It Sleeps in Me (21 page)

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Authors: Kathleen O'Neal Gear

BOOK: It Sleeps in Me
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SHE COUNTED TEN GUARDS AROUND THE BASE OF HER mound. There must be more in the rear where she couldn’t see. Feather Dancer stood at the top of the stairs wearing a bark rain cape and conical hat. His scarred face was rigid, but his gaze moved back and forth between Sora and Far Eye as they walked up the stairs to the mound top. More warriors stood at the corners of the house.
“I was growing concerned, Chieftess. What took you so long?”
“We waited for the rain to ease up.” She walked past him toward her door. Before she entered, she bowed briefly to the huge carving of Black Falcon.
Behind her, Feather Dancer said, “Far Eye, I want you to guard Matron Wink’s house.”
“Why? You need me here. Let me stand guard outside the chieftess’ bedchamber. That’s where I’ll be of most use.”
In a gruff voice, Feather Dancer ordered, “Go to the Matron’s House. I’ll meet you there in a short time and we’ll discuss this.”
Sora turned.
Far Eye’s teeth clenched, setting his jaw askew. “You just want to be close to her. That’s it, isn’t it?”
The other warriors glanced worriedly at each other. Feather Dancer drew himself up to his full height and glared at Far Eye with deadly intent.
“Go. Now. Before I have you escorted back to your chamber and your door barricaded.”
Far Eye’s mouth puckered in rage. His fists knotted as though he was considering striking his war chief. Instead, he growled,
“You leave her alone. She’s mine.
”
Feather Dancer looked suddenly uncertain. Perhaps he saw Flint looking out at him and was reconsidering his idea that Far Eye was part of a conspiracy to bring about her downfall.
Sora said, “War Chief, I would prefer that Far Eye stand guard around my house.”
Far Eye glowered as though displeased she hadn’t said “in front of my bedchamber,” and Feather Dancer blinked in disbelief that she would countermand his order when she knew Far Eye was dangerous.
“Chieftess, I must protest. We need warriors around the Matron’s House, and since Far Eye is her brother’s son, his place is there.”
“You are right, of course,” she said. “But if it’s possible, I would like Far Eye to stay here tonight; then tomorrow you may reassign him.”
Feather Dancer seemed to be mulling her words. He had been the one who had mentioned that Flint’s reflection-soul had only one more day; he must see the logic of her request.
Reluctantly, he said, “If that is what you think best, then I have no objections.”
Far Eye gave Feather Dancer a smug smile. “I’ll stand guard at the northeast corner.”
Though he knew that was the closest corner to her bedchamber, Feather Dancer nodded. “Go on.”
Far Eye glanced at Sora as he trotted away. Something sinister stared back at her. Flint had often frightened her, but never like
this. For days she had been denying it was his shadow-soul that was moving from body to body. Now, she wasn’t so sure.
“I’ve never seen him so unruly,” Feather Dancer quietly said, and scrutinized Far Eye’s back.
Rockfish walked around the corner of the house—
Was he out looking for me? Was he the man I saw drifting through the rain?
—and almost bumped into Far Eye. The two men stood facing each other for several anxious heartbeats; then Rockfish bowed and said, “Forgive me. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
Far Eye leaned forward and hissed something in Rockfish’s face. Sora couldn’t hear the words. All she saw was her husband’s expression. The wrinkles across his forehead deepened as his brows drew together. Far Eye trotted around the corner and was gone.
Rockfish stood rigid, as though stunned by what had just happened.
Sora whispered to Feather Dancer, “Tomorrow I’ll know what to do.”
“And if
he
is still here after midnight?”
Only a short while ago Feather Dancer had been convinced this was a plot to destroy her. Had Far Eye’s anomalous behavior so disturbed him that he’d begun to think she was right? They were dealing with Flint’s soul? That frightened her even more.
“By then I’ll know.”
Rockfish started toward her. He walked with his head down, frowning at the ground.
Sora said, “Feather Dancer, please send a slave to the temple chamber. I need help with dinner preparations and to keep the Eternal Fire burning through the night.”
“Right away, Chieftess.”
SORA DUCKED INTO THE BEDCHAMBER FIRST, FOLLOWED BY Rockfish, and walked directly to her personal basket. “I’m soaked,” she said with a weak smile.
“As am I.”
His tone was clipped. He went to his own basket and changed to a dry knee-length black shirt.
Sora tugged her wet dress over her head and reached for a plain tan dress with black stylized spirals around the hem. As she slipped it on, she caught Rockfish’s stare. His gaze went over her naked body with a proprietary keenness, noting every curve, as though searching for a sign that his precious belonging had been “damaged.”
“How much did you hear?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“When Feather Dancer and I were talking. You were standing outside the door. How much did you hear?”
Ordinarily he would have turned away in embarrassment that she’d caught him. Instead, he faced her directly. “I was searching for you. I didn’t know you and Feather Dancer were alone in our bedchamber. I—”
“What are you implying? That we—”
“No, of course not! The first thing I heard was Feather Dancer asking you how often I’d seen Wink when you were married to Flint.”
“Yes, and?” Sora’s knees felt like boiled grass stems.
“I—”
“Chieftess?”
a woman called from beyond the door curtain. “It’s Iron Hawk. Feather Dancer said you might need help tonight.”
“Yes,” she responded. “Thank you, Iron Hawk. Please begin dinner preparations. You will sleep in the temple tonight to tend the fire. If I need you for other things, I’ll call.”
“Yes, Chieftess.”
The woman’s soft steps retreated down the hallway.
Rockfish gave her a contrite look. “Before we continue with our discussions, Wink wanted me to tell you that our scouts spotted Chief Blue Bow’s party. He should be in late tonight. She ordered Feather Dancer to go out, meet Blue Bow, and safely escort him into Blackbird Town. Long Fin is going with Feather Dancer. He said he—”
“Did you see the jade before I did?” she boldly asked.
A hard swallow went down his throat. “Please try to understand. Grown Bear came into town a few hands of time before the chunkey game started. You were getting dressed for the game. Wink and I were both curious about what he was doing here. She asked me to fetch him, and I—”
“She asked
you
to fetch him?”
Why didn’t she ask her son?
“Yes. I was at hand.”
Suddenly too tired to stand, she walked over and lowered herself to one of the mats before the fire. A low blaze burned in a thick bed of red coals. She stared at them. Not at him. She couldn’t bear to look at him. “Then what happened? Grown Bear showed you the jade and the three of you discussed it?”
He shifted his weight. “A little. We didn’t have much time.”
“Why did you hide that fact from me?”
“Wink and I decided that it would be better not to distract you before the game.”
But you felt it necessary to keep it from me even after the game. You both wanted me to believe you had never seen the stone. Why?
All of the other questions Feather Dancer had asked her came crashing down. Questions about Skinner and Wink. Wink and Flint.
He spread his arms. “Who did we harm, Sora?”
“No one. I would have just liked to have known, that’s all.”
Rockfish came across the floor with his black shirt waffling about his legs and knelt across the fire from her. His gray hair picked up the orange tint of the flames. “Forgive me for not mentioning it. I thought you had more important things to worry about. Flint was dead. War Chief Skinner was here.”
“I understand.”
After a few moments, he earnestly said, “Sora, I am not working with Wink to harm you. You know that, don’t you? I love you. Wink loves you.”
“Yes”—she exhaled the words—“I know.”
Despite her roiling gut, after her recent infidelities with Skinner and Far Eye, she had no right to treat him with anything but kindness. If he had betrayed her over the jade, she had betrayed him over other things.
“I’m tired, Rockfish. Forgive me. I think I’ll sleep for a short while.”
She stretched out on the mat before the fire and stared at the raindrops that glinted as they fell through the smoke hole. She felt empty. Just … hollow. Like a beetle-chewed old log.
Rockfish rose and came around the fire to her. As he knelt at her side, he said, “May I help you sleep?” and placed a gentle hand on her arm.
When she didn’t answer, his hand shifted to her thigh. “I
do
love you, Sora,” he said fiercely. “I’m sorry I was exhausted last night.”
He pressed kisses on her closed eyelids, her temple, the corner of her mouth, and down her throat to her collar. Through her dress, he kissed her breasts. His breath felt warm and the movement of the fabric silken against her damp skin. He pleasured her with such exquisite slowness that her nipples ached sweetly for release from her dress.
“Are you sure, Rockfish? Perhaps later when you are—”
His teeth caught her nipple and tugged. “I must find a way to please you, Sora. To show you how much I love you.”
He worked her dress up over her hips and kissed her thigh. When his tongue probed between her legs, she closed her eyes. How could he miss the scent of another man? Would he mention it? Fly into a rage? Pretend it wasn’t there? Or maybe, if the gods had been good to her, the rain had washed away most of the evidence.
She was about to suggest they move to the sleeping bench when he forcefully spread her legs. “Lie still,” he ordered in an authoritative tone she had never heard before.
Stunned, she did it.
He kissed the insides of her thighs and encircled her navel with his tongue. “The things you told me last night, about how roughly Flint treated you … I’ve been thinking about them all day.”
“I was married to him for almost half my life, and I loved him very much. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“You didn’t hurt me. Not exactly. You reminded me that my passions have grown pale. That I have grown pale as a man.”
“No, you haven’t. You just—”
“Don’t defend me. That makes me feel worse.”
He forced her to bring up her knees, and his eyes widened as she opened to him. For a long time, he just stared. “Do you know I’ve never really looked at you? We’ve been joined for three winters, and I’ve never just
looked
at you. You’re beautiful.”
He braced his chin on the mat and slipped his tongue inside her. It was a leisurely rhythm, the thrusts going a little deeper each time.
Blessed gods, couldn’t he
taste
another man?
His tongue began to move hungrily, reaching for the deepest, softest parts of her.
Outside the house, a thump sounded, as though someone had slipped in the rain-slick grass and fallen against the wall.
Is Flint out there with his ear pressed to the wall, listening?
She closed her eyes and watched the firelight dance against her lids.
Rockfish’s movements changed, grew more urgent, and a warm flood surged through her veins. She arched against his lips.
He let out a low groan of pleasure.
She stiffened.
His voice had a different tone. The inflection sounded just like …
He groaned again, deeper, and she felt him smile.
No, this can’t be happening.
Sora lifted her head. When their eyes met, he laughed.
Panic surged through her. She tried to scramble away.
He leaped, and his body slammed her to the mat, pinning her.
With a thundering heart, she asked, “Rockfish? When Far Eye leaned close to speak to you, what—”
“I told you I would find a way,” he hissed, and put a hand over her mouth.
She struggled against him, trying to push him away, or to scream.
His grip tightened, and she tasted blood. He glared down at her with bulging eyes. “Stop it!” he growled. “Stop fighting me!”
Despite her flailing legs, he managed to shove his manhood inside her. His thrusts were violent, like those of a careless stranger, or a lover who wanted to hurt her.
She just lay there. It was like taking a beating.
When he finally sagged on top of her, his hand fell away from her mouth, and she sucked in a breath. Her body was one huge fiery ache.
In her ear, he roughly whispered, “Don’t move. I may want to take you again after I nap.”
 
 
FOR SEVERAL HANDS OF TIME, SHE LAY BENEATH HIM LISTENING to his breathing. When he was finally sound asleep, she eased out from under him.
At one point he roused, but he just rolled over and went back to sleep.
Sora rose and stared down at him. Blood darkened his hand. Her blood. A faint gloating smile lingered on his lips.
With the silence of Cougar on a night hunt, she moved around the chamber, searching for the perfect weapon. If she used a bone stiletto or arrow, he would not die quickly enough. He might get his hands on her before she could escape and might breathe in her face. The war ax, or club, would be better. She would have to make certain the first blow at least stunned him. Then her second blow …
She reached for the ax on the wall. When she touched the smooth wooden handle, her fingers quaked. She clenched them into a fist and stood there marshaling her strength.
Rockfish inhaled a deep breath. Firelight flickered over his elderly face. He’d lived a good long life. He had loved at least two women, Traded great wealth, and helped his people.
I must make certain Blackbird Town is safe.
Quietly, she lifted the ax off the wall. As she tiptoed across the room to stand over her husband, her heart was breaking. He had been good to her. She had, in a curiously subdued way, loved him.
She lifted the ax.
For what seemed an eternity, she stood with the ax poised above his skull, studying his face. His wrinkles cast a tracery of shadows over his cheeks and forehead, giving him an ancient, haunted look.
Tears filled her eyes, and in that brief moment of sparkling blindness, she heard Wink’s voice near the front entrance:
“Let no one pass this door, including the chieftess. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Matron, of course, but what about her slaves? The chieftess
asked that Iron Hawk sleep in the temple tonight to tend the Eternal Fire.”
“Her slaves may pass in the process of carrying out their duties. That’s all.”
“I understand, Matron.”
Sora’s thoughts raced.
Her dearest friend had just ordered her imprisoned in her own house. Why?
What’s happening that she doesn’t want me to know about?
Wink was probably just taking extra precautions to make certain Sora was safe, but …
She lowered the ax and clutched it against her chest. Barely above a whisper, she said, “Hallowed gods, what am I doing? Think about this!”
She had to see Far Eye again. Before she killed Rockfish, she had to know where Flint’s soul had gone.

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