"Rock River was beautiful country. I loved my towns, my cornfields and the home of my people. I fought for them."
—Black Hawk
BOOK 1
1825
Moon of Ice
January
1
The Lodge of the Turtle
The black bearskin, softened by countless wearings, clasped Gray Cloud's arms and shoulders, protecting his body from the cold that cut like knives into his cheeks and forehead. The upper half of the bear's skull covered his head and weighed heavily on it, as heavily as the awful fear of the vision quest weighed on his spirit.