Page 87 of The Last Warrior

“Yes.”

“And did you say anything back to him?”

“I did. I said it was my place to stay here with my husband, and that I belonged here, and I would always belong here. I am afraid what I said angered him.”

Black Lion nodded, and though he was pleased she desired to stay with him, he also knew he could not allow her to remain here if this truly were a sacred dream. To hold a vision of the Thunderer was the most sacred of all dreams, but it also carried the most penalties. Sudden death was one of them.

After due consideration, he said, “I am honored you would seek to remain here with me, and also, I am honored you would tell this to the Thunder Being.”

“Yes. In truth, it came as a surprise to me too.”

“And yet, I would urge you to do as the Thunderer has said. Though I am not a medicine man, I do know that to dream of the Thunderer is filled with danger.”

She frowned. “Why do you say this to me?”

“Because it is true.”

“Is it? I’m not certain I believe it to be true. Besides, perhaps it was not really a dream.”

“Not a dream?”

“What I mean to say is the dream was so real that when I awoke, I thought he had truly been there. I know it’s nonsense, but⁠—”

“All things are possible,” interrupted Black Lion. “You may have met him in this world—perhaps you met spirit to spirit.”

“Perhaps. But I don’t believe in such things.”

“You do not have to believe for such occurrences to happen. Therefore, I think it wise not to take chances. You should leave this country, as he told you to do. If you do not, this dream could cause your death. You could be struck down by lightning.”

She looked as though the thought might have impressed itself upon her, because she remained silent for several moments. “Even if I did believe, I cannot leave here. I told him I would not, therefore I cannot.”

“But—”

“Please understand, it is not that I am being fearless or obstinate. It is merely the truth: I cannot go.”

“You must⁠—”

“Shhh. There is more. He means to kill you, he told me so. And for some reason I cannot fathom, he is afraid of me.”

Black Lion remained silent. What could he say, when words failed him? The Thunderer? Afraid of her?

“Besides,” she continued, “let’s pretend for a moment you are right and the Thunderer does exist. I doubt seriously he is demanding I leave here for my own good. He was greatly antagonistic to me, and I fear it would be unwise of me to follow the orders of someone with such animosity.”

Black Lion shook his head. “But⁠—”

“There’s also something else. He said I was a danger to him. How can I be a danger to him, unless… While you were gone, I thought much about this, and I believe my danger to him is that somehow I might be able to help you free your people. And if this is so, how could I, in all conscience, leave?”

Black Lion frowned, but he remained silent. In truth, he was afraid to speak, for he feared his voice might fail him. Did she realize what she was saying? Did she know she was aligning herself with him, with his people, and that to do so was dangerous?

After a time, he said, “It is good of you to think of others, but they are not your people. And even if they were, you are not bound to help them.”

“Am I not? Are you not my friend? Are you not my husband? Have you not helped me when no one else could or would? If I were to leave, would it not be an act of cowardice? I would be deserting someone in a time of need, someone who has shown me nothing but kindness.”

He swallowed, but otherwise he remained silent.

“No,” she went on to say, “I will stay. I must stay. For you, for Irena, for my child.”

His voice continued to plague him, but he was finally able to say, “Think wisely, my wife. It is for your child that I think you must go.”