ask them, and they commit warriors who are then slaughtered in some faraway land, they will blame us. This stone may cause an irreparable rift between the Black Falcon clans. As well as war with the Loon People! And maybe war with a distant people we do not even know!”
Long Fin picked up the painted box and opened it. The huge jade brooch shimmered in the firelight. Longingly, he said, “With
this stone, we could become the preeminent chieftainship in the world. It seems hasty to me to dismiss this matter so quickly. Perhaps we should gather our elders and ask for their guidance?”
The lines at the corners of Wink’s eyes tightened, obviously torn between supporting her son and supporting Sora. “Rockfish? What is your opinion?”
He glanced at Sora, then grimaced at the floor. “I support whatever my wife decides.”
Wink said, “Sora? Shall I make the decision, or should we gather our elders to discuss this further?”
These were three of the most important people in the Black Falcon world. If they thought the stone was worth risking the lives of five hundred warriors, they could certainly convince the elders. Her words would be considered, of course, but in the end the elders would choose to join the war party.
Anger swelled her chest. Sora couldn’t help but think that if she’d talked to Wink and Long Fin before Rockfish had, this discussion would not be taking place. His disloyalty stung. It might cost the lives of hundreds or, if warfare erupted over the stone, thousands of men, women, and children.
“Sora,” Wink said, “all we’re saying is that we should seriously consider Blue Bow’s proposal.”
Curtly, she replied, “Since we disagree, we should gather the elders and ask their views.”
Wink relaxed and started to say something, but from down the hall a man called, “ Matron ?”
Wink gestured to Long Fin. As he rose, he said, “I’ll return shortly, forgive me.”
He left the chamber, spoke softly with the runner, and called, “Mother?”
Wink crossed the chamber with her yellow dress fluttering around her legs. When she ducked out into the hallway, she said, “What’s wrong?”
The voices outside went too low to hear.
Rockfish turned uneasily to Sora. “It just happened, Sora. I delivered the stone, and when Wink opened the box, she started asking me questions. What did I think about the stone? Was it worth as much as Blue Bow suggested? Could we gather the warriors to mount an attack on the quarry? I had to say something.”
“You were supposed to arrange a meeting to discuss it. Nothing more.”
As though angry, he bowed his head. “I try to serve you as best I can, but I always fail, don’t I?”
Irritated by this common litany, she snapped, “Not always, Rockfish. I just wish you had—”
“ Sora? ” Wink called and shoved the curtain aside to look in at her. “May I see you?”
The taut tone made Sora leap to her feet and hurry across the chamber. When she ducked out into the hallway, Wink ordered, “Long Fin, please continue your discussion with Rockfish.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Wink waited until her son had disappeared beneath the curtain and she heard him talking with Rockfish before she gave Sora a wide-eyed look. “The runner came for you.”
“What’s wrong?” Dread prickled her chest.
“The runner said a man paid him very well to bring you a message.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“The man said he has to talk to you. He’s waiting for you in the place where he always stowed his canoe.”
Meet me at my canoe. I’ll show you how much I love you .
Sora’s stomach flip-flopped. She couldn’t find the air to speak.
Wink grabbed her arm, as though to hold her up. “That’s where you used to meet Flint, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I—I …”
“Let me go, Sora. I’ll find out what he wants and tell you.”
A potent brew of fear and curiosity shot through Sora’s veins. She shook her head. “No. I have to do this. If I’m not back for a
Long Fin picked up the painted box and opened it. The huge jade brooch shimmered in the firelight. Longingly, he said, “With
this stone, we could become the preeminent chieftainship in the world. It seems hasty to me to dismiss this matter so quickly. Perhaps we should gather our elders and ask for their guidance?”
The lines at the corners of Wink’s eyes tightened, obviously torn between supporting her son and supporting Sora. “Rockfish? What is your opinion?”
He glanced at Sora, then grimaced at the floor. “I support whatever my wife decides.”
Wink said, “Sora? Shall I make the decision, or should we gather our elders to discuss this further?”
These were three of the most important people in the Black Falcon world. If they thought the stone was worth risking the lives of five hundred warriors, they could certainly convince the elders. Her words would be considered, of course, but in the end the elders would choose to join the war party.
Anger swelled her chest. Sora couldn’t help but think that if she’d talked to Wink and Long Fin before Rockfish had, this discussion would not be taking place. His disloyalty stung. It might cost the lives of hundreds or, if warfare erupted over the stone, thousands of men, women, and children.
“Sora,” Wink said, “all we’re saying is that we should seriously consider Blue Bow’s proposal.”
Curtly, she replied, “Since we disagree, we should gather the elders and ask their views.”
Wink relaxed and started to say something, but from down the hall a man called, “ Matron ?”
Wink gestured to Long Fin. As he rose, he said, “I’ll return shortly, forgive me.”
He left the chamber, spoke softly with the runner, and called, “Mother?”
Wink crossed the chamber with her yellow dress fluttering around her legs. When she ducked out into the hallway, she said, “What’s wrong?”
The voices outside went too low to hear.
Rockfish turned uneasily to Sora. “It just happened, Sora. I delivered the stone, and when Wink opened the box, she started asking me questions. What did I think about the stone? Was it worth as much as Blue Bow suggested? Could we gather the warriors to mount an attack on the quarry? I had to say something.”
“You were supposed to arrange a meeting to discuss it. Nothing more.”
As though angry, he bowed his head. “I try to serve you as best I can, but I always fail, don’t I?”
Irritated by this common litany, she snapped, “Not always, Rockfish. I just wish you had—”
“ Sora? ” Wink called and shoved the curtain aside to look in at her. “May I see you?”
The taut tone made Sora leap to her feet and hurry across the chamber. When she ducked out into the hallway, Wink ordered, “Long Fin, please continue your discussion with Rockfish.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Wink waited until her son had disappeared beneath the curtain and she heard him talking with Rockfish before she gave Sora a wide-eyed look. “The runner came for you.”
“What’s wrong?” Dread prickled her chest.
“The runner said a man paid him very well to bring you a message.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“The man said he has to talk to you. He’s waiting for you in the place where he always stowed his canoe.”
Meet me at my canoe. I’ll show you how much I love you .
Sora’s stomach flip-flopped. She couldn’t find the air to speak.
Wink grabbed her arm, as though to hold her up. “That’s where you used to meet Flint, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I—I …”
“Let me go, Sora. I’ll find out what he wants and tell you.”
A potent brew of fear and curiosity shot through Sora’s veins. She shook her head. “No. I have to do this. If I’m not back for a
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