Warsworn

the Snake."
    "And I am Ksand of the Cat, Warprize." The new girl knelt and held out a half-full jar of fever's foe for my inspection, her brown hair in a braid. "Gils has dosed him with the sleepease. And left this fever's foe for us to use."
    "We have taken his weapons, and removed ours as well. We are ready to bind him when the raving begins."
    Soar sounded almost eager. I heard a snort from outside the tent, and knew that Prest was listening.
    I suppressed my own smile. "You are ready for the battle, then. Let me give you another jar of fever's foe, just in case." I rummaged in my basket. It seemed that Rafe would be well taken care of by his friends. I wanted to stay, but I knew that I didn't have the strength, and that I was needed in the stilltent. Besides, I would insult the honor of these women if I tried to take their duties from them. "I know that Rafe is in good hands, and that you will see him through this."
    I heard a grunt from outside, and knew that Marcus approved.
    The women seemed pleased at my response, and even Fylin unbent enough to reassure me.
    "We will send for Gils if we have any doubts or questions, Warprize." I nodded, and bent down to brush the hair from Rafe's forehead. "May the skies be with you, Rafe."
    His eyes opened then, and cleared, truly seeing me. "You must take another guard, Lara." All four girls went wide-eyed and sucked in their breaths, clearly impressed.
    "No, Rafe. I am safe. Prest and Isdra will see to me until you can return to your duties."
    "I will return as soon as I…" He sighed, and his eyes drifted close.
    "Win this battle, Rafe." I stood, and left the tent before he could see my tears. Outside, Marcus and Prest waited for me, their faces grim. We walked in silence for a moment, as I got my emotions under control. When I felt I could, I turned and looked at Prest. "Four women?"
    Prest smirked.
    Marcus gave a dry chuckle. "Rafe has always been popular. A charmer, that one. To rival Simus."
    I smiled at the comparison. But my smile was short lived as I lifted my head and saw the black smoke still rising from the pyres that burned where a village used to be.
    "Rafe was right, we need another to ward you." Marcus spoke from behind me. I looked down at the ground as I continued to walk, wishing for the security and comfort of my stilltent. "No, Marcus, don't disturb Keir. I have Prest and Isdra, and that's enough." I felt the disapproval radiate from him and cut him off before he could speak. "The healthy care for the sick. The sick try to reclaim their health. Who has time or the strength to threaten me?" We returned to the stilltent in silence.
    The next day a slight noise outside my tent caused me to peek through the flap to see Marcus working his familiar magic on yet another warleader. This time his victim was Joden, being told in no uncertain terms to sit down and eat. Poor Joden looked drained of all his strength as he plopped down onto the stump.
    Marcus returned to shove the baby into Joden's arms, wrapped in a blanket and fussing loudly.
    "Make yourself useful and see to her."
    Startled, Joden took the wriggling handful as Marcus stalked off. The babe was kicking and crying as Joden started to make funny noises, trying to distract her. But I could see her tiny feet moving and knew that she was not to be soothed by such a trick.
    So that clever, exhausted man patiently reached into his pouch and brought out a strip of privacy bells. At the sound, tiny hands reached out of the blankets and clutched them tight. The fussing changed to happy laughter; a happiness reflected in Joden's face. A happiness that I had seen in the faces of others that Marcus had played this trick on, using one tiny baby to restore their hearts. I turned back to my pots with a lighter heart.
    When Marcus returned with soup and kavage, Joden was relaxed, singing a quiet song to the babe. I emerged from the tent as Joden put the babe back in her basket. When he tugged at the bells, she let out a squall, and tugged right back, putting the leather strap in her mouth and gurgling with joy.
    "A warrior's grip, Warprize." Joden accepted the food from Marcus. "What have the elements named her?"
    I pushed my hair back behind my ear as the wind caught it. "Her name was lost, Joden. We found her next to her dead mother. Her thea."
    Joden drank soup, and studied the child. "A serious thing, to lose a name." Isdra walked up with a load of firewood as he continued. "We listen to the elements to find a