Savage Betrayal Read Online Free

down. “This time we’ll use cunning as well as weapons to bring the Hesquiat worms down. They’ll be like the dirt beneath our feet when we’re done with them.”
    Shouting and stamping interrupted him once more. “Their names will be spat upon by our neighbors up and down the coast. Our friends will have nothing but contempt for the name ‘Hesquiat;’ for the name ‘Thunder Maker;’ for the name ‘Feast Giver.’ Hah! The only feast he’ll give will be for the dogs.” Gruff laughter greeted his sally.
    “We’ll take their women and children as slaves, the only status a Hesquiat deserves. We’ll laugh at their shame!”
    This time the shouts were interspersed with eager whoops. Time to calm them down and tell them my plans, he thought. “No longer need we torment ourselves over the treachery of the Hesquiat killers. No longer need we fear another brutal slaughter like the one that took my father’s life.”
    Hoarse murmurings and low rumblings could be heard as the warriors remembered the humiliation inflicted from the vicious Hesquiat raid. Fighting Wolf spoke in a calm, deadly voice now. “They killed our war chief, the greatest Ahousat war chief we’ve ever had. And why? Merely because we killed one of their chiefs. An insignificant chief, at that! No, we cannot allow our beloved chief’s death to go unavenged!” Thoroughly angry now, the men were ready to kill every Hesquiat still alive.
    “Listen closely, men. I want these plans completely understood. This is what we’re going to do…” and he smiled to himself as his warriors leaned closer to hear his long thought-out plans of revenge.
    * * * *
    “So you’re planning a wedding with the Hesquiats?” began Birdwhistle conversationally as the warriors gradually dispersed from the meeting.
    Fighting Wolf looked at him. Since childhood the two cousins had clashed, competing over everything from the number of salmon caught to the number of enemy killed. As he sauntered through the doorway of the longhouse into the bright sunlight, Fighting Wolf answered casually, “You heard the plans, cousin. Any objections should have been raised at the meeting.”
    Fighting Wolf began walking toward the beach. Falling into step with him, Birdwhistle responded, “Oh, I’ve no objections.” As they walked along, he toyed with the sea-otter fur on his kutsack, the cedar robe he wore. “I'm just wondering what this woman, Sarita, looks like.”
    Fighting Wolf shrugged. “What does it matter? That’s not my concern. All I care about is that her father agreed to the wedding.”
    “Did you get to see her?”
    Fighting Wolf shook his head. “No. The marriage negotiations were carried out between my messenger and his. I sent a relative to ask Thunder Maker for his daughter. My instruction to my messenger was to convince the Hesquiats that peace would come from such an alliance. Thunder Maker sent back his answer, by his own messenger.”
    “Sounds like you two don’t trust each other.” Seeing his companion’s sardonic look, Birdwhistle added hastily, “But at least Thunder Maker agreed to the marriage.”
    “All too readily, I thought.”
    “How so?”
    “He seemed most anxious to give her away. He didn’t reject my offer the usual two or three times before accepting. Any respectable father would have said ‘no’ the first time I asked. But not Thunder Maker. He agreed to the marriage on the first request. He didn’t even demand any expensive gifts for the bride. Practically shoved her at me,” said Fighting Wolf.
    “Ho, ho, cousin,” laughed Birdwhistle, “It sounds like she’s someone he wants to be rid of.” His eyes twinkled. How amusing to see the proud Fighting Wolf stuck with a flawed bride. “Probably ill-tempered.”
    “Or ugly,” added Fighting Wolf with disgust.
    “Or has already been married two or three times. You know how some upper-class fathers marry their daughters off every few years to a new husband. Each time it’s to