"Ten, Warprize. The longest for half a day."
"Half a day?" Keir growled. "Why wasn't word sent?" He leaned over to take me.
Joden said nothing until he was sure Keir had me safe in the saddle. "Iften's orders."
The black stamped, reacting to Keir's sudden tensing. Keir shifted in the saddle, easing thebeast, adjusting me in his arms, even as his eyes glittered with rage.
Joden stood there, his face bland. "I would have brought others with me, but none coulddisobey."
"Except you?" I asked.
"There are benefits to being almost a Singer." Joden's teeth flashed as he gave me a raresmile. "Almost the same as being Warprize."
"Where is Iften?" Keir ground the words out. Even in his fury, his arms cradled me gently.
"In your command tent." Joden's face was a polite mask once again, but I knew that his choiceof words was deliberate.
I shivered, fearing Keir's reaction. But he surprised me as he snorted, more amused thanoffended. He gave me a look, and I caught a glimpse of impish humor lurking in the back of hiseyes just as he called out. "Marcus!"
Marcus opened the tent flap. "We're packing as fast—"
"Leave it. I will send others to aid Isdra and Gils. I need you with me."
"Eh?"
"Iften set himself up in the command tent."
Pure rage danced over Marcus's face. He disappeared, only to pop out a breath later, fullycloaked, heading for a horse, muttering something under his breath. Isdra looked out, even asJoden and Marcus mounted.
"Isdra, I will send others to break this camp. Bring Gils and the babe to the command tent asfast as you can."
If she replied, it was lost as the black horse surged forward.
The wind whipped around us as we moved at a gallop. The camp was in the distance, spread outby the shores of a small lake, its waters a clear, cold blue. I was glad of the blanket and thewarmth of Keir's strong arms. But he was grim and silent as we rode. Joden and Marcusfollowed, and to my surprise, my horse was behind them, riderless, but following his herd.
Once we entered the encampment, the warriors about us started to react, calling greetings toKeir, and making those warbling cries. Keir didn't slow the horse, but he responded to the calls,calling out names, summoning war-leaders. I had glimpses of people scrambling for horses andrunning off, obeying his commands.
A familiar voice caught my attention, and a smiling
Rafe rode up next to us, seeming almost to dance in his saddle. "Heyla, Warlord!"
"I call you back to duty, Rafe."
"Good." Rafe turned in his saddle to look behind. "Prest and I can give Epor and Isdra a rest,yes?"
"Epor is dead." Keir's voice was flat, but Rafe's head whipped back in shock, his eyes wide.
"Find Yers, Rafe. Bring him to the command tent."
Rafe turned his horse off. "I'll find Prest as well, Warlord."
As we raced closer, I could see more and more tents around us. Keir had split the army,leaving about half of his troops in Water's Fall with Simus, but he still had a large number ofwarriors with him. If the plague had truly reached the camp, the deaths here would make thevillage seem like nothing. I swallowed hard as the horse came to a stop in front of the commandtent.
Joden and Marcus rode up behind us as Keir dismounted. He wouldn't let me walk the fewsteps to the tent, lifting me without even asking permission. I opened my mouth to protest, buthe cut me off. "Save your strength for what lies ahead."
The guards at the entrance held back the flaps, and Keir strode into the main room of the tent.
Without stopping, he headed for the sleeping area. As he pushed through that flap, I heard anodd grunting sound. I caught my breath at the sight of Iften bare-assed and plowing a woman inour bed.
