It Dreams in Me

It Dreams in Me by Kathleen O’Neal Gear Read Free Book Online

Book: It Dreams in Me by Kathleen O’Neal Gear Read Free Book Online
Authors: Kathleen O’Neal Gear
Skinner lying dead in the forest beside the chieftess. Clearly Skinner had tried to kill her; his fingers were still wrapped around her throat. Apparently, the chieftess had managed to slip poison into Skinner’s cup and when he’d started to feel it, he’d attacked her.
    Sea Grass had been hysterical over the death of her only son. She’d wanted revenge. It was customary for the victim’s family to claim the life of the murderer, or a member of the murderer’s family; it was the Law of Retribution. But everyone knew that Sea Grass would never get her hands on the high chieftess of the Black Falcon Nation, and out of respect, Water Hickory Clan could not claim another member of the Shadow Rock Clan—mostly because they were the ruling clan.
    As a result, Sea Grass had never been fairly compensated for the loss of her son—a fact that Sea Grass mentioned whenever she was negotiating with High Matron Wink, trying to get her to make concessions that benefited Water Hickory Clan.
    Sea Grass clenched her jaw for several moments before she said, “What else did Wink ask you?”
    “Nothing, Matron. That was all. She wanted to know about the woman, and after I told her everything I knew, she let me go.”

    Sea Grass’ eyes narrowed. She aimed that crooked finger at him again. “You’d better be telling me the truth.”
    “I am! I give you my oath!”
    “As if that would convince me,” Sea Grass said caustically.
    “Well, Matron, what else can I say?”
    The smile that came to her wrinkled lips made him wish he hadn’t asked that question.
    Sea Grass waved to her guards. “Leave us alone. I wish to speak with Red Raven in private.”
    The guards left.
    Sea Grass glowered at him for so long that Red Raven’s heart almost climbed out of his throat. When she wanted to, she could look like one of the evil Earth Spirits who roamed the forests in search of fresh human meat.
    “I knew the story you told me when you returned from Eagle Flute Village was a half-truth, but it didn’t matter … until now.”
    In the most innocent voice he could muster, Red Raven said, “Matron, truly, I don’t know what you mean. I am your most loyal—”
    “Stop it, or I’ll call my guards back in and have them puncture your lungs.”
    He went silent.
    She continued, “Rumor has it that High Matron Wink has organized a secret meeting with the other clan matrons, a meeting to which I am not invited. What did you tell her that led her to such desperate action?”
    Red Raven squirmed. He couldn’t help it. He felt like a bug skewered with a cactus thorn for a child’s amusement. “The high matron can be … very persuasive … .”
    Her thin white eyebrows pulled down over her beaked nose. “ What did you tell her?”

    He had to think fast or he would not walk out of this chamber alive. “Something that I—I did not tell you, Matron. I was too afraid to tell you.”
    “Yes?”
    He glanced around the chamber before hissing, “I saw a man, Matron. I didn’t know him. He came out of the trees, breathing hard, saw the woman, and said, ‘What are you doing here? I told you I’d take care of it!’”
    “What did the woman say? And I want every word,” she said precisely.
    The story poured out of his mouth: “She said, ‘He defied our matron. He deserved more than just death.’”
    A small satisfied smile came to Sea Grass’ wrinkled lips. “And?”
    Red Raven hesitated. Even though this was a version of the truth, it still might get him killed. “The man said, ‘Now there won’t be anyone to tell our clan matron I received her message.’”
    Sea Grass’ eyes narrowed. “Why didn’t you tell me that part?”
    “Matron”—he wiped his sweating brow on his sleeve—“I wasn’t sure it was him, and I didn’t want to call out and have an enemy arrow stick in my back. That’s why I told you I hadn’t seen him and … and why I couldn’t deliver your message.”
    Her old voice went low and ominous. “But you

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