A Searing Wind by W. Michael & Kathleen O'Neal Gear

Author:W. Michael & Kathleen O'Neal Gear
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Books

Additional rabbits, a couple of deer, and roasting dogs arrived the following morning as we were being dressed and having our faces painted. Every time Pearl Hand and I had to go face de Soto, we’d have to be made up. All it would take would be one mistake in front of Antonio, and we’d be lost.

Not even the chance for peace with the Chicaza would outweigh de Soto’s rage with Pearl Hand and me. From the days in the peninsula and all through the Nations to the east, we’d thwarted him too many times.

Even as paint was applied to my face, tension began to twist my gut into a knot.

“What do you think?” I asked Pearl Hand, glancing sidelong to see her beautiful features being covered with black, the white side already finished. “Do we get the tishu minko back today?”

“Depends,” she answered, trying not to move her jaw as gleaming black was smoothed on her cheek. “How well did we fool the Monster yesterday? And what counsel did his nobles give him last night?”

“Maybe they were too busy sleeping?”

“If that’s so, they might want to sleep again tonight, and we’ll get the tishu minko back.” They finished with her face and she turned, saying in Timucua, “You’ll be your sister’s favorite brother.”

“You really don’t like her, do you?”

Pearl Hand glanced down at her hands, finding them dusted with a coating of the ash that had been massaged into her hair. “I know what your family did to you. It may take me a while to find redeeming traits among them.”

“They only acted as they were told.”

“Your sister still put you and me at risk. It was, after all, her idea to substitute you for the high minko.”

As they finished with my face, I cocked my head. “You’ve come to know my brother. Can you imagine him facing de Soto? Knowing where he can push? What he can successfully get away with?”

“No,” she admitted before giving me the eye. “Are you sure you know what you can threaten? What you can get away with?”

“We’re alive so far.”

“Oh, yes . . . after one whole meeting. We’ve still today to survive.”

“And all the days after that,” I agreed, my smile full of false bravado. “But what if I’d told you last summer that we’d be eyeball-to-eyeball with the Monster, attempting to trick him into lowering his guard so we could sneak in and cut his throat?”

“I’d have said you were a maniac.”

“Yes, yes, but outside of the obvious, what would you have said?”

“That I’m honored to be the woman who shares your life.”

“I see.” I tried to keep from going maudlin. “I’m still trying to live long enough to endure your wrath for agreeing to this charade.”

“De Soto will have plenty of opportunities to kill you before that happens, so don’t resign yourself too soon. On the other hand, the notion of getting so close to him is starting to have a certain appeal.” She slipped the long bone stiletto into her sleeve.

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