Broken Promise

by Theresa Scott

  She waded out until the water lapped at her knees. Any higher and the fringe on her leather dress would get wet.

  Star happily splashed more water on her face, bending over and dipping her ash-caked hair in its coolness. The clean, fresh scent tickled her nostrils. She dragged strands of her hair back and forth on the river's placid surface for a short time, then stopped. If too much of her black hair showed she would no longer look old.

  She straightened and glanced around, then sighed. It was so quiet here, so peacefulthe way her life had been before the Jaguar intruders had arrived.

  The river was a murky green, and bulrushes grew along the banks. Two ducks settled on the water at a distance from her and she watched them swim and dip for food and gabble quietly with each other. Overhead, a honking sound caused her to glance up. Geese flew by, many of them, in their speartip formation. Winter would soon settle upon the land.

  She sauntered back to the riverbank. Carefully, she rubbed fresh mud on her face and hair. When her face was once again weighted down with the thick paste, she retrieved her furs, picked up her cane, and wandered back up the trail. After she passed the cottonwoods, she bent and pulled a fur over her hair as she shuffled along.

  Forcing herself to walk slowly, like an old woman, she prayed once again that the Jaguars would soon go away.

  Falcon smiled to himself as he watched the woman limp back along the trail. Her disguise was good, very good. It had fooled him and the others, too. He wondered how many more ''old" women of the Badgers would prove to be young, comely maidens.

  Mud alone could not hide her beauty. It was the bent back that had thrown him off the scent. He had thought her merely a gnarled, skinny-legged heron when he had seen her hobbling about the camp on her cane. Indeed, he had given her nary a thought. But now he knew her secret.

  She was tall, too. Tall and well formed and beautiful. He chuckled. These Badgers were wily.

  Chapter Four

  "We will leave in the morning. There is nothing more to be gained," said Claw. "We have enough women. I am satisfied that they are not hiding more of them. And the ones we have are very comely."

  Not as comely as a certain long-legged heron, thought Falcon, grinning.

  "We have only five women. We came for six," muttered a man. Several agreed. Claw ignored them.

  "What about the Badger men? Where are they?" asked Hooknose, one of the slave catchers. He and his fellow slave catcher, Red Jaw, so called because the lower half of his face was painted in red ocher, had accompanied the Jaguars on their bride quest. So far, the two slave catchers had done no harm, but Falcon distrusted them. They were a deceptive lot.

  "Pah, Badger men are no trouble," Claw said dismissively. "There is only one man in the whole camp, and that is the headman. The others have run off. They are afraid of us!"

  "Still, we should appoint guards this night," said Falcon. "These people might not be as afraid of us as we think. Badgers, at least the animals, are fighters. They defend their burrows and their young ferociously. It could be that these people are well named."

  Hooknose snorted. "They are not fighters. I have never seen a people yield their women so easily."

  Falcon shrugged. "And you have had much experience with that, I do not doubt."

  Hooknose frowned at him and then turned away to face Claw. "You know that I am looking for slaves to trade to the Fish Eaters along the Great River," he told Claw. "I will take any woman that you do not want and trade her to the Fish Eaters. I want men to trade as well. The Fish Eaters pay well for strong men to labor for them."

  "We will not trade these women," answered Claw. "We will keep them for ourselves. As for the men"he held up his hands, palm open"as you can see, there are none here. I think that you will have to travel to another group of people for the slaves you seek. Perhaps you will be more fortunate with the Groundsloth People."

  Red Jaw, the other slave catcher, protested, "They live too far away!" He smiled a toothless smile. "We can always get a good price for anyoneeven a child. I saw several healthy Badger children."

  Claw was shocked.

  Hooknose eyed him and turned to growl at Red Jaw. "No! We set out on this bride quest with the understanding that we would trade the captured men, and Claw and his hunters would get the women. Forget the children."

  Claw nodded, relieved. Hooknose frowned at Red Jaw and shook his head almost imperceptibly, cautioning the other man to silence.

  Falcon watched the veiled signals. Another time, when he was younger, before his wife had left him, he would have had nothing to do with men like these slave catchers. Now he did not care. He knew that it did not matter what manner of man one associated with in life. There was no good in life, no good in people. There was no Great Spirit, either; that he knew.

  He scanned the field where the Jaguars' tents sat interspersed with the Badgers' tents. Orange flames flickered from the campfires. His gaze rested on one particular fire, where a short, squat woman hovered over a bent, long-legged heron.

  "We post a sentry and we leave in the morning," decided Claw.

  Falcon smiled. Perhaps he should choose some company on his journey back to Jaguar territory. Long-legged heron company.

  Claw caught the smile. "Does that fit with your plans, Falcon?" he asked irritably.

  Falcon shrugged easily. He knew that Claw was still jealous of him, thinking that Falcon wanted back his place as Jaguar headman. But Falcon was content to leave the Jaguar leadership to Claw. Claw had made changes, but not any

  changes that Falcon cared about. What did it matter to him that the Jaguars were edging back into their old ways of stealing women? Perhaps it was in the Jaguar blood. He would soon know, he who was contemplating stealing a woman himself. He had not looked at a woman in a long time. Not since his wife had left him for

  Falcon straightened, driving the thought of his unfaithful wife from his mind. What did he care whom she slept with? What did he care if he stole a woman from another people? What people did, did not matter. What he did, did not matter. Nothing mattered. Not now. He had been a fool ever to think otherwise.

  "Falcon?" Claw was waiting for his answer.

  It amused Falcon that Claw wanted his approval. "That fits with my plans."

  Claw turned to Hooknose. "We will leave in the morning then. It is most unfortunate for you that you have no slaves to sell, but we cannot help that. I warned you before you set out with us that we do not particularly like to take slaves."

  Hooknose smiled and bowed. "We are patient men. We will wait."

  "It is a fine virtue, patience," noted Claw absently. "When will those mothers stop their wailing? I have heard enough of that, I can tell you!"

  Indeed, the incessant wailing of the mothers of the captured women was a dirge that accompanied most Jaguar bride quests these days. Falcon was getting used to it. He chuckled to himself that Claw was irritated by it. But then, Claw still had a conscience.

  "It is time to retire for the night," murmured Blue Jay after a big yawn. "I am tired."

  "As am I, Mo" Star stopped. There he was again, the Jaguar with the falcon painted across his broad back. Only this time he did not just stroll past their fire. He prowled right up to it.

  Her eyes met his for a heartbeat. He was staring at her, his mouth quirked in an amused half-smile. Her eyes skimmed over him swiftly, gaining an impression of wide shoulders, long legs, thickly muscled arms. He stood just outside the ring of firelight and she had to squint to see him.

  Her mother coughed in warning.

  Star ducked her head. It was a relief to stare at the ground after meeting those black, black eyes. Her heart pounded and her fingers curled around the cane she held. He had passed by her camp several times this day, but at no time had he been as bold as this.

  She gave a thick, hoarse cough. Then she remembered her mother's words. In an effort to disgust him, she spat on the ground. She peeked up and saw that he was watching her. Good. She spat again and waited to see the
effect on him.

  She thought she heard a chuckle but swiftly decided he had made a sound of disgust. Burrowing into her role of old woman, she scratched one leg lazily with her cane and gave a great burp.

  Her mother turned and faced the man. "What is it?" she asked.

  "Nothing, Grandmother," he said. "I but wondered how two old women fared on such a cold night. Have you enough furs to keep you warm?"

  Star hoped her mother was not fooled by the man's polite tone. He looked anything but polite as he stepped into the light of their fire. And he was watching Star, though his words were directed at her mother.

  Star gave another burp and scratched her head and yawned. If he did not leave soon, she would have to wield her cane to drive him away, she thought desperately.

  "We do well, thank you," croaked Blue Jay. Star knew her mother was trying to sound very old so that the stranger would go away and leave them alone.

  Instead, he took several more steps toward the fire. "We leave in the morning," he told them.

  Ah, thought Star, what a relief it will be to see the last of the Jaguars!

  "Let me put another piece of wood on the fire for you, Grandmothers," said the Jaguar, and Star wanted to groan. Why would he not just go away?

  "Thank you," said Blue Jay politely.

  Star wanted to stick her cane out and trip him, but she thought better of it. She contented herself with sitting there and muttering to herself as she had once seen an old man do. Perhaps that would drive him away.

  He bent and put the wood on the fire, placing it carefully. Then he picked up another piece and placed it just as carefully. Star wanted to scream her frustration. Go away!

  Instead of leaving, however, he sat down across from her. She glared at him through narrowed eyes. Yellow and orange tongues of flame leapt between them.

  "My cousin lives with your people," said Blue Jay.

  Star wanted to tell her mother to be quiet. Talking with him would just keep him around.

  "Who is she, Grandmother?" asked the Jaguar politely. "Perhaps I know of her."

  Blue Jay shook her head. "I think she is dead," she said. "I have not heard of her for many years."

  The Jaguar was silent. Star wondered if he realized that was one reason why her people did not want to go with them. No one ever came back.

  "Her name?" he prodded when Blue Jay kept silent.

  "Fragrance," answered Blue Jay sadly. "She was very dear to me."

  Now it was the Jaguar's turn to remain silent.

  "Well?" asked Blue Jay after a while. "Have you heard of her? Do you know how she does?"

  The Jaguar shook his head and sighed. "A woman named Fragrance accompanied her husband, a Jaguar man, to his grandmother's people. It is probably she whom you ask after. But they have been gone many seasons and I know nothing more about them."

  "I worry about her," murmured Blue Jay.

  The Jaguar said nothing to that. Star did not think Jaguars worried much about other people.

  She yawned loudly and moaned, hoping he would think she was tired and go away.

  Unfortunately he did not understand the subtle noises. In fact, he made himself more comfortable and lay on his side, resting his head on one elbow. His eyes narrowed, he observed, "Yon old grandmother does not say much."

  Blue Jay cast a hasty glance at Star. "She is old," she said in pretended pity, and patted Star's shoulder. "She does little but drool these days."

  Star summoned more saliva to her mouth but could not make herself drool under the lazy gaze of those black eyes. She ducked her head.

  "Send her out into the snows, then."

  That brought her head up. She glared at him. He was staring into the fire, an amused curl to his sculpted lips.

  "Wewe do not do such things," said Blue Jay. "Do the Jaguar People?"

  He shrugged and yawned. "Sometimes. If an old one is sick or has lost her senses, then yes, my people will send her out into the snows in the coldest time of the winter. Then her food can be given to someone else."

  A shiver went through Star and she glared at him. She knew she should stay silent, let his words pass, but she was too angry. He would not be uncontested in his cruelty! "You Jaguars sound like a merciless people," she croaked, hoping she sounded ancient.

  "Or practical," he shot back. He reached lazily for another piece of wood to put on the fire.

  Star flushed. "Old ones should not be put out to die!" She wanted to rap him with her cane.

  He placed the wood on the flames and sparks flew and wood popped.

  "Yon grandmother still seems to have her wits about her," he observed to Blue Jay. "Perhaps she is not ready for the snows just yet."

  Star ground her teeth.

  "She is actually very sweet," murmured Blue Jay, staring hard in warning at Star.

  But Star shrugged off the warning. Why, that could be her mother he was talking about putting into the snows! "Perhaps," she said through gritted teeth, "certain hunters should be sent out into the cold."

  He stared at her. His lips parted to show even, white teeth. "They would not starve, then, would they? After all, they are hunters."

  "Without their weapons," snarled Star.

  "Hmmmm." He pondered that. "It might be effective." Then he smiled that white smile again.

  Star's hand gripping the cane was shaking. She had never met such an infuriating man! He was truly the worstfar worse than Gopher, her lazy suitor who did not share his meat with anyone!

  Blue Jay said nervously, "I think it is best if we old ones retire."

  "Yes, that would be wise," answered the infuriating man easily. "Old grandmothers do need their sleep. Yon grandmother seems to be choking on something," he observed solicitously.

  Star was indeed choking, choking on anger. She contented herself with gnashing her teeth and glaring at him. She waved the cane in his direction.

  "Careful with the cane, Grandmother," he warned. ''You need it for getting around."

  He got to his feet and sauntered around the fire, crossing to where Star sat.

  She felt his unwanted hand on her arm propelling her to her feet. She shook his hand away.

  "Tough old bird," he muttered under his breath. To Blue Jay he said, "I will just aid this old one to her bed." His hand clamped her arm again.

  Blue Jay fluttered nervously behind them. "I can help her"

  "She is surprisingly heavy," he observed.

  Star's cane shot out and gave him a rap to the shins.

  He staggered and almost fell, but he righted himself by leaning on her. Then he jammed his foot between her ankles and jerked one leg out.

  Arms waving, she somehow managed to maintain her balance and scuttle out of his way. Her breath whistled in and out in her rage. How extremely rude this man was! Never had she encountered such a creature in all her life!

  "There, there, old Grandmother," he crooned. "Let me help you into your tent."

  Blue Jay darted here and there, behind them, now ahead of them, trying to hasten Star's entrance into the tent.

  "Let me," implored Blue Jay. "I can help her now."

  "Only a little farther," he murmured. "A little farther. There. Very good, Grandmother."

  Star stood glaring at the tent flap, so angry she did not know what she was doing.

  Blue Jay gave her a gentle push. "Go in, go in," she murmured. "Please, just go in."

  Drawing in a lungful of air, Star spun around to face the Jaguar. "Thank you for your help," she gritted.

  His white grin flashed in the moonlight. "I am honored to be able to help an old grandmother." He chuckled. "Ah, your cane. You forgot your cane." His eyes held hers as he handed the old spear to her, butt end first.

  She snatched it out of his hand, whirled, and disappeared into the safety of the tent.

  Blue Jay followed and carefully closed the tent flap.

  Behind them, Star heard infuriating laughter as the Jaguar walked away into the night.

  Chapter Five />
  "The Badger men come," whispered the Jaguar sentry.

  Falcon scrambled from his bedskins and strapped on his belt with the dangling obsidian knives. He grabbed up his spear.

  "They are sneaking through the forest, thinking to surprise us," murmured the sentry before moving on to warn the next Jaguar. "Eight of them."

  Falcon ducked out of the tent and saw the shadows of his men moving in the eerie pale light of dawn. Mist swirled from the direction of the river, but in the trees it was quiet and dark. Claw ran up to him and gestured at the forest from whence the attack was expected. Six other Jaguar men swiftly joined them. They held a hasty, whispered conference; then Falcon and the others ran to the forest's edge and slipped silently between the trees.

  All was quiet in the Badger tents. The fires had burned low, and now and then a soft snore could be heard. Once a baby cried, then swiftly hushed.

  Suddenly screaming and yelling erupted from the woods as the Badger men burst from the trees and raced to the Jaguar tents to kill the sleeping invaders. But all they found were empty tents. And then they were swiftly encircled as the Jaguars ran up, sharp spears ready to pierce Badger flesh. The Badgers, caught by surprise, tried to rush the invaders, but they were too few in number to fight off the overwhelming Jaguars. They were quickly subdued, for a fight with spears and knives meant certain injury and possibly death for all eight of them, and they knew it. Reluctantly, they threw their spears onto the ground to signify their surrender.

  The fight was over just as the sun rose to herald a new day. Eight strong young Badger men were tied up.

  The slave catchers were most pleased. "Now we have slaves!" cried Hooknose jubilantly as he and Red Jaw ran in happy circles around the captured men. "Strong slaves for the Fish Eaters!"