Warprize

then.”
    “I will keep it.” Atira’s voice held awe. The men standing around remained silent, exchanging glances.
    “You must lay still, as still as possible. It will mend. It will take time, bone is slow to grow. You must be patient.”
    One of the men let out a nervous laugh. “That will be hard for her. She is not the most patient of women!”
    The resulting laugh released some of the tension in the tent. But everyone, the men, the wounded, Prest and Rafe, all had the oddest look on their faces. Her friends handed Atira her weapons, and to my horror, she placed them on and under the bedding well within reach.
    “You’ll get hurt!” I didn’t like the idea of sharp blades so near her skin. Atira shook her head. “Couldn’t sleep without them.” She arranged things to her satisfaction, then settled back. I knew she’d sleep. I gestured to everyone to clear out, and they moved quietly, talking amongst themselves.
    Gils lingered by the table with my meager supplies. “Warprize?”
    I smiled, trying to encourage him. He sat on one of the other stumps, his knees almost up to his chin. “It’s forty days?”
    “Yes, for the bone to heal. Then she will need to exercise the leg to regain its strength.”
    He leaned forward, intent on my answers. “You won’t cast spells to make the healing go faster?”
    “No.” I smiled. “I can’t force the body to heal any faster. I merely make sure that the leg stays straight as it grows back together. There are some salves that I can make to heal the bruising, keep the skin supple and ease some of the pain, but that is all I can do. Time takes care of the rest.”
    Gils looked at me. “You can heal everything?”
    I shook my head, ruefully, remembering the blood that had welled up through my fingers just days ago. “
    No, Gils. There are some things I can’t heal.”
    Gils watched me closely. “How did you learn this, Warprize?”
    “My name is Lara.”
    He looked at me as if I was out of my mind.
    I sighed. “I was apprenticed to a healer who agreed to teach me for my services.” I smiled as I remembered the fuss that had caused. Eln had been nonplused by a Daughter of the Blood wanting to be a healer. Father had been incensed. I looked away for a moment, blinking hard. Three years, and I still missed him.
    “What’s ‘apprentice’?”
    I gave Gils a stern look. “Won’t you be missed in the kitchens?”
    He grinned. “I’s say you needed help. And I’s did help.” He looked at me defensively.
    “True.” I chuckled. “Well then—” I spoke softly as I explained how the process worked. Gils was filled with all kinds of questions that spilled out of him like beans from a jar. He was older than the healing apprentices that I had worked with, but his curiosity was just as strong. We were deep in conversation when Rafe clapped his hand to his forehead.‘The senel!“
    With that, I was hustled back to the tent. Marcus was waiting, and rushed me past Keir and into the privy area. There was warm water waiting. Marcus fussed about my tunic and trous, but satisfied himself with brushing me off. I ignored him and washed quickly. I could hear Rafe talking to Keir as I piled my hair up in a knot on my head.
    Keir was waiting when I re-entered the sleeping area. I could hear the main area of the tent filling with people. He gestured me to his side. “I understand that you have a new patient in your tent.”
    I nodded. “One of the warriors broke her leg. It was a clean break.”
    He had a very slight smile on his face. “You healed it?”
    I shook my head. “I set the bone. Bone healing takes time.”
    “It will heal? She will use the leg again?”
    “Yes.”
    Marcus had moved to stand by the tent flap. Keir looked at him. “This should prove to be an interesting senel.”
    Marcus’s lips twisted. “Aye to that. Ready?”
    Keir nodded.
    Marcus stepped to the table and picked up something that was decorated with feathers and beads and a small string of copper bells. He moved through the tent flap first, and called everyone to attention. “Rise and hail Keir, Warlord of the Tribes and the warprize.” Keir went first, and I followed. The meeting area was filled with men and women, all standing about the room. There was a path down the middle to the raised platform, where two stumps sat slightly off center. Keir moved forward to stand before the stump closest to the center and faced the room. He gestured for me to be seated to his right.