Heath grew serious for a moment. “After what seemed like hours, Keir sat, and that Iften spoke. Now there is one full of piss and wind. I’d not turn my back on him. Arrogant, he was, and strutting like a rooster.”
Amyu came in, bearing bread, and meat with melted gurt. Her face was stony, and she didn’t speak.
I knew something was wrong, but all my attention was focused on Heath. “And?” I demanded.
Heath picked up some bread, and waited for Amyu to leave the tent. “Iften ranted, Lara. I was sure at one point that Simus would pull his sword, but he didn’t.” Heath tore at the bread. “Lara, no one has told me the details, but I think Keir was punished by the Council. Their faces were grim as they spoke, and when Keir left the tent.”
“Punished?” I asked. “How?”
Heath shook his head. “I do not know, Lara. They spoke so fast, and with such anger. Odd that such fierce warriors never once pulled their weapons during the council.”
“Heath, you must take care.” I put my hand on his arm to make my point, and felt the muscles there. ’ ”These people are fantastic warriors, and if they take offense, they attack without warning.”
“I know about tokens, and their use,” Heath tried to reassure me. He turned his head and smiled, and in that moment, I realized that my childhood friend had changed. He was thinner, harder, his muscles more defined. When he looked at me, his eyes seemed filled with pain, and a determination that I’d never seen before. “It helps that I still don’t know the language that well. I’m careful what I say and who I say it to, that’s all.”
“Heath ...” I cleared my throat. “What aren’t you telling me?”
There was a long pause as he slowly chewed the gurt. I kept silent, and waited, knowing full well that eventually he’d speak. After a long moment, he raised his head and spoke. “You are not the only Xyian who lost their heart to one of the Plains.”
Chapter 11
When he and I were very, very young, Heath lost an argument with a porcupine in the castle gardens. Eln, who was the castle healer at that time, took control of the situation. He soothed Heath’s tears, directed the castle staff, and dealt with Heath’s pain calmly and carefully. It made a big impression on me as I watched him heal my friend, my own tears drying on my cheeks.
But now I looked into Heath’s face and saw pain that I knew was beyond my abilities as a healer.
Would that the pains of the heart could be healed like the pains of the body.
I knew, of course, who it had to be. “Atira.”
“Atira.” Heath closed his eyes and sighed. “We started sparring when she was up and moving, at Eln’s suggestion. She was so lovely, and so strong, determined to heal, to learn to read and speak Xyian. She learned our language so fast, and laughed at my attempt to learn hers. I helped her learn to read, she taught me some fighting moves, and, well. . .” He gave me a sheepish look. “One thing led to another, and...”
I gave him a gentle smile. “You don’t have to explain to me, Heath.”
He chuckled. “I guess not.” He sighed deeply then, and looked off over my shoulder, lost in thought. The boy I’d known all my life was gone. In his place was a man.
“Your parents?” I asked softly.
“Mother and Father are less than pleased. I think they had plans for a placid Xyian wife and grandbabies.” He used his free hand to run his fingers through his hair. “But Atira holds my heart.”
I smiled.
Heath rolled his eyes. “Of course, Atira is not happy either. She wants nothing to do with ‘bonding’ and is displeased that I followed her. But I could do nothing else.” He gave me that wry smile again. “I am of stubborn Xyian stock, and will not take ‘no’ for an answer.”
“Heath—”
“Enough of my troubles, Lara.” Heath drew himself up briskly, and helped himself to food. “The Warlord wants you to know that the truths are almost finished, and that the Council of Elders only have two things to do before the final debate and decision. First, they must determine what weight to give Joden’s words. Then, they will hear your answers to their questions and accusations. The Warlord expects this to all come together within the next day or two.”
I nodded, intent on his words.
“You are guarded now by warrior-priests, but he has others watching over you as well.”
“I’ve seen them.”
Heath nodded. “They did that on purpose, Lara. The Warlord says that the warrior-priests are not to be trusted. If you are in need, cry out and help will come.”
I relaxed a bit at that knowledge, but Keekai’s words about blind hatred came back to me as well.
Heath flashed a smile at me. “Keir made me repeat this next part over and over. He does not trust my Xyian memory!”
He put down his bread on the table, and deepened his voice, as if imitating Keir. “All will be well, fire of my heart.” Heath knit the fingers of both hands together. “Know that I love you, and that we will be together again soon.”
My eyes filled with tears, and I looked up into Heath’s understanding eyes. “Heath—”
“There is one thing more.” His eyes twinkled. “ ‘But please, beloved, keep that temper of yours!’ ”
My mouth dropped open. “Why, that man ...” I sputtered.
Heath laughed. “Oh, I think he knows you well, little bird!”
Amyu appeared in the entrance, clearly checking on our progress. Heath gave me a sly grin. “Eat up, Xylara, Daughter of Xy.”
I watched as he reached for the meat dish with the red flakes in it, and didn’t say a word.
“This courting is over!” I jerked open the tent flap. The entire structure shuddered under the force of my pull, but I just kept moving, not caring in the slightest if the entire tent collapsed on the Warlord Ultie. The arrogant, loud-mouth, overbearing, obnoxious, bad-breathed Warlord Ultie.
It would serve him right.
Amyu and my warrior-priest guards had made themselves comfortable nearby. Caught by surprise, they scrambled for their cloaks and gear. I didn’t stop, just stormed off down the walkway, biting my tongue to keep from speaking my thoughts out loud. That self-centered, boorish cretin. How dare he talk about Xy that way? About Keir that way? To my face? I gritted my teeth as my anger grew with every step away from that—
“I would guess that this courting did not go well?” Amyu moved up to walk next to me.
I glanced at her, surprised to see the first very faint hint of approval on her face. I scowled. “That man is a—” I resorted to Xyian for the rest of the sentence.
“They are not all Keir of the Cat,” came her very soft response.
I didn’t say anything more, ever conscious of the listening ears of my warrior-priest guards. But I did slow a bit, as we headed toward my tent. It was mid-afternoon, and the Heart was beating with the pulse of its people.
Life on the Plains had a certain rhythm to it. The mornings were for chores, all the necessary things that needed to be done for life to be sustained. Afternoons seemed focused more on play and gathering, or maybe teaching was a better way to put it. Children were playing all around us, mock fighting with wooden swords and daggers. They ran and yelled, warbling cries just like their elders. I smiled to see them, but I knew there was a more serious tone here than just children playing. They were developing the skills that would keep them alive in this world.
I tried hard to let go of my anger and frustration. I was worried about what was happening. But there was no one I could ask who would answer. So I gritted my teeth and tried to be patient. But I feared for Keir.