Flight of the Crow (The Southeast Series Book 2)

by Paul Clayton

  Calling Crow asked to see the skin bag. He held it up to his nose and breathed in the long-ago, familiar smell of Spanish wine.

  “Let us smell it,” said Sees Far.

  Calling Crow extended the bag to the old men as the people grew more agitated. He consulted with them as murmuring swept the hut like wind through the trees.

  The old men agreed with Calling Crow. He got to his feet and raised his arms. The people grew quiet. “Release Little Bear,” he said, “he has hurt no one.”

  After they untied Little Bear, Calling Crow pointed to Goes-To-War. “And release him too. Alligator’s clan will deal with him.”

  The crowd grew noisy as the bravos untied Goes-To-War. Glaring once at Calling Crow, he looked around at the people, then walked out of the council house.

  Calling Crow looked at the faces of the people. Some seemed satisfied with the ruling. Balance among the clans had been restored, or would be. But the challenge from the young Spanish leader, Valdez, must be answered too. But without starting a war. He must protect Juana and the other innocents there and here.

  Calling Crow looped his bow and quiver over his shoulder and picked up his iron axe.

  “Now all of you now know the terrible power of wine. It cast a spell on a man and made him kill his own brother. Hawk Clan people will avenge that death. Now there will be no more drinking of wine. The Spanish killed no one, but they have broken their word and given wine to our men. For that they must be punished. I will punish them myself.”

  “What?” shouted a woman. “You cannot go there by yourself.”

  Calling Crow addressed her patiently. “I am taking the bravos with me. Now you all go home and leave this to us.”

  When the people left, Calling Crow addressed the bravos. “Listen carefully. If there is fighting, we will kill no women or children, nor will we kill any old people. They had nothing to do with this. We will kill only those who fight us.”

  Calling Crow paused a moment. No one spoke out against him, but still he worried. In the heat of battle, would they remember his words? He saw the faces of Red Feather, Little Hawk and some other Fox bravos watching him and he felt some reassurance. He moved into the throng of bravos.

  “Let us go.”

  Calling Crow and more than seven tens of bravos moved quietly through the forest, arriving at the Spanish fort just after the sun had set. Calling Crow had a conference with Red Feather and the other top bravos, telling them what he wanted them to do. Then he, Red Feather, and five others headed across the field to the fort. Some Spanish who had been working in the field ran into the palisade, dragging the gate shut behind them. Heads appeared above the palisade walls as Calling Crow and the others walked up to the gate.

  Calling Crow shouted in Spanish, “I want to speak to your leader.”

  A few moments later the gate opened. Calling Crow entered, followed by his men. Valdez stood in the center of the square, flanked by two men in armored breastplate holding crossbows. Calling Crow walked up to them, Red Feather and the other bravos behind him.

  “You promised that you would not trade wine to our men,” said Calling Crow, “yet you broke your word. Now one of our bravos is dead and another will soon die in revenge-taking.”

  Valdez frowned. “That was a promise that Senor Peralta made to the old cacique. They are both dead now. This is a new situation here.”

  Calling Crow looked around the fort. He spotted three stone wine jars lined up under the eaves of a nearby building. He pointed to them. “I want the rest of the wine,” he said.

  Valdez laughed. “What will you trade for it?”

  “Your lives.”

  “You are crazy!” said Valdez.

  Calling Crow nocked an arrow in his bow. The two crossbowmen pointed their weapons at him. Calling Crow ignored them and pointed his arrow skyward toward the forest. He released it and it fell well beyond the palisade. A moment later the men on the ramparts began shouting down. “Bravos are coming from the forest!”

  “There are a hundred of them,” a man shouted.

  Valdez climbed a ladder and looked out. Half the bravos carried lit torches. The other half carried sticks and branches which they heaped in piles. The implication was clear. Valdez climbed down the ladder, his face dark with anger and fear. “This is crazy,” he said. “If you attack us, more soldiers will come here. You and your people will be hunted down and killed!”

  “Yes,” said Calling Crow, “but you and your men will be dust before that happens.” Calling Crow pointed to the jars. “Now I will take my wine.” Calling Crow walked over to the wine jars. He overturned the first and the wine poured out, making a red puddle in the dirt.

  “Grab him,” shouted Salazar.

  “No!” commanded Valdez, holding the soldiers back, “Leave him.”

  Calling Crow overturned the next jar, and the next after that, until the ground was puddled with wine and its resinous smell filled the air. He walked back to Valdez. “Now we go.”

  As Calling Crow walked to the gate with Red Feather and the others, he knew Valdez would not stop them. They had won.

  They arrived back at the council house well after dark, the men in a state of great excitement. A few complained that there had been no fighting, but most were pleased with their cacique’s plan and its result. The noisy talk grew like a storm until Red Feather held up his hands.

  “Brothers, the Spanish value their wine very highly. But with his medicine and your help, Calling Crow rendered their thundersticks harmless and spilled all their wine, turning the ground red. Thus he punished them for breaking their word, without shedding one drop of Coosa blood. Show him your thanks.”

  The men screamed out their war cries, raising their lances in salute. As Calling Crow looked out over the bravos, he tried to feel good about what had happened. It was a little victory. But big things were coming. He could feel them getting closer. And he feared their impact on Juana, Green Bird Woman and Bright Eyes.

  Outside the noisy council house, a solitary figure walked in silence through the dark streets. The figure stopped beside a hut, then disappeared into its dark mass. Nothing moved for a few moments and then the shadow seemed to float across a bean field, headed for the palisade. Goes-To-War pulled himself up to the top of the timbered wall and dropped down on the other side. Carrying a bundle of his things, he ran into the forest.

  In darkness, he came to the broad trail and started running north. A day’s walk away was a Peace Town. He would be safe once he was inside its walls. He clutched his axe tightly as he ran. This was the most dangerous part of his journey. Faint starlight shone down between patches of clouds, barely lighting his way. He ran for a long time. Finally he was far away, safer, and he slowed, not caring how much noise he made. He thought he heard a branch snap. It was his nerves, he decided. He stopped and watched the sides of the trail warily. A family of raccoons crossed the trail. He smiled and walked on.

  After a while Goes-To-War again heard noise in the brush. He ignored it, shaking his head. Then he heard a hushed voice and froze. Ahead of him, dark shadows-- people-- were stepping out of the bushes onto the trail. Goes-To-War recognized one by his size and the way he stood. It was Panther, a Hawk bravo. Goes-To-War had an impulse to run, but instead, screamed out his war cry and charged the men. Someone tripped him and he went down. Before he could get up, many clubs rained down on him and he was dead.

  Chapter 42

  Three moons passed after the spilling of the Spanish wine and the killing of Alligator. Summer came and went and the days grew shorter and cooler, the blue sea turning toward gray. Life in Aguacay slowly returned to a quiet normalcy. Word filtered back that Black Snake and the Wolf warriors had been speaking against Calling Crow at the farthest village, trying to get other Wolf warriors to join in a fight against him. But the warriors had heard many stories of the cacique with the powerful medicine and there were no takers. Calling Crow listened to the reports and continued to do ceremony with Sees Far. The old medicin
e man counseled him to continue to seek his visions and stay in Aguacay to protect the people.

  One day Calling Crow went to see Juana at the dream place. She was very big now with their child and it was due to come out in less than a moon’s time. They embraced and sat on the bank, staring into the black water. Calling Crow was silent for a while. Then he said, “Things are still bad. You should come to the village.”

  Juana frowned. “Things have never really settled down since you spilled their wine on the ground. There are still many that speak against the Coosa because of that.”

  “Yes. And I can see that even you are still disturbed by it.” His eyes burned with anger. “What they did demanded a response. They promised they would not give the bravos wine. If there had been fighting it would have been their fault.”

  Juana lay her hand on his arm. “And you would be dead.”

  “Perhaps,” said Calling Crow.

  Juana sighed. “Perhaps you are right. We should go away together.”

  Calling Crow’s anger started to melt away. He thought about Black Snake, still hanging about. But most of the bravos were loyal to himself. He thought about Green Bird Woman. She would not like it if he brought Juana to the village. But he could protect Juana from her. “In my dreams I still see danger, but I cannot leave yet. I am the cacique and I can protect you better in the village. Come back with me.”

  “I will wait until after the baby comes,” said Juana. “That will be the safest way.”

  Calling Crow shook his head. “Don’t wait. Come now.”

  Juana said nothing, patting his hand instead.

  Calling Crow looked away. “Very well. We will wait for the child. How soon afterward can you travel?”

  “After a few days have passed, I should be well enough.”

  All the heaviness had left Calling Crow’s face as he thought of them finally being together again. “Good.”

  Juana smiled. “Isn’t it wonderful, Calling Crow? Soon we will be able to look into the face of our child.”

  Calling Crow nodded in wonder. “Our child!” Above them a bird sang a sweet song. “Yes. It will be good.”

  It was late in the afternoon when Calling Crow returned to the village. A large crowd had gathered in front of the council house, talking excitedly. When they saw him, some stared at him in anger; some looked away. Drawing closer, he recognized some of Black Snake’s Wolf warriors. Black Snake was speaking in the center of the crowd. Spotting Calling Crow, he snarled and pushed through the crowd as he left. The crowd began to break up.

  Calling Crow grabbed the Hawk bravo, Corn Planter. “Why is everyone acting so strange? What did Black Snake say?”

  Corn Planter could not hide the anger in his eyes. “Cacique, he says you have a Spanish woman and that you are a Spanish spy.”

  Calling Crow scoffed and released the man’s arm. He went into the council house. Sees Far sat in the back with Red Feather.

  Red Feather nodded. “Calling Crow, Black Snake is back and more men are rallying to his side.”

  “I heard,” said Calling Crow.

  “He says you have a Spanish woman,” said Sees Far. “I saw your woman in my dream, but she did not look like a Spanish.”

  “She is not Spanish,” said Calling Crow. “She is Arawak, a people who live on the big island across the great water.”

  Sees Far nodded.

  “What are the people saying?” said Calling Crow.

  “Some people don’t believe it and say Black Snake must be lying,” said Red Feather. “Others say that it is all right, that as a man of great stature, you can have all the wives you want.”

  Sees Far nodded. “Black Snake is again calling for a war against the Spanish. But only his own people are listening.”

  “What about you, Red Feather,” said Calling Crow, “how do you feel about all of this?”

  Red Feather seemed surprised at the question. “I am with you, Cacique. Always.”

  Sees Far touched Calling Crow on the shoulder. “You should go to Green Bird Woman. She may have already heard the story, but, if not, you should tell her yourself.”

  “Yes,” said Calling Crow. “I will go now.”

  “Calling Crow,” said Red Feather, “as you know, Green Bird Woman is very proud. She will be very angry. But she will get over it in time. She loves you very much.”

  Calling Crow saw the sincerity in the young man’s eyes and was touched. He left and started toward Green Bird Woman’s hut.

  Calling Crow found his things neatly piled on the ground outside. As he knelt to pick them up, Bright Eyes emerged from the darkened entryway. She looked at him and hurried away. A moment later Green Bird Woman came to the entryway. Her face was flushed from crying.

  Calling Crow gathered up his things and stood.

  “How could you do this thing,” she said, “taking up with a Spanish woman?”

  “She is not Spanish,” he said, “she is of the people.”

  “Aieyee! Not Spanish? You are crazy. Why does she live with them if she is not one of them?”

  “She is of the Arawak people.”

  “Ar-a-wak? What kind of crazy name is that?” Green Bird Woman shook her head. “How could you do this to me?”

  Calling Crow answered. “I told you a long time ago that there was another woman, but you would not hear me.”

  Green Bird Woman’s eyes flashed with anger. “Yes, I remember. When you were feverish you told wild stories of a spirit woman off on some island somewhere.” Green Bird Woman’s eyes filled with tears.

  “I will bring her here and build a house for her,” said Calling Crow.

  “Do what you want,” said Green Bird Woman, “but I will not be one of your wives.”

  “I never wanted to hurt you, Green Bird Woman.”

  “I know. Say no more.” She started crying. “Leave me.”

  Calling Crow found it hard to walk away. He had always known this day would come, but that did not make it any easier. Green Bird Woman had been very kind to him and a man could walk the earth all his life and never find a better woman. But that did not change anything. He loved her, yes, but he loved Juana more.

  Green Bird Woman sobbed. Holding onto the frame of her house with one hand, she waved him away with the other.

  Calling Crow walked to the council house. He would live there until he had a house built for Juana.

  That night Calling Crow heard a horned owl calling. He knew it was warning of an impending death, but whose? If the owl called several nights in a row, he would ask Sees Far to listen. Perhaps the owl would tell Sees Far who would die and when. Finally, Calling Crow slept. He had the same dream of falling down into the earth and being pierced by the tree. Thunder rumbled but there were no clouds in the sky. As he lay back, his life’s blood flowing out of him, he could hear thundersticks exploding and disembodied screams. The clang and clash of swords was everywhere, but he saw no one. Then he was on the mystery ship, looking back and waving at the young man Sees Far had said was his son. Calling Crow wanted to go back and help his son and the people, but the ship quickly bore him away and he could not get off.

  Chapter 43

  In the dimness of early morning, Black Snake walked through the blackened remains of the French fort. He and his men had been camped here for four days while they raided a small Yamasee village nearby. He looked over at the fire and saw that most of his men were still sleeping. He, however, had not been able to sleep. His head was full of voices and pictures. For the first time in a long time, his enemy, Calling Crow was vulnerable. Although there were many still under Calling Crow’s spell, more and more were now against him. Running Wolf’s medicine had been strong after all. The last time Black Snake had seen him alive he had said that Calling Crow’s power would wane, and he had been right.

  Something at Black Snake’s feet caught the dim light. Kneeling, he pulled loose a half-buried skull. A long tassel of gray hair grew from the only piece of scalp remaining. In the dim light of dawn,
the skull seemed to be smiling at him. It was one of the French, and his anger flared anew as he remembered the way they treated him. “Insult me in front of my men,” he muttered. He threw the skull down, shattering it like a pot.

  He heard a shout and saw Kicking Dog running up to him. Kicking Dog pointed to the sea. “They come,” he shouted, “in their Floating Houses. There are two of them out there!”

  Black Snake ordered his men into the forest to await the approach of the Floating Houses. The sun rose from the sea and climbed to its zenith, then began to sink beneath the trees before the ships finally anchored and put out boats. Black Snake and his men watched the boats move up the river, oars rhythmically dipping into the black water.

  Jacques Dumarr stood in the prow of the boat with Eneyah, the Yamasee trader. Eneyah proudly wore a sleeveless, red woolen jerkin he had been given in the country of the French. The tight-fitting jacket ran from his neck to his hips, and his long, tattooed legs jutted out of the bottom like two sticks out of a bag. The boat shuddered as it encountered the turbulence where the river met the sea and continued upriver. It soon approached a grove of blackened timbers jutting upward from the banks, all that remained of the fort’s small dock. At the sight of the devastation, Dumarr’s brain burned with hate. Despite himself, thoughts of the slaughter came back to him. He turned to the young Lieutenant, Henri Montaign, and pointed out the blackened outline of the fort ahead. “You can see where the palisade stood, and the buildings--

  Montaign’s face was grim as he nodded.

  The boats landed and the men disembarked, the soldiers spreading out to take up defensive positions. Dumarr, Montaign and Eneyah stood together.

  “How long do you think it will take us to reach the Spanish settlement?” said Montaign.

  Dumarr looked back to sea at the two ships lying at anchor. “Two, three days marching. Perhaps another day for me to pinpoint it.”