Soul Whisperer (19 page)

“They are dangerous,” said Hihankara, “but if they are alive, their place is in the living world.”

Bess wished she could keep silent, but she could not. “The Balance?”

“Like all creatures, they must find their place in the living world for they are now part of The Balance. And Nagi's responsibility is to teach them.”

Bess could only imagine what horrors their sire would impart. “He's trying to take over the world. He'll only use them toward that purpose.”

Hihankara turned to Cesar. “If he will not teach them, then it will fall to someone else.”

Why did the Spirit look at him when she said that? Now Hihankara pinned her steel-colored eyes on Bess.

“We all remember the Skinwalkers' reaction when they thought The Balance jeopardized. I trust your kind have learned that war is not a solution.”

Bess chortled at Hihankara's admonishment. She had
lost her father to the aftermath of that war. If anyone knew the terrible cost of such conflicts it was Bess and, though she trusted Cesar, she did not trust his kind. But perhaps this connection between them was a start.

“Yes, wise one. I will do all I can to prevent another war between our kinds.”

The Spirit turned to Cesar. “You were killed by a ghost?”

“I was killed by a man possessed by a ghost.”

“It is an unnatural death and explains why you are here early. If your body is whole, you must return to it.”

Bess felt a sagging relief until she saw Cesar's aura vibrate a dull gray. He was bereft at Hirhankara's decision. Cesar would return to her, but only because he had to.

“What about the tattoos?” he asked.

“All Soul Whisperers are born with the proper tattoos. Your life is of service and sacrifice. Until your brother, none of your kind had ever failed to cross my road. Go back now, Whisperer, and finish your work. There are innocents who need your protection. And do not cross again until the next Whisperer is born.”

Cesar turned and began his descent. Bess called to him but he did not answer her. Had she saved him or condemned him?

 

Hihankara watched the two descend until they were gone from her sight. It would be many years before she would see the Whisperer again, but that nuisance of a raven would be back often.

Then she did something she had never done. She left her place on the Way of Souls and crossed into the World of Spirits to summon the three involved parties.

Niyan arrived first, the Spirit of Man, golden brown
and irresistibly handsome. It was no wonder he had so many descendants, for no mortal woman could resist him. Soon afterward she spotted the great bear, Tob Tob, lumbering toward her. He was the guardian of all living creatures not under Niyan's stewardship.

Hihankara glanced about. Where was the other one? Her mood darkened.

Niyan opened his arms in greeting. He looked as she remembered, dressed in white buckskin adorned with hair from the tail of a white buffalo and rows of elks' teeth. His face held the perfect beauty that no mortal man could ever match and a glowing aura that shimmered with power.

“Guardian,” he said, and bowed his head. “It has been long since we have seen you.”

Why do you call us?
asked Tob Tob, sending his thoughts to her without speaking. The bear was nothing if not direct.

“I also called Nagi.”

They both looked about.

“He has sired living offspring.”

Niyan laughed. “I hope they resemble their mothers.”

Hihankara fumed. “I do not know, for I do not visit the living world.”

I have been there recently, but I did not see them,
said Tob Tob.

“He must instruct his offspring, just as each of you have done,” she said.

They both nodded their agreement.

“And I must return to the Road.”

“We will deliver your message, guardian,” Niyan assured. “And see it done.”

Hihankara returned to the Way of Souls, staring
down in search of Nagi. He would not wiggle out of this. He'd been meddling in the living world again and this time she meant to see he did his duty. He was a father now and he had responsibilities.

T
he air came back to Cesar's lungs in a gasp, as if he were surfacing from a deep dive. He opened his eyes to stare up at the golden columns of light pouring down through the high branches of the redwood trees. Tuff held him in his arms, supporting his head, which, for some reason, Cesar could not lift on his own.

Beads of sweat covered Tuff's face and he was nearly as gray as the Halfling infants.

“Welcome back, brother,” Tuff whispered. His words conveyed his fatigue. Why was he shivering on such a warm day? “You've been gone a long time.”

Cesar blinked and tried to move, but his arms did not respond to his command.

“Patience. You've been out of your body for nearly an hour.”

“But that's not possible.” The scratchy whisper of his voice frightened him and his mind scrambled for answers. How did he get here?

“Bess?”

“On her way back now, I suppose. I was afraid I'd lose her, too.”

Back from where? He couldn't recall what had happened or why he was lying on the forest floor. Had he fallen? Bits and pieces of the day flashed through his mind, like fragments of a shattered whole. The pier, driving over the bridge, the twins howling. The ghosts. The gunshot. The pain ripping through his chest. He lifted a hand, pressing his palm over the cold, wet blood soaking his shirt, his muscles trembling as they responded slowly to his mind's command. Why did he feel no pain?

Then he realized what must have happened. “You healed me.”

Tuff smiled. “Your body only.”

Cesar did not understand this cryptic comment.

Tuff's trembling grew worse as they slowly switched positions, Cesar rising as Tuff fell into his arms. The Skinwalker looked as if he had just risen from his deathbed and Cesar was seriously worried about him.

“Are you going to be all right?” Cesar asked.

Even smiling seemed to take more effort than Tuff had. “In time. I've only done that once, but I had to stop. I wasn't as strong then.” Tuff's smile faded and he squeezed his eyes shut.

Cesar touched Tuff and his Truth Seeker gift told him instantly that Tuff was downplaying the seriousness of his condition. The effort of saving Cesar had nearly killed him. No, that wasn't right. Might still kill him. Now Tuff's heart beat ineffectively and would until he finished regenerating.

“The bullet went through my heart?” said Cesar.

Tuff nodded. “And both lungs.”

“You nearly died helping me. Why did you do that?”

Tuff shrugged, but the answer came to Cesar through his touch gift. Tuff had done it because Bess asked him to, because he would do anything Bess asked, even if it killed him. Why hadn't he guessed that Tuff loved Bess?

“I'm sorry,” Cesar said.

Tuff cocked his head, not understanding. It wasn't fair to read his thoughts without his knowledge.

“I'm a Truth Seeker,” he said.

Tuff's eyes widened. “Oh, then you know. She doesn't. Never told her.”

The Skinwalker was such a gentleman; Cesar never even knew that Tuff was a rival for Bess. And the buffalo-man was willing to abide by Bess's decision. In similar circumstances, Cesar knew he would not be so selfless.

“Why haven't you told her?”

“She never showed any real interest in me. But I can't seem to get it through my thick skull. I thought one day she would see me. Shortsighted of me, I know. You won't tell her will you?”

“Not if you don't want me to.”

“No. It would make her sad.”

Cesar wondered if he might soon be in the same position, loving a woman who did not love him. Bess had told him she never wanted to see him again. Then why had she come back?

Then he recalled something, and the memory winked on like a firefly and off again before he could fully recall it. Someone laughing. Saying something about ravens and lies. It was important, he knew that much, but he could not summon the recollection from the darkness.

“Where's Bess?” he asked again.

“Coming. Any minute now.”

Cesar struggled to drag Tuff clear of the wet ground and up against the roots of the redwood where he sat back, exhausted, Tuff lying with his head on Cesar's thigh. For a time they rested in silence.

When Cesar opened his eyes, he noticed the dark red stain on the ground. His blood, he realized, and shivered. He glanced about the clearing.

“Where are the ghosts?”

Tuff lifted one finger. The effort seemed to take everything he had. “Tied over there.”

“Alive?”

Tuff nodded. “But not really alive.”

“We can't free them,” said Cesar.

“Unless I can find an owl,” Tuff whispered.

Cesar looked down at Tuff. “That's true? An owl can chase away ghosts?”

“Not just any owl, but a Skinwalker can.”

Cesar was impressed. It was a great power, but nearly as terrible a burden as his.

“I thought owls could only tell when you will die,” said Cesar.

“Any owl can do that.” Tuff closed his eyes again and his breathing grew shallow.

“Where are the twins?” he asked.

Tuff thumbed over his shoulder without opening his eyes. “One flew off, and the male is hiding over there. I hear him and I smell him.”

“You sure?”

“Buffalo usually know when they are being hunted.”

“You think he'll try to hurt you.”

“Not with you here. Wouldn't want to meet him on the plains. He's a formidable hunter for one so young.
He seems confused that I walk as a man and smell like a bison.”

Cesar tried to find the male but could see nothing of him.

Another recollection struck Cesar. “I killed a human.”

Tuff's eyes fluttered closed. “No, you protected Bess. Nagi killed him with his ghosts. He was also possessed.”

Cesar felt ill. Killing a human, one he was charged to protect, was a terrible offense.

“I have to call it in.”

“No, you don't. I'll call from a payphone on my way out of town.”

Cesar felt a wave of gratitude. “You don't have to.”

“You saved Bess. I owe you for that.”

Why did the way he said that upset him? Something about Tuff…he recalled his feeling of possession for Bess the first time he'd set eyes on Tuff. Had he been right to feel Tuff threatened his right to her?

“Do you remember much of your journey?” asked Tuff.

“What journey?”

“My friend, you left your body and walked the Spirit Road.”

 

Bess cried out before she entered the clearing. Dusk robbed the colors from her surroundings, but she could still see well enough to fly and she spotted Tuff, propped against a tree, his head cocked to watch her approach. Cesar sat beside him, long legs sprawled out before him as he shaded his eyes.

Cesar was alive!

All the weariness in her body and the aching of her
tired wings evaporated like the morning mist. Power surged through her and she dove, performing a barrel roll. Just before hitting the forest floor, she swooped upward, transforming into her human form. She dropped to the gentle loam, landing on the thick layer of pine needles. She did not even take the instant required to change her feather cloak into some more traditional garment, but instead rushed to Cesar, hardly noticing Tuff at all.

Bess dropped to her knees beside him and trapped his jaw between her hands, staring at him in joy. Then she kissed him, drawing back when she recognized how very weak he was. She closed her eyes and let the breath slip from her as she gave thanks.

“You're alive,” she whispered.

“Thanks to Tuff,” said Cesar.

Bess glanced at her friend, only just noticing how drawn and ill he looked.

Had she asked too much?

“Are you all right?”

He nodded and closed his eyes for a moment, but then didn't open them. He tilted sideways in slow motion.

Bess released Cesar and caught Tuff as he fell.

“Tuff!” She lowered him to the ground and pressed an ear to his chest, hearing the strange, irregular beating of his heart, very fast, then nothing, then a slow increasing beat that raced too fast again. “There's something wrong with him. His heartbeat is all crazy.”

Cesar lifted his bloody shirt from his chest, slipping a finger into one hole and out the other. “I had two bullets in my chest. Doesn't that mean he now has two in his?”

“But he will heal.” Her voice trembled with doubt.

Cesar crawled over to Tuff and supported his head. “I don't think he is supposed to bring back the dead.”

Bess stared at him for a moment. “I never… I didn't think. Why didn't he tell me?”

She pressed her forehead to Tuff's chest. “No. This isn't right.”

Cesar gave Tuff's shoulder a little shake. “Come on, buddy. Don't die on us.”

Bess listened to his heart and gasped. “It's stopped. Cesar, do something!”

He laid Tuff on the hard ground and ripped open his shirt. The bullet holes that had been on Cesar's chest, now gurgled grotesquely, the only flaws in Tuff's tanned cinnamon skin. The sight stopped him for an instant. As he stared, the wounds began to close.

“Look.” Cesar pointed with one hand, as his other went to Tuff's chest. “He couldn't heal if he was dead.”

“He's still alive,” whispered Bess.

But for how long?

Cesar felt weak and dizzy, but he lifted up to position himself with straight arms, his hands upon Tuff's breastbone. Bess pressed her fingers to Tuff's carotid artery.

“Wait. He's not dead,” she whispered.

Bess tugged at Cesar's arms and he sat back on his heels as Bess moved to press an ear to Tuff's chest again. “It's beating!”

“But he's not breathing.”

Tuff gasped for air.

A moment later he began to tremble as if freezing cold.

Cesar stared at Bess. “How did you know?”

She flushed. “When we die, we change. He was still human so…”

Tuff's eye's fluttered open and he stared up at Bess and smiled.

“There you are, little bird.”

“Tuff, why didn't you tell me it was too much?” Her words were hard, but she was crying or she sounded like she was crying, but her eyes remained dry. Did she love Tuff? “Don't you ever do something so foolish again.”

He glanced at Cesar. “I fixed him, though.”

The weakness in his voice troubled Cesar greatly. He feared the danger had not passed.

“Supposed to kill me. That's what I was told anyway.” He stared at Bess again, as if drinking her in. “Maybe I didn't die because you brought back his soul.”

What did he mean? Tuff was the one who had healed him. Cesar stilled as possibilities widened his eyes. He dropped to his seat and looked at them both. Tuff had healed his body, his already dead body, while Bess had…

He could almost see it, the glittering path strewn with diamonds instead of stars. He'd walked the Way of Souls and he had wanted to cross, but Bess stopped him, blocking him with her body and her beating wings.