People of the Morning Star (10 page)

In the yellowing twilight the air was smoke-hazed from the countless fires. Thousands of peak-roofed buildings stippled the floodplain—many perched atop the multitude of mounds that speckled their way toward the river—all silhouetted by the setting sun.

To the southwest, along the Avenue of the Sun that led to River Mounds City, an irregular string of temples and palaces pimpled the high ground along the margins of Marsh Elder Lake. The land around them was thickly dotted as if the thousands of buildings had been cast upon the land by the Sky Spirits themselves. Across the river, and tiny in the distance, rose the high mound-top palaces of Evening Star town.

“Do you see the three big clusters of tall mounds and palaces?” he asked.

“Of course.” Each was governed by one of the subordinate Four Winds Clan “Houses”—a collection of lineages under the leadership of an appointed chief.

The dense concentration of taller palace-topped mounds on the eastern bank of the river called River Mounds City was ruled by Blue Heron’s distant cousin War Duck. Many of the wealthiest families in Cahokia had built elegant palaces and temples in proximity to their warehouses there.

Across the water from River Mounds, the far-off bluff-top mound center that had once been known as Pretty Mounds rose in silhouetted black humps against the sunset sky. Morning Star had renamed it Evening Star town in reminder of his celestial victory over the “female” west. Evening Star town was ruled by yet another Four Winds House, this one supposedly under the authority of Chief High Dance, though his much-more-capable sister Columella remained the real power. Blue Heron’s marriage to High Dance had proved to be one of her more spectacular failures.

Turning her eyes on the hazy south, she could see the Avenue of the Moon, a raised causeway that ran straight south from the twin mounds at the base of the Great Plaza, to the distant Rattlesnake Mounds, before angling south-southeast. Through the smoke-filled and damp air Blue Heron could barely make out Horned Serpent City, the Avenue of the Moon’s terminus. The lord there was called Green Chunkey; he’d married an even more distant cousin named Red Shawl Woman. The town had originally been known as Quill Dog, but Morning Star, seeing parallels in Cahokia’s construction with the celestial world, had renamed it in honor of Horned Serpent’s constellation in the southern summer night.

And in the interim were the closely packed settlements of the Earth People, the matrilineal clans of old Cahokia consisting of the more prominent Deer Clan, Hawk Clan, Panther Clan, Bear Clan, and Fish Clan. Sprinkled among them were a few lesser Clans, and around them, in even greater numbers were the tens of thousands of immigrants—the dirt farmers and foreigners who’d crowded into the city after the resurrection of the Morning Star.

Blue Heron cautiously asked, “Why, specifically, did you bring me up here?”

“I had a dream last night. One filled with terror, death, and suffering. In it a shapeless blackness stalked the night, walking through walls as if it were no more solid than smoke. The thing had only one very long, slim arm, and a narrow hand with but one finger. It was tipped not with a fingernail, but a thin and barely curved claw. I never saw the creature, only its shadow. As it passed over sleeping people, it seemed to trace that wicked-looking claw across their skin. The action was so delicate, the way a lover slips a fingertip across his mate’s skin. But where it traced, black blood, pus, and corruption welled in its wake.” He paused. “In the end, the earth ruptured, water blasting upward as fire spiraled down from the sky and bored into the earth. Great gouts of flame, lightning, and water like horrendous tornados ripped the world into pieces.”

“A grim dream, great Lord.”

Morning Star’s face remained expressionless. “What is the greatest threat we face, Clan Keeper?”

Unsure of his motives, she asked, “The wild nations to the north? Or perhaps those in the southeast? The Spirit Beings of the Underworld refusing to call the rains? A revolt among the immigrant dirt farmers? Most of the ignorant clods can’t so much as speak a word of our language. Half of the Houses’ time is spent keeping them from murdering each other.”

“Refocus the eye of your soul to that which is nearer your heart.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Seek the most destructive of human passions. That which consumes most of your energies as Clan Keeper.”

“The factions within the Four Winds Clan?”

“Ah, and what drives those factions?”

“Ambition,” she snorted irritably. “But they’d never act against you, great Lord.”

“Directly? Of course not. But when they look across the magnificence of Cahokia, what do they see? We’ve unleashed a dangerous new Power, Keeper. I pray that we all do not find ourselves riding those burning whirlwinds in my dreams.”

Blue Heron took a breath and shivered. “Have you heard something I have not?”

“You are most talented, Keeper.” His voice was almost a whisper. “For the most part, you’ve been able to play one House against another. Often, just the suggestion of a threat is all you need to keep someone in line. Your kinsmen, however, are only human. I’m constantly surprised that your comprehensive network of informants provides just the right bit of salacious information to hold over a person’s head. When it doesn’t, exile to one of the colonies is employed. Other times simple bribery is effective. On the rare occasions when your intimidations fail, I’m aware that you have no qualms about assassination. You were chosen, after all, for the position of Keeper because of your devious mind.”

Blue Heron fought to hide her building terror. “If I have committed some offense, great Lord, I swear, it was by accident. I’ve never purposely acted against your—”

“You misinterpret my concern,” he said softly. “The astronomers at the great observatory have noted disturbing signs in the stars. You were but a child when Petaga was overthrown and I was first resurrected. Do you recall why Four Winds Clan attempted something so audacious?”

“To bring order,” she answered automatically. “To stop the constant warfare between the major clans. Petaga only gained ascendance after he overthrew Tharon. Even with the great Dreamer Lichen’s support, Petaga couldn’t stop the petty bickering that erupted in the war where Four Winds Clan rose to prominence.”

She gestured at the sprawling city. “And when your souls were resurrected in human form, Cahokia was reborn. Old Cahokia was leveled and rebuilt under your direction to become a suitable home for your earthly presence.”

“An undertaking begun when I occupied my predecessor’s body.” He referred to his first resurrection—the remarkable ceremony that had reincarnated the god’s life-soul into Black Tail’s body. Black Tail’s body, however, had died four years ago. Immediate action had been taken to ensure that Morning Star’s essence was resurrected in this, her nephew Chunkey Boy’s, body. She needed only to glance off to the west, to the great knife-ridged mound that held Grandfather Black Tail’s body along with his kinsmen, servants, and five tens of sacrificed young women.

“Keeper, if your lineage could affect the miracle of placing me in a human body, why, then could not others?”

She swallowed hard. “You think that was the dream’s portent?”

“Perhaps,” he said absently, his eyes on the red glare of sunset. “That the specter passes through walls and stalks where it will worries me. That it is misshapen hints that it comes in a form we will not recognize, and may not know how to defeat. I called you up here to warn you. Something, some twisted power, has come to Cahokia and bears us ill. Death slips through the darkness, Keeper.”

“I’ll employ every effort to stop it, great Lord.”

He smiled wistfully, the action disfiguring the black stripe painted across his mouth. “Of course you will. But beware the bitterest poison of betrayal, Keeper.”

“Great Lord?”

But he had fixed his gaze on the west, gesturing her away with a flick of his fingers.

Five

Flat on his back in Spring Flower’s bed, the big man known as Seven Skull Shield had fixed his gaze on the soot-caked poles supporting the small dwelling’s roof. His attention, however, was most definitely occupied elsewhere. The pole bed creaked; the leather and rope straps supporting the woven-reed sleeping mat strained beneath the two bodies. From outside, the faint midday calls and sounds of people could be heard.

He tensed his muscular body and said, “That’s it. Slow now. Arch your back and tighten those muscles, girl.”

Where she straddled him, Spring Flower complied, her naked body flexing. Seven Skull Shield admired the view of her ripe breasts and pointed brown nipples. Her smooth skin glistened with a sheen of perspiration. The angles of her neck lay in shadow as she threw her head back and let waves of black hair tumble over her shoulders. He could just see her face at that magic moment when her breath caught and her expression pinched. He felt the vibrations of her tense body, and then cries erupted from deep in her throat as she strained up and down.

He needed no more encouragement. His own body trembled and burst in glorious delight. “Move, girl! Move!” he gasped.

Somehow she remembered what he’d told her, bouncing up and down like an animated rabbit.

Panting like a distance runner, she finally flopped onto his chest, and straightened her legs.

“I had no idea,” she whispered between gulped breaths. “I’ve been married to Fivefish for nearly a year. In all that time I’ve just had to lay there for a brief bit until he was done. But what we just did? Morning Star take me! My body exploded in stars!”

Seven Skull Shield pawed through the tangle of her black hair and reached down to grip her full bottom in his strong fingers. “Now, did I lie?”

“I didn’t believe you.” She pushed up, staring down into his eyes in wonder. “Fivefish has never made me feel like that. He’s … I mean … Is there something wrong with him? Maybe deformed? What he’s got down there…? Yours is so much more…”

“Not all men are equal,” he told her with a grin. “Me? I was just born exceptional in all ways. Now there’s a couple of more tricks we can explore—”

The voice from outside called, “Wife? Are you there? I could use some help with this wood.”

He had to hand it to her, she was off him and grabbing for her skirt before he swung his feet to the floor.

Seven Skull Shield sighed. So much for a pleasant afternoon. Stepping into his breechcloth, he inspected the cane wall behind him. No way to make a hole there. Whatever else he could say about Fivefish, the man built a solid house. It would have to be the front door.

“You’ve got to distract him,” he whispered to Spring Flower. “Just long enough for me to get out the door and out of sight around the house.”

Panic filled her large dark eyes. “Distract him?”

“Anything. Tell him you want him to see the neighbor’s ramada. Maybe there’s a cute little boy next door. Drag him off to show him a pot you want.”

“Wife?” Fivefish’s voice demanded. “Are you coming or do I have to do it all myself?”

She frantically tossed a coarse-woven cape around her shoulders. “Coming!”

She started for the door, then swung back, fear mixing with longing. “You will come back? Maybe next time he’s gone? I could learn so much more.”

“Yes, yes!” Seven Skull Shield hissed. “Now,
go
!”

She hurried out. Seven Skull Shield made a face as he crept up to the door and glanced out. Fivefish was about what he’d expected: a normal-looking Panther Clan man, muscular, average height. He was a part-time farmer when he wasn’t working for the clan on mound and temple constructions. He didn’t look like any kind of trouble Seven Skull Shield couldn’t handle.

Spring Flower was picking at the ropes that held together a bulky pack of firewood tied to the man’s back. Even as Seven Skull Shield watched, she undid the knot that let the whole thing cascade to the ground in a clatter.

Come on, girl. Grab him by the post and drag him away, will you?

“There’s a wonderful pot next door,” she said with too much enthusiasm. “You’ve really got to see it.”

Fivefish muttered, “I’ve better things to do than look at pots. Have we got any of those corncakes left? They’re just inside, aren’t they?”

“No!” She grabbed his hand, tugging. “Come look at Green Pollen’s ramada. She’s got a really cute little boy.”

Fivefish stopped short, face screwing up. “Green Pollen has two daughters. What’s the matter with you?”

Seven Skull Shield rolled his eyes. Spring Flower might have been young, frustrated, and voluptuous; where her husband was apparently “short” in one way, she was obviously severely lacking in another. Then again, he hadn’t been charmed by her quick wit.

“You’ll come now!” she insisted, stamping a foot.

“I’m hungry, and … Wait. Why are you looking so scared?”

The suspicious husband was faced away, hands on hips as he glared at his wife. It wasn’t going to get any better. Seven Skull Shield slipped out the door and made a hard right for the side of the house.

Spring Flower’s eyes flew wide and fixed on Seven Skull Shield the moment he emerged. Her mouth popped open, and she stiffened. Which meant that Fivefish immediately twisted his head around to see what she was staring at.