Warprize

to sweep me up in a hug. As the others came in she turned slightly, and indicated the table, set with sweets and goodies. “Please sit and refresh yourselves, my lords.” The serving lad started forward to hand out mugs of ale and Keir and Othur settled at the table, deep in conversation, Anna kept one arm around my shoulders and pulled me over to the great hearth. She clung to me fiercely as she whispered in my ear, “
    Are you all right?”
    “I am fine and well,” I said, smiling at her.
    She pulled back a bit, and gave the scarlet dress an evil look. “No.” She shook her head so hard all her chins bounced. “Are you all right?” She searched my face anxiously. I flushed and pulled her back into the hug. “Yes,” I whispered. “Yes, I am all right.”
    She pulled away, wiping her eyes, her face full of doubt. “Remn said as much, but what does he know?”
    She frowned, more to keep back her tears than in anger. “You must be starved.”
    Now my eyes filled with tears, for that was Anna’s response to any problem or pain. She pulled a mug for me and pushed one of her confections into my hand.
    “Warprize.”
    I turned to find Keir gesturing me over. With an apologetic look at Anna, I moved to sit by his side. Keir shifted on the bench to make room, and as he did I felt his breath in my ear. “Do not eat or drink.”
    Everyone else was laughing and eating, trying the various treats that Anna had prepared. I kept my head near Keir’s, and my voice down. “Excuse me?”
    Keir stared into his cup, still filled with ale. “Prest will tell us when it is safe.”
    I stared at him, the reason for his behavior dawning on me slowly. I opened my mouth to say something sharp, when Prest leaned across the table. “Warlord, you must try these!” In his hand was one of Anna’s special treats, a small tart with nuts and honey.
    Keir reached out for the one in Prest’s hand, and bit into it. His face melted into a look of pure pleasure.
    “Anna!” She spun around. “Anna, what’s in these wonderful things?”
    She glanced at Othur, who reassured her with a smile. Cautiously, she replied, “Warlord, they are just flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla, with nuts and honey from the castle bees.”
    Keir looked at me, with that boyish smile. “Vanilla. That’s why I like them so much.” He took another bite. “Could you teach my cook to make these?”
    She looked at him through narrowed eyes, and I knew that she found it hard to see the wild-eyed killer in the eager, boyish face before her. “Aye, Warlord, if your cook has any skill at all.” She seemed to relax slightly.
    Othur leaned forward. “About the tokens, Warlord.”
    As they talked, Anna bustled about, making sure that the others had enough to eat and drink. I stayed by Keir’s side, and listened as Keir explained the use of the tokens much as Atira had.
    “So, if I have your token, and I use that to insult you, what then?” Othur asked.
    “I’d reply that the truth you voice is a false, and would issue challenge.” Keir looked grim. “Your choice is to withdraw your words or fight me.”
    “So insults are only made under the protection of a token?”
    “No, but when insult is given without a token, it’s expected that you have a weapon ready, for the insult will be answered immediately.”
    “Ah,” Othur responded. “We give insult, but expect to be challenged before a sword is drawn.”
    “I know that now.” Keir placed his mug on the table. “We must return to camp.”
    As the others stood, I placed a hand on Keir’s arm. “Let me show you something.” I led the way to the still room door. “I spent a lot of time here over the years, distilling medicines and herbs in this room.” I swung the door wide. “This was my kingdom.”
    The door opened on an empty room.
    I stared. Not a table, not a jar, nothing remained. Only the faint lingering scent of herbs in the air betrayed the fact that it had been a stillroom.
    Othur came up behind us. “I should have warned you, Lara. The King had it cleaned out the night you
    …” He paused almost imperceptibly. “Left.”
    I rounded on him. “Othur, there were valuable supplies here, not to mention my… the equipment. What did he do with it?” Othur studied the floor. I grabbed his arm. “Please tell me he sent it all to the Temple of Healing.”
    Othur did not look at me. “He may have. But I don’t know.”
    I spent most of the ride back to camp lost in my own thoughts.