Warlord

  I reached for a drink. “I don’t like this, Amyu. The Council is hearing truths, and I’m not permitted to be there or know what is being said. That is not right.”

  She paused, and then spoke. “You are of Xy. It is a matter of the Plains, to decide if you will become one of us, with the status of a warprize. These debates that the Council holds are open and free, and you being there might affect the truths of those that speak.” She shrugged slightly. “You may hold some truths against the speakers, even.”

  “I know what a token means.”

  “Even those of the Plains sometimes hold truths against the speaker, even after the token is returned,” Amyu chided me. “We are not all perfect, Xylara.”

  I nodded ruefully. “Amyu, how is Eace? Can I see her?”

  Amyu’s face lit up. “She does very well. Reness is watching her closely, and has promised to summon you if need be.” She drew herself up, and placed a hand on her dagger hilt. “I thank you, Xylara, for the life of my friend. Eace and I were raised together, and she is dear to me. I owe you a debt.”

  I suppressed any smile. This was no child, and she was very serious. “No.” I shook my head. “No debt. I swore an oath to heal all that came to me, Amyu. Thank you for letting me help her.”

  Amyu inclined her head, and left me to my kavage.

  “Welcome to my tent, Xylara, Daughter of Xy. I am Liam of the Deer. May I offer you kavage?”

  I stepped further into his tent, taking a moment to let my eyes adjust before speaking. The tent was warmed with two braziers, their coals glowing softly in the darkness. “It seems only fair to warn you that Keir of the Cat is my chosen Warlord. You waste your time courting me.”

  A soft chuckle came from the shadows. “Well, that is fair enough. I should tell you that I’ve no real interest in courting you.”

  Out of the darkness stepped a tall man, with long blond hair, silver mixed with the gold. His eyes were hazel, his smile warm. But it was the piercings of his left ear that reassured me even more. Liam of the Deer was bonded. I sighed with relief as he continued to speak.

  “But I am interested in Keir, and his people, and his ideas. If we talk, you and I, and exchange knowledge, how can that be a waste?” Liam gestured to a platform full of pillows, much like the arrangement I’d seen in Simus’s tent. “Let us eat and talk in comfort.”

  I sat on one of the fattest pillows, and Liam reclined on some others. He clapped his hands, and warriors entered with kavage, and bowls of gurt.

  “We had the good fortune to hunt ehat on our way to the Heart,” Liam offered. “Oh, not four, as I have heard Keir did, but enough that I can offer you roast ehat for our meal.” He leaned back with his mug. “Would you tell me of that hunt?”

  Happily, I recounted the details and told him of what I’d seen. He grunted when I spoke of Iften missing his throw, but made no other comment. When I mentioned kissing Keir, even though he reeked of the musk, Liam laughed. “A strong bond, indeed, Xylara.”

  “Please call me ‘Lara’,” I asked. “Xylara is my formal name, but I prefer ‘Lara’.”

  “You honor me.” Liam put his kavage down. “Is it true, Lara, that you can raise the dead?”

  “No.” I shook my head and glared at him. “Is this because of what happened with the baby?”

  “The word of the winds is that you brought the babe back from the snows,” Liam explained. “That you did that because the babe was Xyian, while all the other dead were of the Plains.”

  The kavage in my stomach turned sour in an instant. I sat there horrified, and stared at him.

  “I would not offend, Lara. But you need to know what is said.”

  “I would never—” My voice cracked as I choked on my words. “If I had the power, Liam, I’d use it for the good of both our peoples. The oaths that I have taken as a healer demand that. But I do not,” my voice cracked at the very idea. “I cannot raise the dead.”

  Liam stared at me intently. “The babe—”

  “That the babe revived was the blessing of the Goddess, or the elements.” I put my mug down and ran my fingers through my hair. “I was tired, we were all exhausted, Liam. I’m not even sure that the babe had really stopped breathing.” I shrugged. “But I make no claim to be so powerful.”

  “I believe you, Lara.” Liam nodded. “So, among your people, healing is freely offered? To any?”

  Grateful for the change of topic, I started to explain our ways. Liam listened intently, asking a few questions, but he clearly was having problems understanding some of the Xyian concepts. Money being one of the them.

  “What would be the purpose?” he asked. “I cannot eat your ‘coin’, cannot wear it, or use it to hunt food. So why would I take ‘coins’ in exchange for anything? Far better to trade and barter, than to ‘pay’.”

  I was trying to make an argument, when there was a cough outside. “Ah, the meat is ready.” Liam sat up straighter on his pillow. “And all this talk has my stomach growling.”

  I laughed, as the warriors approached with meat and flat bread. There were grains, too, but I recognized the small red flakes in their midst, and took careful bites.

  We talked as we ate, and I realized that I was enjoying myself. Liam had seen warriors playing chess, and started to pepper me with questions about the rules. As the dishes were removed, nothing would satisfy him but that we play a game. “I know your memory is not like ours,” he spoke eagerly as he pulled a wooden box out from under the platform. “So I bartered for this.”

  He pulled out the first piece with a flourish and pressed it into my hand. I studied it as he set the rest out on the board. The carving was amazing. It was a fierce warrior of the Plains on a galloping horse, poised to fling a lance at his opponent. But it was plain wood, with no color distinction.

  Then I glanced at the board and realized that it wouldn’t be a problem telling the pieces apart. One side was the Firelanders, clearly, lean and fierce warriors of both sexes, armed to the teeth. The others were all chubby city-dwellers, unarmored, with no weapons, cowering in fear of their attackers. Even the castles looked afraid somehow.

  I arched an eyebrow at Liam, and he had the grace to look embarrassed. “The set is well carved,” he offered as if in apology.

  I chuckled. “Well, let’s just see how you fare against me, Warlord.”

  The first game went swiftly, with myself as the winner. Thankfully, Liam hadn’t learned all the strategies as of yet. I checkmated him, and then settled back with my fresh kavage as he studied the board, trying to find his mistake.

  The warrior serving us had entered with a plate of small buns. “Are those bread tarts?” I asked, reaching for one.

  “They are, Warprize.” The warrior gave me a quick smile, putting the plate next to me. “You should have moved your ehat sooner,” he chided Liam in a soft voice. “She couldn’t use her mounted warrior then.”

  Liam grunted, “Go away.”

  I bit into the bun, and there was a familiar explosion of spice in my mouth. Spicy, yet sweet. The taste took me back to the first time I’d seen a pattern dance, when Marcus had been so proud of his treat. “This is so good!”

  Liam looked up, and reached for one. “They are one of my favorites.”

  The warrior smiled at me. “I was taught to cook them by a master.”

  Liam’s face stilled as the warrior bowed and left us.

  “He’s right, you know.” I nodded to the board. “You should have moved your ehat to block me.”

  The odd expression on Liam’s face was still there. He picked up the ehat, and ran his thumb over the detailed carving. He seemed distracted somehow.

  “Another game?” I reached out to set the pieces in their positions.

  Liam didn’t look up. Instead he kept his gaze on the ehat and cleared his throat. “Lara? How does Marcus?”

  His tone was offhand, as if it didn’t really matter, but something gave me pause. “You know Marcus?”

  He looked up then, tho
se hazel eyes flooded with pain. I drew a breath, as he turned away, and I could clearly see the bonded piercings, the wire running along the outside of the ear, the beads and small trinkets woven within.

  I sat my mug down, dazed.

  Isdra nodded, then took a deep breath. “Lara, Marcus was bonded.”

  “Really?” I jerked my head around, to spot Marcus behind us. His chin was on his chest, and he appeared to be sleeping in the saddle as his horse walked along. “But his ear—” I stopped myself. His left ear had been burned away in the accident that left him scarred.

  Isdra nodded again. “Aye, his ear spiral melted away with his flesh. I do not know the details, Lara.”

  “Oh, Goddess. Was she killed, Isdra?”

  Isdra shook her head. “I will say no more, Lara. For lack of knowledge, and for courtesy.”

  “Goddess,” I breathed out. “You are Marcus’s bonded.”

  Liam jerked his head in a nod, but didn’t look at me.

  I had to remind myself to breathe. And breathe again. Marcus was bonded. Marcus was bonded to a …

  My world seemed to shift around me, as if all of my assumptions of the world were wrong. I breathed again, and remembered to speak. My voice sounded like it was coming from a long way away. “He is well, when last I saw him, when I asked that he be my Guardian.”

  “You did?” Liam smiled. “I had not heard that. I bet that caused a furor.”

  “It did.” I frowned suddenly. “Is that why you rejected him? Because of his—”

  The room went ice-cold in a moment, and those hazel eyes pierced right through me. This was a Warlord of the Plains that sat before me, and he was well and truly angry. “Were you of the Plains, I’d kill you for that insult.”

  I bit my lip, but didn’t look away. “Then why?”

  “By Marcus’s choice,” he snapped as he slammed the ehat piece down and rose to his feet. He started to pace, back and forth before the platform, a very angry Warlord of the Plains. But I felt no fear.

  His anger was aimed at himself.

  “‘This worthless carcass is not your bonded,’” Liam snarled. “That is what the stubborn, stupid man told me.” He talked with his hands, gesturing to the air. “I begged him to return to me until he threatened to go to the snows, regardless of his oath to Keir.” Liam stopped and rubbed his face with his hands. “It’s two campaigns now since I’ve seen him.”

  I caught my breath. “Two years?”

  Liam let out a ragged breath. “He serves Keir. And never comes to the Heart.” My face showed my thought, and Liam caught it in an instant. “He’s here, isn’t he?”

  I nodded, picking up the poor abused ehat figure. “I’ve seen him.”

  “Do you know how hard that is for him?” Liam shook his head, and crossed his arms over his chest. “His loyalty to Keir is absolute.” He examined me intently. “And to you as well, it seems.”

  Suddenly, Keekai’s words to Marcus when she’d seen him made perfect sense. “He worried about you. When Keekai arrived, she told him that you hadn’t been hurt on campaign.”

  Liam sagged. “But he didn’t actually ask, did he?”

  I sighed, looking at the ehat carving. “No.”

  “When Keir brought Marcus back to me, and Marcus recovered enough to speak, the first thing he did was call me to his tent and announce that the bond had melted away in the fires, along with his ear.” Liam struggled with the words.

  “He pushed you away because of his scars, didn’t he?” I asked, softly. I placed the ehat on the board. “It would affect your status, wouldn’t it?”

  “What of it?” Liam cried out. “Do you know how empty the days are? How empty my arms are at night?”

  He turned to pace again, so he didn’t see me blush. That was something I wasn’t ready to think about. My people didn’t … such a thing was not approved of. And it was one thing to know that Firelanders had those kinds of relationships. I’d known that. Certainly Osa had made it clear.

  But now it was someone I knew, someone I cared for. I swallowed hard. Marcus, who had protected me with his blades and cared for me when I’d been so deathly ill.

  Marcus, who I considered a friend, had bonded with a man.

  I swallowed hard.

  Liam still prowled, and I watched his hands clench into fists. I couldn’t deny the longing in his voice. I’d heard it in my own, when I spoke of Keir.

  “I will not give up,” Liam vowed. “One day I will find a way across the plains that he has placed between us. I’ll have him back, at my side, I swear it by—”

  “Warlord.”

  Liam and I both jumped, and turned to see his warrior pull the flap aside. Liam frowned. “Yes, Rish, what is it?’

  “Word from the Council.”

  Finally!

  Finally, I’d see the Council. I fussed with my hair as I tried to match Liam’s stride. Wiping imaginary crumbs from my tunic kept my nerves at bay for a moment.

  What I really wanted was a moment to change, to put on that red dress, to arm myself against the foe. At least I had my satchel. I adjusted it on my hip, tugging the strap into place between my breasts.

  We’d been told the summons was urgent, and Liam had offered to escort me, along with Amyu and my warrior-priest guards. I accepted gratefully, although I couldn’t help but wonder if he didn’t want to try to get a glimpse of Marcus.

  The Council tent appeared, looking even larger and more imposing. I trotted to keep up with Liam. We entered the tent to find the area filled with people. Liam headed toward the main area between the fire pits and I followed close behind. He stopped, and I stepped to stand beside him.

  Off to the left, I saw Iften and Wesren, standing with the warrior-priest Gathering Storm. Their faces were not welcoming, and I turned away, grateful that Liam and Amyu walked with me between the fire pits.

  The Eldest were ahead of us, standing on the base, the tiers behind them filled with Elders. I looked around, and suddenly familiar faces filled my sight. Atira, with a wide smile, and Heath just behind her. Joden, his face still so filled with pain. I gave him a smile, and then behind him—

  Keir!

  Joy rang through my entire body, and I ran toward him without thinking. “Keir!”

  My arm was grabbed by one of the warrior-priests, who jerked me to a stop. My satchel shifted, and I lost my balance, stumbling a bit, as one of the other guards grabbed my flailing arm.

  “Take your hands off her!” Keir’s voice cried out, and there was movement around me, but I was still trying to find my feet.

  “Hold.” Essa’s voice boomed out. “HOLD.”

  Everyone around us stopped moving, and I managed to look up, to find a furious Keir being held back by Simus and Liam. I made eye contact, and smiled, trying to reassure him.

  “Release her,” Essa directed, and my guards obeyed. “Xylara, Daughter of Xy, are you hurt?”

  “No,” I answered, readjusting my satchel on my hip.

  “There is to be no contact with Keir of the Cat,” Essa chided.

  “As if a hug would hurt. Or a word of greeting,” Keekai said as she walked past, heading toward her seat. “Foolishness, if you ask me.”

  “Then it is well you were not asked.” Wild Winds appeared, to take his seat beside Essa. “Still, the treatment of the Daughter of Xy was too rough. It will not happen again.” He gestured, and my guards melted away.

  “Lara, are you alright?” Keir asked, still seething.

  “I’m fine, belov—”

  “As if you really care!” Antas stood, and walked over to face Keir. “You, who have dallied with another, even as your so-called warprize attempts to claim you.”

  Dallied? Did that mean what I thought it meant? I flushed, and then went cold at the idea that Keir would turn to another while—

  “Lower your hood, and show all how true you are to the one you would bond with.” Antas pointed at Keir. “Do it now, warrior.”

  There was absolute silence in the t
ent as Keir glared at Antas. But then his expression changed slightly, and his eyes crinkled in silent humor. Keir lifted his hands and lowered his hood to reveal a small purplish bruise on his neck. A love bite.

  Oh Goddess above. I blushed bright red, heat flooding my face. My love bite.

  Keir arched an eyebrow as the Elders reacted to the sight.

  Antas, however, was nearly foaming at the mouth. “You see? You see? He has broken faith with this Xyian even before she—”

  It took everything I had to say the words aloud before the entire Council of Elders. “I put that there.”

  “Eh?” Antas twisted to face me.

  I drew a deep breath, and raised my voice. “That is my mark on his neck.”

  As the group reacted to that, my blush deepened, if that was possible. Then I made the mistake of looking at Keir, and had to cover my mouth to prevent myself from laughing. He looked so smug.

  Simus was under no such handicap. He was howling with mirth.

  Antas was scowling, as were Essa and Wild Winds. “How so?” Antas snapped. “You have been kept apart from—”

  “Her bath.” Amyu spoke. “It had to be during her bath.”

  I looked over my shoulder to see that she was none too happy either. I turned back to face the Elders. “It was in my bath,” I admitted. “Keir snuck in to see me.”

  As one, the Eldest turned to glare at Keir.

  Keir shrugged.

  Simus laughed and slapped him on the back. “The skies favor the bold.”

  Antas paused as a ripple of laughter swept the room again. “So you talked to Keir, despite our rules, despite our—”

  “We didn’t waste time talking,” I snapped right back, glaring at him. Then I realized what I’d announced to the room, and blushed bright red.

  “HEYLA!” Simus shouted. “Truly, the attraction between Warlord and Warprize is as the heat of the summer!”

  Joden’s head jerked up at that, and the movement caught my eye. He gave Simus a startled look, and then looked at me, as if seeing me for the first time.

  The Eldest were all talking among themselves. I saw Keekai up on the tier, and she gave me a bright look. I looked over at Keir again, and he gave me a warm smile, full of reassurance. I flushed a bit under his approval, and smiled back, content.