“Sal was buying stock for supplies, and the farmer’s wife asked if you were with us.” Keir reached for the loaf of bread and tore off a piece. “Apparently she was worried that you weren’t being fed properly.” He handed me the piece of bread, and a small crock of butter. My mouth watered, and I took the offered knife, and smeared the bread thick with butter and took a bite. I closed my eyes and chewed. The familiar food filled my mouth, and my senses with the taste of home.
“There’s more.”
My eyes popped open to see a baked chicken, bright apples, and a sweating jug. I grinned at Keir, and tore a leg off the chicken. Keir grabbed for the other one.
For many moments, we just ate, licking fingers and sharing the jug. Keir used his dagger to cut apples into crisp slices. They crunched in my mouth, tangy and sweet. The ale was light, cold and bitter. It didn’t take us long to strip the carcass to the bones, and consume every bit of the meal.
I gave a great sigh of contentment as I padded to the edge of the water to wash my hands. I returned to the blanket, and dug through my bag to find my comb and a small bottle of vanilla scented oil. Combing the oil through my thick hair would help with the tangles. Ken-tossed the carcass off into the bushes, along with the apple cores. There wasn’t a bit left of the bread, or the butter. He washed his hands in the water, and returned to pull fresh trous from the bags. I knew that was more for my comfort than for his.
He rejoined me on the blanket, and lay back on one elbow to watch as I combed my hair. It was still damp, and I took my time working through the snarls. The light was still filtering through the leaves, but there was less of a breeze. The miseries of a few hours ago suddenly didn’t seem so important. I smiled at my fears. Amazing what a real bath and a good meal can do for your spirits.
“Marcus told me that you spoke to Joden under the bells. All is not well with you, Lara.”
I didn’t look at him. “I’m fine. I just had some questions—”
“Look at me.” Keir’s voice was firm, and I obeyed, slightly resentful of his order.
“This has been hard on you.” His voice was quiet, and he gave me an intent look. “Marcus has told me that you are trying to cope as best you can.” Keir rolled his eyes. “I got an earful about the abuse I am putting you through.”
I smiled, knowing very well the sharp edge of Marcus’s tongue. “You’re not abusing me. I’m doing fine.”
“I’m sorry for this.” Keir shifted to lay flat on the blanket, his hands on his chest. “I’d slow our pace, but I can’t. We need to arrive at the Heart of the Plains as soon as possible.”
“Joden tried to explain, but I’m not sure I understand.”
Keir turned his head to look at me with his blue eyes. “I sent messengers to the Elders at the Heart of the Plains the very night I claimed you. They will have sent messengers of their own, summoning the other elders and warrior-priests. The ceremony will start when we arrive, under the open skies for all to see. If we hurry, the ceremony will be held before all can make the journey. There are some I would prefer to avoid.”
“Can they deny my confirmation?” I leaned forward a bit, and the blanket that I had wrapped around me dropped slightly.
Keir’s eyes fixed on me, but not on my face. “I don’t want to talk about the future, Lara.” His eyes grew sultry, and his voice roughened. “I don’t want to talk at all.” He rolled back on to his side, and reached over to tug on my blanket. “I’d rather talk about the way the sun is dancing on your skin. How you smell like vanilla. How the light is being caught in your hair, and kept prisoner.”
I flushed up, put the comb down and moved toward him, letting him pull the blanket away from my body. His eyes were half-closed as he pulled me in close, wrapping me in his arms. He nuzzled my neck, and his hand drifted down to my buttock. “Too long apart, Lara. I’ve missed your touch, your heat, your—”
I opened my mouth in a jaw-cracking yawn.
Keir pulled back, looking into my eyes. I blinked at him, my vision suddenly blurry and tired. He shook his head, and then pulled me down to lay next to him, my head on his shoulder. “Sleep, Lara.”
“Keir, let’s not waste this haven. I can sleep late—” Another yawn cut me off.
“But you won’t, and haven’t, have you?” He stroked my back, rubbing circles softly on my skin. “Put your head down, and close your eyes, Lara. I’ll be here, watching over you.”
I yawned again, the warmth of his body and my full stomach defeating me. Keir chuckled as I relaxed, and I felt him pull the blanket up over us, even as I drifted off to sleep.
I woke to the odd feeling of something tugging my hair. Keir had spooned up behind me, and his arm was draped over my hip. The odd feeling was a robber jay, tugging on one of my curls that were spread over the blanket. I’d heard of them from my father, large grey birds that feared no one and nothing, and that stole whatever they could get their hands on. The bird tilted his head, looking at me, then jabbed at my curl again, trying to pull it away.
Keir’s hand flipped out, and the bird took flight, scolding us in the process. I felt Keir nuzzle my neck, and I hummed softly at the pleasure.
Keir chuckled. “You smell wonderful.”
I turned slightly, smiling into his blue eyes. His hand drifted up to cup my breast and I groaned at that simple touch. “One stroke of your hand and I feel such wonderful things.”
“There’s more,” he whispered.
I kissed him, ready and eager for more when there was an outburst beyond the bushes. Horses, a lot of them, pounding up, with warriors calling out for Keir.
Keir sprang to his feet, with sword in hand. I fumbled for the blanket, pulling it to my chest to cover myself.
“Warlord!” The voice that came from beyond the thick alders was high and tense. “I must report.”
“What news?” Keir sheathed his sword and grabbed for the rest of his gear.
“Rebellion, Warlord!”
Chapter 3
The tradition of the Plains is that the Warprize takes nothing except from the hands of the Warlord. This was not, as I’d originally thought, to keep the Warprize subservient and dependent on the Warlord. Rather, it was to allow the Warlord to demonstrate that he had the ability and strength to provide for the Warprize.
This had resulted in some rather rigorous arguments with Marcus, self-appointed guardian of the tradition, once I’d returned to my Warlord’s side. I had won on the issue of my healing equipment and supplies, since Marcus grudgingly acknowledged that Keir had purchased them for me while we’d been encamped.
Marcus had won on the issue of clothing, since that scarred little man had worked miracles in providing me with tunics and trous, and even one memorable red dress. While the clothing he provided was plain, it was also comfortable.
I’d won on the issue of undergarments.
Keeping the blanket around me, I struggled into my breastband as fast as I could, listening to the sounds of warriors and horses moving around our shelter. The leaves somehow didn’t seem as thick as they had been a few minutes ago. “Keir, it can’t be my people.”
Keir grunted, reaching for his armor, called out in a strong voice. “Yers!”
“Warlord?”
“Call senel to hear the report. Warn Marcus, and find Joden as well. Summon the Warprize’s guards.”
Yers’s voice was raised beyond the thicket, carrying out his orders, even as Keir stopped speaking. Keir continued to dress, his movements as fast and precise as a cat’s. “We’ll know soon enough, Lara.” His face was grim as he rearmed himself.
I paused, my arms buried in my tunic, fear coursing through me. “And if it is?”
“It will be answered,” was his gruff response. He gestured for me to continue, and I pulled the tunic on over my head, fighting to pull my hair free.
It had been one of my greatest fears. While I’d convinced Warren, the Lord Marshall, and the entire Council of the wisdom of accepting Keir as Overlord, we’d all known that the outlying areas might not be quite so accepting. Messengers had been sent to spread the word, but events had moved fast, even faster than the pace Keir had set for our return to the Plains. It was possible that one of the smaller villages had decided to defy the command, but I thought it unlikely. No single village had the wherewithall to close its gates and refuse to submit. The long summer of fighting before Xymund had conceded defeat had taken men from the villages. There was a question as to whether we had enough workers to take in what was left of the harvest, much less resist a foe. For in one thing, Keir was implacable: oathbreakers are punished absolutely, and completely. If a village or town swore fealty to him, and then rejected his control, he would raze it to the ground and salt the cinders.