Warlord (37 page)

"None of that now." Marcus scolded. "Amyu will bring hot water, and help with whatever you need. You have your soap, yes?"

I nodded, unable to speak.

He frowned for just a moment. "You should have a belt, for a dagger. Or wear the spring knife. Death comes in an instant."

"No. Marcus." I shook my head, still holding the dress. "I come as a healer, not a warrior."

"As you say, Warprize. Very well, then. I will see to Hisself." Marcus moved to leave but I put out a hand. He paused, and looked back at me. Amyu entered the area with drying cloths in hand.

"Will you be there, Marcus?" I asked. "For the ceremony?"

Amyu's eyes went wide.

Marcus gave me a nod. "I will watch, Warprize. From the shadows."

I grimaced. "That is not right."

"But he is afflicted!" Amyu blurted out.

^"
Amyu!" I scolded. She looked at me in astonishment. "That is not—"

Marcus held up a hand. "Child, Herself holds a very different view of the world. Be careful, or she will open your eyes, eh?" He pointed at me. "Do not think to change everything overnight, Warprize."

I smiled, and inclined my head, placing the dress on the bed.

"So." Marcus smiled. "I will go see to the Warlord."

"He has to prepare?" I asked.

Marcus's mouth quirked. "Oh yes."

"How?"

Marcus barked out a laugh. "You will see." He turned away then, to go.

"Marcus?"

He turned back, his eyebrow up in a questioning look.

"Death comes in an instant, Marcus." I looked at him steadily. "But love lasts forever."

He rocked back, his face going pale, then his gaze dropped to the ground. "As you say, Warprize."

With that, he left the tent.

Amyu placed the drying cloths at the end of the bed. "I will bring more hot water for the tub."

She left, and I seated myself on the bed to remove my shoes, pondering what preparation Keir might need to make. Rafe's voice caught my attention. "Warprize?"

A few steps took me back into the main area. "Rafe?" I answered.

His head stuck in the tent. "Eldest Thea Reness wishes to speak to you."

"Of course," I answered.

Reness entered. "Thank you. This will take but a moment."

"May I offer you—"

Reness shook her head. "I will not even sit. We need to discuss—"

Amyu entered from the cooking area, buckets in her hands. She paled at the sight of Reness. Without a word she set the buckets down, kneeled, and pressed her forehead to the ground.

"Amyu?" I would have moved to her side, but Reness held out her hand to stop me.

"Amyu." Reness looked down at her with a stern face. "Warprize, we need to discuss this child."

"But," I looked at her sharply. "Amyu is no child."

"She is in our world." Reness frowned at me. "A child who disobeyed an Elder of her Tribe."

Amyu quivered, but didn't move.

"To save my life!" I protested.

Reness nodded in agreement. "Even so. But still she disobeyed. Not something a child is permitted to do. Ordinarily, she would be punished. You see?"

I folded my arms over my chest. "No."

Reness pursed her lips. "This is the way of the Plains, Warprize." She glanced over at Amyu, still prostrated before us. "The theas of the Boar have discussed the matter with me. We have decided that Amyu is still of the Tribe of the Boar. That given the circumstances, she will not be punished. However, she is released from the control of the theas, and given to your charge."

"Me?" I blinked. "But—"

"No." Reness shook her head. "Amyu of the Boar, Child of the Plains is now your responsibility."

I looked over at Amyu. "Amyu, is this all right with you?"

Reness went stiff with disapproval. "It is done, Warprize. Her opinion matters not." She turned to leave.

"Reness, what of Eace?" I asked quickly.

"Sore of arm and belly, but well." Reness looked over her shoulder. "Come to see her tomorrow, when you wish. You may bring your child with you."

"There is one more thing," I said firmly.

Reness faced me now, clearly impatient. "What?"

I lifted my chin to look her right in the eye. "You are Eldest Thea of the Plains. Therefore, I say to you that if I should bear Keir children, those children will be raised by my hand and no other. Our firstborn will be heir to the Kingdom of Xy." I glared at her. "No one will take my child from my arms at birth."

Reness looked at me for a moment, and then bowed her head low. "I will inform the others, Warprize. None will challenge your word or your ways in this."

Before I could say another word, she was gone.

Amyu rose unsteadily to her feet. "I will pour these into the tub, Warprize."

"Amyu." I heaved a sigh.

Amyu looked at me then. "It is fine with me, Warprize. Better this than punishment." She hesitated. "Maybe you will open my eyes, yes?"

I smiled, and she turned to her task. Maybe I would, at that.

I bathed, taking full advantage to scrub myself clean with my vanilla soap. Amyu helped me braid my hair with the ribbons, so that they framed my face. The dress fit perfectly, as did the slippers. Marcus had seen to that, I was sure. Amyu helped me with the lacings in the back.

I'd toyed with taking my satchel, but decided against it. I didn't have the heart to mar the fit of the dress with its strap. I'd given it to Amyu, who promised to give it to Marcus. She looked at me, clearly pleased at the result. "Your eyes are as blue as the skies, Warprize."

I thanked her.

"Little Healer!" Simus's voice boomed from the entrance. "It is time!"

I emerged from the tent to see that the sun was setting, the sky a riot of reds and golds, to match the land beneath. Simus was waiting, with all of my guards, mounted on horseback. Everyone looked like they had spent the afternoon polishing their armor. Even the horses had ribbons in their manes and tails.

Simus's smile was as wide as the sky. "Finally! It is time to claim your Warlord, Warprize!"

I smiled right back. "Don't you all look wonderful!"

Rafe, Prest, Ander, and Yveni all smiled back at me, looking their best.

Simus laughed, his gold earrings gleaming in the light. He dismounted with a flourish. "We are your escort, Xylara, Daughter of Xy, Queen of Xy, and Warprize of the Plains. We will ride to the Council Circle."

"Ride?" I looked over to where the Council tent was, only to find that it was gone. "Simus, where are we going?"

"You will see." Simus held out his hand. "Let me help you to your horse, Warprize."

I stepped forward. Simus wrapped his hands around my waist and lifted me easily to Greatheart's back. Sure enough, the fabric of the skirt floated down around my legs with no problem.

Simus mounted his horse, and we started to walk toward the lake. I looked around, astonished.

The Heart was gone. Well, the tents were gone, all but mine. The only thing left was grass, both tall and flattened, to mark where the city had been. Ahead of us were the People of the Plains, all seated on the ground, laughing and talking. There was one wide walkway through them, which Simus took us down, keeping to a slow pace. I recognized now that the firepits I thought so random through the tents were arranged in a pattern around which the crowds of people now sat.

As we reached the edge of the crowd, a cheer went up, and happy cries of 'Heyla' filled the air. Not all the faces reflected joy, but for the most part, my welcome was warm. Simus and my guards sat proudly as our horses walked down to where the Council tent had been.

The tiers were gone now, and only Essa, Wild Winds and Reness stood there, before their stools. I caught a quick glimpse of a cushion on the one behind Essa. Where the tent had been, only the odd stone floor remained, a large circle of grey.

Simus stopped his horse and roared out to the Council, "Eldest of the Elders of the Plains, I bring before you Xylara, Warprize!"

The roar went up as the entire crowd stood. The ground seemed to shake as they all stomped their feet, and raised their voices. The hairs on my arms stood straight up, and my body shook. The excitement on the air was intoxicating, to say the least. Whatever the Elders might think, the People of the Plains were welcoming me with joy.

Simus dismounted, and helped me to dismount from my horse. Once my feet were on the ground, he offered me his arm, in the Xyian fashion. I smiled and took it, and we walked to stand before the Eldest. There, Simus bowed to them, and then to me, and walked off the circle and into the crowd.

Wild Winds held up his staff and the crowd went silent.

The sky had grown a bit darker now, and a breeze had blown up, teasing my hair. I lifted a hand to pat at it nervously, and waited.

"Xylara, Daughter of Xy," Reness spoke, her voice carrying over the crowd. I could hear her words repeated in the crowd behind me, creating an odd, echo-like effect. "You have been confirmed as Warprize of the Plains. We ask for the final time, do you wish to be released from this position?"

"No," I replied firmly.

"Xylara, Daughter of Xy." Essa's voice was high and clear. "You have been confirmed as Warprize of the Plains. We ask for the final time, do you wish to return to the lands of your people?"

"No," I answered again, only to hear my response echoing behind me as the crowd repeated it.

"Xylara, Daughter of Xy." Wild Winds spoke. "You have been confirmed as Warprize of the Plains. Do you wish to claim a Warlord?"

"Yes," I answered.

"Turn to the People, and claim your Warlord." Wild Winds gestured.

I took a deep breath, and turned to face the crowd.

The horses had been cleared away, all that remained were the people standing there, silent.

I drew another deep breath of cold, sweet air. "'I claim Keir of the Cat as my Warlord!"

My words were repeated, over and over. I could almost see them move over the crowd like a wave over water.

"Warprize." Essa spoke, and his words were echoed by the crowd as well. "You choose a man stripped of his—"

"Were he naked and helpless, ill or injured, still would I claim Keir of the Cat as my Warlord." My voice rang out, defiant and clear.

The Eldest bowed their heads to me.

Essa lifted his head first, and raised his hands. "The Warprize has claimed her warrior."

He'd changed the wording, but I didn't care. As his words were repeated, everyone turned, looking down the wide walkway between them. The echos died and we waited in silence.

I'd thought he'd emerge from the crowd at some point, but no one moved. All heads were looking down that walkway, so I looked too, only to see a figure coming toward me in the distance, walking steadily. I squinted a bit, trying to make out who it was, until my eyes went wide with surprise.

It was Keir walking toward me, barefoot and wearing nothing but thin, white trous.

I sucked in a breath. He looked so vulnerable, without armor or weapons. Bare-chested, barefoot, he walked toward me, his face intent, his eyes blue as the skies.

I swallowed hard, recognizing the fabric of the trous. It was the same material as the shift I'd worn when I'd surrendered myself to him in Xy. As I had surrendered to him, he now surrendered to me, in full view of every Plains warrior here.

My heart swelled in an instant, with joy, with pride, with love for the fire of my heart.

My Warlord.

Keir advanced until he stood before me. His bronze skin shone as if oiled. I looked into those blue eyes, and would have reached for him, but he knelt, and lowered his head, so that I could see the back of his neck. The breeze blew again, and I caught the faint scent of vanilla.