Warlord

remembered it, with a high neckline, long sleeves, and a flared split skirt. Once again I marveled as the fabric slid between my fingers like water glides over skin. It showed no sign that it had been wadded in the bottom of a saddle bag for days.
    Marcus had even packed the slippers. And there, in the center of the bundle, were the two heavy silver bracelets.
    I halted before the throne, and slowly sank onto the cushion. On either side, I could see two black boots broadly planted, and legs encased in black fabric. I was careful to keep my eyes down. I took a deep breath, slowly lifted my hands, palms up, and silently submitted myself to what was to come.
    The room seemed to stop breathing. I felt fingers at the base of my neck, gently unraveling my hair. Strong fingers ran through it, releasing and letting it fall free. I shivered, both at the touch and the implication that disobedience would not be tolerated.
    Cold metal encircled my wrists. I heard a click as they locked into place. Surprisingly, they were heavy silver bracelets, with no chains. Weren't there supposed to be chains?
    A deep male voice boomed above my head, in my language. "Thus do I claim the warprize." I smiled as the picture flashed before me, of kneeling on that cushion and surrendering to the dreaded Warlord. Of looking up into Keir's blue eyes. I'd been so afraid, so terrified, yet I'd found love in Keir's arms. We'd come through so much since then.
    We would come through this too.
    "You slept well?" Keekai asked as she gestured for me to sit across the table from her. This was in another part of her tent, and a private area as far as I could tell. She clapped her hands, and for a few moments the area was filled with those bringing food and drink. But just as quickly the room cleared, and we were left alone.
    "I slept well, thank you. The bed was very comfortable." I settled down, and reached for the kavage.
    "What time is it?"
    "Well toward the nooning." Keekai shrugged. "I saw no reason to wake you. We both needed sleep." She flashed that grin of hers. "I suspect the Council will send us a message before the day is done." I reached for flat bread and an odd looking meat dish that Keekai had already helped herself to. "I can imagine what the message will be," I said. The sauce smelled sweet, and had tiny flecks of red in it. I scooped some on my bread, and stuffed it in my mouth.
    Fire exploded within my mouth and nose. My eyes went wide and filled with tears as I choked.
    "Too spicy?" Keekai asked as I lunged for kavage. "It is my favorite." I gasped for breath. "Keekai!"
    "I'm sorry, Lara." She shook her head. "I forgot to warn you. I love my food spicy and strong. Try this in stead." She pushed over a bowl filled with a creamy, thick paste.
    Carefully, I dipped more bread in, hoping that it wasn't a soupy form of gurt. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that it had a sweet nutty taste to it. "That's more to my liking." Keekai laughed. "Then eat and listen. We need to talk about the Council and its members." I nodded, but kept chewing.
    "Now, the stupid one that spoke out last night was Antas, Eldest Warrior. You saw how we were seated?"
    I frowned, trying to remember. Keekai sighed, dipped her finger in her kavage, and drew on the wood of the table. "The four closest to the floor are the Eldest Singer, Warrior, and Warrior-Priest, and Eldest Thea."
    I frowned, and swallowed my mouthful. "I thought you didn't count years," I pointed out. "How do you know who is Eldest?"
    It was Keekai's turn to frown. "Elder is not because one is old. Elder is because one is best, or has the support of many others."
    "So you are an Elder because of status?"
    "Exactly so." She drew four damp circles in a row. "The Eldest sit here, closest to the earth and the flame."
    She drew more circles behind the three. "Here sit the Elders whose rank is just behind. I sit among them. We are between the elements, earth and fire below, air and water above." She dipped her finger again. "Behind us, on the highest tier, are the newest of the Elders. They are closest to the air and the water."
    "So seating denotes status." I studied the damp spots as they soaked into the wood.
    "Just so. The Eldest are always four. One Warrior, one Warrior-Priest, one Singer, One Thea. Antas is the Warrior, and Essa is the Singer. Wild Winds is the Warrior-Priest. The Eldest Thea rarely attends."
    "I remember Antas," I said dryly.
    "He is a fool," Keekai responded. "I told you that the