Chapter Eleven
“Never before has there been such a belt,” Conawago said. There was wonder in his voice, mixed with confusion. They had made camp at the water’s edge after their first day of travel from Onondaga Castle, and as Kass, Sagatchie, and Ishmael readied their camp for the night, the old Nipmuc sat at the fire gazing at a dark belt of beads in his hands.
They had been summoned into the Council lodge after Duncan had finished examining the body of Black Fish. “This is not a time for great war between the forest tribes,” Atotarho had declared. “But it is a time for little war between certain men,” he concluded, and he gripped both Duncan and Conawago on the shoulder while murmuring a prayer. He took the wampum belt from Tushcona and extended it in both hands to them. “We know you w
