Warsworn

to Keir as he worked.
    As the day wore on, they all kept themselves amused for the most part. I would go over to check on Keir regularly, but all was well, except for an odd feeling that I had. Both Keir and Rafe seemed worried about something, but what it was I couldn't get them to tell me. Rafe in particular seemed always on the verge of asking me about something, only to change his mind at the last minute. Keir was just cranky about something.
    Finally, when Rafe gave me that odd glance for about the tenth time, I confronted him. "Rafe, is there something you want to ask me?"
    Rafe straightened, and gave Prest a beseeching look, as if asking him for help. Prest just shrugged.
    "Warprize, some of the warriors, they are worried."
    "Worried?" I frowned, concerned. Perhaps there had been complications that hadn't been reported.
    "Worried." Rafe nodded. "Especially the male warriors." Male? I thought about that for only a moment before the answer hit me. Of course. Male warriors not used to illness and its effects. I put a hand over mouth to cover my smile, thinking of Rafe and his four 'nurses'. I only spoke when I could do so with a serious tone. "Rafe."
    "Warprize?"
    "Rafe, sometimes, with this kind of illness, the male warriors may have other problems, lingering effects, that might worry them."
    Rafe looked at me, his face intent. "Problems?" His eyes drifted down slightly, then returned to mine.
    "Problems." I said firmly, giving him a steady look. "Such as maybe their… bodies… not working as they did in the past. But it is passing, and will return to normal when their full strength returns."
    "So." Rafe thought for a moment. "Can I spread word of this?"
    "Please." He stood, as if to go, and I raised my hand. "And please spread the word that any can come to me when they have… problems."
    He paused. "Are you sure? It's hard to know, Warprize, your ways are strange to us. No one wishes to embarrass you or to anger the Warlord."
    "I'm modest as to my body, Rafe. But not as to my patients. I have a token. I know what it means. Tell them to use it."
    "I will, Warprize."
    I watched him walk off to spread the word, and then turned and contemplated the command tent. Seems I
    might need to have a quiet word with one very cranky, and very worried, Warlord.
    "It's called a'draw'."
    Keir and Prest glared at me. I remained calm, looking down at the playing board. "When neither player can maneuver the other into checkmate, it's called a 'draw'. The game is over with no winner."
    "There is always a winner." Keir declared.
    "And a loser." Prest agreed.
    I rolled my eyes. "Not always. Keir, you weren't a clear winner against Xy." Keir flashed that boyish grin of his. "Ah, but I claimed my Warprize, didn't I?" I blushed. Luckily, Prest was studying the board. He grunted, "But I've no piece to offer as warprize."
    Somehow, they'd assigned sexes to the various pieces. They didn't like the fact that the Queen was the only female piece on the board. I wasn't sure how they'd assigned genders but they managed to their satisfaction. So now they both looked at the remaining pieces intently. Finally, Keir sat back. "With no Warprize to offer, I suggest we regroup our troops and meet in battle again."
    Prest nodded, and they started to rearrange the pieces.
    I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it again. I suspected by the time we returned to Xy, the rules of the game would be so changed as to be unrecognizable.
    Ortis entered the tent, ducking his head to avoid the top. "Papers from Water's Fall, Warlord." We both looked up, startled to see a bundle of letters in his hand. He spilled them out on the bed at Keir's feet. "Exchanged at a distance, as commanded." I looked up at him, and he smiled and nodded. "I sent your papers back the same way, Warprize."
    "Thanks, Ortis."
    Prest had moved when Ortis had entered, and he now moved the board away from the bed and took his leave. I started sorting through the various letters, looking for familiar handwriting. Most all were formal missives from the Council, but I found one from Eln, Othur, and what looked like another one from Simus.
    I paused, feeling the heavy paper crackle in my hands, looking at the wax seal. I wasn't really sure that I wanted to know their contents. These would contain word of the plague and its effects. I glanced up to see Keir looking at me, patiently waiting. I broke open Othur's seal. Lara,
    All is well, dearest girl. Eln's letter and the reports of the Council