Warcry

smiled. “I—oh hells.” The truth flashed before him like lightning.
    “What?” Atira demanded.
    Heath put his mug down on the bench. “I know why Durst wanted that language change. I didn’t see it before, and Father hasn’t seen it, or he’d have said something. We are all idiots.”
    He stood, adjusting his sword-belt.
    “What?” Atira reached out, her hand on his arm. “What is it?”
    “When is a child not an heir?” Heath asked her.
    “How would I know?” Atira stood as well, giving him a scowl.
    “Come on,” Heath said. “Let’s go see my father.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her with him.
    She pulled her hand away, but she stayed at his side as he trotted toward the castle. Detros hailed them as they passed the practice circle.
    “Atira,” Detros’s voice boomed out. He was grinning from ear to ear. “I hear you knocked Lanfer on his backside. Good for you!”
    “How did you know?” Heath asked as they moved past him.
    “It’s all over the castle, lad!” Detros turned back to his charges. “Ack, Ward, you hit like a girl! Put some muscle into it!”
    Atira frowned and slowed, but Heath laughed and pulled her on.

    ATIRA KEPT PACE AS HEATH TROTTED THROUGH the castle halls. He asked a quick question of one of the guards, who told him that his father was in his office. Heath headed off in that direction and Atira followed, curious as she could be.
    There were two guards posted at the doors, and one reached over and opened the door for them so that they sailed right through. Othur looked up with a smile that faded to a look of concern. “What’s wrong?”
    “Father.” Heath came to a stop in front of his table covered in papers. “Father, when is a child not an heir?”
    “When it’s not legitimate,” Othur replied.
    “Eh?” Atira stood next to Heath.
    “Oh.” Heath sounded disappointed. “You knew.”
    Othur nodded. “Shortly after we left the Council chambers with the signed document.” The older man sighed. “I should have seen it earlier. It was a mistake to agree to the change of the wording.” But then he gave his son a sharp glance. “I’m impressed that you saw it. You are starting to think like a—”
    “Have you talked to Lara? She and Keir need to—”
    “How can a babe be less than a babe?” Atira asked, puzzled. “Unless it is crippled or born dead.”
    “I’ve spoken with Lara,” Othur said. “She will not discuss it with Keir. She believes that she can convince enough of the lords—”
    “Discuss what?” Atira asked.
    “What?” Heath said. “That is crazy. It’s too late after the birth. The matter must be dealt with before—”
    “She commanded me to remain silent,” Othur said.
    Atira glanced at Heath, and they both looked back at Othur.
    “The Warprize does not silence truths,” Atira said.
    “She did this one,” Othur said. “Flat-out commanded me to be silent. She was trembling and teary, and given her condition, I closed my mouth and obeyed.”
    “That doesn’t sound like the Lara I know,” Heath said.
    “She is bearing life,” Atira said. “Of course she is not herself.”
    “When was this?” Heath demanded. He started to pace before the desk.
    “As we walked back from the council chamber to her quarters. Keir was waiting for her, and she was exhausted.” Othur ran his hand over his head. “I thought I’d try again later.”
    “Why won’t she talk to him?” Heath asked.
    Atira leaned against Othur’s desk and watched Heath walk back and forth. “Please explain legitimate .”
    Heath drew a deep breath. “Lara and Keir are bonded under your ways, not ours. If they are not married in the church, the child is illegitimate.” He continued his movement back and forth.
    “Worse,” Othur said. “Tradition demands that only the Archbishop can wed the royal couple.”
    “How can the actions of the life-bearer make a child any less of a baby?” Atira asked patiently.
    “Not less of a baby,” Heath started, but Othur interrupted.
    “Oh, yes it is. An illegitimate child has less rights in its—”
    Heath held up a hand. “Let’s keep this simple.” He looked at Atira. “On the Plains, the children go through a rite of ascension, yes? In order to be adults?”
    “Yes,” Atira said.
    “In Xy, the life-bearer and the father must go through certain religious rites so that the child has a certain status when it’s born.”
    “And if they do not?” Atira asked.
    “The child is forever barred