Augury Answered

by Phillip Murrell

  “Not just the other tribes,” Bright Stone said.

  “What?” Two Dogs asked.

  “We need the other nations as well,” Bright Stone answered. “For decades they’ve attacked not only our people and Mother Turklyo’s other children, but they’ve ransacked the other foreigners. In the twenty years since I’ve been chief, the Corlains have attacked the Vikisotes, the Francos, even those fools who lived in the swamplands. Those people could be powerful allies. We’ll need them to defeat the Corlains.”

  Two Dogs didn’t necessarily agree, but he knew changing Bright Stone’s mind would have been more difficult than simply allowing the other nations to claim some of his victory. Swift Shot looked at the platter of fruit. She finally grabbed an apple slice and rubbed it through a pool of honey. She chewed as a silence hung between the trio.

  “I feel I’ve soured your victory enough already. Get cleaned up. As soon as night is upon us, I’ll personally award you another feather,” Bright Stone said.

  Two Dogs knew when he was being dismissed. He and Swift Shot stood as one and left the tipi.

  Hours later, the night had enveloped the tribe. A large bonfire illuminated the painted faces of Two Dogs and Swift Shot. The full tribe, three hundred strong, surrounded the heroes. Many had full bellies of turklyo meat, a staple denied for more than a few dinners.

  Bright Stone stood in front of the two friends. Each had an immense smile as Bright Stone held an eagle feather before them.

  “For the people!” Bright Stone shouted as she held the feathers high above her head.

  “They rejoice!” the tribe responded.

  “Before you are two heroes of our community. Never in my long life have I heard of two hunters claiming a bull turklyo. If my stomach wasn’t bursting from the flavorful filet I had for dinner, I still wouldn’t believe it. If ever two warriors deserved this honor, it’s Swift Shot and Two Dogs.”

  Many Lacreechee shouted war cries. Two Dogs stood straighter as he waited for Bright Stone to give him his prize.

  “You will prominently display these feathers in your tipis. Show the honor to your home. Soon, you will add them to your headdresses.”

  Two Dogs and Swift Shot each accepted their feather. More war cries erupted from the assembled.

  “Now, let’s celebrate!” Bright Stone shouted.

  The Lacreechee fully obeyed. Two Dogs and Swift Shot proudly accepted many congratulatory comments and embraces. Owl Talon gave a tearful hug, while Two Dogs’ brother, Proud Wall, lifted him off the ground with his bear hug. Proud Wall was three years older than Two Dogs, but genuine pride trumped sibling rivalry.

  “If I hadn’t been busy this morning, I’d have been there to claim my portion of your glory,” Proud Wall said. “Now I have to work twice as hard to earn a fourth feather. There’s no way I let you stay my equal.”

  Proud Wall gave Two Dogs a good-natured slap on the shoulder. He must have used a little magic, because Two Dogs had to take a step to keep from falling.

  “Where were you exactly?” Two Dogs asked as he rubbed his shoulder.

  “Where indeed?” Owl Talon asked.

  Proud Wall looked both embarrassed and caught.

  “Did you raid?” Owl Talon asked in a fierce whisper.

  Two Dogs’ suspicions seemed confirmed. Proud Wall and his friends must have attacked some Corlains.

  “Answer me!” Owl Talon demanded.

  “Father,” Proud Wall whispered. “Not here. Those people took our turklyos. We simply gave them a reason to go back to where they came from.”

  Owl Talon clenched his jaw, then observed the party. He shook his head. “I won’t ruin Two Dogs’ celebration.”

  Proud Wall let out a trapped breath. Two Dogs also exhaled.

  “Don’t think we won’t have words tomorrow. The Azcas may have paid for your actions!”

  A few faces from the tribe watched the stern family conversation, but the beat of drums made it unlikely any heard it.

  “I should let you go. Bird Song doesn’t seem inclined to wait much longer for your attention,” Proud Wall said, obviously attempting to change the topic.

  Two Dogs followed Proud Wall’s pointed finger. Standing on the opposite side of the bonfire was Bird Song. She was beautiful. Not the most beautiful woman in the tribe, but the most beautiful to Two Dogs. Her figure always enticed him. Her smile religiously made him babble. It was her voice that captured his heart. She sang better than any person or animal he’d ever heard. Her voice could make a mountain cry. Despite the seriousness of their conversation, Two Dogs suddenly felt the urge to excuse himself.

  “I’ve seen that look before,” Owl Talon said, though he still glared at Proud Wall. “Before you give in to your second brain’s wishes, I have something for you.”

  Proud Wall genuinely smiled with his father as the older man presented a necklace to Two Dogs. It had five long, brown claws separated by four polished discs of igsidian. Two Dogs swallowed his emotion as he grabbed the expensive jewelry. He completely forgot the tense moment shared with his family.

  “More igsidian?” Two Dogs asked. “This belongs to Swift Shot. She saved my life.”

  “So we’ve been told,” Proud Wall said.

  “You didn’t think this was the best part of the bull’s tail, did you?” Owl Talon asked.

  Two Dogs looked confused until he followed his father’s pointed finger. Swift Shot swayed to the beat of drums while juggling a pair of cups, likely containing corn ferm. Sometimes she drank more than was appropriate, especially at a party. The drinks clearly weren’t what Owl Talon intended him to focus on. Slung across Swift Shot’s back was a quiver. Even from this distance, Two Dogs could see the glint of several igsidian stones lining the opening at the top. Approximately a dozen arrows poked out.

  “You made her a return quiver?” Two Dogs asked incredulously.

  Return quivers were unheard of. The amount of igsidian necessary made them a vanity that few warriors felt comfortable accepting.

  “It took some convincing from Bright Stone to make her keep it, but you yourself admitted she did most of the work. She deserves Mother Turklyo’s share of the igsidian tail,” Owl Talon explained.

  “I understand,” Two Dogs said.

  He truly meant it.

  “I believe we’ve delayed you long enough,” Proud Wall said.

  Two Dogs smiled at his family and walked to Bird Song. Owl Talon firmly grabbed Proud Wall’s arm and pulled him away. Two Dogs wished his brother luck. Then again, the bastard hadn’t invited him on the raid. He deserved whatever punishment their father had in store.

  Two Dogs refocused his attention on Bird Song. As he neared her, Swift Shot intercepted him. She swayed but caught her balance as she held a pair of clay cups, presumably holding corn ferm.

  “Try some of this,” Swift Shot said as she thrust one of the cups into Two Dogs’ hands. Swift Shot downed the contents of her mug and blew out a powerful breath. “That burns.”

  Two Dogs smiled and swallowed his own drink. The fermented corn drink seared his throat. The potency of the beverage forced him to cough more than once.

  “Do you make it stronger every time on purpose?” Two Dogs asked.

  Swift Shot nodded. “Yep. You need that liquid courage to speak with Bird Song.”

  “I’ve never needed liquid courage to speak to any woman and you know it.”

  Swift Shot ran her finger inside her cup. She licked the drops that came out with her digit.

  “You better make your move . . . or I might,” Swift Shot said as she sucked her finger clean.

  “Thanks for the warning. Do I need to fawn over you about your reward?”

  Swift Shot angled her body for Two Dogs to see the luxurious gift.

  “You noticed, huh? I tried to refuse it, but I’m pretty okay with Bright Stone twisting my arm,” Swift Shot said.

  “I’m sure you are. Have you practiced with it yet?”

  Swift Shot poured another cu
p of corn ferm.

  “I’m not in the right state for target practice.” She giggled ridiculously as she finished another shot of corn ferm in record time.

  “That’s probably for the best. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

  Swift Shot giggled again as Two Dogs continued toward his target. Bird Song saw him approach and smiled.

  “I was wondering how long I’d have to wait tonight, now that you’re a living legend and everything,” Bird Song said.

  “I asked if you wanted to come,” Two Dogs responded.

  Bird Song laughed. “Yeah, and listen to you and Swift Shot trying to one up each other all day? No, thank you. Though it would have been great to have seen Swift Shot save you . . . again.”

  “She doesn’t save me that much,” Two Dogs protested.

  Bird Song scoffed. “Keep telling yourself that.”

  “I could, or I could take you to my tipi and tell you something else?”

  Bird Song smiled devilishly. “And tarnish your reputation with the tribe? I would never do that. All the women will want you now. Someone will have to make an honest man out of you.”

  Two Dogs inched his body closer to Bird Song. He rested his hands on her hips and pulled her close.

  “Someone like you?” he asked.

  Bird Song smiled. “Perhaps.”

  “I like the sound of that, but if you want to make me honest tomorrow, you’re going to have to do something dishonest with me tonight.”

  Bird Song smiled again. She grabbed Two Dogs’ hand and pulled him along to his tipi. She yanked him to the floor quickly and had her turklyo-skin dress off before he had time to place his newest eagle feather on the altar at the back.

  “What happened to being dishonest?” Bird Song asked.

  “Let me do at least one thing right tonight. My father would condemn me otherwise.”

  “I’m sure you would find a few choice insults of your own.”

  “Probably, but I have better ideas of what to do with my mouth right now.”

  Bird Song leaned back on the furs lining the tipi floor. The central igsidian plate glowed to provide both light and warmth as the lovers admired each other. Two Dogs removed his turklyo-skin shirt and pants, then leaned into her.

  Two Dogs woke with a fright in the early morning hours. His unexpected motion disturbed Bird Song, but she didn’t sit up. Owl Talon snored loudly on the other side of the tipi.

  “What is it?” Bird Song asked between a pair of yawns.

  “Shh. Something’s wrong,” Two Dogs answered.

  His warrior sense screamed at him to investigate. It wasn’t quite dawn; pale moonlight shone through the opening at the top of Two Dogs’ home. He reached for his clothes and quickly threw them on. He pulled the necklace he received from his family earlier out from inside shirt and allowed it to rest prominently on top.

  “What are you doing?” Bird Song asked. She was more alert now.

  Two Dogs wrapped his belt with tomahawk and knife around his waist.

  “I don’t like this. I’m going to check outside,” Two Dogs answered.

  Before Two Dogs opened the flap on his tipi to exit, he heard the war cries of a few Lacreechee men. Two Dogs quickly drew his weapons. Loud cracks and pops sounded outside the tipi.

  Bird Song stood on the furs that had been her bed. She looked apprehensive. Owl Talon leapt to his feet, suddenly completely awake.

  “Those are muskets!” he shouted.

  Muskets? Two Dogs had heard the word before but never seen one used. Only the Corlains had muskets, which meant—

  Musket balls penetrated the turklyo-skin walls of his tipi. Both Two Dogs and Owl Talon dove for cover. Bird Song wasn’t as quick footed. She screamed out in pain as multiple musket balls pushed through her left arm, throat, and twice through her stomach. Two Dogs was too slow to catch her as she crumpled to the floor.

  “Bird Song!” Two Dogs shouted.

  Two Dogs grabbed her body. Her eyes stared blankly. Her head slumped backward in his arms.

  “Bastards!” Two Dogs shouted to the Corlains ambushing his village.

  Owl Talon grabbed his war club, the ball at the end made of solid igsidian. He grasped his younger son and pulled him back to his feet.

  “We fight first, then we mourn,” Owl Talon said.

  Two Dogs nodded his understanding. All of Two Dogs’ igsidian burned bright orange as he prepared himself. Owl Talon formed a ball of frost around his right hand. Both men charged outside the tipi. Owl Talon was first. He only made it two steps before the line of Corlains by their door opened fire. As Two Dogs understood it, muskets were exceptionally inaccurate. The reason only Corlains used them was because their army was the only one large enough to have enough soldiers to make the gunfire accurate by volume.

  Flashes of orange lit up the space around Two Dogs as musket balls hit his magical shield. Owl Talon wasn’t as fortunate. Several shots passed through his body, and he collapsed at Two Dogs’ feet.

  His father’s body, mixed with the raw emotion of Bird Song’s death only moments before, ignited Two Dogs’ well known fury. He assaulted the squad of eleven men. His enhanced speed and strength made him a difficult, nearly impossible, target to track. He wouldn’t be able to keep up this effort for long, but these men would not survive the night. Two Dogs swore that to the souls of his loved ones.

  He took a moment to find the Corlains. Their armor was pitch black with the small exception of a narrow red triangle on their helmets. If not for the full moon, the Lacreechee would have had little chance of even seeing their enemy. Fortunately, Mother Turklyo had given them some assistance. Two Dogs watched as the squad who killed his father reloaded their weapons.

  The other thing Two Dogs knew about muskets was how slow they were to load. While the Corlains fiddled with their weapons, Two Dogs attacked. Only nine of the Corlains had muskets. The two on the ends of the rank each held a broadsword and a shield. They stepped forward to engage Two Dogs while the others readied their weapons for another volley. Two Dogs rolled under the swing of the leftmost soldier. He thrust behind him with his knife and embedded it into the spine of his foe. He stood as he turned and buried his tomahawk into the neck of the same man. With his improved strength, he kicked the man into a pair of his companions. The trio fell to the ground, one dead. The other two soon joined him as Two Dogs rapidly stabbed them.

  Two Dogs parried the attack from the other melee soldier with his tomahawk. The force of Two Dogs’ block made the Corlain lose his balance. As the man fought to regain his footing, Two Dogs decapitated him with a single blow.

  “Two Dogs, defend!” Swift Shot shouted.

  Two Dogs knew instinctively what to do. He dismissed his strength and speed to summon a protective cocoon of magical reinforcement. Soon after, a turklyo-tipped arrow surrounded by flames slammed into the ground. It exploded with lava and scattered the remaining Corlains. During the explosion, the arrow disappeared with an orange flash.

  Swift Shot ran up to her friend. An orange flash behind her demonstrated why it was called a return quiver. The arrow she had just fired was once again nestled in the gift Owl Talon gave her.

  Two Dogs uncurled himself from his defensive position and readjusted his magic to give himself an advantage over the magic-blind Corlains. Swift Shot briefly hugged Two Dogs as she reached him.

  “Thank Mother Turklyo,” Swift Shot said.

  Two Dogs pushed her away. It still wasn’t the time for mourning. Two Dogs surveyed the battlefield. Many dead Lacreechee littered the battlefield, but twice as many Corlains joined them. The Corlains seemed to have split up into numerous small fighting units. These squads had infiltrated the village and attacked without provocation. Two Dogs witnessed magical feats of every school, but the Corlains had the numbers. At least a thousand must have attacked their community of three hundred.

  “Where’s my brother?” Two Dogs asked.

  Swift Shot shook her head. “I don’t know. I think he was protect
ing the children on the west side of camp, but the Corlains are everywhere. Many tried to escape. Hopefully, he was one of them.”

  “Not my brother. We need to find Proud Wall and Bright Stone. Few can erect the barriers we need to survive their muskets.”

  A piercing war cry interrupted the chaos. Two Dogs and Swift Shout followed the sound to see Bright Stone lead a charge with the warriors specializing in protection magic. Their target appeared to be the leaders of this Corlain unit. There were small skirmishes between squads of Corlains and small groups of Lacreechee braves, but several hundred Corlains stood in rank and file. These soldiers were Bright Stone’s objective.

  The first rank of twenty soldiers fired their muskets at Bright Stone’s party. Orange flashes lit up the sky as the Lacreechee continued to charge. The first rank took a knee and reloaded. The second rank now fired. This led to the same result of the first rank. When the third rank fired, a pair of Lacreechee fell over, dead. The Corlains attacked like this for six ranks of soldiers, then the first rank stood and fired again. Bright Stone’s warriors were decimated. Only she and three others survived. Their magic was strong enough to hold any amount of musket balls, for a time.

  “We must help them!” Two Dogs shouted.

  Swift Shot didn’t respond, but she nocked three arrows at once. She aimed high and arched the arrows into the left flank of the main Corlain position. Lightning arced through the formation as the bolts chained throughout the enchanted metal armor the Corlains wore. Dozens dropped to the ground and convulsed.

  “Keep it up!” Two Dogs shouted as he charged the formation from the left.

  Bright Stone and her few remaining warriors collided with the formation. Bodies flew as she blasted them with wind. Others shattered as they turned to ice from both Swift Shot’s arrows and Bright Stone’s fists.

  As Two Dogs charged the formation, a group of Corlains caught his eye. They had different uniforms than the others, colorful outfits made of cloth. In front of them was a long, gray tube on a pair of wheels. Upon closer inspection, Two Dogs saw three more groups of men had a similar object. The men seemed to fuss with the strange object as they pointed it toward the village. Two Dogs followed the direction to the target. It was Proud Wall and two dozen children.