Reness looked at me for a moment, and then bowed her head low. “I will inform the others, Warprize. None will challenge your word or your ways in this.”

Before I could say another word, she was gone.

Amyu rose unsteadily to her feet. “I will pour these into the tub, Warprize.”

“Amyu.” I heaved a sigh.

Amyu looked at me then. “It is fine with me, Warprize. Better this than punishment.” She hesitated. “Maybe you will open my eyes, yes?”

I smiled, and she turned to her task. Maybe I would, at that.

I bathed, taking full advantage to scrub myself clean with my vanilla soap. Amyu helped me braid my hair with the ribbons, so that they framed my face. The dress fit perfectly, as did the slippers. Marcus had seen to that, I was sure. Amyu helped me with the lacings in the back.

I’d toyed with taking my satchel, but decided against it. I didn’t have the heart to mar the fit of the dress with its strap. I’d given it to Amyu, who promised to give it to Marcus. She looked at me, clearly pleased at the result. “Your eyes are as blue as the skies, Warprize.”

I thanked her.

“Little Healer!” Simus’s voice boomed from the entrance. “It is time!”

I emerged from the tent to see that the sun was setting, the sky a riot of reds and golds, to match the land beneath. Simus was waiting, with all of my guards, mounted on horseback. Everyone looked like they had spent the afternoon polishing their armor. Even the horses had ribbons in their manes and tails.

Simus’s smile was as wide as the sky. “Finally! It is time to claim your Warlord, Warprize!”

I smiled right back. “Don’t you all look wonderful!”

Rafe, Prest, Ander, and Yveni all smiled back at me, looking their best.

Simus laughed, his gold earrings gleaming in the light. He dismounted with a flourish. “We are your escort, Xylara, Daughter of Xy, Queen of Xy, and Warprize of the Plains. We will ride to the Council Circle.”

“Ride?” I looked over to where the Council tent was, only to find that it was gone. “Simus, where are we going?”

“You will see.” Simus held out his hand. “Let me help you to your horse, Warprize.”

I stepped forward. Simus wrapped his hands around my waist and lifted me easily to Greatheart’s back. Sure enough, the fabric of the skirt floated down around my legs with no problem.

Simus mounted his horse, and we started to walk toward the lake. I looked around, astonished.

The Heart was gone. Well, the tents were gone, all but mine. The only thing left was grass, both tall and flattened, to mark where the city had been. Ahead of us were the People of the Plains, all seated on the ground, laughing and talking. There was one wide walkway through them, which Simus took us down, keeping to a slow pace. I recognized now that the firepits I thought so random through the tents were arranged in a pattern around which the crowds of people now sat.

As we reached the edge of the crowd, a cheer went up, and happy cries of ‘Heyla’ filled the air. Not all the faces reflected joy, but for the most part, my welcome was warm. Simus and my guards sat proudly as our horses walked down to where the Council tent had been.

The tiers were gone now, and only Essa, Wild Winds and Reness stood there, before their stools. I caught a quick glimpse of a cushion on the one behind Essa. Where the tent had been, only the odd stone floor remained, a large circle of grey.

Simus stopped his horse and roared out to the Council, “Eldest of the Elders of the Plains, I bring before you Xylara, Warprize!”

The roar went up as the entire crowd stood. The ground seemed to shake as they all stomped their feet, and raised their voices. The hairs on my arms stood straight up, and my body shook. The excitement on the air was intoxicating, to say the least. Whatever the Elders might think, the People of the Plains were welcoming me with joy.

Simus dismounted, and helped me to dismount from my horse. Once my feet were on the ground, he offered me his arm, in the Xyian fashion. I smiled and took it, and we walked to stand before the Eldest. There, Simus bowed to them, and then to me, and walked off the circle and into the crowd.

Wild Winds held up his staff and the crowd went silent.

The sky had grown a bit darker now, and a breeze had blown up, teasing my hair. I lifted a hand to pat at it nervously, and waited.

“Xylara, Daughter of Xy,” Reness spoke, her voice carrying over the crowd. I could hear her words repeated in the crowd behind me, creating an odd, echo-like effect. “You have been confirmed as Warprize of the Plains. We ask for the final time, do you wish to be released from this position?”

“No,” I replied firmly.

“Xylara, Daughter of Xy.” Essa’s voice was high and clear. “You have been confirmed as Warprize of the Plains. We ask for the final time, do you wish to return to the lands of your people?”

“No,” I answered again, only to hear my response echoing behind me as the crowd repeated it.

“Xylara, Daughter of Xy.” Wild Winds spoke. “You have been confirmed as Warprize of the Plains. Do you wish to claim a Warlord?”

“Yes,” I answered.

“Turn to the People, and claim your Warlord.” Wild Winds gestured.

I took a deep breath, and turned to face the crowd.

The horses had been cleared away, all that remained were the people standing there, silent.

I drew another deep breath of cold, sweet air. “ ‘I claim Keir of the Cat as my Warlord!”

My words were repeated, over and over. I could almost see them move over the crowd like a wave over water.

“Warprize.” Essa spoke, and his words were echoed by the crowd as well. “You choose a man stripped of his—”

“Were he naked and helpless, ill or injured, still would I claim Keir of the Cat as my Warlord.” My voice rang out, defiant and clear.

The Eldest bowed their heads to me.

Essa lifted his head first, and raised his hands. “The Warprize has claimed her warrior.”

He’d changed the wording, but I didn’t care. As his words were repeated, everyone turned, looking down the wide walkway between them. The echos died and we waited in silence.

I’d thought he’d emerge from the crowd at some point, but no one moved. All heads were looking down that walkway, so I looked too, only to see a figure coming toward me in the distance, walking steadily. I squinted a bit, trying to make out who it was, until my eyes went wide with surprise.

It was Keir walking toward me, barefoot and wearing nothing but thin, white trous.

I sucked in a breath. He looked so vulnerable, without armor or weapons. Bare-chested, barefoot, he walked toward me, his face intent, his eyes blue as the skies.

I swallowed hard, recognizing the fabric of the trous. It was the same material as the shift I’d worn when I’d surrendered myself to him in Xy. As I had surrendered to him, he now surrendered to me, in full view of every Plains warrior here.

My heart swelled in an instant, with joy, with pride, with love for the fire of my heart.

My Warlord.

Keir advanced until he stood before me. His bronze skin shone as if oiled. I looked into those blue eyes, and would have reached for him, but he knelt, and lowered his head, so that I could see the back of his neck. The breeze blew again, and I caught the faint scent of vanilla.

“Your chosen Warlord comes before you, naked and bearing no weapons.” Reness spoke from behind me. Her choice of words made her support very clear.

Keir sank down further on his haunches, and bowed his head.

“Your chosen Warrior submits to you, Warprize,” Essa added.

Keir lifted his hands, palms up, as I had done so long ago.

Wild Winds spoke now, with just a touch of sarcasm in his voice. “You are free to reject or claim him Warprize. Speak, under open skies, and it will be as you desire.”