Warlord

laughing up at me. I clutched at his hair, breathless with my own laughter. Thankfully, the smell wasn't too bad, but it was still there. Keir put me on my feet, and Marcus handed him saddle bags and his weapons. "Clothes and some soap. You have enough time to wash before the celebration begins."
    My eyes widened as I took in Rafe and Prest. Rafe seemed fine, but Prest. . . "Prest, you shaved your head!" Those long black braids were gone. Prest's bald head gleamed in the light. He shrugged and ran a hand over his baldness. "Easier to shave." He flashed me a smile. "It grows back."
    "Eventually," Rafe added. "Until then, I will need to protect my eyes from the glare." We laughed, then Keir took my hand. "I've something to show Lara down by the river. We will return." Marcus put his hands on his hips. "None of that, now. There's a celebration to start, and no time for
    'showing' her—"
    Keir cut him off, as I blushed. "We'll be back in time."
    Marcus gave him an evil smile. "I'll have the first meats waiting." Keir grimaced, and grabbed my hand. "Come, Lara."
    We walked out of the light of the fires, heading away from the camp, Rafe and Prest trailing behind. I knew there was a river nearby, since others had talked of getting water there, but hadn't ventured in that direction. It felt good to hold Keir's hand and walk as the sun set in the distance. He tugged me along, looking as if he was searching for just the right place.
    Finally, he dropped the saddle bags, and took up his weapons. "Leave your satchel here. Walk behind me and stay very quiet. I want to show you something."
    He gestured for my guards to stay behind. Then we walked slowly and carefully down a small path to the banks of the river. Keir urged me off to the side, under the shelter of some alders. We crouched below the branches, and Keir settled us down, draping my cloak over the both of us. "Watch the far shore." We waited, sitting close together, silent.
    I leaned closer, and put my lips to his ear. "What did Marcus mean? About the first meat?" I leaned back to look into his face.
    Keir made a face, and put his lips to my ear. His breath tickled as he spoke. "A warlord is given the first meats, the heart, liver, and stomach, of the ehat as an honor, to keep or to share as he sees fit." I raised an eyebrow. He sighed. "I hate the taste of first meats. Always have." I chuckled in spite of myself.
    "So, I make a great show of sharing the meats with all my warriors. Out of my generous spirit and in honor of my warriors." Keir rolled his eyes. "I still have to eat some, but usually only a bite or two. With four ehats, my plate will overflow tonight."
    I covered my mouth to stifle my laughter. "Marcus knows?"
    "Marcus knows. And now you. My most shameful secret."
    I opened my mouth to respond, but Keir placed a finger on my lips, and shook his head. His hand tightened on mine, and I looked over to see a creature making its way to the water. It was big, its yellow eyes bright in the fading light. Its fur was striped like the grasses about us, black and orange. It padded to the water's edge and started to drink.
    "What is that?" I whispered, barely breathing.
    "A cat," Keir breathed back.
    A cat? That was no cat, no cat like I'd ever seen in the mountains. I could easily see this creature pulling down an ehat by itself. I sucked in a breath as it lifted its head and looked straight at us. Then it shook its massive head, yawned, and started to drink again.
    Goddess above, it had a lot of teeth.
    "The scent of the kill pulled it close. The scouts told me it was lurking near here. I'd hoped to show you the symbol of my Tribe. Another gift of the elements." Keir sounded smug and very pleased with himself.
    "We are favored, you and I."
    "Do you hunt those?" I asked quietly.
    "No," Keir answered. "Unless they take to hunting among the people of the Tribes. Then there is no choice. But the body is buried with honor, and the spirit mourned." The cat lifted its head, testing the breeze. Its mouth curled back in a silent snarl, and then it turned and padded off into the darkness, fading into the grasses in the blink of an eye.
    "Come." Keir tugged my hand. "I'll bathe closer to people this night." I readily agreed.
    Keir bathed quickly, with the other men and women of the musk teams who had waited to give the dirt and grasses time to work. I stayed on the bank with his clothes and weapons and snuck glances of my naked, wet Keir. Rafe and Prest stayed close. There were