He'd mentioned to Tani that they had found the woman, and a missing warrior from the raiding party, dead. He'd spoken in such a way that she had believed them to have murdered each other. He finished caring for the eagle and stood admiring the sky. It was deepening toward late afternoon and the clouds swirled with shades of purple and lavender. Storm yawned widely. Gods, he was tired.
He plodded wearily to the small shelter that he had been given to inhabit alone. Surra was already there lying comfortably on his blankets. He hugged her, running his fingers down her spine until she purred and seized his hand in velvet jaws. From her nest in the corner of a blanket Hing squeaked at him. He beckoned and she sprang into his lap. For long minutes he sat, feeling the life, the affection of his team. Was this how it was for Tani? Yet a portion of his love was tempered in fire. Together he and the team had fought, killed, survived.
There was trust as well as love there. He knew that when danger struck he could count on them as they could count on him in turn. Surra purred, nudging him. He received a picture of Tani standing over the warrior she and her team and friends had killed. The coyotes flanked her, snarling at the fallen enemy. Storm understood. Here too was trust. Tani's team had fought beside her. An enemy lay dead at their hands. He'd been thinking of her as an inferior. Not because she was a woman, but because she was young and untrained.
Yet she had done well. She'd become a clan-friend here, where in previous generations many settlers had died at Nitra hands. Even the Norbies feared Nitra. Tani came and went, rode and hunted, shared fire and food and laughter with the clan. The Djimbut clan claimed her as their own and Storm knew enough about the Nitra to know it was no light or casual claim. If Tani were to die on Arzor it had better be a very clear accident. Only one other had ever been a clan-friend. It had occurred in the days of First Ship. Patterson had been a medic. He'd found a clan dying of neomeasles and been fortunate enough to carry a small supply of vaccine.
Like Tani, Patterson had been in some ways an innocent abroad, a restless man with a liking for new places and the habit of trusting those he met. He'd trusted the clan and been right. They'd named him clan-friend. Patterson had come and gone for years in the clan lands, prospecting for the then virtually unknown and hence very valuable eye-stones. He'd finally found a tiny pocket of them and taken out a dozen of the rarest green. He'd been murdered for them and the lawless gang at the port had celebrated their good fortune.
Word had taken almost two years to seep back to Patterson's clan. After that it had been a murderous mess. Clan warriors had ridden for the port. They'd taken a man at night and wrung from him the names of the clan-friend's killers. It had been a night of blood and death after that. For the clan it was a matter of honor. One of the killers had survived and a badly wounded Nitra warrior had returned alone to his clan to report. He had remained, but more had ridden out to complete the killing.
They'd succeeded. Of the eight men who'd murdered Patterson, seven had been killed by the clan. The eighth, trapped, had killed himself rather than fall into Nitra hands. The clan had lost half of its warriors, but Patterson was avenged. It had been those events that had led first to a Native Protection Force and then to strictly enforced laws. Of course, the laws in the end protected humans as much as the natives. No government wanted a clan-hunting vengeance across the port and towns.
The Djimbut clan had named Tani as clan-friend. If she were ever murdered they'd tear the planet apart in search of her killers. He knew he'd better com Kelson and let him know about that, once he returned to the ranch. Storm stirred the coals of his fire. There was a little heat there. He added twigs and once the flames leaped up he reached for the swankee pot. Just as well they were going back. He had enough left to drink a mug tonight, but tomorrow there'd be none. He shared cold meat with Hing and broke one of the small flat rounds of bread in half.
He built up the fire and lay down. Hing snuggled in on one side, Surra on the other. The big cat had refused his offering of food, clearly she'd gone hunting before he returned to the shelter. They slept, but Storm woke in the early hours of the morning from a dream of running and hunting. The blood had been hot in his throat as he fed, the warm quivering flesh a delight that had thrilled through his entire body. Feeding was ecstasy. He sat up, reaching for water. He drank, then craned forward. From where he sat he could see the entrance to the shelter of Jumps High and his family. Light flickered there, too.
No doubt the dream had come to Tani as well. It no longer surprised him that she didn't want to think about it. That had been one of the most unpleasant experiences Storm had ever known. The gloating ecstasy in the pain the killers caused left an acrid taste like old blood in his mouth. He spat to clear it. Then he lay down again. It opened up possibilities. He'd felt nothing the previous night when Walks Quickly and the enemy warrior had died. Tonight he had felt the death hunt and kill, but only while he slept.
The death must have taken its victims the previous night while the clan was still awake. Tani had felt nothing, or had she? He must speak to her. He felt sleep drifting closer and again surrendered himself to it. His last thought was that they must ride out in the morning and find the victims' skeletons. He needed to know where the kill was so that he knew from how far away he and Tani could read it. The samples he'd taken were older. He'd take fresh ones for the scientists. He slept as across the desert death feasted, savoring each agony-spiced mouthful.
With dawn Tani was awake and donning her outer clothing. Minou and Ferarre had gone off earlier to hunt grass hens. The plump birds were more easily taken if one was in place when the sun rose. The girl went in search of the Thunder-Drummer. She arrived in time to be offered food. Tani accepted and sat. The interpreter was absent but that did not matter. The Drummer could sign well enough. And anyhow, Tani would rather speak in private. For a time they ate in peace, then the girl's hands rose.
"You say it is time we returned to our own place. You asked our help. You sent warriors to search for us. What have we done to help? Nothing I know."
The medicine woman added a branch to the fire. She did not wish to speak hastily. Much of what she had done was because of her falwood visions. In the smoke of dreaming she had seen . . . much. But to speak of some of it could be to send paths twisting in other directions. At length she began.
"I dreamed. The Thunder said in my dream that I should search for strange ones who would aid the clan." Her hands slowed, the girl must understand clearly. "Beyond clan there is the land itself. That-Which-Hates is not from the land. I dreamed you would learn the trail death takes to us, to the land."
Tani drew in a breath but remained silent. The Nitra knew little of science, but with the samples Storm had, Kady and Brion might indeed be able to do as the Thunder-Drummer hoped. If that much of the medicine woman's dream was right, then more could be, too. She leaned forward a little to indicate attention.
Slender hands moved in patterns. "I dreamed. A part of my dream I may not tell. It was a medicine dream. This I may say to you. Two be as one. Many together may be as an arrow in the heart of an enemy. You are the arrowhead to strike home. Fear must not bind you, little sister, daughter of warriors, clan-friend to the people of Djimbut clan, clan-sister to a warrior of your own kind. Trust him, he dreams also. Blood calls to blood. Hear what it says."
She reached out to take one of Tani's smaller hands in her own. With the hand remaining she signed emphatically.
"I see death on all roads, only one where it is not. In a place where death crosses other trails you will stand with your spirit-friends. Beside you stands another. Together you ride. Blood on your trail and I cannot see the end of it. This I think, Sunset. In two is strength. With two, maybeso the trail will be smoother. Ride well, live or die as a warrior."
She sat back. Tani was absorbing the words. How much was merely good advice and how much was true dreaming she was uncertain, but she'd remember it all. A memory crossed her mind and she smiled.
"That reminds me," Tani s
aid as she signed. "Jumps High said you'd give me a small-name."
The Thunder-Drummer eyed her with amusement twinkling in the black eyes. She knew the misunderstanding that had arisen when her warriors had found the girl. Still, her warrior had so-said. The part of the dream she had not told Tani had covered this. She had dreamed of the Thunder. In the rumble of power she had heard the dream. She should bind the girl to the land. The chains should be of love, unbreakable and willingly worn. Anything that would help that was good.
She smiled and her smile was warm with genuine affection. "Your kin named you Sunset. In the Thunder I hear another name. The clan see you, I see you, as Sunrise. What is more beautiful than the sun as it lights the sky with all the shades of daybreak? What is sweeter than a new beginning? You shall be Sunrise of the Djimbut clan. Wearer of thunder-flowers. Traveler with strange ones. Rider of the spirit-mare. Clan-friend, little sister to one who is named in ceremony and in this life as Speaker of Dreams. Is it well?"
Tani caught her breath. "It is well, elder sister."
"Go then. Tell your name to the clan and make ready. At sun-high you ride." She watched as Tani rose to her feet and left the shelter. The other one would be here shortly. She'd seen the questions in his eyes. She was right. Her interpreter rejoined her as Storm slipped in and sat cross-legged before the fire. Storm waited in silence.
"You would hear why you were brought here and why I now send you away." He nodded. "To you I can say more. I dreamed. Because of the dream I brought you to the clan. I will not weary you with all I dreamed, I tell only what I believe to be the meaning. There are two. Apart they have little power and Death-Which-Comes-in-the-Night can slay them. Together their power is greater. One is a warrior. He would fight an enemy as he trained to do. The other is young, untried and unaccustomed to war. Yet her heart is strong and her power would be greater if it were sharpened as a knife. What is needed to sharpen a knife?"
"Oil, a whetstone, and hands to use them," Storm replied. It was a riddle similar to others he had heard.
"So! You shall be the hands. The oil, that has been her time here. We have named her clan-friend. Shown her kindness and the ways of the clan. She is one who is truly bound where there is love. We have bound her to clan and land. When the time comes that she sees we will die, then she will fight for us."
"And the stone, Thunder-Drummer?"
"That shall be bloodshed. No," as Storm stiffened to attention. "I have seen no death for either of you. But blood poured upon the land. That I have seen. Ride well, warrior. Bind her power to you that together you may conquer." She clapped her hands in the signal that the audience was ended.
Storm went first to Baku. He'd use the team to find whoever had died last night. He found Tani already there with Mandy.
"Storm, I had another nightmare last night. I'm certain it was a native who died. Mandy thinks she got the direction from me. She's going to fly out to see if she can see any loose horses or an empty camp. Will you send Baku out as well?"
He nodded, turning to impress the search on the eagle's mind. The birds lifted aloft almost in unison. Tani sat down beneath the dead tree to wait. Storm sat with her. It was a comfortable wait. Neither spoke but both felt as if they waited with a friend. Surra and Hing joined them, followed by the coyotes. Clan members glanced at the small group as they passed but did not approach. It took half an hour before Mandy floated down to land on Tani's shoulder. She drew the powerful beak along the girl's cheek in a caress, transmitting a picture as she did so.
"Mandy's found something."
Storm stared up as an eagle screamed above them. "So has Baku. In a different direction." His face went hard with worry. He said nothing of his fear. He'd wait to be sure. The team apart from the birds and horses would stay in camp. There would be a long ride during the next two days as they made for the ranch. Let Surra, Hing, and the coyotes rest now. Tani had Destiny waiting and Storm's mount also had been saddled and tethered. They rode out with Baku leading the way overhead.
The pitiful remains were those of a girl from a different Nitra tribe. Storm stood after he'd examined the skeleton.
"On her name-trial. From a poor tribe."
"How do you know?"
"No horse, few possessions, and those here are old and worn. Look," he indicated. "And I think she was younger than most. The tribe needs all the women it has so they send out their girls young."
"That doesn't make sense," Tani objected. "Small Bird told me that the older a girl, the better chance she has to survive. If they send out younger girls more would die."
"Normally, yes. Which makes me think she must have come from a tribe that's been hit hard by the death." He looked over the land. "She died about four miles from the camp. We'll follow Mandy now. Leave the girl's body here. I'll tell Jumps High when we return. They can collect her gear and give her the death rites."
Tani mounted, signaling the paraowl to fly. Keeping contact she rocked at a slow canter, off in a circle to the east. They were in the true desert after several miles. Storm estimated they were nearly ten miles in a direct line from the camp when Mandy dropped lower to hover over a clump of brush. Storm dismounted and approached cautiously. The brush clump must have been often used as a temporary camp. It was hollow in the center, with a circle of stones and the ashes of many fires. To one side a stack of gathered wood lay unused.
He waved the girl in. There was no danger here. Not now. Destiny came in dancing, her nostrils crinkled in disgust. Tani leaned over to look at the reason.
"Ugh. How many, Storm?"
"Five warriors. One was sleeping apart under the edge of cover. May have been the guard." He looked up. "Notice something? All the people are skeletons and so are four of the horses. The other horse is just dead. I think our walking death may have killed more than it could eat this time. Or maybe the meal took so long it didn't have time to finish. Either way I can take samples, and I think I see just where to take them from."
Tani had dismounted and was peering at the horse's throat. "Yes, I see it too. Like a small bite but a whole tiny scoop of flesh has gone."
"Right. I'll cut out a chunk of the flesh all around that. Tani, have you any idea how long any DNA on this might last?"
"That depends. We don't have any way to seal it. But if there was an exchange of material we could get something off it if we make it to the ranch by tomorrow night."
"But the fresher the better?"
"Of course."
"What if we sent a message by Mandy, and the sample by Baku. They'd be there in a couple of hours."
Tani looked as if she'd like to jump up and down clapping hands. "That's brilliant! You wrap the sample right now. Give it to Baku and tell her to go. I know what to say to Brion and Kady. Mandy will be there just as fast. She isn't carrying anything."
Storm unfastened his canteen and gave both birds a generous drink. Then he sent Baku off, the wrapped horse flesh tied to one leg with a strip of soft cloth. Minutes later Mandy rose into the air in pursuit. Storm and Tani rode back quietly to the camp. Jumps High was there and Storm took him to one side at once. It wasn't long before warriors left hastily, heading in two directions. They'd collect the abandoned items and give the dead the spirit rites.
Storm went to finish gathering his own gear. Finding two death places had confirmed his fears—and his hopes. The death had split. From the tracks and signs he'd read the victims had died several miles apart but around the same time. As for hopes, Tani had "heard" the killer at almost twice the distance Storm had read it. Not only that, she'd been able to read the direction, whereas he had to rely on Baku to find the victim.
The Thunder-Drummer was right. Inexperienced or not, Tani had the stronger abilities. Somehow he must convince the girl to help him seek out the lair of the killer. But that would mean purposely reaching out to them. It was nightmare enough for Tani that she unwillingly shared their hunt at times. To do so deliberately was something he feared she would not accept. He sighed. The medicin
e woman had given him a key. If he persuaded Tani that her friends were in danger she might agree.
With his gear packed, Surra at his mount's heels, and Hing resting happily in the front of his shirt, he walked his horse over to where Tani was just swinging onto Destiny. The coyotes gamboled around Small Bird and her daughters. Tani leaned over to hug her friends.
"Take care. I'll come back, visit you all when I can."
Jumps High twittered as his companions rode up. Seven warriors Storm noticed. The clan intended their guests to return safely and to show them honor at the same time. The trip was tiring, particularly for Surra and the coyotes who must run. But at last they neared the Basin rim. Their Nitra leader halted the small group. Jumps High signed rapidly.
"We leave you here. Thunder-Drummer says we may provoke no fight," his hands said. "Ride well, Sunrise." The girl hugged him and the other two warriors from his original four-group.
Storm signed a farewell and headed his mount for the Basin rim. They were over and dropping quickly past where they could see the Nitra. Tani looked back. She said nothing but her face was wistful. Then she turned to look ahead. Brion and Kady must have been mad at her staying away so long, but the sample sent by Baku would have left them too busy and involved. She'd escape with a mild scolding now, if they even remembered that. Destiny's pace picked up and Tani nodded. Home soon.
Chapter Thirteen
They rode down the final stretch of land, the ranch buildings looking larger and closer with each stride. Mandy had remained, waiting for Tani at the ranch after the bird's flight. Now she flew to Tani's shoulder with a flurry of wings. They saw Logan step past the corrals and stare. He yelled, his voice tinny in the distance. Tani flinched.
Storm smiled at her. "Brave up, Sunrise. Now we find just how angry your family is with you."
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