Warsworn

on the bed, his movements slow and deliberate. He began to fumble with the buckles of his armor, but his hands were shaking badly. Isdra stepped close, reaching out to help him. He was already sweating heavily, and I could see the pain in his eyes from the headache. I ground a dose of lotus as fast as I could. Isdra was grim as she released the straps, and helped him off with the heavy leather. Epor used his finger to lift her chin and forced her to meet his eyes. "You fear this."
    Isdra moved her head aside. "I fear nothing." She tugged his tunic up and over his head.
    "You fear this, Isdra." Epor spoke again, his voice soft and insistent. Isdra stopped what she was doing, and looked at him. "I am Isdra of the Fox, warrior of the Plains. I fear nothing."
    Epor put his hands on her hips to pull her close. "But you fear this." Isdra sighed, and her hands grew still. "Epor—"
    He put his finger over her mouth and gently rubbed it on her lower lip. It was a private moment but I could not look away. Finally, Isdra let out a puff of air against his finger. "I fear this," she admitted.
    Epor nodded, and sat down heavily on the bed. "Is that so hard to say?" Epor looked at her calmly. "A true warrior faces the very thing he fears, yes?" Isdra growled. Epor pulled her close, laying his head on her breast. "I will defeat this enemy, and Joden will craft a song to my glory."
    "You'd best. Or Joden will sing only of our deaths. That will please Iften no end, and hurt our tribes and our Warlord."
    "How so?" I asked.
    Isdra hesitated for just a moment. "We are bonded, and as such are valued by the tribes. We spoke of this before. For Keir to lose us in less than honorable combat would shame him."
    "Truth." Epor hung his head down, as if gathering strength. He lifted his head, and looked at Isdra. "But all will be well, fire of my heart."
    "Shut up, and help me get these clothes off of you." Isdra snapped. Epor chuckled. "Heyla, Lara. Would you hear a tale of the strength of my bonded?" Isdra flushed as she knelt at his feet to unlace his boots.
    Curious, I paused in preparing the doses. 'Tell me, Epor."
    "Well, this one, she says to me that we're to bond. Being a wise man, I agreed to her demands, not eager to face her anger."
    Epor grabbed the bottom of his tunic, but got it stuck trying to pull it off. Isdra rose to help him.
    "So, on the day of bonding, Isdra sat first for the spiral to be woven in her ear. All had gathered, and my Isdra sat, so beautiful and so determined not to utter a sound." Epor's head disappeared as Isdra pulled off his under tunic. His voice was muffled by the shirt.
    "Does it hurt, Epor? The weaving?" I asked as I mixed the lotus in water.
    "The piercing hurts, for it takes time for the ear to heal. Once the holes are in, it's not so bad. But my Isdra didn't flinch or cry out, for she is a Warrior of the Plains, strong, tough, and proud."
    Isdra knelt at his feet to finish removing his boots. "It was to honor you."
    "And I was honored." Epor took a deep breath, and I gave him a sharp look. He was suffering, I could see that. I offered him the cup. He took it, and drank it down quickly, with only a light wrinkling of his nose at the taste and continued where he'd left off. "It was then my turn. I sat before the weaver, and at the first touch of his needle…" He paused dramatically, "I screamed like a baby."
    I laughed at the image. "Really?"
    "Oh yes," Isdra sat back on her heels. "He carried on, weeping and wailing, saying that to bond with me was worth any pain, any suffering. He had the weaver and the watchers and the witnesses all laughing so hard they cried."
    "Who can I mock, if I cannot mock myself?" Epor asked hoarsely.
    "I will let no one mock you, my brave warrior." Isdra's voice broke as she stood and finished stripping Epor. His energy was waning before my eyes. Never before had a patient weakened so visibly, so fast, even as the beads of sweat gathered on his face. I'd lost the others. I'd not lose him.
    Isdra folded his clothes off to the side as I helped Epor settle into the bed. She went to place his weapons at his side, but Epor stopped her. "No."
    She looked at him, startled, then over at me. I shook my head as well. "If he raves…" She gave a sharp nod, and placed the weapons, all of them, in the far corner by the hearth. The warclub she set down last, as if to guard the others.
    "You must bind me." Epor's voice was low and rough.
    Isdra balked at that. "I can control—"
    "No.