Free It Dreams in Me by Kathleen O’Neal Gear Page A

veins. She said, “Stop talking.”
    They had loved each other for fifteen winters; he knew her body as well as his own. She locked her legs around his back so that he could force himself deeper. He kept saying, “I love you. I love you, Sora.”
    When their movements became feverish, she clenched her inner muscles, holding him tight while he lunged against her. Her entire body felt as though it were on fire. The blaze built until she cried out and Flint sagged atop her, panting, “Oh, gods, gods, I need you.”
    A short distance away, she heard Strongheart’s footsteps.
    They were headed away, up the shoreline to the north.
    Flint’s eyes glittered as he watched him.

12

    SEA GRASS HOBBLED ACROSS THE FLOOR OF THE COUNCIL chamber in the High Matron’s House with her faithful guards flanking her. Everyone else was already here, which surprised her. Had Wink asked the other matrons to arrive before Sea Grass, as a subtle way to slight her?
    Wink stood in the far corner, speaking with Rockfish. Both had dressed regally, Wink in an azure-colored dress covered with elk ivories, and Rockfish in a knee-length white shirt with black diamonds woven into the hem and around the collar.
    Sea Grass’ eyes narrowed at the sight of Rockfish. The old gray-haired man had seen more than sixty winters. He had a triangular face with large dark eyes. Most of his muscles had evaporated, leaving loose flaps of skin where bulges had once been. His marriage to Sora had been one of convenience, an alliance of political advantage. They’d married three winters ago, after Flint had set Sora’s belongings outside the door and
headed home to Oak Leaf Village. The divorce had disgraced Sora. Not only that, she’d loved Flint. She’d made a fool of herself, running after him, begging him to return. It had embarrassed the entire Shadow Rock Clan, much to Water Hickory Clan’s delight. As the matron of Oak Leaf Village, Sea Grass had thrown a celebration for Flint when he’d arrived home, and had begun working with his mother to find Flint a new wife. White Fawn was perfect for him: beautiful, clever, and already a skilled warrior … .
    She grunted as she lowered herself to the south bench and straightened her lavender dress. The torches on the walls cast fluttering light over the sacred masks, making the eyeholes seem alive. Sea Grass silently offered a prayer to the gods, begging them to strike Wink down and allow Water Hickory Clan to rule the nation, as was their due for the men and women they’d lost trying to protect it.
    Wigeon glanced at Sea Grass, then ducked her head and twisted her hands in her lap.
    Sea Grass’ brows lifted. As she looked around, she noticed that Chief Long Fin seemed to be concentrating on the numerous shell rings that adorned his fingers, while Birch stared at Sea Grass with her wrinkled mouth pursed.
    “If it won’t trouble you, Birch,” Sea Grass said, “I’d like to know why your mouth is screwed up like that.”
    “It wouldn’t trouble me to tell you, either, if the high matron hadn’t ordered me to keep my tongue to myself today.”
    “Well, that was a waste of breath on Wink’s part. When have you ever kept your tongue from waggling?”
    Birch started to say something nasty, but Wink hurried across the floor to intervene, saying, “Matrons, let’s not waste our strength arguing when we have more important things to consider.”

    She stopped in front of the eastern bench and extended a hand to Rockfish. “Chieftess Sora’s husband, Rockfish, requested this meeting, so I yield to him.” She sat down beside Long Fin, and the elk ivories on her dress clicked musically.
    Rockfish folded his arms across his chest. “Matrons, first let me say that my winters in the Black Falcon Nation have been some of the happiest of my life. I hope that my abilities as a Trader have helped the nation, and that the three hundred warriors my people rallied to help defend Blackbird Town have kept more of your young