"And what of the food?" Marcus demanded, as Keir marched past the fire to our tent.
Keir spun on his heel, and faced him. "Marcus! Want to know the best part of being aWarlord?"
Marcus's eyebrow rose.
Keir's mouth curled up slowly into a smile. "Getting what I want."
I laughed as Keir turned back toward the tent.
A growl came from behind him. "The Warlord's dinner will be dumped in the dirt if Hisself doesnot eat it now."
Keir paused in mid-step. From his expression, he was torn with rare indecision.
"The meal is ready now. It will be eaten now."
Keir looked at me with such a sorrowful expression in his bright blue eyes. Just then hisstomach rumbled, and I laughed right out loud.
We ate, as the sky above us turned a vivid dark blue and deepened to black. The stars hungbright hi the night sky, with a moon that glowed through the trees. Marcus finished refilling ourmugs with kavage, and was cleaning the remains of our meal away when he asked his question.
"How goes it with the warriors?"
I was seated next to Keir, leaning against his shoulder, a cloak over both of us. But I leanedback a bit to see his face as he replied.
Keir sighed. "Not as well as I could wish. Iften talks, and the warriors look at empty packanimals and empty saddle bags, and wonder if they have done the right thing in following me."
He reached over to stoke my hair. "I tell my truths, but words weigh little."
I leaned over and brushed his lips with mine. There wasn't much that I could say to that. Keir'sconquest of Xy was a break in tradition for the Firelanders. Their normal practice was to raidand plunder what they could, to return to the Plains laden with spoils. But Keir wanted tochange their ways, to conquer and hold, for the benefit of both peoples.
"Fools." Marcus grumbled. "They can't see past the heads of their horses."
"But Keir, that's not quite true. They've pots of fever's foe, and that bloodmoss that wegathered." I yawned. "They know more than they did before about fevers." Goddess knewthat was true. We'd pots and pots of fever's foe left from treating the plague, and everyone hadaided in the treatment of the sick. I'd spread the extra out, making sure that everyone hadsome, and were watching for signs of the plague's return. If the Sweat re-appeared in ourranks, I wanted to know. Every warrior had agreed to carry some, and keep watch.
Except Iften.
Keir gave me a thoughtful look. "That's a truth I had not considered, Lara."
I smiled at him, and then yawned again, so hard my jaw cracked and my eyes watered. Mystomach was full, and I was warm and growing sleepy.
Keir leaned in, taking the cup of kavage from my hand. "You are tired tonight, beloved." Hemoved closer, and put his arm around me. The warmth felt good, and I leaned in, putting myhead on his shoulder.
"She asked for lessons." Marcus answered softly. "She wants to be able to protect you."
"Protect me?"
I nodded, even as I felt sleep overtake me. Their voices continued, as the fire crackled. Thenwe were moving, and I found myself under the blankets with Keir at my side. I roused justenough to murmur a question in his ear.
He chuckled softly. "Warlords also learn to wait for what they want. Sleep, Lara."
Content, I drifted off to sleep.
At some point I felt Keir slip out from under the furs. I lifted my head, my eyes half open, tosee him standing there, talking to one of the guards. I must have made some sort ofquestioning sound, for Keir turned toward me, his eyes glittering in the faint light. He gesturedfor me to return to sleep.
I let my head sink down, grateful that I didn't have to emerge from my warm bed. I'd adoptedthe Firelander custom of sleeping naked. It made more sense to my way of thinking. Lessclothing for Marcus to clean, for example. A sign of my respect for the Firelanders. Goddessknew, Keir seemed… appreciative.
But as convenient as the custom was, crawling naked from warm covers to dress in cold clothesleft something to be desired. So I lay my head back down and let sleep take me.
Much later, I roused again when Keir slid back into bed. He made every effort to keep the coldair from me, but his arm brushed mine in the process.
