her feel sorry for herself, so she shoved aside her feelings of worthlessness and gave thanks for her sister and her ability to soothe and comfort.

Turning to the twins, she pointed. “Time for bed.” She held up a hand to forestall comments. “Do not argue. Take Skye with you. Your sister is very tired.”

Skye shook her head. “Stay. With you.”

Kangee eased Skye’s clinging arms from her. “I’ll be right in, sweetheart. Go now.” Skye went reluctantly with the twins.

Taking a few minutes to be alone, to calm and center herself, she walked through the village, tuning out the sounds of families getting ready for bed. She tipped her head back and stared up into the sky. The clouds were gone, leaving the heavens studded with stars.

The moon hung low and heavy, bathing her in its silvery light. Lifting her hands, she silently prayed to Grandmother Moon and hoped that her own grandmother was also gazing up at the moon and would sense her granddaughter’s need. Two birds, flying low and silent flew over her. Each dipped a wing toward her.

“Find father,” she told them, knowing the birds were Blaze and her brother. “Find father and bring him back.” A soft hoot above her head drew her attention. She spotted a third owl.

Help is on its way.

The words echoed in her mind. Kangee didn’t question whether she’d heard it or not. The connection between man and the animal world was not so far apart. One needed only to listen.

She nodded to the bird, remembering the feather that she’d caught just that morning. It seemed so long ago. Feeling measurably calmer, she headed to her lodge.

Inside, she found her sisters sleeping on one large pallet on the floor. It didn’t matter that there were two above ground beds, her young sisters slept easier on furs covering the floor. And so did she.

Kangee slid beneath the fur covers, careful not to disturb the girls as she settled on her back so she could stare up into the night sky from one of the smoke holes in the roof of the longhouse. The clear sky and bright stars grew larger as they twinkled.

After a while, she turned to her side and closed her eyes but sleep eluded her. As she lay there, trying to keep fear at bay, she heard Night Warrior’s shuffling gait as he entered the lodge and made his way to his pallet.

Knowing he was in the lodge close enough for her to breathe in his scent made her feel safe. She thought of seeking solace in her dreams. Normally, like telling her stories, she loved dreaming, even the thought of dreaming. Her dreams were vivid. Colorful. She created them and even controlled them, directing the action as though she stood on the outside and watched. But all that had happened that day made her afraid to close her eyes.

It had nothing to do with Night Warrior’s knowledge that she dreamed of him or the fact that he was a DreamWalker and able to enter her dreams. She feared that if she closed her eyes and dreamed, evil would find her as it found her earlier that day.

****

Ardong stretched out tentacles of darkness, reaching, seeking. The night belonged to him. The taint of his evil leached out of the stone. Life around him shrank back and shuddered.

Kangee. He whispered the daughter’s name. Come to me. Come to your mother.

The power of his voice rode the back of the reluctant wind. What was available to the weak-minded SpiritWalkers was available to him. He was immortal. Powerful. Fathered by Dragon, who’d been given life by Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. The four were as one. One mother. One creator.

He was of the gods, and soon, he’d be free to search out the rest of his soul. And then he would take his place as ruler of the world. Putting aside his plans of vengeance, he concentrated on the girl.