It was dark in the depths of the tent. I could hear the drums of the dance, but their beat was slower, and more sensual. I yawned once, cracking my jaw as I did so, and tried to shake the sleep from my eyes. Quietly, Amyu headed for the back area, where she worked and slept. I couldn't make out the details in the dim light, but she walked up to that tent wall, and knelt, pulling it up just enough so that we could squeeze under. I paused, suddenly uncertain.
Amyu sensed my hesitation. "Please. We need a healer."
I nodded and knelt, pushing my satchel before me, and squirmed outside. Amyu followed, and we got to our feet together. "Your guard watches the dance."
Mentally, I rolled my eyes. I could just imagine the kinds of 'dances' they were watching. Amyu's voice was the barest of whispers as she took my arm. "Come." We hadn't gotten five steps when a large man loomed up before us. "What's this?" he asked.
"Prest." I spoke as I sagged in relief. He took a step closer, and I could make out Epor's warclub in its harness over his shoulder.
Another voice came from the shadows behind us. "Warprize. This is not safe." Amyu spun, hand on her dagger, but I wasn't surprised to hear Rafe's voice.
"Someone needs my skills," I responded.
Amyu recovered. "You are Keir's men." I could tell she was surprised that they'd caught us.
"We guard the Warprize," Prest said.
"And we do not watch dances," Rafe responded firmly. "Now why do you lure the Warprize away?"
"She is needed," Amyu whispered urgently. "For a healing." Rafe gave her the once over. "Can she be trusted?" He spoke in Xyian.
"I don't know," I answered in the same language. "But I won't let that stop me from healing someone." Rafe looked at Prest.
Prest shrugged.
Rafe rolled his eyes, and let out a soft, exaggerated sigh. "You are of no help." He turned back to Amyu.
"Show us the way."
She gave a quick nod, and moved silently away in the darkness.
We followed, quietly, as she took us on a path between the tents, careful to disturb no one. While the Heart never stops beating, it does sleep, and there were very few people about, and most were focused on their own tasks.
As we walked, I moved close to Rafe. "How is Keir?" I asked, keeping my voice as soft as I could. Rafe smiled, his eyes twinkling under his hood. "Frustrated. Furious. But determined, Warprize. He hasn't killed anyone."
"Yet," Prest added.
I sighed. "He's not the only one."
Rafe gave me a sympathetic look. "I'll tell him, Warprize. Provided he doesn't kill me for letting you do this."
"Look." Prest pointed.
Ahead of us lay a series of tents, alive with torches and movement. Amyu guided us to the largest one and threw open the flap. The tent was filled with light, heat, and people, both men and women. And the all too familiar smell of blood, sweat, and fear.
"Call out if you need us," Rafe's voice came from behind me, and I absently nodded in response. All of my attention was on the figure on a pallet in the middle of the tent.
It was a woman, a very naked, very pregnant woman, sprawled on the bedding. Her skin gleamed with sweat, and she was clearly exhausted. Her eyes were glazed, unseeing. Surrounded by the others, she was gasping, panting through her pains. Her distended belly shone in the light, looking tight enough to burst.
"How long?" I asked. It had to be hours, by the look of things. All heads turned as I spoke, and Amyu pushed in from behind me.
"Why have you brought her here?" A woman who looked as old as Keekai stood before me, as if to bar my way. She was naked from the waist up, and sweating as well.
"She is a healer." Amyu stood her ground, even as her voice trembled. "If there is any chance to save Eace—"
"That is not your place, child," the woman snapped. For a moment I thought I'd be thrown out of the tent, but her features softened. "What is done is done." She turned away, then, towards the woman on the pallet. I followed, to look between the woman's legs. She was open, and I could see a tiny foot, trying to emerge.
"I am Reness, Eldest Thea." The one who'd barred my path was speaking. "This is Eace's first. I've tried to turn the babe, but it will not shift." She reached out, and a man handed her a knife, its blade bright in the light. The flames from the braziers flickered on its surface, and in her eyes as she looked at me. "I have heard of your skills, you who would be a warprize."
