Warsworn

started to step back, as if anticipating the bells. But Keir raised his hand. "No."
    Everyone stopped. Gils flushed a bright red, and was staring at his feet. My face was hot, but I didn't drop my eyes.
    "Speak."
    "We need to arrange signals. To let you know what kind of plague it is. To communicate what is happening. Because as soon as we know the kind of plague, we will need to send someone to Water's Fall to shout the news to them. Those warbling cries, maybe?" Joden smiled. "They are used in battle, or in the hunt, Warprize. They are not meant for talk. But let us see what we can do."
    Thankfully, with their memories, it didn't take long to assign new meaning to the calls. I thought up as many contingencies as I could, then cleared my throat. "We need one more. For if all three of us sicken and all the villagers are dead. We must set fire to the village and kill ourselves, to prevent the spread of the disease."
    Keir's face was stark. The others were grim. Joden spoke softly. "I thought mercy was not your way, Lara."
    "It is not, Joden. But I will not allow this illness to spread. To your people or to mine." I looked at Epor and Isdra. "Do you understand what you are risking?"
    "We do." They spoke together.
    "And do you swear to—"
    Keir broke in. "You are not yet confirmed, Warprize. Do not exceed your authority." I glared at him. "But I am a Master Healer. They have to promise—"
    "They will do what must needs be done." Keir's look was chilling. I dropped my eyes and tugged at the horse's reins. "We need to go. We are losing the light." We rode in silence to the point where we could see the village gates clearly. There was no change, no sign that our presence had been noted or ignored.
    We all dismounted, except for Keir. Isdra took the reins of the pack horse we'd loaded with supplies. I turned to my apprentice and smiled at him. "Gils—" Gils launched himself at me, and squeezed me tight. I heard a faint whisper in my ear. "I's make you proud, Lara. I's swear it." He stepped back and gave me a smile, red hair gleaming in the sun. "Skies watch over you, Warprize."
    Marcus stood there, looking unhappy and worried. "And now is when you stuff the cloths up your nose, yes?"
    I nodded, too choked up to speak, and hugged him. "Take care of Keir."
    "Always. But who will care for you?" He asked gruffly as I stepped back. Keir was on his horse, as cold and remote as the mountains that surrounded us. He didn't look at me as he spoke. "Skies be with you."
    I took a deep breath, and waited. Keir didn't look down.
    Resigned, I turned away. I accepted the bowl that Gils held out, and Isdra and Epor and I stuffed the cloths in our nose and mouths. "Hope they leave this part out of the song." Epor grumbled as we moved off. I was thankful for the sharp ginger in my mouth, coming up through my nose as I breathed. It explained the tears in my eyes.
    There was a noise behind us. I turned, only to see Gils take a few steps to catch my horse, who had started to fol-low us down the road. The horse protested a bit, but settled under Gils's hand. Keir didn't move at all, and I turned back toward the village. Isdra and Epor were right behind.
    We were almost to the gates when I couldn't take it anymore.
    I stopped and looked back.
    Isdra and Epor gave me a knowing look, but kept walking.
    Keir was off his horse, and Marcus was next to him, his hand on Keir's shoulder. Gils was leading my horse back to the other horses. As I watched, Keir raised his hand. I smiled, and raised my hand as well. Then I raised the other, and slowly brought them close to intertwine my fingers to form a fist. I hoped Keir remembered when he had done that in the command tent, when he announced his intent to weave our people together. I hoped he understood.
    He seemed to, since he raised his hand a bit higher in acknowledgment. At this distance it was hard to tell, but he looked stricken to me somehow. As if I'd taken all his hopes with me. Which I had.
    Tears in my eyes, I lowered my hands and turned away to follow the others. I didn't look back this time. I didn't trust myself not to run back and throw myself in his arms. And I didn't trust him not to tie me to a tree.
     

 

     
     

Chapter 5
     
    Long before my time, King Xy had insisted that a main road be built from Water's Fall through the length of the entire kingdom to the border with the Plains. One of his great grandsons, either Xytell, or maybe Xykreth, had built watch forts along the road