Jane tried to reach up and grab the dream catcher, but it was hung too high for her to reach, and her fingers grew cold as they approached the hoop. She pulled her hand back, as feelings of fear and terror emanated from the dream catcher and made it impossible for her to even try to touch it. Suddenly she had the feeling of something watching her, and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She looked around and noticed for the first time a bit of light approaching from the distant depths of the passage. As she watched the approaching light, suddenly two more materialized, and Jane was forced to scramble back into the passage behind her where she clung to the wall out of sight and waited.
A few minutes later several men walked into the light of the mine entrance room and leaned over to examine the sleeping forms. Five entered the chamber, three of them carrying torches that seemed to give off no smoke at all. Jane listened as they spoke in a language she didn’t understand. One of them stopped below the mine pit and held his torch high to examine the iron rungs leading up. They were all dressed in tattered buckskin leggings and vests with many beads attached to the fronts and sides. Most had feathers woven into their hair, and they bore a close resemblance to Tara Goodwing’s father. Their skin was darker then Jane’s, and their hair and eyes were dark, reminding her of pictures she had seen in Tara’s house when she was visiting. Her friend had photos taken many years ago of Mr. Goodwing’s great-grandfather, and they had taken much of the afternoon searching through boxes of the old pictures.
Jane pulled her mind back to the present and watched as two of the men hoisted the sleeping figures of Tasker and Eriunia to their shoulders. Carefully she slipped from her hiding place as the torches began to fade from view and followed the retreating figures down the cavern, wondering how she was going to free them and find a way to cure Jacob.
Chapter 5
Flying Cloud
Bella fluttered over the sleeping figure of Jacob nervously as her net kept him in a deep sleep that should have helped his body to heal. Instead the poison still spread slowly, and she could see the tips of his fingers beginning to turn a sickly shade of green as the poison worked its way through his blood.
“How is he?” Puck asked when he entered the room.
“Not good,” Bella replied. Tasker and the others had only been gone a little more than an hour, and already rumors were traveling around the camp that the Runner was dying, and the Map maker had fled. Morale was sinking, and Puck spent the last hour trying to bolster spirits as some of the freed slaves took their families and vanished into the forests.
“I’m prepping some of the ships for battle, but if we’re forced to fight against the fleet at Madeline Island with these wooden boats, it’ll be a quick battle,” Puck muttered.
Suddenly a flurry of shouts and calls came from outside the building, and Puck rushed to the door, his hooved feet clattered loudly on the stone floor. He threw the door open and looked out to where a trio of his goblins and two of the freed humans were leading an Adherent in a black robe towards him.
“We found him walking up the road to the fort.”
Puck nodded to the goblin and looked at the Adherent. The man was short and a bit overweight, but with arms that bulged thickly under the sleeves of his robe. No anchor was attached to him anywhere. That was a good sign for the leader of the goblins. Of course there were a few runners even in Cain’s service. Puck believed most of them would be kept far away from the fort until the Adherents realized what was happening. Cain was much more interested in his other activities to pull valuable resources from those to deal with a minor issue here.
“What do you want,” Puck growled as his eyes flashed.
“I’m here to give you the chance to surrender,” the Adherent replied evenly. “You can’t possibly think you can stop the troops at the Madeline Castle. I can promise you that, if you do not lay down your weapons by tonight, everything on this island will be burned to the ground. The commander of the Seventh Brigade has promised to be lenient to anyone who surrenders. Those who fight will be chained in cold iron and sent north to the mines.”
“And if we surrender?” Puck asked curiously. Not because he had any real thoughts of stopping this fight but because he wanted to know what was on the table.
“He’s promised to double the prisoner’s rations and to reduce the amount of work required.”
There was a round of interested muttering from some of the gathered former slaves, but many more jeers that were directed at the Adherent. “You think just because you overcame a few garrisons of guards you can beat a fully trained brigade of troops backed up by Ironships and a magic cannon?” the Adherent shouted suddenly. “Dream on. Commander Darkback has extended this offer for this one day only. Then he will land his forces and wipe this island clean. Remember, tomorrow night is full moon.” The Adherent smiled as he turned and walked from the gates and under the watchful eyes of the three goblins.
“Full moon,” Bella whispered in fear. “What will we do?” The legends of Commander Darkback filled the north lakes area. He was a man and a wolf, called werewolf in the legends. An exile from the old world because of his violent nature, he was a force feared by all but the most powerful of those alive today.
Puck shook his head. If Commander Darkback landed his troops and Tasker had not returned, he would abandon those he had brought here and retreat back to his woods and dream of revenge another day. Suddenly his attention was drawn to the lookout tower high above the fort. Then he heard the frantic shouts of the keen-eyed goblin stationed atop the structure.
“Ironships to the south,” the goblin cried down.
“Are they approaching?” Puck called back.
“No, they seem to have dropped anchor,” came the reply.
“Let me know when they start moving again!” Puck shouted back. He turned to the wood crews who were placing timbers against the inner walls. “Better make it thicker on the lake sides.” Until recently, cannons had been unknown in this world. Those living here had been happy with the old ways. That all changed when the Temple of Adherence started its march across the world. Puck shook his head. Now factories and foundries dotted the countrysides, as creatures and mortals banded together for defense and struggled to build weapons to fend off invasions by other groups. How he wished to go back to the days when all he had to worry about was how to pull off his next prank and who it’d be aimed at.
“What will we do?” Bella asked again.
“Prepare for Tasker’s return, and if he doesn’t come in time,” Puck muttered. “You and I will run for all we’re worth and hope no one follows us.”
Bella’s tiny hand flew to her mouth as she hid a gasp. At a loss for words, she watched as Puck wandered away to watch the timbers being placed inside the wall. Then she turned back into the building where Jacob was hanging onto his life.
* * * * *
Jane followed the five men of the Lost Ojibwa as they walked down the tunnel carrying the sleeping Tasker and Eriunia. The tunnel finally opened up, and she ducked behind a rock outcropping as light filled the cavern before her. When her vision cleared, she gasped openly at the sheer size of the cavern, even more impressive was the gigantic crystal that pushed out of the ground on the furthest side and glowed brilliantly, filling the area with light. It was warm and a steady push of air filled the tunnel entrance around her hiding place ruffling her hair and bringing the scent of wood smoke to her nose. About half way across the cavern a series of hide covered wigwams were clustered together behind a hill and shaded from the glowing crystal.
Around the sides of the cavern were fields filled with what looked like cornstalks and yellow hanging squash. A river flowed out from a dark hole in the wall far to her left and cut the cavern in half before disappearing out the far side into an equally dark passage. A single foot bridge stretched across the river, and Jane could see a number of figures standing along the shore throwing nets into the water and hauling them back in. A few stands of stunted trees grew along the wall
s, and little channels had been dug in most places to bring water to the fields and trees.
She drew her attention back to the men carrying Tasker and Eriunia. A flurry of activity in the camp marked their arrival. Then they disappeared into a long structure covered in dirt. Since there was little cover beyond the cavern entrance, Jane slipped into a small grove of trees and examined the area. She had to do something, but just what she couldn’t decide.
“Who are you?”
Jane jumped at the voice behind her and whirled around as her heart thumped wildly. Standing less than ten feet away was a girl about her own age, her skin was dark and her jet black hair was drawn back into a long braid. She wore a buckskin dress frayed at the edges but clean and sewn with many beads. A rough hoe in her hands indicated she had obviously been working on the irrigation channels when she stumbled across Jane’s hiding place.
“Please, I just need my friends back,” Jane stammered as she scrambled for words.
“You mean the little one and the elf?”
“Yes,” Jane replied.
The native girl motioned to where the village lay further out in the cavern, “My father and the other warriors took them to the earth lodge to be seen by the elders. Outsiders are not welcome by my people since the Great Betrayal.” Her copper bracelets jingled as she leaned over the small water channel and used her hoe to clear a caved-in section. Around her neck hung a thick strand of beads, and a ready smile filled her face when she looked up.
“But I’m tired of never seeing anyone but those who live in my band. What’s your name?” she asked as she set the hoe down and sat on the ground with her legs folded neatly under her but off to the side.
“Jane,” she replied. “What’s yours?”
“Flying Cloud,” the girl responded. “Although you might as well call me dirty cloud lately. All I do is clear these silly trenches day after day. I never get to do anything else.” Flying Cloud grumbled bitterly as she cast a scathing look at the hoe lying on the ground. “So why are you here?” she asked excitedly. “It has been so long since I got to talk to anyone my age.”
“A friend of mine is sick, and Tasker, the small man, thought your shaman Walks with Clouds might be able to help him,” Jane explained as she sat down on the ground across from Flying Cloud.
“Oh,” Flying Cloud said with a groan in her voice. “Grandpa has been very bitter since we came to live down here. I don’t think he’ll help anyone from the surface. He put the cursed dream catcher near the pit to stop anyone from finding us.”
“But my friend will die,” Jane exclaimed. She looked around nervously, hoping her voice wouldn’t carry too far. When no one seemed to notice, she looked back at Flying Cloud. “There must be some way to help him.”
“I could probably do it,” Flying Cloud said suddenly. “My grandpa’s taught me almost everything he knows. Let me think.” She paused a moment as she tapped her chin with two fingers. “I’d need my medicine bag and my grandpa’s bandolier bag. Both are in our wigwam. However, if I go back there now, my mom would wonder why I was returning so early, but I might be able to convince her that Grandpa was sending me on a trip to Salteaux.” She stood excitedly. “Come on. I can get you into the village without anyone seeing you. Once I get my bags, we can free your friends and go.”
“But …” Jane started as Flying Cloud twisted her braid excitedly.
“Oh, please, you must let me help,” Flying Cloud pleaded. “If I stay down here any longer I’m going to go crazy. My people were not meant to live underground. Even though life is safe here, I want to see the sky. I’ve never even seen the sun. I was born down here. My mom told me about lakes and rivers and forests and so many things. I want to see them.” Close to tears as she clung to Jane’s arm and looked at her emploringly.
“Fine,” Jane agreed. “But I have to know you can cure Jacob’s poison.”
“I can do it,” Flying Cloud insisted, “of course I can,” with such conviction that Jane gave in and smiled.
“How do we get Tasker and Eriunia out?” Jane asked as the native girl led her to the edge of the strand of trees and along the wall of the cavern until they were out of sight in a low spot. They walked towards the village until the ground started to rise again, and then entered a larger gully dug into the ground by repeated movement of water.
“They’ll leave them in the earth lodge until Grandpa gets done meeting with Red Bull, the shaman of the Salteaux. Today is their meeting day, and it normally takes them a while to settle any disputes that have come up between our bands,” Flying Cloud explained as she popped her head over the top of the gully bank and looked around for anyone who might be watching. “Wait here. I’ll bring you some clothes to wear.” Without waiting for an answer, she scurried over the top of the gully and disappeared.
Jane waited nervously in the gully for what seemed like forever before Flying Cloud appeared again and slipped into the water channel.
“Here, put these on over your clothes,” Flying Cloud said as she handed a buckskin dress to Jane, and then started to weave feathers and strips of hide into her hair. “Your hair is pretty, but it is too light. If anyone gets too close, they’ll see you’re not one of us. From a distance you may be fine.”
They worked for a few more minutes on her disguise until Flying Cloud turned her around and examined her critically, “It should work.” She motioned for Jane to scramble up the side of the gully. Together they approached the first of the wigwams. “The two you seek are in the earth lodge. I’ll get the guard to leave the door. You sneak in and wake them up.” She reached under her dress and pulled a small leather bag from around her neck. Reverently she handed it to Jane and motioned for her to slip it inside her dress. Then she pulled two small sprigs of a leafy plant from inside a pocket hidden inside her dress and handed them to Jane “That’s my medicine bag. Put a leaf from each of these under their tongues. Then set the medicine bag over their hearts. This should wake them from the dark sleep. I need to get into Grandpa’s wigwam and get his bandolier bag. He never carries it unless someone’s sick.” Flying Cloud pointed to the earth lodge. “Hide over there while I get Running Wolf to leave the door.”
“How are you going to—” Jane started.
“Oh, that’s easy,” Flying Cloud said with a wide smile that showed her perfect teeth. “He’ll do anything for me.” She leaned over and whispered to Jane in a conspiratorial manner. “He likes me.” She winked as she hitched her buckskin up until it was well above her knees, and then walked around the corner of the earth lodge. When she was certain Running Wolf was staring at her with wide eyes, she suddenly fell to the ground and groaned. In a rush of footsteps, the young warrior was kneeling at her side. Flying Cloud peeked around the crouched warrior and saw Jane slip inside. Flying Cloud groaned one more time.
“Are you all right?” Running Wolf asked.
“I think so,” Flying Cloud murmured as though waking for a daze. “Can you walk me over to Grandpa’s wigwam?”
“I shouldn’t leave my post,” Running Wolf said worriedly. He looked around, no one was in sight. With the small tribe struggling for its existence, there were few enough hands as it was. Everyone was busy.
“You won’t be gone long,” Flying Cloud pouted. “And I feel so faint. Please help me.” She swooned weakly in his arms.
“All right,” Running Wolf said as he made up his mind. He glanced back one more time at the entrance to the earth lodge, and then helped Flying Cloud to her feet and slowly walked her across the village to her grandpa’s wigwam.
* * * * *
“tasker?” Jane hissed as she slipped inside the earth lodge and looked around. She spotted the slumbering forms almost immediately. The Ojibwa warriors had put them on skins near the center of the earth lodge. They were still sleeping soundly. Jane hurried over to where they lay and pulled the medicine bag from under her shirt. Gently she laid it over Eriunia’s heart first, put a leaf from each twig under her tongue and waited, hoping Fly
ing Cloud was right that the medicine bag would break the dark sleep brought on by the dreamcatcher.
Just when she was about to give up and try the procedure on Tasker, Eriunia’s eyes fluttered open. She looked around at her surroundings. The earth lodge was empty of any type of furniture, the only decoration to break the uniform brown of the interior being a small fire pit surrounded by bear and deer skin rugs.
“Where are we?” Eriunia asked quietly as she smiled at Jane and rose carefully to her feet.
“Hold on,” Jane replied as she arranged the medicine bag over Tasker’s heart and tucked two leaves under his tongue. Then she stood and faced the door because there was a tap of footsteps and then a shadow filled the door. Jane motioned for Eriunia to lay back down and then leapt into the shadow filling a corner and huddled into a small ball. Running Wolf’s head popped into the opening a moment, and then disappeared again. Jane heard voices—Flying Cloud talking to the warrior. She hoped she could keep his attention.
“Uh,” Tasker groaned slightly as he awoke and looked around. He saw Jane crouched in the corner and immediately followed her eyes to where she was staring towards the only exit of the lodge. He clamped his mouth shut and watched the hide that hung in the door for any signs of movement. When nothing happened, he rose to his feet and motioned her over.
“I found someone who can help us,” Jane whispered. She stopped talking as the voices at the door grew louder. They listened intently as Flying Cloud’s more shrill voice argued with a much deeper slower voice.
“We need to find another way out,” Tasker muttered as he heard the voice of the old shaman rise to contend with his granddaughter. “It seems I misjudged Walks with Clouds. He’s no longer interested in returning to the surface at all.”
The Map Maker's Sister Page 5
