Keekai entered the cleared area, dressed in armor and looking so much like Keir that it took my breath away.

“Xylara, Daughter of Xy, from the Kingdom of Xy, you have been claimed as Warprize by Keir of the Cat, Warlord of the Plains.” Keekai’s voice carried to the crowd that had gathered around the dance area. I could tell that she was concentrating on her words, changing them to fit the setting. “He has brought you to the Plains, so that you may go the Heart of these lands and be confirmed as the Warprize. Have you taken anything from the hands of another on this journey?”

“I have not.” I had to swallow to get the words out.

“Has he provided for you?”

“He has.” My voice sounded stronger than I felt, which was good, since my stomach was filled with fluttering moths.

“I am Keekai of the Cat, Council Elder. I’ve been sent by the Council to escort you to the Heart of the Plains.” Keekai held out her hand. “Step out from the protection of the Warlord, Xylara.”

I walked forward, passing between Prest and Rafe, to stand alone before Keekai. I almost felt naked, I was so used to having my guards at my side.

“You are now under my protection, Xylara.” Keekai placed a hand on the pommel of her sword. “Keir of the Cat cannot command your obedience or your actions. Do you understand?”

“I do,” I said.

“A true Warprize is a rare thing. A Warprize represents chaos and upheaval. New thoughts, new ideas, and change. If confirmed by the Council of Elders, you will hold equal status with the warlords, and a place on the Council itself.” Keekai looked out over the people gathered around us. “But to be an instrument of change is not an easy thing. Dangerous, even.” She looked back at me and tilted her head to the side. “As the Plains themselves are a dangerous place.”

I swallowed, but I held her stare.

“Do you understand, Xylara?” Keekai asked.

She wasn’t telling me anything that I hadn’t already heard. Still, it took me a moment to answer. “I do, Keekai.”

“So.” She paused, then continued. “I would ask you—do you wish to go to the Heart of the Plains to be confirmed by the Council as Warprize? Or do you wish to return to your land, to the arms of your people, to your home?” Keekai paused again to consider me closely. “None can force your decision. Speak, and it will be as you wish.”

That was it, the offer of freedom. If I asked, I would be escorted back to Water’s Fall, back to the arms of my loved ones.

Keekai’s eyes were grim. “Understand what you do, Xylara, Daughter of Xy. You step into our world now, into our ways. A land unknown to you. Do you truly wish to leave what you have always known, for the unknown?”

She had sensed my fear. But the Plains were open and wide and something called to me to answer this challenge, and it wasn’t just the love I felt for Keir. This was a chance to help my people and his. I turned my head to look at him, standing in the sun, wearing his chainmail, his arms crossed over his chest, a grim look on his face. But his eyes, they held the promise of all our tomorrows.

I turned back to face Keekai. I could feel the eyes of all the warriors on me, but I had no doubts as to my answer. “I wish to go to the Heart of the Plains, there to claim my Warlord.”

Keekai’s eyes were warm as the crowd parted to reveal Marcus leading Greatheart and a pack animal with supplies. Marcus came to stand just behind Keekai, hidden in his cloak.

Keekai spoke. “The Warlord has provided for your journey, Xylara.”

“And did he provide that on her hip?” It was Still Waters, I think, or at least one of the warrior-priests standing by Iften. He was pointing at my satchel.

“Bought and paid for by my hand, in the city of Water’s Fall.” Keir voice was a low snarl, just this side of polite.

Still Waters sniffed, but said nothing more.

Keekai turned back to me. “Xylara, you have the right to a Guardian on this journey, one warrior familiar to you, to stand at your back, to see you safely to the Heart of the Plains. Would you have a Guardian?”

“I would.” That caused a bit of a stir. Prest and Rafe exchanged glances and I could tell that they were pleased that one of them would be chosen. I was sorry to have to disappoint them.

“Who would you choose as Guardian?” Keekai asked.

I took a deep breath. “I choose Marcus.”

The crowd around us exploded in anger.

I’d known, of course, that Marcus was considered to be less than whole because of his injuries. Never mind that he still held his knowledge or skills. But Keir accepted him, and the others that I’d seen interact with Marcus did as well. I’d thought that Marcus was accepted by the majority of the warriors.

I was wrong.

From the crowd’s glittering eyes and angry faces, it was clear that his disfigurement condemned him. To their way of thinking, he wasn’t even a person.

I gritted my teeth in the face of their anger and repeated my words. “I choose Marcus of the—” I paused, unable to remember his tribe. “Marcus. I choose Marcus as my Guardian.”

“She honors a cripple!” Iften exclaimed, and everyone started talking at once.

Marcus stood silent amidst the uproar, his eyes down. Only the white of his knuckles where he held Greatheart’s reins gave away his feelings.

Keekai’s voice cut through the rumble. Her face was neutral, but her eyes were sharp and hard. “Xylara. You are of a different land, and your ways are not ours.” She gave Marcus a quick glance, then her gaze returned to me. “Your words are strange, you speak in a different tongue and this may cause confusion. The one you refer to is not—” She paused, as if looking for a word. “He is not eligible for this position. This honor.”

“She mocks the elements and our ways,” Iften snarled, looking around at the warriors. Heads nodded in agreement.

“Marcus saved my life twice with his weapons and his care,” I snapped, letting my voice rise with my temper. “Without him, I would not stand here. How can he not be worthy?”

Voices arose, as angry warriors expressed their fury. And fury it was. I’d gone too far. Keekai called for silence not once, but three times, with no success.

As she tried to get control of the situation, Keir caught my eye. He was standing there, silent, his arms crossed over his chest. His expression was sympathetic, but he gave me a slight shake of his head. If Keir didn’t think I should push this issue . . .

Marcus moved, dropping Greatheart’s reins, and knelt at my feet.

The voices all cut off as his cloak settled down around him. In the silence he reached out and took my hand. “You honor me, Warprize, and I thank you. But choose another.”

“Marcus.” My shoulders slumped as I whispered to him. “I want you with me.”

He looked up then, his eye glittering in the shadow of his hood, and whispered back. “I wish to go with you. To see you safe. But do not deny the truth of what is, for what you wish to be.” His voice rose. “Any warrior you choose is honor bound to see you safe to the Heart of the Plains, Warprize. Do not fear.”

I didn’t want to choose another, Goddess knew, and I pressed my lips together to try to control my anger. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair.

But the look in Marcus’s eye told me that I had to accept it. At least, for now. I nodded and released his hand. “I withdraw my choice.”

Marcus rose, and pulled his cloak in to make sure that it covered him completely. He stepped back to his position by Greatheart. The warriors around us were settling down, the warrior-priests all grim and daunting. But Iften, Iften had that smug look on his face, as if all was going well in his world. I narrowed my eyes at that moment, and the obvious choice leaped to mind.

Keekai had her silence, and she turned back to me. “You may choose another, if you wish.”