I swallowed. “Warlord, it was an accident. I was at the tents of healing, tending to those in need.” My mouth was so dry I could barely get the words out.
“You’ve been hurt. No one touches what is mine.” Keir was almost roaring, his anger white hot. I trembled at the force of his voice, but did not move or look up.
“Warlord, I was treating a wound.” I swallowed hard, trying to get some moisture in my mouth. “The warrior was startled. The fault was mine.”
“Are you trying to get yourself killed? Destroy the peace?” There was an odd note of anguish in his voice.
“No! I wouldn’t betray—”
“You will tell me who it was. He will answer to me.”
“No.” I closed my eyes and held my breath.
Keir came to stand next to me. I could feel his hot glare, hear his heavy breathing.
Yet, somehow I knew that he would not hurt me. Slowly, I raised my head and looked up. His anger had not abated, it was merely held in check. Carefully, I reached out and placed my hand on his arm. The muscles underneath quivered with tension. “Warlord, I am unhurt. The bruises will fade.”
He was unappeased. “You’re under my protection. Whoever did this will pay for his actions.”
“When the action was unintended?” I rose up slowly and moved my hand to his shoulder. I moved carefully, staying as close as I dared. I could just make out Marcus, still kneeling by the entrance. “A warrior taken unaware?”
“As Simus was in the garden?”
I nodded.
He seemed to understand, but had a grim expression on his face. “You are defying me.” His voice rumbled, but it was softer then before.
“Only in defense of one who does not deserve your wrath.” I looked up into angry blue eyes. “Don’t you take the occasional bruise when you practice with your weapons?”
“No.” He snorted, but I could feel some tension leave his arm. “I am better than that.”
“Well, I’m not.” I shivered. “Forgive me.”
“Marcus. Leave us.” Marcus was out of the tent as fast as he had entered.
In no time, I was covered in the furs, warming up nicely. Keir lay beside me, on his side, head propped up with his hand. I yawned, trying to fight sleep, unsure of his expectations.
“You have no skill with weapons.” It was more statement then a question.
“You mean, like a warrior?” It seemed an odd question.
“You can not defend yourself.” His voice sounded odd.
I yawned again. “I can always run.”
He snorted. There was a pause as my eyelids got heavier.
“You are untouched.” His voice rumbled in my ear.
“I got bruised.” I argued.
“No,” he paused again. “I mean you are untouched. You have no children.”
I sucked in a breath, suddenly wide-awake. “I am an unmarried Daughter of the House of Xy.” I stared at the ceiling, and worried my lower lip. “I am…” I rolled my eyes and considered the absurdity of this conversation. It was hard to continue, but he waited patiently. I could feel his eyes on my face. “I was a candidate for a marriage of alliance. As such, I was… am…” The rest froze on my tongue.
“Untouched.” He looked at me through half-closed eyes, studying me like prey. “Ignorant.”
I blushed, then frowned. “I am a healer. A Master Healer. I am not ignorant. I have the knowledge. I just lack…”
“Experience.” He raised an arm and brushed a curl off my forehead.
I moved my head away from his hand, but a huge yawn overcame me again. “That’s right. Knowledge, but no experience.”
“Yet you heal. You see…”
I could feel the heat on my cheeks. “Yes, I know what men and women look like and I know what they do. I just haven’t…”
“This is your peoples’ way?”
“Yes.”
He sighed and rolled over onto his back. As I watched, he closed his eyes and sighed again. Without opening his eyes, he spoke. “Sleep, Warprize.”
I closed my eyes, wondering if I would ever hear my own name again.
I woke when something rumbled next to my ear.
There were voices, speaking softly. Keir was talking to someone. I wasn’t really interested in opening my eyes. It was so warm and I felt so boneless under the furs. It felt so good to just lie there.
The voices stopped and footsteps faded off. Keir spoke softly. “I must be up. Sleep awhile longer.” With that, he slid out, letting in cooler air, ignoring my mumbled protests. I crawled over into the warmth, trying very hard not to wake up. The splashing noises, and the scent of breakfast made that impossible.
Whatever was cooking smelled spicy. When my stomach made its opinion known, I sat up and let the furs pool around my waist as I adjusted my tunic, which had twisted in the night. I reached my arms up, twining them around each other and stretched, arching my back. When the bones in my back had realigned themselves I lowered my arms.
Keir was standing there, watching me.
He was naked from the waist up. Water still glistened on his face and neck.
He had the oddest look on his face.
I flushed and looked away. Once out from under the covers, I darted into the privy area. There was plenty of warm water left, and someone had left a change of clothes for me on one of the benches. I splashed through a wash as quick as I could.
When I emerged, Keir was already eating and Marcus was standing there, his arms crossed. He pointed to the other chair, and I sat quickly. Marcus fixed me with his eye and didn’t stop staring at me until I started eating. He gave me a last look and left the room.
Keir leaned back, a cup of kavage in his hands. “You wish to return to the healing tent?”
I nodded, my mouth full of some kind of porridge. He drank his kavage hot and bitter. I noticed that he did not add anything to it. “And check Simus, if I may.”
“I am calling senel at the nooning. I want you to be there.”
I nodded and wondered what a senel was.
Keir continued. “I am assigning two guards to be with you at all times.”
I choked on my food.
Marcus had come in with more bread. “Good,” he muttered, and left the room.
Keir held up a hand as I tried to clear my throat. “No arguments. I would have you protected, something you can not do for yourself.”
I sputtered. “I am not helpless.”
His eyes strayed to my upper arm. 1 flushed at the implication and opened my mouth to argue. He cut me off with a gesture. “If it is not acceptable, you may stay here, nap and let Marcus feed you.” I heard an exclamation from the other room.
I glowered at Keir.
He was impervious. “I have sent for the guards. They will be here shortly.” He finished his kavage and stood. I grabbed some bread and tore at it, trying not to watch as he strapped on his weapons.
Marcus came in and started to clear dishes. “It’s for the best, Warprize.” I glowered at my mug of kavage. “And yourself?”
“Simus and I need to talk,” Keir responded.
“The attacks on the horses.” Marcus’s tone was grim, and he muttered something under his breath.
“Aye.” Keir caught my questioning look. “Someone is shooting at the herds, killing horses. We believe they are your people.”
I opened my mouth to deny it, but closed it with a snap. Keir was watching me carefully, but he said nothing further. I finished my food in silence, as Keir armed himself, and Marcus fussed.
Sounds at the outer entrance let me know that my guards were coming, and I quickly started to peel the bark off the stump I was sitting on. Marcus demanded to know what I was doing, as Keir moved to greet the guards. I looked up to see Prest and Rafe standing there, grinning like fools. I smiled when I saw them. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Keir led the way, with Rafe and Prest flanking me. Marcus voice called out behind us. “Mind now, be here for the senel. With time to get cleaned up!”
Simus was not in the best of moods. “About time.” He grumped as we entered his tent. Rafe and Prest took up positions outside. “What about these attacks? Any sign it’s the damned city—”