Forty-six

In the weeks since the lunar maximum Seven Skull Shield had spent much of his time in Evening Star Town. Not only had he found a use for himself while helping Flat Stone Pipe with a recalcitrant relative, but for whatever reason—probably because he simply didn’t know better—Spotted Wrist had only two of his warriors prowling around Evening Star Town in the quest to find Seven Skull Shield, the Koroa copper, or any other salient information that the new Keeper might find useful in his pursuits as Four Winds Clan Keeper.

So ham-handed had the warriors turned out to be that Seven Skull Shield had actually befriended them, offering items of food, telling them stories, and generally providing helpful tips in their quest for intelligence on the operations of Evening Star Town, its politics, and, of course, its ever potentially dissident matron.

Flat Stone Pipe, to the dwarf’s absolute delight, got the greatest pleasure out of feeding the two warriors conflicting, imaginary, and particularly damaging information about the other Houses and their supposed machinations against Morning Star, the clan matron, and the new Keeper.

These bits of intelligence were dutifully transmitted back to Spotted Wrist by a runner who checked in with the spying warriors every two days.

On the down side, Seven Skull Shield ached to see Willow Blossom.

“Got it hard, huh?” Flat Stone Pipe had asked the day before. “You keep looking off to the east. What is it about this one?”

“She’s just special. Maybe it’s that she’s so innocent, you know? When she smiles up at me, it makes my heart leap. There’s something about her laugh. It just comes out. All bubbly and joyous. And you should see the way her eyes light up, sort of sparkle just for me.”

“You sure?”

Seven Skull Shield had given the dwarf his most disapproving look. “Who do you think you’re talking to? I know more about women than any ten men alive. Sometimes a man and woman just fit together.” He demonstrated by interlacing his fingers so tightly they’d hold water. “That’s Willow Blossom and me.”

“And how is this perfect woman of yours taking these long absences? Must be hard on her, pining away for you while you’re hiding from half of Cahokia.”

“She’s happily safe in Night Shadow Star’s palace. She understands, little man. This isn’t forever. It’s just going to take some time to bring all the pieces together. Spotted Wrist isn’t going to last. All you need to do is think of those two idiot warriors he’s got ‘keeping an eye on things’ here in Evening Star Town.”

“Must be one really remarkable woman.” Flat Stone Pipe’s expression was anything but reassuring.

That had been the final straw. Seven Skull Shield had mussed himself up, found an old basket that he filled with scraps of cloth, and bartered his way across the river. Farts trotting at his heels, he’d hurried his way up the Avenue of the Sun, looking for all the world like another of the dirt farmers engaged in some venture of his own.

Arriving at the Great Plaza, he’d been delighted to note that the warriors who spent their days watching Night Shadow Star’s palace were gone. Where they’d usually stood, a boy—maybe in his early teens—now sat, butt just shy of the sloping side of Morning Star’s great mound. The kid was playing in the dirt, drawing figures with his fingertip and glancing periodically up at the Piasa and Horned Serpent guardian posts where they frowned down on the avenue.

Never one to take things for granted, Seven Skull Shield studied all sides, found no one suspicious, and with relief, pounded up the steps.

He gave the perfunctory salute to Piasa and Horned Serpent and snapped a “No, you don’t” as Farts started to hoist his leg on Horned Serpent’s post.

He dropped his basket of rags on the veranda and strode in the door, calling, “The wandering thief has returned! Was I missed?”

“I had a boil on my neck once,” Green Stick called from the back of the room where he used a thumbnail to peel the tough outer skin off a small wild onion, the first of which had started to show up in the plaza markets. “I missed you about as much as I missed that boil after Rides-the-Lightning lanced and drained it. I used to spend my nights saying, ‘I sure wish I had that boil back.’ And I did it in the same voice as I say, ‘I sure wish that shiftless thief would come back.’”

“Do you know the difference between you and dog shit?” Seven Skull Shield asked. “No? It’s the dog.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Think it through, Green Stick. Where are the rest?”

“Winter Leaf and Clay Stick are gone for water and firewood. I was just—”

“Seven Skull Shield!” Willow Blossom cried as she appeared in the doorway leading back to Night Shadow Star’s personal quarters. She tossed a folded blanket onto the Red Wing’s bed and came at a run, throwing her arms around Seven Skull Shield, clamping her body tightly to his.

“That’s what I call a welcome,” he greeted, lifting her off her feet and whirling her around. “I have so missed you. Figured it was worth the risk.” He cast an eye at the stewpot, adding, “Farts, get away from that.”

The big dog dropped on his butt, scratching at a persistent flea, mournful eyes on Seven Skull Shield. It might have been the ultimate betrayal.

Seven Skull Shield set Willow Blossom down, taking the moment to savor the happiness in her eyes, and yes, it was back, that sparkling joy that said she was delighted to see him. The smile was on her full lips, a radiant excitement in her expression and in the way she held him.

“I can’t stop thinking about you,” he told her. “Through the day and filling my dreams at night, you are always there. I want you to come away with me.”

“Away? From here?”

“It won’t be much. Not at first. I’ve been talking with Flat Stone Pipe. There is a farmstead out west of Evening Star Town. It’s got a good house on it, water in a creek just down the slope. Nice soil for a garden. Peaceful. I Traded a beautiful redstone eagle effigy pipe for the place. I tell you, it will be perfect. No one will think to look for me there, and in a couple of moons they will have forgotten all about me.”

“A farmstead?” The dullness only flickered behind her eyes for a heartbeat, and then she broke out in laughter, the sparkle back. “Of course! Wouldn’t that be wonderful!”

She broke free of his arms, turned, and told Green Stick, “You promised.”

“Promised what?” Seven Skull Shield asked.

“He promised me that the next time you showed up, he, Winter Leaf, and Clay String would leave. Give us a couple of hands of time alone.”

Green Stick tossed the last of the onions into the stewpot, scooped up the skins, and consigned them to the fire. “Of course, he’d show up at the most inconvenient moment. It’s not like I didn’t have ten tens of things to do today. Or like Winter Leaf and Clay String won’t be back with their wood and water anytime soon.”

“So, go watch a stickball game,” Seven Skull Shield told the man with a wave of the hand. “Wasn’t it you complaining that you never had the time to watch a game all the way through? That Duck Clan team from over east is playing a Snapping Turtle team from down at Horned Serpent Town this afternoon. I heard talk of it all the way from River Mounds. People are wagering a fortune.”

Clapping his hands to free them of clinging onion, Green Stick gave a mighty sigh. “Very well. Guess we know what you two are doing while we’re out and about. You going to be gone for that farmstead by the time we get back?”

“Might,” Willow Blossom called gaily. “Can’t wait to see it. But it depends on how distracted we get in the meantime. Might wait until morning to leave.”

“Enthusiasm is nice, and the vigor of youth is wonderful, but don’t break the bed strapping,” Green Stick muttered as he grabbed up his cloak and headed for the door.

A feral excitement had filled Willow Blossom’s eyes as she stared up at Seven Skull Shield. Her quick fingers slipped past his breechcloth, grabbing his shaft. He sucked a breath as she squeezed.

“Why don’t you pull those ugly clothes off. Make the bed ready. Me, I’m going to check that he’s really gone.” She turned, almost skipping out the door to the top of the stairs between the guardian posts.

Seven Skull Shield watched her wave, make a sign with her hand. Must have been some curious good-bye to Green Stick.

He had slipped out of his cloak, shirt, and breechcloth by the time she had returned to set the door so that it blocked the view from outside.

Farts had flopped on his side by the fire, filled his lungs, and vented one of those canine sighs of resignation.

Willow Blossom slithered out of her skirt as she crossed the matting and pulled the pins to let her silky black hair cascade down her back. She struck a pose, let him enjoy the perfect symmetry of her body, and then leaped on top of him where he had reclined in her bed.

Maybe Green Stick was right to worry. Willow Blossom’s exuberance did strain the bed straps, but they held. Though it had to be a close-run thing.

He’d barely caught his wind when she managed to tease his shaft to attention again. This time he slowed her, savored the sensations of her body against his. Yes, he could spend the rest of his life enjoying this woman. She had him …

The only warning was Farts’ growl. Seven Skull Shield was barely aware when the dog stood as Willow Blossom tightened around him. Squealed with delight.

He glanced over as the door was thrust wide.

Warriors, in a stream, burst through the door, charging across the floor.

Seven Skull Shield tried to throw Willow Blossom to the side, but she clung to him, arms and legs wrapped desperately around his body.

A hollow-sounding blow was accompanied by a yelp, and Farts streaked for the door, three warriors hot after him, swinging war clubs the whole way.

Seven Skull Shield bellowed his rage, still trapped by Willow Blossom’s clinging body. He couldn’t, he just couldn’t fling her off. Might hurt her. And the poor woman was just terrified.

Stuck as he was, Seven Skull Shield watched the ring of warriors close around the bed. Never, ever had he felt so trapped, helpless, or frustrated.

“All right,” the big warrior with the stone-headed club said. “You can let loose of him now.”

Willow Blossom scrambled away, slipping between the warriors to collect her skirt and cloak. “I’ve kept my part of the bargain. Now it’s time for the Keeper to keep his.” She tossed her head to throw her tousled hair back.

Seven Skull Shield gaped, staring at her where she stood behind the warriors. “You what?”

“Oh, come on. A farmstead? After everything I’ve done to get this far?”

At her words, he leaped. Might have had a chance, but the straps gave way under the strain. His legs and butt crashed down between the bedframe and the wall.

They were on him like flies on fresh dung. He howled, flailing, but his struggles were cut short by a clipping blow to the head that left him stunned, his ears ringing, and his vision blurred with little stars of light dancing before them.

His last memory was of Willow Blossom saying, “Bet he’ll never forget his last moments with me.”