Warlord

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