People of the Wolf (66 page)

"Stop!"
he shouted, slashing out with his good hand as he jumped backward to grip the White Hide.

People milled, losing momentum, some in the front stepping back as Raven Hunter lovingly stroked the Hide. He felt the Power, using it to push them back. "Yes, you feel it, don't you? The White Hide serves me. I am the Power of the People. As this Hide kept the Others—made them strong— so shall it now keep the People."

Broken Branch hobbled her way through the assembly, el-

bowing people to get them to move. She stopped, swinging her wizened head around the circle, then stared down at Buffalo Back, grunting under her breath. When she looked up, her eyes glittered.

"So," she accused. "You got Buffalo Back this time? Who's left? Four Teeth and me? Then you don't have any elders to stand before you."

' 'I have the Power, old woman.'' The surge filled his chest. "See the White Hide? It's mine. The gift of Father Sun to me, his child. You know the story, don't you, old woman? The story of my mother, taken by Father Sun as she walked by the salt water?"

"Yes, but it wasn't—"

"And two sons were born, taking my mother's life in the birth." He cackled the Power of it. "A woman can't bear Father Sun's children and live. The Power is too great. That's why I've always seen. I'm his new way for the People. Look, old hag, see the White Hide? We're here, south of the ice, and Father Sun has given me the strength to carry the White Hide away from the Others. Father Sun has tried me, molded me through hardship and suffering. He's shown me fear and cold and hunger and pain. And now, he's shown me the way to lead the People."

"You killed Buffalo Back!" Broken Branch cried feebly, pointing with a gnarled finger. "You've broken the People's peace. Last time, Wolf Dreamer kept us from casting you out. But this . . . this is too much!"

He closed his eyes to slits. "You'd try me, woman? One step closer, and I'll kill you. That's the Power of the White Hide. Unless you can feel the Power, you can't understand what it gives me." He reached, energized by the touch of the Hide, grabbing up her skinny arm. He closed his thick fingers around the wailing woman's wrist, feeling the brittle bones sliding across each other. Her hideous cry fueled him, goading, as the bone cracked and snapped and Broken Branch screamed agonizingly.

He released her, letting her collapse in a whimpering heap at his feet. The cold Power radiated through him, as his hot gaze cataloged their horrified faces. None could meet his eyes; they backed away, swallowing, shaking their heads.

He seated himself, careful of his swollen arm. "Is this how

you treat the bearer of the White Hide? Is this a hero's welcome? Bring me food. Hot roasted liver, thick steaks rich in fat. Now! Or the old woman dies."

Green Water separated herself from the crowd, ignoring his attention as she gently bent over Broken Branch, attempting to lift her.

"I didn't say she could leave." Raven Hunter glared icily.

"I didn't ask you." Green Water met his eyes, a strength there he'd never seen before.

He moved quickly, tumbling Green Water aside with his foot.

Overbalanced, she rolled, catching herself on propped hands. Green Water's eyes sparked like flint off granite as she stood, jaw muscles jumping with anger.

I've never noticed how attractive she is. Perhaps she can warm the White Hide for me until Dancing Fox arrives?
He chuckled to himself. How long since he'd had a good woman?

He reached down, dragging Broken Branch closer. The old woman huddled over her broken arm, clutching it as she moaned to herself. His eyes didn't leave Green Water's.

"Sit," he ordered, gesturing to the ground before him. She started to shake her head as he reached down, gripping the back of the old woman's neck. Green Water froze as Broken Branch stiffened.

"Sit," Raven Hunter repeated, voice soft.

"Don't do it!" Brown Branch raged, slapping and kicking at Raven Hunter. "Your head's blowed up like a walrus bladder. What makes you think we'll obey your foolishness?"

He easily shoved her aside and leaned down to glare into her withered face. "You won't have a choice," he said, stroking the Hide. Then he turned back to Green Water. "I said sit!"

Eyes locked with his, Green Water lowered herself, lips twitching, missing no detail of his actions.

Two girls, almost to womanhood, set a hide boiling bag full of meat before him, then darted nervously into the night. After taking note of the silent people, Raven Hunter attacked it with abandon, eating heartily but slowly, knowing the risks of overeating on an empty stomach.

"Where is my brother?" He looked up, saliva filling his mouth with the blissful taste of fresh meat. Strength, drawn

for so long from the White Hide, was replaced in his stomach.

Jumping Hare's tight expression barely changed. "He's out there, in the dark. One Who Cries went to get him."

Raven Hunter cocked his head. "Out in the dark?" He burst out laughing. "My idiot brother's out in the dark when his better comes to lead the tribe into a new land?" He laughed again. "Oh, that's rich, isn't it? That's the man you trusted yourselves to?"

Some of the young men began looking back and forth. The demonstration of Power over Buffalo Back, Broken Branch, and Green Water had shown the White Hide's gift. Raven Hunter nodded, catching their eyes. "Yes, my friends, think of it. You turned your backs on me at Heron's. Thought you'd seen a greater strength than mine, eh?" They lowered their eyes, heads bowing to the validity of his words. "But who comes in out of the night, the White Hide of the Others over his shoulder? And where is Runs In Light? Oh, excuse me.
Wolf Dreamer."
He cocked his head. "What? No answer? It wouldn't be because he's out in the dark . . .
having false Dreams!"

They all shifted as Raven Hunter continued to eat, rationing himself piece by piece, savoring the taste so as not to bolt the food and vomit.

Green Water's glittering eyes never left him. A defiant woman as well as an attractive one? He'd find a lot of satisfaction in driving himself between her legs. He'd have to kill One Who Cries—or perhaps the coward wouldn't challenge his authority.

"A new land, a new leadership." He wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "You see, from now on, the strong will dictate where the bands move. We've made a mistake all these years listening to the likes of Buffalo Back." He pushed the corpse with his toe. "As a result of their decisions, we're wasted, ground away by war and disease. That won't happen again, I promise. I'll rebuild the People. Make them strong so that no Others anywhere will ever wear us away again. Like the wolves, our strongest will lead."

He looked up, chewing, hearing the young men whispering back and forth. "Do you like that? Would you be wolves? Or like the musk ox, slow and stupid?"

A gleam had settled in the young men's eyes. Raven Hunter smiled. "Yes, you remember the honor I led you to. You remember the strength that was ours before Wolf Dreamer tricked us." He looked around. "What does one do with a witch?"

"You know nothing of Power, young idiot," Broken Branch spat from where she hunched before him. She started to scuttle away, but he hooked a toe under her arm and hauled her back, chewing thoughtfully as he looked down into her hate-filled eyes. Green Water started to her feet as he kicked the old woman to the ground and settled his worn-out long boots over her neck. Green Water froze, fear of him bright in her eyes. The corners of her wide lips trembled.

"A worthless woman, you know?" He chewed and swallowed. "She's borne all the children she'll ever bear for the People. Should have killed her clear back at Mammoth Camp. Remember the discussion we had? About how a woman was good only to grow a man's seed? Now she eats our food, drinks our tea. Without her, there's more for everyone."

"No!" Laughing Sunshine and Curlew rushed forward, stopping as Green Water thrust her hand out.

"That's right." Raven Hunter plucked up another small piece of meat, plopping it in his mouth, feeling life born again in his aching joints. "He who challenges, faces not only me, but the White Hide. You rush forward, the old hag dies. You kill me, the Power of the White Hide is unleashed against the People. I'm the future. I'm destiny. Bring me new long boots, a new parka. This is winter. A leader of the People shouldn't be dressed in rags."

"What of your wounded arm?" Salmon Bone asked.

"A man of Power needs no arm." Raven Hunter yawned, staring at them through slitted eyes.
And still no Runs In Light? Oh, this is good indeed! The Power of the White Hide must have gutted the poor fool, filled him with fear. Real Power has that ability.

"You're sick," Green Water whispered. "Twisted. Filled by some wretched ghost."

He laughed. "I'd expect a statement like that from someone who doesn't understand—doesn't see with the clarity I do. It's in the Hide. My visions have been true all along."

He smiled at Green Water. ' 'And beginning tonight, I shall plant my seed among the People."

She sucked in her breath. "You wouldn't . . ."

He pressed down slightly on Broken Branch's neck while the People shuffled nervously, the young men's eyes veiled. In the background, Raven Hunter saw One Who Cries start forward, hearing the last. Hard hands grabbed him back, people whispering tersely in his ear.

"People," Raven Hunter added reasonably, "have certain responsibilities to those with Power. I was born of Father Sun's seed! I am the gift of Father Sun—the way to the new life. What woman with sense wouldn't want to share my strength?"

"Me!" Broken Branch hissed from under his foot. Raven Hunter looked down.

"The old way must go." He smiled at her. "As I speak, I'll crush the life out of your thin neck, old hag. The Power of the White Hide—"

"—is nothing in
your
hands!" a strange and powerful voice commanded.

People turned, squinting into the blackness of the forest.

Raven Hunter balanced his foot, the breath wheezing in and out of Broken Branch's constricted throat.

They walked in from the side, ten people. Eagle Cries, Dancing Fox, Crow Foot, and . . . and Ice Fire? Red Flint? Raven Hunter's eyes narrowed, confused.

"No closer," he ordered. "The White Hide's mine! The Power's mine."

Ice Fire walked carefully forward, calmly parting a way through the People. Behind, the Others advanced, Red Flint supported between Singing Wolf and Broken Shaft.

Raven Hunter hunched, grabbing up a corner of the White Hide, kicking Broken Branch ahead of him. "Stop, Ice Fire. Another step, and I throw the White Hide into the fire." He balanced there, Ice Fire halting in his very tracks, a wary look on his handsome face.

"You don't know what that would do."

"Destroy the heart of the Mammoth People. I'd roast your soul!"

The Other warriors tensed, eyes darting back and forth,

fear replacing the haughty distrust in their eyes. Nervously they licked their lips, waiting for Ice Fire.

"And you'd bring the combined clans of the Mammoth People down on you." Ice Fire crossed his arms over his chest. "Oh, the runners are already on the way. So far, only the White Tusk Clan has fought with you. But behind us comes the Buffalo Clan, behind them, the Round Hoof Clan, and last but most deadly comes the Tiger Belly Clan." He shook his head. "The White Hide is very important to us. The man who destroyed it would never be safe. We'd hunt him to the ends of the world.''

The frown tightened Raven Hunter's face. "But you said . . ."

Ice Fire smiled wistfully. "I lied."

Raven Hunter's cheek began to twitch. "Lied?" Then he laughed, feeling the Power of the White Hide. "But I fooled you. I was worthy of the Hide. I carried it here. By myself. Up over the rocks, through the ice."

Unminded, Broken Branch scuttled away into the darkness.

"And look at you." Ice Fire shook his head. "Wasted, thin, you look like a starving wolf pup."

Dancing Fox nodded soberly. "That's why you didn't follow me that day. It's destroyed you."

"It's sucked his soul away."

Raven Hunter flinched, heart pounding. No! What did the old man know? The Hide had kept him alive, not harmed him. "I'm—"

"And the caribou?" Ice Fire asked easily. "You turned your back on it. We read the story in the tracks, Raven Hunter. Obsessed with the Hide, you'd starve to serve it. Is that how you'd lead the People?"

Eagle Cries looked back and forth. "What's this about the clans? What about more of them coming?"

Like a wash of cold water, Raven Hunter understood. "You used me," he breathed. "You knew they'd follow! You
knew!"