When he and I were very, very young, Heath lost an argument with a porcupine in the castle gardens. Eln, who was the castle healer at that time, took control of the situation. He soothed Heath"s tears, directed the castle staff, and dealt with Heath"s pain calmly and carefully. It made a big impression on me as I watched him heal my friend, my own tears drying on my cheeks.
But now I looked into Heath"s face and saw pain that I knew was beyond my abilities as a healer.
Would that the pains of the heart could be healed like the pains of the body.
I knew, of course, who it had to be. "Atira."
"Atira." Heath closed his eyes and sighed. "We started sparring when she was up and moving, at Eln"s suggestion. She was so lovely, and so strong, determined to heal, to learn to read and speak Xyian. She learned our language so fast, and laughed at my attempt to learn hers. I helped her learn to read, she taught me some fighting moves, and, well. . ." He gave me a sheepish look. "One thing led to another, and..."
I gave him a gentle smile. "You don"t have to explain to me, Heath."
He chuckled. "I guess not." He sighed deeply then, and looked off over my shoulder, lost in thought. The boy I"d known all my life was gone. In his place was a man.
"Your parents?" I asked softly.
"Mother and Father are less than pleased. I think they had plans for a placid Xyian wife and
grandbabies." He used his free hand to run his fingers through his hair. "But Atira holds my heart."
I smiled.
Heath rolled his eyes. "Of course, Atira is not happy either. She wants nothing to do with "bonding" and is
displeased that I followed her. But I could do nothing else." He gave me that wry smile again. "I am of stubborn Xyian stock, and will not take "no" for an answer."
"Heath-""Enough of my troubles, Lara." Heath drew himself up briskly, and helped himself to food. "The Warlordwants you to know that the truths are almost finished, and that the Council of Elders only have two thingsto do before the final debate and decision. First, they must determine what weight to give Joden"s words.Then, they will hear your answers to their questions and accusations. The Warlord expects this to allcome together within the next day or two."
I nodded, intent on his words.
"You are guarded now by warrior-priests, but he has others watching over you as well."
"I"ve seen them."
Heath nodded. "They did that on purpose, Lara. The Warlord says that the warrior-priests are not to be
trusted. If you are in need, cry out and help will come."
I relaxed a bit at that knowledge, but Keekai"s words about blind hatred came back to me as well.
Heath flashed a smile at me. "Keir made me repeat this next part over and over. He does not trust my
Xyian memory!"
He put down his bread on the table, and deepened his voice, as if imitating Keir. "All will be well, fire of
my heart." Heath knit the fingers of both hands together. "Know that I love you, and that we will be together again soon."My eyes filled with tears, and I looked up into Heath"s understanding eyes. "Heath-""There is one thing more." His eyes twinkled. " "But please, beloved, keep that temper of yours!" "My mouth dropped open. "Why, that man ..." I sputtered.Heath laughed. "Oh, I think he knows you well, little bird!"
Amyu appeared in the entrance, clearly checking on our progress. Heath gave me a sly grin. "Eat up, Xylara, Daughter of Xy."
I watched as he reached for the meat dish with the red flakes in it, and didn"t say a word.
"This courting is over!" I jerked open the tent flap. The entire structure shuddered under the force of my pull, but I just kept moving, not caring in the slightest if the entire tent collapsed on the Warlord Ultie. The arrogant, loud-mouth, overbearing, obnoxious, bad-breathed Warlord Ultie.
It would serve him right.
Amyu and my warrior-priest guards had made themselves comfortable nearby. Caught by surprise, they scrambled for their cloaks and gear. I didn"t stop, just stormed off down the walkway, biting my tongue to keep from speaking my thoughts out loud. That self-centered, boorish cretin. How dare he talk about Xy that way? About Keir that way? To my face? I gritted my teeth as my anger grew with every step away from that- "I would guess that this courting did not go well?" Amyu moved up to walk next to me.
I glanced at her, surprised to see the first very faint hint of approval on her face. I scowled. "That man is a-" I resorted to Xyian for the rest of the sentence.
"They are not all Keir of the Cat," came her very soft response.
I didn"t say anything more, ever conscious of the listening ears of my warrior-priest guards. But I did slow a bit, as we headed toward my tent. It was mid-afternoon, and the Heart was beating with the pulse of its people.
Life on the Plains had a certain rhythm to it. The mornings were for ch.o.r.es, all the necessary things that needed to be done for life to be sustained. Afternoons seemed focused more on play and gathering, or maybe teaching was a better way to put it. Children were playing all around us, mock fighting with wooden swords and daggers. They ran and yelled, warbling cries just like their elders. I smiled to see them, but I knew there was a more serious tone here than just children playing. They were developing the skills that would keep them alive in this world.
I tried hard to let go of my anger and frustration. I was worried about what was happening. But there was no one I could ask who would answer. So I gritted my teeth and tried to be patient. But I feared for Keir.
Two women were playing chess between some tents, their board set on a stump between them. They hunched over, intent on the game. Four children had gathered close, watching the play. I could hear them asking questions, hanging on the older women.
A few steps more, and I was surprised to see a group of horses standing in the walkway, seemingly unat tended, watching as two warriors examined the hoof of one of the mares. They had the leg up, and were checking it over, as the horse craned its neck to look too.
"They allow horses in the Heart?" I asked.
"Of course," Amyu responded. "If they wish. They are free to come and go.""Don"t they soil the area?""Do you?" Amyu answered, with a puzzled look on her face.Honestly. I mentally rolled my eyes at that. For the love of the G.o.ddess, they were just horses.I spoke too soon. There, in front of my tent, stood Greatheart.He neighed and trotted over when he spotted me. I smiled as he b.u.t.ted his head against my chest. "h.e.l.lo, Greatheart."
Which earned me a few confused looks from my escort. I ignored them as I reached up to scratch between Greatheart"s ears, and then along the scar that ran over his chest.
"Greatheart?" Amyu asked. "What is that?"
"It"s his name."
"You name horses?" one of the warrior-priests asked, in an insulting tone.
I turned slightly, and glared at all of them. "Yes. Xyians name their horses." I arched an eyebrow. "It"s
also a Xyian custom to exchange names when you meet someone." I glanced at each warrior-priest in
turn, making my point as clear as I could.
They returned my look with stony faces. Amyu shifted her weight, and spoke after she gave them an uneasy glance. "It is the custom of the warrior-priests not to give their names, Daughter of Xy."
"And not to speak, except to insult someone or their ways." I turned away, and buried my face in Greatheart"s mane. He smelled of horse and gra.s.s and freedom. "Are you recovered from our ride, my friend?" I whispered, and watched as his ears flicked in response to the sound of my voice.
Greatheart snorted, and buried his wet nose in my hair, drawing in deep breaths as he took in my scent.
"The Warlord Osa wishes to pay court to you, Xylara." Amyu"s voice came from behind me. "When you are ready."
I sighed for a moment, letting my fingers still. "Just how many warlords are there?"
"Four for each of the four elements," Amyu answered. She continued hastily when she saw my face. "But
only eight wish to court you, Xylara."
I bowed my head, hid my face with my hair and rolled my eyes. It was all so frustrating and tiresome.
Keir was my warlord, he would remain my warlord; they could parade all the stupid arrogant lummoxesthey wanted before me, and he"d still be my warlord.Greatheart snuffed and stamped his foot, and I resumed the scratching. I thought for a moment, and then spoke. "Amyu, is there any chance that this Warlord would want to go for a ride?"
It felt so good, to be on Greatheart"s back and feel him move under me. We were galloping through the gra.s.ses, the wind in my hair. The sun was bright, even if the air was cool, and I smiled, taking deep breaths. It made my spirits rise, to be out and riding.
The blue sky was glorious, but it seemed to me that the reds of the gra.s.ses were muted, duller than when I"d first seen the Plains. Just like the trees of Xy lost their vibrant red and yellow leaves before the snows. Winter was coming to the Plains.
Amyu gestured off to the side, and I saw a rise ahead where we could wait for the Warlord Osa. I pulled Greatheart to a stop and turned him to face the city.
Below us sprawled the Heart of the Plains. The first time I"d seen it, I"d been exhausted, unable to appreciate what lay before me. But now I could look my fill, and marvel at it.
The lake lay glittering in the distance. The huge Council tent was pitched on the sh.o.r.e of the lake, and the city of tents formed around that in a half circle. There was so much color there, in the tents and the banners. It looked like one of the patched quilts I"d had on my bed in the castle. I narrowed my eyes, and studied it for a moment. The city seemed different too, from the first time that I"d seen it. I"d been tired, granted, but still...
"It looks smaller, somehow," I commented.
"Some have left, for the snows are coming," one of the warrior-priests responded gruffly.
"The Heart doesn"t beat in the snows. It sleeps, to beat again when the Plains awaken," Amyu offered, her tone just a bit more friendly. I sighed, and kept my eyes on the Heart. I was getting very tired of the disapproving looks, whether it was due to my skill as a rider, or my evil Xyian ways.
Of course, just as we"d mounted, it occurred to me that going off with only my warrior-priest guard wasn"t the wisest course of action. But I"d wanted air and exercise, and I"d asked impulsively, without really thinking.
I"d underestimated Keir"s cleverness. There was a constant flow of warriors in and out of the Heart; it was almost as busy as Water"s Fall. I"d spotted Prest and Rafe in the first moments of our ride and had re laxed. If Amyu or the others had noticed our shadows, they"d not commented on it. So I was free to admire the sights and await the coming of the Warlord Osa.
He"d better not be like the last one. G.o.ddess, that man had been just plain rude from the moment I"d stepped into his tent. Proclaiming himself to be superior to Keir in every way, and offering to bed me to display his skills. I scowled at the memory. If this new Warlord was the same arrogant a.s.s, I"d leave him here without a word.
The pounding of hooves drew my attention to a group of warriors headed our way. I tensed, thinking it was an attack, but Amyu spoke. "Osa."
At the head of the group was a woman warrior, with hair like flame. She rode a pure white stallion, with a lovely long mane and tail. As they drew closer, I could see that she was dressed in rich brown leathers from the tip of her toes to the top of her ... b.r.e.a.s.t.s. I was taken aback a bit, but I knew that the leathers were not intended as armor, since her more than ample b.r.e.a.s.t.s were thrust up and apart in an astounding display.
Her skin was fair, and she had a whip tied to her belt, opposite her sword. A stunning woman. She reined up close by, and I could see that her eyes were brown, and flecked with gold. She was the loveliest woman I had ever seen.
"Xylara, Daughter of Xy." She inclined her head in a regal manner. "I thank you for this opportunity."
All the breath left my body. G.o.ddess above, she was the Warlord Osa.
Just as well that she turned then to wave off our escorts, and reached to tie bells in the mane of that lovely white horse. It gave me a chance to snap my mouth shut and recover my wits. Even my warrior-priest guards obeyed without question, melting away in the heat of her confident authority. She took no note, as if she expected to be obeyed. Her att.i.tude reminded me so very much of Keir. That alone was enough to tell me that her power was equal to Keir"s. In every way.
She was a picture of perfection as she turned and smiled at me. "I am the Warlord Osa of the Fox."
"Women can be warlords?" I blurted out. "I know they can be warriors, but-"
One perfect brow rose, but Osa was polite in her answer. "Of course, Xylara." She tilted her head, and studied me with warm brown eyes. "I"d heard that your ways are far different from ours, but surely not that different."
I opened my mouth, but words failed me. How could I explain my culture to this woman? I settled for the simplest explanation. "Woman warriors are rare in my land. Woman warleaders are rarer still."
She nodded then, knotting her reins in front of her, and starting to pull off her brown gloves. I was suddenly very conscious of my tangled hair, and my clothes. A little brown bird next to a phoenix.
I had to know. "Have you ever slept with Keir?" I blurted out, my face flushed in embarra.s.sment even as the words left my lips.
Honestly surprised, Osa gave me an elegant shrug. "No, Xylara. Once I met my obligations to the Tribe, my bedmates have all been women. Men are not to my taste." She gave me a sly glance. "Which is why I asked to court you. I"m told that you had no experience before Keir. You might find the ways of loving between women to be more to your liking."
G.o.ddess above.
Just as well that I was seated on a horse. My entire body went cold, then flushed hot as the world tilted around me. And I wasn"t sure if it was fear, embarra.s.sment ... or curiosity.
G.o.ddess above.
Osa"s gentle chuckle brought me back, a gentle sound for so fierce-looking a woman. "I"ve shocked you. Maybe your ways are so very different from ours, yes?"
I swallowed hard. "I-I"d not give offense."
"I take none. And it didn"t occur to me to ask for your token, so I hope I have given none." Osa shook her head, and her red curls danced in the sun. "What does it matter who sleeps with whom, as long as it is by agreement?"
A thought occurred. "Osa, is there rape here?"
"Rape?" I"d used the Xyian word without thinking. I explained and she grimaced in understanding. "Rare,