Page 42 of Wind Rider

“You did not offend. Look, and look closely. I am a God. I know your people have never seen a living God before now, and I would have you know exactly how to answer their questions and satisfy their curiosity.”

“You—you remind me of a stag,” she blurted, then bit her lip, wishing her mouth had shut up.

But the God appeared pleased. He nodded, His great, shaggy mane swaying around His shoulders. “When this body was mortal, before I’d fully claimed it, it was joined with a mighty stag—a king of the forest. That stag lives on within me.”

“And your men—have they all joined with stags, too?”

“No. The king of the forest was meant only for a God. My men have joined with many different forest animals. Observe them, Storyteller, and you will easily see which ones.

“And now I have a question for you. Where are the Plains of the Wind Riders?”

His question surprised Ralina, but she saw no reason to withhold this information from the God. “They are far to the east.”

“How would you get there from here?” Death asked.

“Well, I wouldn’t want to get there. It’d be a long, dangerous journey, and Wind Riders don’t allow just anyone to settle on the Tallgrass Prairie, so even if I survived the trip there would be no guarantee I would survive the Wind Riders’ scrutiny.”

“Let us say that you believed you would survive the trip and be allowed to settle on the prairie. How would you get there?”

Ralina moved her shoulders, hoping beyond hope that Death was asking because He and His disgusting people were considering leaving—and with luck take Thaddeus and his followers with them. So, she thought carefully about her answer before speaking.

“I’m not an expert, but I do know stories that tell how people made the trip, though there aren’t many of such stories. Few return from the Plains. To reach Wind Rider territory you must travel up the Umbria River to Lost Lake. The lake must be crossed, and from there you must find a way through the Rock Mountains. The Plains of the Wind Riders begin on the east side of the mountains.”

“What are Wind Riders?” Death asked.

“They’re called ‘equestrians’—riders of horses.” When she saw His blank look she continued to explain. “Horses—equines—they’re hooved animals that are bigger than stags and can be ridden. They’re swift and magnificent and dangerous.”

“Have you ever seen one?”

“No. I’ve only seen carvings and drawings,” she said.

“I would like to hear any stories you know of the journey to the Plains, and of the Wind Riders themselves.”

“Yes, my Lord,” she said, bowing nervously. “Now, my Lord?”

“No, not tonight, but soon. I also want you to create stories about me. So, remain vigilant and observant. When I am settled into this new forest dwelling I will call for you often and ask for you to tell me the stories of journeys to the Plains, of the Wind Riders, and, most importantly, of me leading my people to victory and prosperity. Can you do that for me, Storyteller?”

Ralina knew she had absolutely no choice. “Yes, my Lord.” He began to turn His back to her dismissively, and she swallowed her fear and spoke up. “My Lord, might I please be allowed to go through our makeshift infirmary and collect the salves and bandages left behind? Manyof my people are wounded. And the stew, my Lord, it is made from tainted meat. My people will sicken again if they eat it. Could our Hunters be allowed to bring game to us that is not poisoned?”

Death met her gaze, and Ralina felt as if His dark eyes were a bottomless well she would fall into and drown in should she look too long. “You say that they are your people—they are not. All of this—” Death flung out His arms in a wide circle, taking in the whole Tribe of the Trees. “Allof this is now mine—my forest, my city, my Tribe. Yes, you may collect the supplies from the infirmary. The Hunters who are allied with Thaddeus may do as they wish. If they desire to provide game for you, then I will not dissuade them. But know this—there is a cure for the sloughing disease. I discovered it, and that cure makes those taking it stronger, faster,morethan they were before.”

Yeah, it also makes them mutate into something that isn’t human or animal,she thought silently. Aloud she said, “Thank you, my Lord, but many of us would rather avoid getting sick again.”

Death shrugged. “That is your mistake.” Then His sharp gaze caught hers. “You say that you would rather avoid getting sickagain.Some of you were ill and then were cured?”

Ralina bit her cheek and nodded, realizing that she had probably said too much.

“How? Who cured the skin-sloughing disease?” Death demanded.

Mari wasn’t part of the Tribe, but Ralina appreciated what she’d done for them, and she had always respected Sol and his son, Nik, and expected Nik to be Sun Priest after his father. She definitely didn’t want to cause Mari and Nik problems, but they were gone, and she was here—suffering Tribesmen and women were here. So, she drew a deep breath and then reluctantly answered the God.

“It was a young woman named Mari. She’s part Tribe, part Scr—um, I mean Earth Walker, and she’s a Healer. She cured the disease, but I’m sure if we eat tainted meat we’ll get sick again.”

“Indeed, I’m sure you will. And this Mari, how did she cure you?”

Ralina hated every word she spoke, and as she gave the God the information He sought she silently sent a prayer up to the sun asking that Mari’s path be easy and swift, and that she hasten far, far away from here.

“Mari drew down power from the moon and cured us with it. I do not know how she did it—it’s some kind of Earth Walker magick.”