Joden laughed. I was offended at first, but couldn't help but laugh with him.
"So, you thought to become one of the Plains within the space of a few days? You, that havenever ventured far from your home of stone." Joden chuckled.
"I guess I did expect that it would be easy."
"And it is not." Joden shifted a bit in the saddle and the leather creaked in response. "IfMarcus has a flaw, it's that he believes that Keir can do no wrong. Have you talked to Keir,Lara?"
"No. I'm too embarrassed."
Joden fell silent at that, a silence that was all too much like Eln when he was trying to get me tothink about what I had said. And when I did think about it, I flushed in shame. It was the truth, Ididn't feel that I could talk to Keir about these things. He was so proud, so confident, so…
perfect. How could I let him know that his Warprize wasn't? I heaved another sigh.
Joden turned his head slightly, as if to look at me. "This land of yours, this Xy, it is strange tous. Many have confided their unease to me."
"Really?" I looked around the valley, with its hills and trees. The sky above was a bright blue,and the air sweet with the scent of crushed grasses. "Why would they be uneasy?"
"On the Plains, one can see for miles and miles. A storm builds as one watches, and sweepsover the grasses with its rains." Joden looked up to where the mountains blocked our view.
"Here, one can see nothing, and the trees block the stars from sight. It is uncomfortable."
"The Plains sound so big, Joden."
"As wide as the skies themselves, Lara." Joden spoke with a smile I could hear. "They holdtheir own special beauty." His voice was filled with a quiet pride. "But life there is hard, makeno mistake about that. We are of the Plains and we accept the harshness, for it is also a life offreedom, and its taste is sweet."
His tone changed. "Keir seeks to change our ways, to ease the harshness, to improve the livesof all. But change is also hard."
I absorbed his words as he took a deep breath to continue.
"We are returning to the Plains, Lara, and normally our hands would be filled with the spoilsfrom raiding. But this time, this army, although victorious, returns with but a Warprize. In yourown way, you have more value to us than any goods or foodstuffs. But warriors sometimes onlysee the prey in hand, or the lack thereof."
Joden took a breath and continued. "Keir is making his way up and down the line, seeing to theneeds of his warriors. But he is also reminding them that the bounty from this raid will come inthe future, once the snows have cleared. Others work against Keir, pointing to empty handsand sagging saddlebags."
"Iften?" The large, blond man with a scraggy beard who had challenged Keir and threatenedme was not one of my favorites. He looked at me like I was some sort of vermin.
"Iften." Joden confirmed. "There are those that heed him, not enough to break their oaths tothe Warlord, but enough that they will have second thoughts to his new ways." Joden shook hishead. "There will be trouble when we reach the Heart of the Plains."
"Trouble?"
Joden nodded. "But know this, Warprize. Keir has claimed you, and he honors the claim."
"Joden, I don't know what that means."
"We have bonded couples, Lara. Isdra and Epor are an example."
"What does 'bonded' mean?" I craned my neck, looking to see if I could find either of them inthe crowd.
"They are sworn to one another, and have been so for many years."
"I didn't know."
"Yes," Joden's voice sounded like Eln's when I had missed something important. "Talk toIsdra, Lara. You must ask questions when you don't understand." He turned toward me again,and I leaned forward to hear him. "Keir has his reasons for the speed at which we travel. He ishoping to avoid some of the opposition if we can arrive quickly."
"Opposition? To me?"
"Yes. Messages were sent but the Plains are wide. He might be able to get you to the Heart ofthe Plains and confirmed before the major opposition can arrive. Talk to him, Lara. About yourfears. This is something Keir must address. My reassurances will mean nothing to you."
I sighed, laid my head on his back and nodded. "As to the rest, you are doing very well, Lara.
