Marcus went out for a moment to speak with the guards, then returned. When he had caught Keir’s eye, he spoke. “A messenger from the castle.”
Keir nodded. “I was hoping to hear from Warren. Bring the messenger in.”
The flap parted, and a figure walked in. With the light behind him, I could not make out his face until he drew nearer. It was Heath. My face split into a delighted smile. “Heath.” I stood and went over to him, wrapping him in an enthusiastic hug. He returned it with gusto, then pulled back. As always, his hand came up to cup my neck and he pulled his forehead to mine.
“Lara. Are you well?” His whisper was fierce and hard, a contrast to his smiling face.
I nodded, still resting my forehead on his. “Well, very, very well.” I lifted my head and smiled at him. “ Come, sit with me. Eat.”
He shook his head, speaking in a low voice. “No. I’ve a message to deliver and I don’t know how it will be received. Go. Return to your seat.”
I frowned. “Something’s wrong.” It was there in his eyes.
Heath released me and gave me a slight push. I returned to my seat, casting a glance at Keir, who had a concerned look on his face.
Heath advanced another step, and then sank to one knee, bowing before Keir.
“Welcome.” Keir indicated that Heath could rise, but Heath did not do so. Keir continued, “Do you bring word from Lord Warren?”
“Warlord, I was sent by Xymund, the King.”
Keir gestured for him to continue.
“Warlord, the message I was given was of treachery. Of an attack upon Xymund by Lord Warren as he rode through the city.” Keir sat up straight as Heath took a deep breath. “They are not true words, but I will repeat them if you so desire.”
Keir and Simus tensed. The men about me stopped their idle talk and stilled, conscious of a new tension.
Heath continued. “Warlord, my true mission was to kill…” His voice faltered. “… the King told me that upon entrance to the tent he was sure that Lara would approach me and greet me as she is like to do. Upon her approach, I was to strike and kill her.”
Keir was feral still, his voice deep and soft and full of menace. “How so? I see no weapon.”
“Like so, Warlord.” Heath extended his arm, twisted his wrist. A blade the length of a child’s hand sprang forth from under his sleeve. It gleamed, sharp and deadly in the light.
The reaction was immediate. The men around me jumped up, some forming a barrier in front of me, the others pulling their weapons and pointing them at Heath. I stood, fearful for his life, but Keir stopped all movement with a gesture of his hand.
“Yet the Warprize is safe, and you are on your knees before me.”
Heath nodded and swallowed. With quick movements, he removed the hidden blade from his arm as he spoke, “Xymund swore fealty to you, Warlord, and my oath to Xymund then flows through to you. I would not have this stain on my soul. Lara is as a sister to me, and I could not…” His voice cracked under the strain. He threw the mechanism at Keir’s feet and sat back on his heels, slumped in sorrow. “ Xymund holds my parents as guarantee that I would perform this action. He will kill them if my mission fails.”
“Anna and Othur,” I looked at Keir, my heart in my throat.
“I fear that he has been touched by the Goddess,” Heath continued. “I have no other explanation.”
“What does that mean?” Keir looked at me.
“Insane. Mad.” My hand rose to my lips. “Heath, he can’t be—”
“Lara, he changed the day he swore fealty to the Warlord. After you left, he raved for hours.” Heath wiped sweat off his forehead with the heel of his hand. “I swear the defeat did something to him.”
“Sit. Sit,” Simus spoke, gesturing for everyone to return to their seats. Keir nodded, and everyone sat down. I took a step toward Heath, but a quick glance at Keir showed that it would not be a good idea. Undecided, I hesitated. Keir’s jaw was tight, his eyes hard on Heath. I moved to stand behind my Warlord, resting my hand on his shoulder. At my touch, some of the tension left him.
Simus broke the silence. “So the serpent shows his fangs.”
Keir nodded. “If his wits have been taken by the winds, how stands the castle? The city walls?”
“Xymund had me escorted to the rise that overlooks your camp. Two watchers remain there, waiting. They will return to Xymund with word of what occurs within your camp.” Heath raised his head to meet Keir’s eyes. “I believe that once my father and Warren are freed—”
“Warren is held?” Simus leaned forward to ask.
Heath nodded. “He was imprisoned after the Warlord came to the castle.”
“What of the city?” Keir asked again, drawing Heath back to the.subject.
“Warlord, if Othur and Warren are freed, I believe that the army and the palace guards will listen to them. Xymund is the ordained King, but evidence of his madness grows by the hour.”
Keir nodded. With quick words, he translated events for those that didn’t speak Xyian. Once done, his eyes dropped to Heath’s kneeling form and returned to my language. “Rise, Heath. You have risked much, and spared the Warprize. I will not forget this. Where are your parents held?”
Heath stood. “There are cellars, Warlord, under the kitchens. They are confined there, with the rest of the kitchen staff. Xymund took no risk that word would leak before I arrived here.”
Keir nodded and switched tongues again. “Prest, Rafe, you have been to the castle and the kitchens. Pick men to go with us to secure the hostages. Keep the group small. Joden, take charge of the camp. We will make it appear that the Warprize is slain and that the camp is in confusion. But under the cover of that confusion, let men prepare to mount and ride for the castle. Xymund has breeched the peace through his actions, and I will have his head.”
I started, squeezing Keir’s shoulder. He did not look at me, turning to look at Simus instead. “Simus, I ask that you undertake the protection of the warprize personally. Designate whatever men you need to hold her safe. Once the commotion has started, place the army on alert.”
Iften rose at that. “Warlord, it’s my place to take charge of the camp, not Joden.” He almost spat Joden’ s name.
Keir almost snarled. “Iften, if you had both feet planted on the earth, were bathed in flames, calling a wind, holding my token, and blessed by rain from the skies, still I would not trust you with my warprize.”
Marcus snickered, as did some of the others. Iften turned bright red, but held his tongue.
Keir looked at Heath, and once again switched tongues. “Heath, you will be a part of the rescue. Prest and Rafe speak your language. Stay close to them.” Keir covered my hand with his. “The warprize has faith in you. You will be given weapons. But if you should betray us, you are dead. Am I understood?”
“You are, Warlord.” Heath bowed his head.
Keir stood. “Talk amongst yourselves, but let no man leave the tent till we have completed our plans.”
The men moved to obey. Keir turned, and in one quick movement, blocked my view of the tent. He towered over me. I stood my ground and returned his look. He raised his hand and placed a finger against my lips. “Don’t,” he breathed. “I need you safe, need to know that you are well out of that treacherous dog’s hands.”
“Keir, he is my brother and lawful king. You can’t just kill him without…” I paused, torn.
Keir’s jaw tightened. “He has betrayed his people. He has broken his oath to me. He has tried to kill you, his blood and kin. His life is forfeit and it will be at my hand. Would you protect him even so?”