Warlord (27 page)

Reness set her hand on my shoulder. "We need her ways, her knowledge and her skills. We'd be stupid to ignore the benefits that she would bring to the People of the Plains. The theas have discussed this, and I speak for all when we say that she is truly a Warprize."

Her statement was greeted with silence.

She nodded, well satisfied. "I've work to be done. Summon me, if you need to see me sit on my stool in her favor."

She turned then, but paused long enough to drop a whisper. "Eace is well and healing." With that, she was gone, long strides carrying her out of the tent and away.

A murmur of voices rose as she left the tent, but Essa seemed to take it all in stride. He gave everyone a moment to settle, and then once again turned to Joden. "Speak your truths, Joden of the Hawk."

He was still standing by the fire pit, the oddest expression on his face, as if he'd seen something long hidden. He jumped slightly, startled when Essa spoke his name, and it took him a moment to acknowledge the summons.

"Elders and Eldest, I thank you for the honor of speaking my truths before you." Joden took a long breath, and seemed to steady himself. His voice was deep and loud enough to be heard by all. "When I left the Plains this spring with Keir of the Cat, my feet were light and eager. Keir's intention to change our world and our ways was known, and I welcomed the challenges it would bring. Welcomed, too, the chance to witness and craft songs of what would happen."

His voice filled with pain. "It is well we do not know what the winds will bring. Had I known . . ."

His voice trailed off, but the tent remained silent. Joden lifted his head to look at the Elders. "I will not speak of what has already been told. Of the deaths due to affliction. Of the loss of Epor of the Badger and Isdra of the Fox. Of the pyres that burned day and night. Of my laments as I sang the dead to the snows."

I bowed my head, and squeezed my eyes closed against the tears that came.

"Did the dead raise a blade?" Joden's voice was a growl, full of anger. "Did they die in battle, and go to the snows as warriors? No. They lay in their beds and shivered, no awareness in their eyes, crying out for friends and loved ones, their wits scattered to the winds." Joden stopped himself, and drew another deep breath. "No, I will not speak of it. Someday, I may sing it. But not today."

Joden rubbed his face with both hands, to gather himself together. The tent remained silent. I wiped my eyes, and then clasped my hands tight in my lap.

After what seemed like forever, Joden continued. "I have prepared to become a Singer. And I have learned that a true Singer sings the truth. A Singer must not be swayed by friendship or loyalties or the opinions of others. A Singer must sing the truth as he sees it, with his own eyes." Joden drew a shuddering breath. "But as a Singer must stand against pressures from others, he must also stand from the pressure within. He must not be swayed by his own fears or sorrows."

Essa gave Joden a half-smile and spoke. "That's a truth that cuts both ways. And not the easiest to understand. Or recognize."

"It is." Joden's lips pressed to a thin line as he pointed to Keir. "Keir dares much, and it is said that the skies favor the bold. But I fear that he goes too far too fast. The 'plague' has shown me that to combine the Plains and the Xyians is madness.

"Yet," Joden looked at me now, his gaze steady. "How can I speak against the woman who saved so many, Simus included? Who gave herself over to what she thought would be degradation and abuse, to save her people?" He turned back to face the Elders. "My truth is this. I was torn by my own pain. Never again do I want to tend to so many dead."

"So how say you now, Joden of the Hawk?" Wild Winds pressed, his voice soft contrast to Joden's. "What is your truth?"

Joden lifted his head, to look at Iften, and then at Antas. Both men were tense, as if waiting for... something.

But Joden looked away from them and focused on Wild Winds. "I would say this truth. Xylara, daughter of Xy, is a true Warprize of the Plains."

I straightened in shock. I wasn't the only one. All around the tent, heads jerked in surprise. Even Keir looked stunned, and Simus . . . Simus just smiled.

Antas was on his feet, his hand on the hilt of his sword. "This is your truth, Joden of the Hawk?"

Joden faced him calmly. "We have forgotten our ways, in our reaction to the change she represents. Acceptance of Xyian ways has nothing to do with her confirmation as Warprize." He turned to Essa, and lifted a finger. "A Warprize must be discovered during the course of a battle, or on or near a battlefield. A Warprize must render aid to the Warlord or his men."

Essa pushed out his lips, considering Joden's words.

Joden continued, his voice ringing in the tent. "A Warprize must be attractive to a Warlord, must spark feelings of desire. The attraction between Warlord and Warprize is as the heat of the sun that shines in the height of summer."

I sat, my eyes wide, and listened to the very explanation he'd given me in my stilltent, months ago.

"Now, once a Warlord recognizes a potential Warprize, he must negotiate for the Warprize, making the best deal that he can." Joden turned his head to look at Keir. "Once he has done that, a Warprize must submit willingly to the Warlord, before witnesses of both their peoples. Then a Warprize is displayed to the Warlord's army. Upon their return to our lands, the confirmation ceremony is held before the Council of Elders."

Joden looked at his feet. "A true Warprize brings change. Until just now, I'd forgotten, in our tradition there is no requirement that the Council accept those changes."

He looked back at me, chagrined. "Xylara is a true Warprize, and this Council should confirm her as such." He drew a deep breath. "I do not know what will come of this, but I must speak the truth. I've seen the look in her eyes when she looks at Keir, and I know that she loves him. While Xyians do not love in public view, still the heat of their desire can be felt when they are together."

"Even when they are kept apart!" Keekai added from her stool.

The laughter around us was nervous, but it eased the tensions slightly. I blushed again, and risked a glance over at Keir, who stood there, looking pleased.

But when I turned back, Antas was glaring at me, and his eyes were filled with hate. "Joden, you're a fool," he said. "This woman will kill us all. She will destroy our Plains with her ways! Think of what you are saying!"

Joden's face flared with a rare fury. "I am speaking the truth, Antas! Give me one example, one time in all our stories where the Warprize is confirmed based on
what
change they bring to the Plains, and I will retract my words." His lip curled in disgust. "You let blind hatred and fear cloud your truth, Eldest. As it almost clouded mine."

I glanced up to see Keekai nod her head in agreement.

"I act for the good of the Plains and our people," Antas roared. "The ways of the city-dwellers are an offense to the elements."

The Elders in the tiers were all talking, some nodding in agreement, some shaking their heads. I felt Amyu move up close behind me, her tunic brushing against mine. The contact was welcome. It was good to know I had someone at my back. I glanced quickly over at Keir, but he was staring at Antas. The vein in his jaw was throbbing. Even Simus looked grim as he scanned the tiers.

"Essa," Wild Winds demanded, turning all eyes on the Eldest Singer. "Is what Joden says true?"

The tent silenced. Essa was looking off, above our heads, clearly thinking hard. After a moment, he spoke. "Joden is right." He sat down slowly on his stool. "I do not know how we lost sight of that."

"What does that matter?" Antas demanded. "Are we to allow our traditions to expose us to affliction and weakness? Your wits have been taken by the winds—"

Wild Winds gestured toward me. "You see such danger from one who carries no weapons? And the affliction, this 'plague', happened while they were still in the lands of Xy. It is not here."

"Yet," Antas spat. "But everywhere I look, some warrior plays this 'chess', and she has already corrupted the theas."

"I'd like to see you say that to Reness's face," Essa replied. There was a brief chuckle at that, but the tension was still there.

Antas gestured toward his supporters. "We have heard the truths of Iften and Gathering Storm. We know that this woman is a danger to our people. She perverts our ways, luring a young warrior to give up his sword, convincing a warrior not to follow her bonded to the snows. I say—"

My spine snapped straight. "I didn't. Gils made the decision on his own, that surprised us all." I flushed up, embarrassed. "I did ask Isdra to stay, because we needed—"

"You perverted her," Gathering Storm announced. "She only went to the snows because I sent her there."

The outcry was tremendous. The entire tent was on its feet at that. But Gathering Storm faced them all. "I am a warrior-priest of the Plains. Isdra of the Fox would not do what had to be done. I did it for her."

Wild Winds's eyebrow went up. "Yet that had no place in the telling of your truth, Gathering Storm."

Iften stepped by his side. "This Xyian poisons everything, even as her 'brother' did. Gathering Storm did what Keir of the Cat should have encouraged, no, demanded Isdra of the Fox do."

"That's murder," I cried. "You killed Isdra."

Some of the Elders were rising from their stools. They seemed angered and upset.

"Be silent," Antas stood and roared. "Your truths have no place here."

"Have a care, Antas," Keir roared right back. He took a step forward, his hands opening and closing in his anger. "You insult my Warprize."

Essa stood, trying to re-claim control. "No, Keir of the Cat. That is what this senel must decide. We have heard the truths of Joden of the Hawk, and his words are to be given the weight of a Singer's—"

Antas glowered at Essa. "No."

Essa gave him an astonished look. "It was at your insistence that Joden's truths be—"

Antas pulled his sword. "There will be no decision from this Council of fools. I will make this easy." He turned and pointed at me with his sword. "Amyu! Kill the Xyian!"

Chapter 15

"Amyu! Kill the Xyian!"

The words resounded in my head as I tried to draw a breath into my paralyzed body.

We'd talked about this, Marcus and I, when he'd trained me. We'd talked about how fear took your breath away. How it froze your muscles, how your heart would pound as your mind raced. We'd talked about what I should do, how to work with my guards, how to stay out of their way. About not doing anything stupid.

We hadn't talked about betrayal.

"Amyu! Kill the Xyian!"

"LARA!" Keir's scream filled my ears, even as I gathered my legs to spring off my stool. But it was too late. Amyu had the shoulder of my tunic wrapped in her fist. She yanked me down, and followed me to the floor, drawing her dagger with her free hand.

"Are we barbarians, to pull weapons in Council?" I heard Essa cry out, as the sounds of swords clashing filled the air.

"LARA!" Keir's voice sounded closer.

"Stay down," Amyu hissed. She covered me with her own body.

Relief flooded through me, at the same time that I realized what it must look like to the others. Keir's scream was now an incoherent roar. "Amyu, Keir will kill you!" I gasped.

"The least of my worries," she whispered. I watched as she raised her dagger and made it look like she'd plunged it into my body.

I heard Antas roar out in satisfaction.

The rage was palpable, as bodies launched over us. I had the briefest glimpse of Iften and Gathering Storm, but I couldn't tell what was happening. I twisted under Amyu, getting to where I could see—

In time to see Keir leap over the fire pit to land at my side.

He landed like a cat, sleek and deadly, intent on his target. The light reflected on his two blades, and in his eyes. Amyu sucked in a breath, and I couldn't blame her for her terror. She got to her knees, ready to use the dagger to fend one of the blows.

"Keir!" I cried, and his eyes flicked over to me, then flicked back to Amyu. He took a step, about to strike. But then his gaze returned to mine, and sanity flooded into their depths. "Lara." It sounded like a prayer, even as Keir sheathed one of his swords. He reached down to pull me to my feet. Amyu scrambled up as well.