“Essa,” Keir confirmed, and the both took a step back, and waited.
Essa and the other Singers rode in at a gallop, the horses blowing as they stopped and dismounted. There was no sign of bright colors or silks; they were all armored, weapons ready. Joden eased behind Keir blocking Essa’s view of him.
He really need not have bothered. Essa was focused elsewhere.
“Keir,” Essa strode forward to stand before them. “Antas.”
“Warlord Antas,” Antas growled.
“Really?” Essa arched an eyebrow in a way only a Singer could. “Did you contest at the Spring Trials and I did not see?”
Antas puffed up but Joden could see him rein in his temper.
“What say you both?” Essa demanded.
Antas launched into his speech, and now Essa’s eyebrows climbed to the top of his forehead. He listened, and waited, and when Antas was done he turned to Keir. “What say you?”
“I agreed,” Keir said. “Let it be decided. Here and now.”
Essa nodded. “It has ever been the way of the Plains to use the strength of a warrior’s weapon to support their truths.”
Essa looked coolly at Antas. “The death of one of you ends this conflict,” he said. He turned his gaze to Keir. “The death of armies wastes the lives. Quartis and the others will prepare the challenge circle. My Singers will ride to your respective armies and warn them of what is to happen. Warn them also not to interfere. A trial to the death needs no Singer to judge. But we will witness.”
Simus pulled Keir away. “A word,” he said.
Keir moved, and Joden found himself eye-to-eye with Essa.
“Joden?”
All the Singers stopped in their tracks, and stared, rendered speechless. Joden would have laughed, but there was no humor here.
“E-e-eldest E-e-elder E-e-essa,” Joden let him have the full truth of his voice.
Essa’s eyes bugged out for a moment, but then they narrowed into slits. He opened his mouth, and then snapped it closed, as if remembering his audience. “We have Singer matters to speak on, after this,” Essa said.
Joden bowed his head, and followed Keir and Simus. The other Singers dashed to their horses, and started off with their messages. Quartis started cutting the sod to create the circle. Joden glanced back to see Antas and Veritt in a whispered discussion as Ietha stood off, calmly watching. Essa stood where he had been, looking aloof. But as Joden walked to his friends, he could feel Essa’s glare on the back of his neck.
“What are you thinking?” Simus asked Keir in hushed tones. “You risk everything.”
“The skies favor the bold,” Keir said calmly, reaching for the waterskin on his saddle.
“Lara is going to kill you, if he doesn’t,” Simus pointed out.
Keir drank, then glanced up at the keep. It was too distant to make out anyone, but Joden was sure Lara was watching. “Best if this is over before she knows she needs to worry,” Keir said. He turned back to glare at Antas. “I will kill him and end this.”
“You’re good,” Simus said. “But he is, or was, the Eldest Elder Warrior.”
“I fear treachery,” Joden sang softly.
Keir fixed him with a stare. “Do you have a vision of this? One way or another?”
Joden shook his head.
Keir nodded in satisfaction. “Simus, leave. If I fall—”
“I am not leaving,” Simus said. “Don’t die.”
Keir grinned. “I won’t.”
