But it was the statement that I would go into the village that caused that smirk on Iften's face.
He remained silent as the others protested and argued, handing Keir's token from one toanother. They made the same arguments that Keir had made to me, and Keir patiently wentthrough everything again, refuting them as I had done to him. Only when Keir had finished, andthere was an uneasy silence did Iften speak. "How brave and noble is the Warprize to go to theaid of the cursed." His tone was silky and insulting.
"Will you match her courage and offer to go with her?" Keir countered. There was an oddsound to his voice, and I was certain that swords were about to be drawn.
Joden's voice cut through the tension. "So it's true then, the songs of old, that tell of cities laidwaste by illness."
"It's rare, Joden," I reassured him, making sure that my voice hid my fears.
"Can horses get it?" Aret leaned forward a bit, a worried look on her face.
"Not that I've ever heard of, Aret."
"But city folk do not live with their horses as we do," Uzaina countered.
"Maybe our people do not catch this illness?" Wesren asked, sounding wishful.
"The medicines of the Warprize work on our people. I fear that the illness will as well." Keirsighed. "I can't risk that. I will not risk taking this to the Plains. Can you imagine it among thechildren and the theas?"
Iften snorted, waving his hand over the group. "We are all hale and well, Warlord. There is notrace of this 'plague' among us."
"But we've traded with farmers along the way, and there was contact while we were encampedoutside the city walls. The Warprize has said that there is a waiting period to insure that theillness is gone."
There was a stir toward the back, and Tsor rose. He was a big man, with long thick black hair.
"Warprize, I would ask for your token."
I looked at him in surprise, startled that he'd feel that he needed a token in his hand. Gilsnudged me, and slipped a small jar of fever's foe into my hand. I held it up, and Tsor steppedforward to take it. "I hold your token, Warprize. I give voice to one truth."
"I will speak to your truth." I said, curious to hear him.
"Warprize, I have seen the healing that you have done, and I have heard the words of theWarlord. I would not offend, but I am troubled. We of the Plains have a strong tradition ofpassing down our knowledge by the words of our theas and our Singers. But your people, theyrely on words that are on 'paper' and in 'books'." He used the Xyian words slowly, as he playedwith the small jar in his hands. "You keep your wisdom in these things. And you do not have a
'book' here to tell you of the past." He cleared his throat, and shifted his weight, clearlyuncomfortable. "Perhaps your memory is wrong?"
There were soft gasps around the gathering, and even Keir sucked in a slow breath. Marcuswas glaring at the man as if he'd insulted me, and maybe to their way of thinking he had. Gilssat up straight, indignant. I put a hand on his shoulder, afraid that he would do something rash.
"Tsor, it's true that my people put their learning into 'books' in order to save it. But the lessonslearned from them are well learned, especially on the subject of 'plague'." I let my gaze travelover the group. "My teacher was Eln of Water's Fall, and he insisted that we learn and knowthe—" I had to pause, they have no word for 'symptom'. "The signs to look for and how totreat them."
Tsor, still holding the jar, opened his mouth but I wasn't done. "I can't say that my memory isas good as yours. But my knowledge and my skill are from years of learning and doing. Youunderstand?" I looked at him closely as he nodded. "Have I answered your truth?"
"You have, Warprize." He handed the jar back to me, and sat back down.
"So." Keir spoke. "We will aid the village. Wesren, this will be an extended camp. See to it."
Wesren was nodding, but Yers stood, his face thoughtful. "I'd ask the Warprize what to expectfrom the weather at this time of year."
I thought for a moment. "The Goddess's Lace won't be for a few weeks, Yers." I could tell thathe didn't understand. "The first hard frost. We say that the Goddess is weaving the lace for herwedding. The snows start a few weeks after that."
It was clear that my explanation had confused him further. "So it will continue to get colder asthe days shorten?" When I nodded, he grunted and sat down.
Sal spoke up. "Warlord, if we are to be here for any length of time, I must need supplement thesupplies. How long will the time be, before we can safely move on?"
Keir turned to look at me. "Warprize?"
I licked my lips, and my eyes fell to my lap. "Forty days."
All I could hear was the beating of my heart in my ears. I looked over, to see that Keir's facehad turned to stone. My breath caught in my throat, and a sick pit opened in my stomach.
