Warlord

herds, it looked like the place was buzzing with activity. People moving everywhere. There were pyres burning by the lake shore.
    My heart started to race within my chest. I tucked my satchel up close to my body. Nervously, I checked the bandages that I'd wrapped around my hands. Then I took a deep breath and wrapped Greatheart's coarse hair between my fingers.
    Greatheart was prancing slightly, my nervousness affecting him. I leaned in close, and whispered in his ear, "Easy, boy. Nothing is going to come between me and my Warlord." Greatheart snorted, then shook his head as if in agreement, pawing at the ground. I sat back up, and took a quick look behind me. The dead had not appeared since I'd left the children, but the way my skin crawled, I felt their eyes on me.
    I turned back, taking a last long look at the tent city below me. It teemed with activity, warriors everywhere, tents being taken down. Best to do this before we were seen and stopped. Or killed.
    I took a deep breath, crouched down and then cried out, digging my feet into Greatheart's ribs. "Heyla!" I urged Greatheart on with my legs. "Run, Greatheart! Run!"
    Greatheart leaped forward, down the rise. The grass flew under us, and within a few breaths we were down into the herds that were between us and the Heart.
    Horses parted to let us through, some even running briefly alongside. Greatheart galloped, his hooves tearing at the ground, running full out. I leaned forward, staying low, trying to be less of a target. "Heyla!
    Go! Go!" I urged.
    The horses's muscles bunched and flowed under me as he ran. I tried to remember to breathe, and tightened my grip on his mane.
    That quickly, we were through the herd and in the tents, still running hard. I saw brief glimpses of gaping faces, astonishment frozen there for the instant before we passed. No brandished weapons. Yet.
    No matter. I wasn't stopping for anything or anyone.
    Shouts rose behind us, but we were moving too fast for any to interfere. Greatheart seemed to know where we were going, since he headed straight for the large Council tent. He ran right up to the entrance, sliding and rearing to a stop. I slid from his back, and then hesitated. I didn't want to lose him now. I kept my hand on his mane, and started to walk. I needn't have worried. The wonderful horse followed me right into the tent.
    I had to blink, to let my eyes adjust to the dimness. The tent seemed full of people, the Elders on their tiers, warriors milling about. I took a few more steps and my presence cut through the noise like a knife. There was complete silence as Greatheart and I walked between the two fire pits. Essa was there, seated on a stool. Battered and bruised, but he appeared whole. He was gaping at me, the Eldest Singer at a loss for words. Wild Winds was next to him, also looking worse for wear. "Xylara, Daughter of Xy, we thought you—"
    "Stop." My voice was hard, and only I knew how brittle it was. I was afraid I'd start sobbing, but my anger was white hot. "Your words are as nothing to me."
    Essa blanched, and dropped his eyes. Wild Winds closed his mouth.
    I glared at them all, letting my eyes roam the tiers. "Your words hold no truth, no meaning, and I will not hear them." I paused to take a breath. My knees were starting to tremble. Greatheart stood silently next to me, swishing his tail back and forth.
    "I demand," my voice cracked, but I kept talking. "I demand that you give me the body of Keir of the Cat, my Warlord." Essa's head came up and his mouth opened, but I cut him off. "I will take his body, and return to the Kingdom of Xy, with any who wish to travel with me." I drew a shuddering breath. "I'll give him to the earth, where the Plains meet the borders of Xy, so that he will be of both lands, forever." I straightened my back, and found the strength to continue. "I share Keir's dream. I will heal any who ask it, be they of Xy or of the Plains." My rage flared within me. "But I will not come before this Council again. Ever."
    Wild Winds stood, a bit unsteady on his feet. "Xylara."
    I focused my rage on him. "Give me my Warlord, you arrogant bastard." There was a commotion from behind me, the sound of running feet. I tensed, sure that I was about to be attacked.
    "Lara!" It was Simus. He caught me in a hug. "Lara, we thought you dead!" That did it. The barriers I'd built about my pain started to crumble. I wrapped my arms around Simus's neck and clung for dear life. "Simus, I saw him die. I saw Keir