Captive Spirit Read Online Free PDF Page A

in the river, away from the bustle of the ceremony preparations, sounded wonderful. And impossible. I envied Honovi. What I wouldn’t have given to switch places with him for one sun.
    My deerskin clung to my skin from all of the trips from our house to the Great House, and the sun still hung low in the sky. “Would you tell him I wanted to talk to him? When you see him? It’s important.”
    Sinopa’s eyebrow arched. “Important?”
    My shoulders shrugged as I feigned nonchalance. “Yes, you know. I wanted to talk to him about the game.”
    Sinopa chuckled then shook his head like he still couldn’t believe how much I loved the game. “Sure, little sister,” he said. “I’ll tell him.” And then Sinopa ducked his head under the dark opening of his family’s pit house and disappeared.
    Ever since the announcement of Sinopa’s marriage to Chenoa, Sinopa began calling me sister . I didn’t mind it, especially since he was as anxious to marry Chenoa as she to marry him. As far as I was concerned, they deserved each other. I’d never known two people who babbled so incessantly about marriage.
    Alone in the courtyard, my eyes darted between the houses. All of the women were busy cooking outside the Great House, even Chenoa. Their nervous chatter filled the air. None of the men were in the fields, especially on a Rain Ceremony day. Most still congregated at ball court, especially the men from the White Ant Clan.
    With all of the commotion, I decided that it was the perfect time to slip away and take a break. It was too tempting. And I’d return before anyone noticed.
    Quietly, I hid the wine jar inside the doorway to our pit house. My breathing quickened as I started along the sandy shortcut to the river. I continued to glance over my shoulder until I reached the palo verde and cottonwood trees that hid me from any prying eyes. Underneath the trees, I removed the leather straps from my sandals and carried them in my hands.
    My shoulders loosened the further I walked from the village and if Hunab Ku would have blessed me with wings, I’m certain that I could have flown to the river. I inhaled greedy gulps of the warm air as I ran, smiling when the air turned cooler the closer I got to the river.
    When I reached the first jagged red boulder that lined the river, the slow and steady gurgle from the water drowned out all of the voices from the village. I spotted Honovi’s sandals lying in the sand near the river’s edge and a grin immediately stretched across my face. His deerskins would be close by.
    Perfect .
    I crept low along the sage brush that lined the top of the river, blending against the green and grey leaves, till I could touch Honovi’s sandals. The leather straps were still knotted, as if he couldn’t rip them off his feet fast enough before diving from the boulder into the cool water. And who would blame him. But where was he?
    Squinting against the sun, I peeked over the sage for a better look. The water was smooth as a rabbit’s tail, barely a ripple. Honovi was known to be able to hold his breath for extraordinary long periods. He could be underwater. But if he was swimming below the surface, surely there would be bubbles and I would find him easily.
    Not a single bubble interrupted the water’s surface.
    My jaw tightened and I instinctively straightened. The river was too calm.
    I walked around the sage brush and proceeded down to the edge, my eyes darting up and down the river. “Honovi?” I said. The water rumbled louder closer to the edge and my feet sank into the wet sand, pushing up mushy globs between my toes. “Honovi?” I yelled, my eyes focused on the water. “Where are you?” The trees towering over the river’s banks didn’t move. Not even the doves fluttered.
    Strange.
    “Honovi!” I yelled again, louder.
    And then warm fingers curled over my right shoulder.
    “Miss me?” said a voice.
    I spun around, eyes wide, and almost fell backwards. “Honovi!” I screamed at him.