Текст книги "Warlord"

Автор книги: Elizabeth A. Vaughan

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Текущая страница: 4 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

Chapter 4

“No.” Keir’s voice was cold and hard as steel. Every warrior around us had his or her hand on a weapon, but who supported whom I couldn’t say. I swallowed hard, and stayed as still as possible.

The warrior-priest looked down at Keir with disdain. “It is the order of the Council of Elders, Warlord, that we separate you from the Warprize, and take her to the Heart of the Plains. Would you defy them?”

“Yes,” Keir snarled, a sound much like I imagined the cat at the river’s edge would have made.

A strong female voice cut through the night. “Even if I am the Elder?” The horses of the warrior-priests moved aside, and a woman rode forward, pushing back her hood. Everyone around us dropped to one knee, which caught me by surprise. I’d never seen a Firelander bend knee to anyone before.

Keir remained standing, but he had relaxed. “Keekai. You honor us.”

She tossed her head and gave him a sly smile. “I do, don’t I?” She looked around. “Am I in council, or sit ting in judgment? Up, up, all of you!”

The warriors rose, and Keekai dismounted and faced us. I was taken aback, for she looked enough like Keir to be his mother. She had his height and build, and wore armor with practiced ease of many years. Older, certainly, as Keir might look in another twenty years. But she had the same black hair and blue eyes; eyes that examined me closely. “So. This is the Warprize, Keir of the Cat?”

“She is, Elder. Xylara, Daughter of Xy, from the Kingdom of Xy.” Keir smiled and gestured to our tent. “I would offer you the welcome of my tent. Would you hear my truths, Elder?”

“I accept the courtesy of your tent, and would hear your truths.” Keekai tossed her reins to the warrior-priest nearest her.

The man caught the reins, but he was frowning, looking severe. “Keekai, we are to return to the Heart of the Plains with the woman, as soon as possible.” His dark eyes flickered over me. “They are to be separated. As soon as possible.”

Keir frowned and opened his mouth, but Keekai took control. “Pah. They have just returned to the Plains and there is a four ehat hunt to be celebrated. What is one more night, eh?”

The grim man opened his mouth, but Keekai forestalled him. “My old bones need food, heat, and sleep before I set forth. Make camp. We will wait for you, and then Keir can begin the ceremonies.”

I looked at Keir, to see how he reacted to this assumption of his authority, but he seemed content to let Keekai deal with the warrior-priest.

The warrior-priest was anything but content. His lips pressed firmly together as he contemplated us. “Your bones seem conveniently old, Keekai.”

“A challenge, Still Waters?” Keekai gave the man a steady look.

Still Waters? Was that his name?

The warrior-priest’s eyes narrowed, but he turned away, and he and the others melted into the darkness.

Keekai gave a grunt of satisfaction, and then brushed past us into the tent. Keir took my hand, and we fol lowed her. Warm air swirled around us as we entered. Keir dropped the flap behind us, for the warmth and the privacy.

“Keir, you stupid warlord, what were you thinking?”

Keir’s mouth tightened, but he remained silent as Keekai made herself at home on one of the pallets, and threw her cloak back and off her shoulders. A brazier burned in the center, and Keir and I sat opposite her. Marcus had been busy while we were gone. He’d enlarged our tent, giving us a meeting place and the back area for sleeping.

Keekai gave us a grim look. “We have much to discuss and little time.”

Marcus entered with a tray of kavage and gurt. He’d removed the cloak, now that he was in the shelter of the tent. With a bow, he served Keekai first.

Keekai’s blue eyes shifted to Marcus. She gave him a searching look. “Greetings, Marcus.”

That was odd. Most warriors completely ignored the scarred, small man. But Keekai was looking at him steadily, ignoring his injuries.

Marcus hesitated, then offered her a cup of kavage. After a pause, she took it. Marcus then moved the tray toward Keir and me, serving us in our turn. As he was about to leave, Keekai’s voice stopped him in his tracks. “Isn’t there anything you’d ask me, Marcus?”

Silence. Marcus stood, still as a statue, his back toward us. Keir caught my eye, and gestured for me to remain silent.

Keekai clucked her tongue. “Stupid man.”

Marcus turned then, his body stiff, his face filled with such pain.

Keekai arched an eyebrow, then shook her head. “I should let you suffer.”

Marcus just looked at her.

“All is well, except for the pain you inflict on yourself, fool. No injuries from this season.”

Marcus lowered his head, turned and was gone.

“That was cruel, Keekai,” Keir said softly.

“Pah.” Keekai took a long drink of kavage. “Who is the cruel one, I ask you?” She rolled her shoulders. “I have ridden hard in the company of humorless warrior-priests intent on making you suffer, Keir of the Cat.” She leaned forward. “There is little time. Those fools will be back shortly, and I cannot be seen to have too much private talk with you. The Council of the Elders have sent us to escort the Warprize to the Heart of the Plains.”

Keir snorted.

Keekai held up her hand. “They are not fools, Keir. They know that you delay in defiance of tradition, hoping that the seasons will force them to leave the Heart. They feel that you have had the Warprize long enough, and the separation must begin now.”

“Keekai,” Keir started but she slashed her hand through the air, and he closed his mouth with a snap.

“You have no choice, Keir. Those who would change our ways must first honor and obey them, yes? Have we not talked about this, time and time again?”

I looked at Keir, at the angry flush on his cheeks, and I reached for his hand. “Keekai, I am Keir’s Warprize. And he is my Warlord.”

“Xylara, Daughter of Xy, you are not.” I pressed my lips together, trying to control my anger, but my eyes must have given me away. Keekai’s lips quirked up. “There’s fire in you, Xyian. I’ll give you that. But...” Keekai scowled at Keir, “…with all respect, you are not his Warprize by our traditions and ways until the formal ceremonies are complete. The other warlords have the right to court you and—”

“Court me?”

Her eyes narrowed, and she focused on Keir. “Yes, Xylara. Court you.” Her glare rivaled Marcus’s. “I can see that Keir has not told you everything. What were you thinking?”

“Lara is—”

“Stop.” She leaned back slightly to look into both our faces. “What is done is done, Keir. Only the skies know how this will end.” She puffed out a breath. “Now, I feel an attack of the misery coming on, so our return to the Heart will not be as fast as they might wish. And I will use the journey to tell your Warprize some of the details you may have ... forgotten.” Without a token in her hand, that was an insult. I waited for Keir to draw a blade, but he just flushed again and squeezed my hand.

“You have four ehats to render, and an army to release.” Keekai gave Keir a close look. “With luck, you will only be a day behind before we arrive at the Heart.”

“Keekai, I have always listened and followed—”

Keekai snorted.

Keir glared right back at her, adding strength to his words. “And followed your advice. But now—”

“There is no choice. She must come out from under your protection and influence. The entire Council is agreed, Keir.” Keekai gave him a long look. “Would you truly defy them, and destroy this chance?”

There were noises from outside, and Keekai drank more of her kavage. “In the morning, I will come to your tent and we will hold the separation ceremony. Xylara, you will answer my questions, and we will depart.”

“Questions?”

Keekai rolled her eyes. “You haven’t even told her that. What have you been doing with your time?”

Keir and I exchanged a glance, and I blushed.

Keekai snorted. “Well, make the most of tonight, for it is all I can give you. It will be days before you see him again.” Keekai stood, and pulled her cloak on. “She will be under my protection until we reach the Heart, Keir. She will be safe. For now, tell her what she needs to know. Of the questions, the ceremony, the champion—enough to get her through tomorrow. I will tell her more on the journey.”

“I will not be stopped, Keekai.” Keir’s voice was low and determined, and his grip on my hand tightened. “I will break their power over my people.”

Keekai stopped and turned her head. She looked so much like Keir in the firelight. “That is why I fear for you, Keir of the Cat. They will kill you if they can.”

Keir’s nostrils flared. “Let them try,” he grated.

With a shake of her head and a swirl of her cloak, Keekai left the tent.

In the silence that remained, the fire crackled and flared up.

“Skies,” Keir growled. “This is the work of the winds.” I leaned in close and he pressed a kiss to my temple. “Lara, I—”

I reached out and put my fingers over his lips. “The last few weeks, since the plague cleared, have been blissful.”

Keir closed his eyes and nodded, his lips brushing against my fingers.

“We’ve both been avoiding this, haven’t we?” I whispered softly, my eyes tearing. “Neither one of us wanted to face this. Both our faults.”

Keir didn’t open his eyes. “I didn’t want it to end.” He pulled in a deep breath, and reached up to take my hand and press a kiss to the palm. “I thought we had time, at least until we reached the Heart.”

“And now, we have tonight.” I took a shaky breath. “After the celebration, we will talk. All night, if we have to.”

His bright blue eyes looked at me from beneath his black hair. “I am tempted to defy them. I would not have you go. Keekai is an Elder, and powerful, but you—”

I twisted my hand in his, until our palms were together. His large, callused fingers were a marked contrast to mine. I slowly curled mine until my fingers interlocked with his. “Two peoples into one, Keir. You and I, working together, for ourselves and our peoples.”

He pulled me into his arms. “Tonight, after the celebration. We will talk.”

I pulled back just enough to look up into those wonderful blue eyes, and gave him a smile. “Just remember, you promised to dance for me, Warlord.”

The gleam was back. “I did, didn’t I?”

Much of the celebration was a blur. It was as if I was two people, one watching from a distance and the other wrapped in worry and fear for the future. A platform had been built, so that we could see out over the firepits and the dancing grounds. Keir conceded the center seat to Keekai, and sat to her left, I was next to him, and the other warleaders were also scattered about the platform.

Although Keekai had joined us, the warrior-priests were seated together off to the side. They seemed in tent on keeping themselves apart.

Marcus made himself busy, directing his helpers to offer water for washing and giving thanks. As he offered to pour the water for me, Keir leaned over, and murmured a question. “Iften?”

“In his tent. Being tended to by the warrior-priests. They use their powers to perform another healing,” Marcus said. His tone expressed his opinion of that bit of news.

I snorted softly, which earned me swift smiles from Keir and Marcus, and a frown from Keekai. Keekai opened her mouth, but Keir held his hand up. “Marcus, see that Iften is taken a share of the meats. And enough for the warrior-priest as well.”

Marcus scowled, but jerked his head in acknowledgment of the order.

Keir stood and held his hand up. The warriors quieted until all that could be heard were the crackles of the fires.

“We gather this night, to thank the elements. We thank them for the gift of the hunt, and for our return to the Plains. HEYLA!”

“HEYLA!” roared the warriors in return.

“Lail of the Badger, stand forward.”

The scout that brought word of the ehats stepped in front of the platform.

“I doubted your words, Lail, and I take back those words before all. On the morrow, you will have a full backstrap, with my thanks.”

With a wide smile, Lail bowed before Keir, and then returned to be congratulated by the warriors around him. Marcus was offering kavage, and must have seen the question in my eyes. “The choicest part of the meat, Warprize. A true honor.”

I nodded my understanding, as Keir continued. “Tomorrow, we rend the bodies of our kill, and divide the spoils of the hunt. But tonight we celebrate their spirits.” Keir gestured to the firepits. “By tradition the first meats are mine. But I would grow fat as a city dweller if I ate the first meats of four ehats!”

Laughter, and a few sly looks my way. But I joined in the laughter as well.

“I would share this honor with my warriors,” Keir continued. “Let us eat and share in the ehat’s honor and strength. Then we will dance to thank the earth and the skies, the wind and the rain for their gifts. For we are of the Plains and we are home!”

“HEYLA!” The warriors all started to gather about the pits. Talk and laughter rose around us as they were served. The warrior-priests may have held themselves apart, but I noticed that they took their share of the food.

Marcus had our portions, served with fried bread and gurt on the side. The other warleaders were served as well and we all started to eat. The meat was sliced thin. I rolled a piece up and popped it in my mouth. It was good, better than I expected. I hurriedly ate mine, and licked the juice from my fingers.

“You honor your warriors.” Keekai spoke around a mouthful, obviously enjoying the taste.

“They are worthy of honor.” Keir picked up a piece of the meat and ate it.

Keekai nodded, and turned to Marcus for kavage. I leaned over, and stole a piece of meat off of Keir’s platter. He gave me a surprised look, but said nothing.

“So, has Joden survived the summer?” Keekai asked, scanning the crowd. “I would hear him sing if he will.”

“He did.” Something in Keir’s tone told me that he wasn’t comfortable with the idea of Joden singing. “Keekai...”

She turned, those blue eyes intent.

“Isdra and Epor have gone to the snows.”

Keekai looked down at her meal. “Word of this has reached the Heart, Keir. As has the manner of their deaths.” She drew in a deep breath. “The Elders will not make this easy for you, Keir of the Cat.”

Marcus moved closer, and Keekai held out her mug for more kavage. I got a clear look at her right wrist. It reminded me of the old cheesemaker in Water’s Fall. Suddenly Keekai’s talk of her ‘misery’ made perfect sense.

I leaned over and took another piece of meat from Keir. I popped it in my mouth, and spoke around it. “I want to see the dancing. We don’t have anything like pattern dancing in Xy.”

Keekai nodded her agreement, her mouth full. “This game called ‘chess’. That is of Xy, yes?”

“Yes.” I gave Keir a fond look. “I taught it to Keir, and some of the others.”

“It is a form of battle, that requires quick wits and careful planning,” Keir added, taking a bite of some of the fry bread.

Keekai’s mouth quirked. “Ah. That must be why the warrior-priests have not yet learned it.”

Keir threw his head back and I joined in their laughter. Then Tsor leaned forward, and asked Keekai of the news of the Heart, and they started to talk of people and places that I had yet to know. A shiver of fear ran down my spine suddenly. There was still so much I didn’t know about these people, still so much that was strange and new. Could I really leave Keir in the morning?

I stared at my kavage. I’d first tasted it in the healing tents, with Rafe and Simus and Joden. I’d learned to enjoy its bitter flavor, especially in the morning when the day was dawning clear and cold.

I looked at the gurt on my platter. The little white pebbles looked innocent enough, but for some reason, I’d never get used to their dry, bitter taste.

I gathered up some of the gurt on my platter, and added it to Keir’s as I took another piece of meat from his platter. He was talking to one of the warleaders, but shifted enough so that I could reach it easily.

I was afraid. That was the truth. But I’d been afraid when I’d walked the halls of the castle, to kneel at Keir’s feet for the claiming ceremony.

I snagged the last of the heart meat from Keir’s platter, and he gave me a grateful look.

I could do this.

“Who will dance?” Keir stood tall, at the front of the platform. The food had been eaten, and the warriors had settled around the dancing area.

To my surprise, Rafe stepped forward. “We would dance the elements, to thank them for their gifts. We have covered ourselves to honor the Warprize and her ways.” Prest, Ander and Yveni came up to stand behind him.

I raised an eyebrow at their idea of ‘cover’. They all had the barest of scraps for loincloths, and Yveni had tied a strip of leather over her breasts. Still, I smiled and nodded my head to them.

“Dance!” Keir commanded, and they bowed their heads and moved to stand an arm’s length apart, forming a square and facing each other.

A warrior sat nearby, and placed a drum before him. The crowd grew silent as the drumbeat sounded, a slow steady beat.

“Earth!” Ander called out, and a warrior walked out of the crowd, bearing two bowls filled with dirt.

“Air!” Yveni cried out as well. She received two bowls as well, filled with something that gave off a steady stream of white smoke.

“Water!” Rafe called out, and was handed two bowls filled to the brim with water.

“Fire!” Prest was the last, and his bowls held flames that leaped and burned. I leaned forward, eager to see what form this dance would take. I assumed it was another form of pattern dance. To my joy, it was and it wasn’t.

Together they started to move, slowly, raising the bowls above their heads and stepping out a pattern to gether, moving as one. I held my breath, for what was easy with a bowl of dirt, was not easy to do with a bowl of water.

They lowered the bowls, now starting to move their bodies, bending and twisting down, only to work their way back up to a standing position. It was amazing to watch Prest, his body gleaming in the light, sweat glistening all over, as he moved. And while Ander and Yveni had the easier dance, with air and earth in their bowls, they still had to match the movements of Rafe and Prest. I could see the tremble in the muscles of Rafe’s arms as he fought to make sure that not one drop of water spilled from his bowls.

After a few minutes, one stepped in the center, and the other three formed a triangle around the single dancer. I realized that they were mimicking their elements. Ander’s movements were slow and steady, like the earth that he held in his hands. Yveni, when she took the center, moved as the wind moves, first one way and then the other, with no real set pattern. Rafe was as fluid as water. Prest was fire, first still and quiet and then bursting out in action as the flames in his bowls grew higher.

Finally, they stood there, facing each other, their bodies gleaming and their chests heaving from their efforts. With not one bowl spilled.

Ander held up his bowls. “Death of fire, birth of earth.” He tipped one of his bowls into one of Prest’s, dousing the flame.

Prest held up his other bowl. “Death of air, birth of fire.” He tipped the burning coals into Yveni’s bowl, and placed the bowl on top, smothering the smoke.

Yveni turned with her other bowl. “Death of water, birth of air.” She tipped her other bowl’s contents into Rate’s, sending up a burst of steam from his bowl.

Rafe held his other bowl high. “Death of earth, birth of water.” With that, he turned to Ander, and poured out the water onto his remaining bowl.

Keir jumped up, and the crowd rose with him, screaming their appreciation. I was up too, amazed that my bodyguards could dance so well.

Rafe, Prest, Ander, and Yveni turned in their places, and bowed to each of the four directions. Then they were running, their smiling faces proof enough of their joy. They disappeared into the crowd.

We all settled back, except Keekai, who stood and called out, “Where is Joden?”

There were many cries, and people’s heads turned, until finally Joden stood before us. “I am here, Keekai of the Cat.”

Keekai laughed. “Well and true but why are you not singing, Singer-to-be? Why not sing of the hunt?”

There were many calls to this, as people shifted so that they could see Joden clearly. He was seated next to a warrior-priest. I was fairly certain it was the one that had claimed to heal Iften.

Joden shook his head, his broad face gleaming in the light. “The song of this hunt will take time to make, Keekai. But I would sing, if you wish.”

“I wish it so!” Keekai laughed out loud. “A song of your choosing, Singer.”

Joden shrugged off her compliment, looking around at his fellow Firelander. His gaze drifted over to where I was sitting with Keir, and I felt Keir tense beside me. I turned my head slightly and raised an eyebrow.

Keir looked at me ruefully, then leaned forward just enough to whisper in my ear. “He who can praise can also mock.”

I turned back to see Joden glance at us. It seemed to me that he knew Keir’s concern. The warrior-priest next to him leaned over and made some comment for Joden’s ear alone. I bit my lip. Would he . . .?

Joden drew a deep breath, and walked forward. He turned in a circle raising his right hand, palm to the sky. “May the skies hear my voice. May the people remember.”

The response rose from the crowd. “We will remember.”

Joden lowered his hand, took a deep breath, and then he laughed, a deep strong laugh, and spread his arms wide. “The sun is rising and I have slept well. The day calls to me—but my belly rumbles. What shall I have for breakfast?”

Everyone laughed, delighted, and started to shift their positions, sitting with their legs crossed, and patting the ground next to them. Keir relaxed, and got into position as well, his smile catching my eye. “You will see.”

With that Joden started the first verse, about a root found growing by streams. The verse told us what to look for, and how to peel the bark back and scrape out the soft white insides. I laughed, for this was clearly a teaching song, but the tune was infectious and everyone joined in on the chorus. Keir started clapping, slapping his hands on his thighs, and then on the ground beside him.

Everyone started following that pattern as well, slapping their thighs and lifting their hands to sway to the music. It was like dancing except no one got to their feet—instead everyone swayed to and fro, laughing and chanting. It didn’t take me long to follow along.

Joden started the next verse and sung about berries, red berries that were sweet, green ones that had to be boiled first. And a warning to avoid the white berries, for they would make the shit run down your leg!

Joden hunched over, wrapped his arms over his lower belly, and groaned. He swayed back and forth, groaning aloud, and repeated that verse.

The warriors laughed, and followed right along. I laughed and clapped as well, but stopped when Keir rose from his seat in the middle of the song.

“A dance, Warlord?” Keekai smiled at him.

“A dance, Elder.” Keir looked at me with his eyes half closed. He reached out and stroked my cheek. “For my Warprize.”

I smiled at him, but Keekai grunted. “Afterwards, you will teach me chess.”

Keir turned his head so only I could see, and rolled his eyes. But then he looked at me with eyes that burned, even as he answered her. “After I dance, Elder.”

I blushed, and looked away, biting my lip. He chuckled, low and deep, and I watched as he left the platform and disappeared into the crowd.