“We should talk,” I managed to whisper, even though my body craved sleep.

Keir sighed. “Talk?” He drew me close and nuzzled my neck. “With my wits gone with the winds, never to be seen again?”

I laughed, and kissed him, but moved out of his arms. If I knew Marcus, he’d have left something for us ... and sure enough, he had. A pitcher of cool water, and gurt. I took up the pitcher and mugs he’d left be hind and ignored the other. I got back into bed, where Keir was waiting to wrap me in the warm bedding.

We drank the cool water, and got comfortable together. I pulled my hair back and up, letting the air get to my neck, still damp with sweat. Keir gave me a hooded look, but I waggled a finger in front of his face. “None of that, now. Talk.”

He sighed again, nodded, and drained his cup.

“Why do you have to release your army?” I asked. “Won’t that leave you vulnerable?”

Keir smiled. “Once a Warlord arrives at the Plains after a season of raiding, he disbands his army, allowing his warriors to return to their tribal groups as they choose. The bounty is distributed and any that have shown valor are honored. The Warlord returns to the Heart of the Plains, to report to the Council of Elders, but only with a few warriors.”

“But—”

Keir shook his head. “You are thinking like a city-dweller. The Plains are hard, Lara. Especially during the season of snows. If the army stays together, it drains the land of animals and water, you see? Spread out, with the tribes constantly moving, that is how we survive on the Plains. In the spring, we come together again for the next raiding season.”

“There is more than one Warlord?”

Keir nodded as he put his cup to the side, and lay back, flat on the bed. “I must release my warriors soon. There will be ehat in their saddle bags, but not much more. It is important that I am here, to remind them of my plans, that the rewards we seek will come in time.”

“Even as Iften reminds them of their lack.”

“Even so.” Keir smiled evilly. “It will not help his cause that he dropped his lance in the hunt.” His smile faded. “Still, the warriors will listen. I cannot leave. And you must go with Keekai.”

I placed my empty mug on the floor, and moved to lay next to him, propping myself up on my elbows so I could see his face. “The ceremony?”

“Normally, a Warlord brings a Warprize directly to the Heart of the Plains as soon as possible. There, they are separated, because the Warprize must come freely to the Warlord, without force or threat. They protect you from me, to allow you to tell them your truths.”

“I know my truth, Keir.” He smiled as I asked my next question. “Courting?”

“The other Warlords are given a chance to court the Warprize, to show that they are more skillful in battle and in leadership.” Keir reached out to twist one of my curls around his finger. “So they each will court you, to try to get you to pick them.”

I snorted softly, and he smiled.

“So, in the morning ...” I prompted.

“Keekai will come for you. You will be removed from my protection, and taken under hers. She will ask if I have provided for you, and brought you to the Plains safely. She will ask if you wish to return to Xy, or go the Heart to face the Council. She will offer to allow you a Guardian, someone that you trust to go with you. It is not required, and no, you cannot ask for me.”

I closed my mouth with a snap.

Keir tugged the curl. “Either Rafe or Prest would be rewarded that way, for it is an honor to conduct the Warprize to the Heart.” He growled slightly. “Normally, it is less than a day’s journey, from the Warlord’s camp to the Council tent.”

“You trust Keekai.” It was a question and a reminder.

“I do.” Keir nodded. “She has great status and authority, and she will watch over you like a cat for its kits.” He sighed again. “But I do not like this. I am trying to bring change to my people, Lara, and change is rarely bloodless.”

I shivered at his words, then crawled into his arms, and placed my head on his chest. “I have to tell you the truth, Keir. I’m afraid.” His arms tightened around me, and I shivered in his arms. “Marcus said that I have to—”

“Face your fear.” Keir’s voice was a soft whisper in my ear. “Easy to say, eh?”

I nodded, and hugged him closer. His breathing hitched slightly, and I lifted my head. “Keir? Am I too heavy?”

“No.” He carded his fingers through my hair. “It’s a comfort, to feel you next to me, skin to skin.”

I smiled, and lowered my head to his chest and closed my eyes. I took a deep breath, taking in the scents of our tent, and the spicy smell of his skin. The warmth we shared beneath the blankets was one of those quiet pleasures that I didn’t really appreciate until it was to be taken from me.

“I will tell you a truth, Lara.” Keir’s voice was soft. “I felt fear for the second time in my life as I lay ill. To have my body weaken that way, unable to move or aid myself.” He shuddered beneath me. “I hope to never face that again. Now I know what I asked Marcus to deal with when he was injured, and I wonder that he didn’t find a weapon and kill us both.”

“Second time?” I lifted my head to look into his eyes. “When was the first? Your first battle?”

“Oh no.” His voice was the barest of whispers. “I am trained for combat, my heart’s fire.” He shifted, moving us to our sides under the furs. “I have been angry and frustrated in battle, but not afraid. No, I swear to you that sitting beside you, terrified that every breath you drew would be your last, not knowing if you would live or die, and helpless to aid you—”

His words broke off, his pain so clear in his voice and eyes. I kissed him then, pressed soft kisses against his lips, his eyes, and his mouth. “I’m here, Keir. Alive and well.”

“Never have the skies been so dark, never have I been so afraid.” Keir pressed his forehead to mine. “And now I must watch you ride away with Keekai, to face the Council alone.”

I lifted my head away, and stroked his cheek. “It will help that she looks so much like you. Could she be your mother?”

“The one who bore me?” Keir shrugged, and I knew he didn’t see how that could be important. In Water’s Fall, Atira had told me that the women of the Plains did not raise the children they bore. Keir continued. “She is of my tribe, and a strong mentor and supporter, both as thea and as tribal elder and council member. You can trust her, Lara, as you trust me.”

Bittersweet words. Keir and I had learned a hard lesson in Wellspring, about trusting in each other. Keir had said that trust could only be mended with time and deeds on both our parts. We’d sworn ourselves to each other, forever, with a new understanding of what that really meant.

I lifted my hands to press them to his cheek. “Keekai said that we would travel slowly. You will come as fast as you can. A few days, Keir. That’s all.” I smiled at him, through my tears. “I will tell them my truths and they will know that I claim you and only you as my Warlord.”

“Lara.” Keir kissed me then, with a hunger that I felt through my whole body. I surrendered to him, letting him ease his body over mine until he pressed me to the bed. My breath shuddered through my body as our passion rose between us.

Keir broke the kiss, hovering over me, his eyes glittering. I spread my hands over his chest, and brushed his nipples with the tips of my fingers. “Make me believe that the sun will not rise, my Warlord.”

Keir crushed his lips to mine.

And in his arms, throughout the night, he almost convinced me.

Despite our efforts, morning dawned clear and cold.

A crowd had gathered before our tent, since word of my departure had spread during the night. I stood in the cleared area, with my bodyguards around me. Keir was off to the side, with Yers and the other warleaders. Iften was there, standing slightly apart, a smirk on his face, two of the warrior-priests at his side. I still couldn’t tell them apart, except that both of them were male.