Rafe straightened, and gave Prest a beseeching look, as if asking him for help. Prest justshrugged.
"Warprize, some of the warriors, they are worried."
"Worried?" I frowned, concerned. Perhaps there had been complications that hadn't beenreported.
"Worried." Rafe nodded. "Especially the male warriors."
Male? I thought about that for only a moment before the answer hit me. Of course. Malewarriors not used to illness and its effects. I put a hand over mouth to cover my smile, thinkingof Rafe and his four 'nurses'. I only spoke when I could do so with a serious tone. "Rafe."
"Warprize?"
"Rafe, sometimes, with this kind of illness, the male warriors may have other problems,lingering effects, that might worry them."
Rafe looked at me, his face intent. "Problems?" His eyes drifted down slightly, then returnedto mine.
"Problems." I said firmly, giving him a steady look. "Such as maybe their… bodies… notworking as they did in the past. But it is passing, and will return to normal when their fullstrength returns."
"So." Rafe thought for a moment. "Can I spread word of this?"
"Please." He stood, as if to go, and I raised my hand. "And please spread the word that anycan come to me when they have… problems."
He paused. "Are you sure? It's hard to know, Warprize, your ways are strange to us. No onewishes to embarrass you or to anger the Warlord."
"I'm modest as to my body, Rafe. But not as to my patients. I have a token. I know what itmeans. Tell them to use it."
"I will, Warprize."
I watched him walk off to spread the word, and then turned and contemplated the commandtent. Seems I
might need to have a quiet word with one very cranky, and very worried, Warlord.
"It's called a'draw'."
Keir and Prest glared at me. I remained calm, looking down at the playing board. "Whenneither player can maneuver the other into checkmate, it's called a 'draw'. The game is overwith no winner."
"There is always a winner." Keir declared.
"And a loser." Prest agreed.
I rolled my eyes. "Not always. Keir, you weren't a clear winner against Xy."
Keir flashed that boyish grin of his. "Ah, but I claimed my Warprize, didn't I?"
I blushed. Luckily, Prest was studying the board. He grunted, "But I've no piece to offer aswarprize."
Somehow, they'd assigned sexes to the various pieces. They didn't like the fact that the Queenwas the only female piece on the board. I wasn't sure how they'd assigned genders but theymanaged to their satisfaction. So now they both looked at the remaining pieces intently. Finally,Keir sat back. "With no Warprize to offer, I suggest we regroup our troops and meet in battleagain."
Prest nodded, and they started to rearrange the pieces.
I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it again. I suspected by the time we returned to Xy,the rules of the game would be so changed as to be unrecognizable.
Ortis entered the tent, ducking his head to avoid the top. "Papers from Water's Fall, Warlord."
We both looked up, startled to see a bundle of letters in his hand. He spilled them out on thebed at Keir's feet. "Exchanged at a distance, as commanded."
I looked up at him, and he smiled and nodded. "I sent your papers back the same way,Warprize."
"Thanks, Ortis."
