"There were no bells, Warlord. A Warrior-Priest of the Plains enters where he wishes, when hewishes."
Of all the conceited, arrogant… I opened my mouth to reply, but Keir beat me to it. His voicevibrated with anger, but his face was impassive. "The Warprize is of Xy. Xyians do not exposetheir bodies to others easily. You entered my command tent without invitation, Warrior-priest.
That privacy requires no bells. You ignored the guards placed at the entrance."
The warrior-priest glanced about, but made no response to Keir's accusation. "We were sentby the Elders from the Heart of the Plains. You failed to appear, as your messages indicatedthat you would, bearing a warprize."
I sucked in a breath, but Keir anticipated me. "You traveled with others? Where are they?"
The warrior-priest frowned, taken back by the abrupt change of topic. "They follow. I cameahead."
Keir turned his head, looking around. "The perimeter guards did not stop you?"
"They tried." That arrogance was back again. "What means this?"
Keir ignored him. "Prest, you and Rafe, head off the rest of his party. Tell them to keep theirdistance, and see my orders enforced."
"Enforced?" The warrior-priest gripped his spear tighter as Rafe and Prest ran off.
"We are isolated from others, by the command of the Warprize." Keir looked him in the eye.
"You risk death entering this camp. As you were told when you crossed within."
"I see no enemy."
"Pray that you do not." Keir turned. "Lara, let me return you to our tent. You are shivering."
He put his arm around me and we started walking toward the tent.
The Warrior-priest gave ground only grudgingly. "I would have a report from you, Warlord."
"I will provide the report, Warrior-priest." We both stopped at Iften's words. He was standingthere, Wesren at his side.
"You are Second?" The warrior-priest asked. "Where is Simus of the Hawk?"
"Simus remained behind, upon my order." Keir growled. "I will see a tent set up for you, andwill meet you there to discuss this matter."
"Your tent—"
"You are not welcome within my tent, Warrior-Priest."
I shivered at the look in those cold eyes. Keir swept me up into his arms, and Marcus reachedover to flick the cloak over my bare feet. I could feel the tension in Keir's body, taught andtight under my hands.
"You are welcome within mine, Warrior-priest." Iften raised his right arm. "I would also askthat you cast your healing spells, for my arm has been injured."
"The only honorable wound I see," the warrior-priest said.
That got a reaction. The warriors around us all stiffened, placing hands on weapon hilts. Butwhere ordinarily they would have all attacked for the insult, there was no movement beyondthat. The warrior-priest looked around, and grunted slightly in satisfaction. "I will cast thosespells for you."
Spells? Magical healing? I turned my head to look at the man. "Could I watch? Could I watchthe spell casting?"
Eyes popped open on every face, including the Warrior-Priest's. He looked so astonished Ialmost laughed, but then his eyes turned mean. "No."
"But—"
The squeeze of Keir's arms warned me before the response of the warrior-priest. "You are ofXy, and offensive to the elements."
Keir bristled, and the others too were looking damned angry. The warrior-priest tossed thatmatted hair of his. "Come, Iften of the Pig. I will hear your truths, and heal your wound."
