Raven Mocker by Don Coldsmith Read Free Book Online Page A

course,” she answered, puzzled. “Once called Corn Flower when I was young. But you know that, Three Fingers. How may I help you?”
    “It is not that,” he said formally. “You are requested at a Council tomorrow at the town house. You must attend.”
    “But… what… ?”she stammered, confused.
    Now the expression on the face of the Peace Chief relaxed somewhat, to be replaced by one of genuine concern.
    “My heart is heavy over this, Snakewater. You have been accused.”
    “Of
what?”
she demanded. “I have done no crime.”
    “It is not that,” he said. “This is a most unusual thing. Snakewater, are you a Raven Mocker?”
    There was a hint of fear in his eyes, as if she might become violent, or try to forcibly seize his unused life-years on the spot.
    “How could I be?” she demanded. “Three Fingers, you have known me since you were a child. Since before you
lost
those fingers. I helped you with the healing of them!”
    “That is true,” he said uncomfortably. “But it is the duty of my office to… Well, you know ….”he finished lamely.
    She almost felt sorrow for the man. “Do
you
think that of me?” she insisted.
    “I—I don’t know what to think, Snakewater. I know very little of your medicine, and nothing of the Raven Mocker, except as part of the Creation story.”
    “Who has brought this complaint?”
    “I cannot tell you. You will learn at the Council.”
    “Is this not unusual?” she asked.
    “Yes, the whole thing is unusual.”
    She became defiant. “And what is the procedure to deal with one who is a Raven Mocker?” she demanded. “And how would you know?”
    “I am not your accuser, Snakewater. As to what happens… that is why we have the council. A request has been made, a complaint stated.”
    “It is ridiculous,” she sputtered. “What if I refuse to attend?”
    “Then men of the warrior society would be sent to bring you.”
    “How many would it take, to drag a poor old woman?” she taunted.
    Three Fingers sighed deeply. “Don’t be this way, Snake-water. Listen to her complaint, answer it …. That may be all.”
    “Ah! A woman! Does she think I would steal her husband, and she wishes to get me out of the way?” she sneered. Then she relented. “Well, I will be there. I would not dignify such stupidity by making a big thing of it. In public, of course.”
    “Of course.
Wado
, I thank you, Snakewater.”
    He started away and then turned. “There are many,” he said haltingly, “who consider you a fine woman. I want you to know that I am one of them. This will pass.”
    She watched him go. She was not so certain.
    “I don’t know,” she said, half aloud. “What do you think, Lumpy?”
    T he town fairly sizzled with excitement, as the people began to gather at the town house. Its unique seven-sided architecture was for a purpose. Each clan held an official position around its own section of the wall. Sometimes there was a fire in the center, vented through a smoke hole in the roof, but not today. It was warm and sunny, and the opening cast light instead. There was a shaft of sunlight that shone almost in the corner between the Wolf and Bird clans.
    Snakewater arrived and smiled at the women of her Paint Clan. She knew most of them but had seldom sat with them in council. Still, if a verdict ensued that called for some penalty to be meted out, these were the women who would administer and oversee it.
    I’m getting ahead of myself here
, she thought, as she took her seat.
    There was little formality. Three Fingers quieted thecrowd and opened the meeting. Log Roller sat near, in his designated seat as war chief. Something might develop that called for his opinion, though it seemed unlikely.
    “We are gathered to hear a complaint,” Three Fingers began. “I am sure that you all know what it’s about. Who brings the complaint?”
    “I
do!” said a woman in the section reserved for the Long Hair Clan.
“There is among us a Raven Mocker.”
    A few