"Is that a threat?"
Coyote scoffed. "Why would I threaten the man who stood by and allowed my torture? I ask you?"
"I didn't know what he was doing to you."
"You didn't bother to find out, did you?"
Shame filled Buffalo's eyes. "I never dreamed he'd do something like that. It wasn't really him, you know. Getting Grizzly out of him almost cost the First Guardian his life."
"How commendable of you to keep defending him. How sweet."
Buffalo went ramrod stiff at the insult. "What are you implying?"
"Nothing. I merely find it odd that you have always been so quick to defend a mentally defective retard when no one else will. Tell me honestly, don't you get tired of kissing his ass all the time?"
Buffalo took a step toward him, then stopped. "You're not going to goad me into a fight. So you might as well stop this now. I protect him because I owe him a debt that cannot be repaid. My sister and mother were on the brink of starvation until he began bringing us meat. I wouldn't have them now but for Makah'Alay, and for that charity, he will always have my loyalty."
"How nice for my brother. It's a shame your loyalty goes no further."
"How do you mean?"
Coyote moved to stand just before him. He raked a condemning sneer down the length of Buffalo's body. "You know exactly what I mean. I saw you earlier today."
Buffalo's face blanched at the last five words.
"Oh yeah ... I see the guilt in your eyes. You have stolen the affections of my promised bride."
"I stole nothing."
Coyote snorted. "Bullshit! That was why you didn't help me when Makah'Alay tortured me. You were hoping I'd die so that you could have her and a clear conscience."
"That's not true."
"Isn't it?"
Buffalo shook his head. "I never meant to love her. I didn't. Any more than she meant to love me. But when you went missing, Butterfly refused to leave until she knew you were safe. She worried herself sick over you. For hours on end, she'd walk the halls, weeping and begging the spirits to bring you safely home."
He curled his lip at Buffalo. "Yes." His voice dripped with sarcasm. "I saw her concern this afternoon when she threw herself against you with a passion she's never shown me."
"It's not like that, Coyote. Neither of us meant to hurt you. She cried herself sick every single day. I only came here in your absence to reassure her that you were still alive and that you'd be back home soon. We were very circumspect and respectful of you. Always."
Coyote backhanded him. "Liar!"
He wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand, then swiped at it with his tongue. "It's not a lie. It's just that the more time we spent together, the more we realized that we couldn't live without each other. I began to live only for the seconds when I'd be able to see her face again."
"What do you think got me through a year of torture?" Coyote ground through clenched teeth. "Huh? It was knowing that she'd be waiting here when I returned. She was the only thing I hung on to. And you took her from me. Damn you! Damn you!"
"You've every right to be angry, but..." Buffalo's voice broke off into a sharp gasp. He staggered back to see the blood spreading over his tunic. Pressing his hands to the wound, he gaped at Coyote, who plunged the knife in again and again in a furious rage that descended so rapidly, Buffalo had no chance to defend himself.
Yet somehow, he managed to remain standing as he confronted his killer. "I never touched her. She never betrayed you. We never even kissed."
"I saw you hold her!"
Buffalo staggered, then caught himself. "A hug. Nothing more. We were saying good-bye so that she could marry you on the morrow. We'd already relegated ourselves to living apart. We both intended to honor her vows to you." He sank down to his knees. "Your heart is so evil, Coyote, that you have never been able to be happy. Even though you were always the favored son, you couldn't allow Makah'Alay to have even a tiny bit of your father's affection or any note of praise from anyone."
"Shut up!" Coyote shouted as he kicked Buffalo in the ribs. "Die already, you worthless bastard!"
But Buffalo had been right. She saw the images now of them as boys. Anytime someone attempted to praise Ren, Coyote would insert himself so that their compliment would go to him instead.