Warlord

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 grass 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 lummoxes they 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 grasses, 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 grasses 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 shore 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. Goddess, 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 ass, I'd leave him here without a word.
    The pounding of hooves drew my attention to a group of warriors