Chills & Thrills Paranormal Boxed Set (47 page)

"Shala!"

They both jerked their heads toward the door, where a
scowling Black Hawk was holding back the drape.

Today he wore cutoffs and a Jerry Garcia T-shirt. It figured
he'd be a Deadhead, Lily thought irritably.

"I didn't think he'd like you being here," she
whispered to the wide-eyed child.

White Hawk scowled at Lily, but his face softened as he
looked at his daughter.

"What are you doing here?" he asked gently.
"Star Dancer said I could come."

"She did, did she?"

"She asked me to wake the lady and bring her to the
longhouse."

"A very fine job you've done of it too, but I'll take
over from here. You may go now. Your friends are waiting."

"Yes, Papa." Shala looked disappointed, but she
went out the door as asked.

When she was gone, White Hawk dropped the curtain and
stepped into the pueblo.

"Stay away from her, Lily."

Lily indolently returned to drying her legs, then peeled off
the adhesive bandage, only mildly surprised to find the blister had completely
healed. She glanced up at White Hawk, but felt in no mood to thank him.
"Do you think I'll eat her? If you recall, I rarely indulge in meat these
days."

"That doesn't change what you did to her mother. If she
becomes fond of you . . . “ Lily could feel him suppress a shudder. "It
would break her heart should she ever find out."

"Oh that." Tossing the towel back onto the table,
Lily turned toward the backpack. "Well, don't you worry, White Hawk. It's
unlikely she'd ever grow fond of a monster such as me, isn't it?"

A quizzical expression crossed his face. As usual his
thoughts were guarded and Lily couldn't read the source of his emotion, but he
radiated far less animosity. Probably from lack of energy, she concluded. It
had been a long hike for him too.

"Hurry," he said brusquely. "Star Dancer is
waiting." When Lily didn't move, he added, "Now."

She gave him a pointed stare, but got no reaction.

"Do you mind?" She glanced at the door. "I
have to change clothes."

White Hawk backed out of the door and pulled the curtain
shut. Going to the high windows, Lily stretched up and drew the coverings
closed, then dropped her clothes and washed the remainder of her body.

She took her time, running the comb through her dirty
tangled locks and longing for the bath in the river Shala had mentioned.
Outside, she could hear White Hawk's moccasins making soft rapid taps on the
walkway.

Let him wait, she thought, moving to the backpack. She
opened it and rummaged through the contents. After slipping into underwear, she
pulled out a filmy Armani blouse and almost smiled. One day in this environment
would leave it sweat-stained and tattered beyond repair.

"What's taking so long?" White Hawk called.

Lily didn't answer. Not caring what the weather would do to
it, she put on the blouse, then chose a pair of raw silk shorts that wouldn't
hold up much better. If she was about to face her judge, she would damn well
look her best.

Coffee? Although Lily didn't know exactly what she'd
expected, this woman definitely wasn't it. Her tall, regal, and ageless bearing
wasn't surprising, nor was the loosely braided black hair that fell to her waist.
What came as a shock was the gray T-shirt with a large fiery orange basketball
and the words Go Suns that somehow blended naturally with her ankle-length
broomstick skirt.

The coffee, which Lily accepted appreciatively, also came as
a shock.

"How do you like it?"

"With cream?" she replied hopefully.

Star Dancer turned to a metal stove where a small clay pot
wafted a rich coffee aroma, and nodded to a small jar. "Will powdered
do?"

 
Despite her
apprehension, Lily laughed. Star Dancer looked at her with twinkling eyes.
"I said something funny?"

"All those years. . . .Well, I assumed your tribe
survived off the land." Lily shook her head in bemusement. "Ivory
Soap, Crest, toothbrushes, and plastic combs . . . coffee and Creamora? I
almost feel I'm home."

The High Shaman smiled.

"It's our weakness. We've grown attached to the
comforts of the mechanical world. Fortunately many of our brave ones are
willing to venture out to bring them back." Star Dancer's grin widened.
"Although at times I think they don't find it much of a hardship."

Lily relaxed under the wattage of Star Dancer's smile. She'd
entered the longhouse expecting judgment. But from the moment she'd met those
eyes that were much the shade of White Hawk's, she knew they were different.
Unlike her captor, this woman's eyes radiated only kindness.

Star Dancer came forward, holding two brightly painted cups,
and handed one to Lily, then turned to a cupboard beside the stove. In a moment
she gave Lily a spoon, lovingly crafted from silver. "For the creamer."

As Lily spooned the powder into her steaming coffee, she
said, "White Hawk wasn't happy that Shala came to get me."

"He has implied as much." Star Dancer stepped onto
a dais at the end of the building and lowered herself to a sheepskin rug,
sitting cross-legged. She gestured to a nearby stool. "You may sit there
if you wish."

"The rug is fine." Lily found herself unable to
emulate the woman's graceful descending movements, but she finally made herself
comfortable and took a sip of coffee.

"The child has much curiosity about you," Star
Dancer said, as though their conversation hadn't been interrupted. "She is
wise well beyond her winters and has a destiny as a shaman. White Hawk knows he
must respect her free will."

Lily nodded sagely as if she actually understood the
philosophy behind the woman's words. "A lovely girl.”

"Delightful. As is this delicious brew." Star
Dancer sipped her own coffee, swallowed, and then made a noise of appreciation.
"Now ask me what you will, Lily. You must have many questions."

Astounded by the directness, Lily laughed again. "Many?
Oh, yes, many questions. I don't even know where to begin."

"Begin with what's at the forefront of your mind."

"What will you do with me?"

"Yes, yes, that's good. You will face the Tribunal, Lily,
to answer for your crimes against The People."

The reply wasn't unexpected. Hadn't White Hawk already told
her that? Yet, though she'd never known a quarry's fear before, she felt it now
and recognized it for exactly what it was.

"That's all you wish to know?" Star Dancer asked
gently when Lily remained silent.

To deal with her panic, she assumed the businesslike tone
she might have once used with an attorney. "Am I to be executed?"

Star Dancer took another sip of coffee, swallowing
appreciatively. Finally she answered.

"Most likely you won't survive."

"Are you saying I could?"

"Only if you meet the Tribunal with an open heart,
Lily. Acknowledge and own up to the evil and pride in your deeds — the evil and
pride that is in all of us. By doing this you will prevail. Denial. Blaming
others. These will bring your downfall."

At a loss for words, Lily took another sip of coffee. Star
Dancer patted her knee. "I've offered prayers in your behalf to the Great
Spirit."

Lily's eyes widened. “Your people don't want me dead?"

"Some do. But all is as it should be and they will come
to understand that. Finish your coffee now, Lily, then you may go. You're free
to roam the village. Eat when you're hungry, go where you like, talk to
whomever you wish. But don't be surprised if most do not reply."

She wouldn't be surprised at all. They wouldn't even look at
her. As she quietly sipped her coffee, Star Dancer rose and went to a long
simple table in the middle of the platform, where she lit a slim stick and
placed it upright in a block of day. In a few minutes, a sweet, pleasing
fragrance filled the longhouse.

When she'd drained the cup, Lily put it on the floor and got
up too, in no hurry to leave but well aware the audience had ended. As she
passed Star Dancer, the woman gave her a gentle smile, but didn't speak.

Lily continued to the door. When she reached it, she looked
back over her shoulder. "When is the inquisition?"

"The time hasn't yet come. I wait for the sign and will
let you know when I receive it."

Although it was no answer at all, Lily simply nodded and
left the longhouse.

Shala was waiting for her, a straw basket in one hand and
some thin blankets draped over her shoulder. "I came to see if you would
like to bathe now, lady."

"Lily," she corrected the girl absently, glancing
toward the ladder leading to her room. A long climb, and she wasn't sure she
was ready for it.

Apparently noticing Lily's reluctance, Shala tapped the
basket. "I got clean clothes for you from your room."

"Clothes, hmm?" Lily peered at the goods Shala
toted. "What else do you have? Shampoo, maybe? How about
conditioner?"

* * *

Riva was sitting in front of her loom when Tony entered the
longhouse. She looked up when the door opened.

"Welcome home, Tony. You've done well."

"Thank you, but the praise is undeserved."

"Oh, you've earned it unquestionably. Despite your
personal feelings you brought Lily safely to us. I suspect you also had some
success with shapeshifting. Am I right?"

Tony pulled up a nearby chair, sat down, then put his elbows
on his knees to rest his chin on his folded hands. "My last success was
before Tajaya's death," he said. "Now this. I don't understand."
He went on to tell her of what had happened in Lily's room. "And when I
saw her life's blood gushing out . . ." Tony glanced away, remembering the
intense alarm that had compelled him to save her. "I've wanted this woman
dead for years, Riva. I can't comprehend why I was able to shapeshift then . .
. and for that reason."

"Didn't I tell you it would come when needed? Don't
question the Universe's gifts. You'll understand in due time."

Tony gave her a frustrated glance. "You came from the
outside too, Riva. How do you reconcile your faith with what you learned out
there?"

Riva laughed gently. "Ah, Tony, I didn't have logic
drummed into me the same way you did. I had the advantage of not being
college-educated."

Grinning, he replied, "But you can't program a computer
either."

"Since we have none here" — she laughed again —
"I don't feel the loss."

Tony rubbed the back of his neck, taking his eyes from
Riva's smiling face. "We need to talk about Shala and the she-wolf."

"I wondered when the subject would arise." Riva
paused, clearly weighing her next words. "You must keep in mind that Lily
isn't a werewolf anymore."

"Not in form. But in her heart. Wickedness does not die
with the form."

Riva's luminous golden eyes clouded. "You're twisting
the truth, Tony, and you know it . . . here." She tapped her heart. Her
eyelids began fluttering. Soon they closed, and in a radically deeper voice, she
started talking.

A herd of deer surrounded White Wolf Woman, and several
stags lowered their thick necks, aiming their pointed racks at her exposed
belly. The does behind them squealed encouragement.

"Kill the traitor!" they urged. "Kill
her!"

Suddenly Quetzalcoatl appeared. "Deer People, what
are you doing to my daughter?”

Jeshra, the largest stag, stepped forward, lifting his
antlers proudly. "Though Sienna Doe swore to protect us, she has betrayed
us grievously. One of our sisters lies dead in the clearing beyond, slain by
her fangs. We seek only justice, Great One."

"By betraying yourself?" asked Quetzalcoatl.
"Do deer feed on Four Leggeds? Nay. By doing violence on this one, you do
violence only to yourselves. Do you question the creatures I make, the natures
I give them?

"Jeshra lowered his proud head and the herd backed
away," Tony mumbled, completing the story and shamed by the truth it
revealed. He couldn't meet Riva's now-open eyes, but still felt compelled to
defend himself.

"You're right. I can't know what changes have come over
Lily. Yet she shows no remorse about killing Tajaya, and her pride is
insufferable. I'm worried about Shala's safety. How can that be wrong?"

"Shala is of you, Tony, but doesn't belong to you. You
can't shield her from life for fear she'll suffer Tajaya's fate. She expressed
interest in Lily, which I've permitted her to explore." Riva turned back
to her weaving, signaling that their talk was over. "She'll soon tire of
the woman."

"I wish I were as convinced," he replied uneasily,
rising and moving to the door.

"Walk in beauty," Riva said absently, without
replying to his remark.

But then he hadn't expected her to.

* * *

Restless and uneasy, Tony wandered aimlessly around the
village center for a while, stopping at a hearth for a nibble, chatting briefly
with Kessa, the fire tender. As he started back to his wickiup, he realized he
wasn't behaving like the warrior and shaman he proclaimed himself to be.

Since when did a warrior wallow in his conflicted
conscience? From his first days at Riva's knee, he'd been taught to face such
turmoil head-on.

He checked first on Shala, learning from Kessa, who
delivered the news with a frown, that his daughter had accompanied Lily to the
woman's pool. Tempted to go after them, he wavered, remembering Riva's counsel.

His daughter had her own will; he must allow her to use it.
And the woman's pool was safe enough with so many other bathers there. He
smiled grimly, thinking the she-wolf had no idea of the snubbing she would
receive. Mothers mourning their lost sons and daughters were the most vengeful
of them all.

Not true. His own vengeance ran far deeper. And he knew he
must come to terms with it, knew exactly where to go to do that.