Warsworn

I let my gaze travel over the group. "My teacher was Eln of Water's Fall, and he insisted that we learn and know the—" I had to pause, they have no word for 'symptom'. "The signs to look for and how to treat them."
    Tsor, still holding the jar, opened his mouth but I wasn't done. "I can't say that my memory is as good as yours. But my knowledge and my skill are from years of learning and doing. You understand?" I looked at him closely as he nodded. "Have I answered your truth?"
    "You have, Warprize." He handed the jar back to me, and sat back down.
    "So." Keir spoke. "We will aid the village. Wesren, this will be an extended camp. See to it." Wesren was nodding, but Yers stood, his face thoughtful. "I'd ask the Warprize what to expect from the weather at this time of year."
    I thought for a moment. "The Goddess's Lace won't be for a few weeks, Yers." I could tell that he didn't understand. "The first hard frost. We say that the Goddess is weaving the lace for her wedding. The snows start a few weeks after that."
    It was clear that my explanation had confused him further. "So it will continue to get colder as the days shorten?" When I nodded, he grunted and sat down.
    Sal spoke up. "Warlord, if we are to be here for any length of time, I must need supplement the supplies. How long will the time be, before we can safely move on?" Keir turned to look at me. "Warprize?"
    I licked my lips, and my eyes fell to my lap. "Forty days."
    All I could hear was the beating of my heart in my ears. I looked over, to see that Keir's face had turned to stone. My breath caught in my throat, and a sick pit opened in my stomach. Iften's smug look was an open grin. "You would delay forty days?" Marcus frowned when Keir failed to respond, his gaze shifting from my face to Keir's. I froze, terrified that I'd gone too far. I'd lured him into this trap, but what choice did I have? The people of the village needed my help. But I'd seen his anger before. Would he support me, or—
    "For the safety of our people." His voice a rasp, Keir turned his head to look at Sal, letting me see the small muscles in his jaw clenching. "Forty days. Plan accordingly." Coward that I am, I avoided Keir and kept Gils at my side after the senel. Marcus had gathered all of the pack horses, and Gils and I split the supplies evenly between us. I talked to him as we worked, going through the various plagues and their treatments. I'd already prepared the letters for Othur and Eln and the messengers had left for Water's Fall at a gallop, with strict instructions to throw the letters to the guards at the gate. I was fairly certain that within a few days, a week at the most, Gils would have help.
    Gils listened earnestly, his gaze locked on my face, absorbing my words. He nodded fiercely, and repeated things back to me, constantly reassuring me that he would be watchful and that he would remember what I said.
    As we worked, I was aware of a brooding presence close by. Keir had not spoken to me, but I felt his gaze scorch the back of my neck.
    Keir had gathered Marcus, Joden, Epor, Isdra, Rafe and Prest near him, and they were talking quietly. I didn't know what they were discussing, but there were occasional glances in my direction. I continued with my work, conscious of the tension in my shoulders and neck and that my feet were starting to throb.
    It was only when Gils and I had finished that Keir stood, and stalked over to me. The others followed, their faces grim.
    "I am ready to go." I had one of the horses. Gils had kept the others. Keir's eyes pierced me, but I kept my gaze steady. I'd come too far to break down now.
    "You will not go alone." Keir gestured, and Epor and Isdra stepped forward. "They will accompany you."
    "Keir, it's too dangerous. They—"
    "No." He cut me off, leaving no room for argument. "We have seen no sick or dying. It could still be an ambush. You will have warriors by your side, or you will not go."
    "We have chosen this, Warprize." Isdra's voice was reassuring.
    'To face an invisible enemy? What songs they will sing of us, eh?" Epor smiled. "Joden is already humming under his breath."
    Joden shrugged and everyone except Keir chuckled uneasily. Keir's face was still a stone, marred only by the tiny pulsing muscle in his jaw.
    "There is one more thing." I paused, not sure how to phrase this request.
    "Whatever it is, I am sure you will have your way, even if you have to lie to make it so." Keir spat.
    There was a pause, and the others