I followed Sagaddio. “There is another concern I have just thought of.”

He stopped, giving me a playful nudge. “Only one?”

“Yes, one.”

He led me to his grandmother’s apartment, where I smelled fry bread. His grandmother smiled broadly as I sat down.

Chuck new book, A Storm Coming, won a Chaucer award, from Chanticleer Book Reviews. A retired educator, speaker, blogger, and pastor, he shares on @Chuck.Lizzy with the love of his life, Lizzy. Chuck is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolinia.

Sagaddio took a piece of frybread and began to eat. He offered a piece to me. I refused. My mind raced too fast to stop for food.

“I am not sure my aunt will see the urgency of the coming fight, until it is too late.”

Sagaddio shrugged and continued to eat.

“We need a plan to help her make this decision.”

“We?” He stopped and stared.

“Yes, you and me, I cannot do this alone.”

He crossed his arms. “What are you thinking?”

“We need to force a decision. Almost every day, the English do something that would cause us to take up arms, if it were a neighboring tribe. Yet, my aunt and King Blount are quick to look the other way with the English.”

“True. Even so, how can you change that?”

“If someone, maybe Core Tom, took action in response, to provoke the anger of the English, perhaps they would attack… taking the decision away from my aunt and King Blount.”

“I have wondered myself why Core Tom is waiting.”

“He is waiting for us to come alongside him. So, you and I will provide Core Tom the encouragement that he needs.”

“Do you mean lie?”

“Well, not exactly a lie. Let me think.” I picked up a piece of fry bread. We ate in silence, pondering the next step. After several moments, I broke the silence. “I have an idea.” Words came spilling out, like water from a rushing stream. “You know that there are many young warriors with the same opinion as you and me.”

I did not let Sagaddio respond. “What if I sent you to Core Tom with a message saying that King Blount will soon be forced to join in the fight against the English? It would not be a lie.”

“Not exactly be true either.”

“It would be barely stretching the truth. Besides, you will say the message comes from me, placing any blame at my feet.”

“It seems risky. I should say, no…” Sagaddio exhaled and shook his head. “except, I have never been able to refuse you. If you are sure, I will go.”

I could feel a smile growing on my face. “Yes… I am sure. Let me meet John, afterwards we will talk more.”

I left Sagaddio and met Annwaraogon as she hastened from her longhouse.

“I was looking for you. He is here, waiting in the council house.”

My stomach fluttered. “Give me a moment to prepare and I will go with you.”

Annwaraogon waited at the door. When I returned, she touched the beaded tiara I had placed over my long-braided hair, giving her approval. She smiled, and we walked to welcome our guest.

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