Isdra accepted it, and turned back to the babe. But I fo-cused on Epor and really looked at him.
At the furrow between his eyes, and the stiff way he held his head. "Epor?"
He straightened, empty buckets in his hands, and gave me a weak smile. I took a step closer tosee the sweat on his forehead.
Goddess, no…
CHAPTER 6
"So. I will be the first of the Plains to face this enemy."
Epor put his warclub on the bed, his movements slow and deliberate. He began to fumble withthe buckles of his armor, but his hands were shaking badly. Isdra stepped close, reaching out tohelp him. He was already sweating heavily, and I could see the pain in his eyes from theheadache. I ground a dose of lotus as fast as I could. Isdra was grim as she released the straps,and helped him off with the heavy leather. Epor used his finger to lift her chin and forced her tomeet his eyes. "You fear this."
Isdra moved her head aside. "I fear nothing." She tugged his tunic up and over his head.
"You fear this, Isdra." Epor spoke again, his voice soft and insistent.
Isdra stopped what she was doing, and looked at him. "I am Isdra of the Fox, warrior of thePlains. I fear nothing."
Epor put his hands on her hips to pull her close. "But you fear this."
Isdra sighed, and her hands grew still. "Epor—"
He put his finger over her mouth and gently rubbed it on her lower lip. It was a private momentbut I could not look away. Finally, Isdra let out a puff of air against his finger. "I fear this," sheadmitted.
Epor nodded, and sat down heavily on the bed. "Is that so hard to say?" Epor looked at hercalmly. "A true warrior faces the very thing he fears, yes?"
Isdra growled. Epor pulled her close, laying his head on her breast. "I will defeat this enemy,and Joden will craft a song to my glory."
"You'd best. Or Joden will sing only of our deaths. That will please Iften no end, and hurt ourtribes and our Warlord."
"How so?" I asked.
Isdra hesitated for just a moment. "We are bonded, and as such are valued by the tribes. Wespoke of this before. For Keir to lose us in less than honorable combat would shame him."
"Truth." Epor hung his head down, as if gathering strength. He lifted his head, and looked atIsdra. "But all will be well, fire of my heart."
"Shut up, and help me get these clothes off of you." Isdra snapped.
Epor chuckled. "Heyla, Lara. Would you hear a tale of the strength of my bonded?"
Isdra flushed as she knelt at his feet to unlace his boots.
Curious, I paused in preparing the doses. 'Tell me, Epor."
"Well, this one, she says to me that we're to bond. Being a wise man, I agreed to her demands,not eager to face her anger."
Epor grabbed the bottom of his tunic, but got it stuck trying to pull it off. Isdra rose to help him.
"So, on the day of bonding, Isdra sat first for the spiral to be woven in her ear. All hadgathered, and my Isdra sat, so beautiful and so determined not to utter a sound."
Epor's head disappeared as Isdra pulled off his under tunic. His voice was muffled by the shirt.
"Does it hurt, Epor? The weaving?" I asked as I mixed the lotus in water.
"The piercing hurts, for it takes time for the ear to heal. Once the holes are in, it's not so bad.
But my Isdra didn't flinch or cry out, for she is a Warrior of the Plains, strong, tough, andproud."
