Cageaga took out his own pipe and helped himself to a fill of tobacco. Lighting up, he passed the pipe to Hawkwood. Hawkwood had never taken to the habit, but accepted the pipe as it would have been discourteous to decline. Steeling himself, he took a puff, circulated the smoke inside his mouth for what he considered an appropriate amount of time, and exhaled, trying not to let his eyes water, then returned the pipe to Cageaga.

As he watched the other three puffing contentedly, he found it hard not to compare the unlikely scene before him with a tableau from any of the London clubs lining Pall Mall, where pillars of the aristocracy would round off their dinners in a fug of tobacco smoke, a glass of port within convenient reach. The only constituents missing here, he decided, were the port, the armchairs and evening wear. Though he knew that while Lawrence was enjoying his pipe as a complement to the stew, Tewanias and Cageaga were engaged in a much older ritual. Tobacco was considered to be a gift from the Creator. The exhaled smoke carried one’s thoughts and prayers to heaven. More significantly, no man was without his pipe when important matters were to be discussed.

Timing was everything.

“We must talk.” For Lawrence’s benefit, Hawkwood spoke in English. He addressed Tewanias. “The Yankees are not seeking to attack the Kanien’kehá:ka.”

Tewanias’s head came up. He wafted tobacco smoke away from his face. “You know this, how?”

“We were there. We have heard their words. We have seen their guns. They are gathering to attack the English, across the border in Canada. That is why they are at Senhahlone. That is why the Oneida were chasing us – not just because we killed the Yankee soldiers, but to stop us reaching the border. Now, Lawrence and I must warn the soldiers of the Great King that the Yankees are sending troops to attack them. We need your help.”

“Our help?” Cageaga said, taking his pipe from his mouth. “Is this what Ayonhwathah foretold? That you would return to ask our help to warn the English? This seems a very strange reason. I do not think that is why you are here.”

“I do not think that either,” Hawkwood said. “I think I am here to warn the Kanien’kehá:ka, too.”

It was Tewanias’s turn to frown. “You said the Yan-kees were not seeking to attack us.”

“I believe that to be true. But if the Yankees do cross the border and the English are defeated, then all Kanien’kehá:ka are in danger.”

“How are we in danger?” Cageaga demanded. “It is not our war.”

“Not yet. But it will become your war. The same way white men’s wars that have gone before became your wars.”

“That is—” Cageaga began.

Tewanias held up a hand. “Let him speak.”