Keir was by the bed in an instant. He half climbed into the center, and placed a hand on my chest to keep me flat. “You’re awake. Warprize, are you all right?” He was speaking my tongue.
I eased back onto the pillows. “I think my arm is going to fall off.” My voice was a croak.
Keir sucked in a breath.
“It’s not going to fall off.” Eln responded firmly. He frowned at me and gave a sharp jerk of his head, telling me in a not-so-subtle manner to watch my tongue. “I’m sure it hurts, but the wound is clean and well bandaged. There is bruising on your neck, but no real damage. You will recover fully.” Gils hovered behind Eln, his face tight with worry. Eln continued, “Your student did well, Lara.”
Keir snarled. “One of the few who did well.” He returned to his feet. “Tend to her,” he snapped as he resumed his pacing. None of the others had stirred.
I lay back on the bed as Eln leaned forward and placed his hand on my forehead. Gils stood next to him, nervously watching us.
“Eln, how—”
“Kidnaped from my home by mounted warriors and slung over a saddle like a sack of meal.” Eln snorted as he checked my heartbeat. “It took a while before someone who spoke our language explained what had happened.”
“How long have I been out?” I asked, still sounding rough. Gils flicked a look from my face to Eln’s and back.
Eln grunted. “I don’t know. You were unconscious when I arrived, and I have been here for a quarter of an hour.”
I repeated my question to Gils in his language.
“Warprize, you were unconscious for about an hour. I’s did the best I could, but I told the Warlord to send for a real healer from the city, and I knew your teacher’s name.” His face was pale under his red hair. “I’s told him that I’s your apprentice.”
Eln raised his eyebrows when he heard a familiar word. “Your ‘apprentice’ did a fine job of cleaning and binding the wound. I have checked it, and it would seem that stitches are not required.” Eln inclined his head toward the lad. “You might tell him that for me.”
I did, and Gils collapsed next to the bed, his body seeming to fold under the weight of his fears. “I’s so scared, Warprize. That I’s be hurting you, that the Warlord be hurting me…” Keir’s angry voice was raised again. Gils swallowed hard. “I’s think most of the blood we saw be your attackers, not yours.”
Eln produced a cup. “I want you to drink this, then sleep.”
I smelled the contents. “Lotus? No, Eln. I want my wits about me.”
“More fever’s foe then, and water.” Eln didn’t fuss at my refusal.
I looked into the main tent, at the heads that remained lowered, as Keir moved back and forth. “What is going on?” I asked.
Eln looked over his shoulder. “From the tone, I believe the Warlord is going to start ordering executions. ”
I straggled up, heedless of my arm. Gils moved to support me, kneeling behind me on the bed.
Keir’s voice was razor sharp. “I am looking for answers as to how the warprize came to be attacked inside my own camp, while she was under the protection of my warriors.” His head swung angrily toward the kneeling warriors, and I could hear the snarl of an infuriated cat in his voice.
Dearest Goddess, he was angry. The tent contained Epor and Isdra, the captain of the patrol, his men, Simus, Prest, and Rafe. Many of them had bandages as well. General Warren and his men were also on their knees, heads bowed. I thought I saw Iften’s blond head, way in the back. Everyone was on their knees, with the only exception being Simus, who was sitting on a stump near Keir.
Keir continued, pacing all the while. “This much I know. My patrol came across six men of the city watch, who claimed to have been hurt in some type of attack.” His voice was cold and hard as he glared at the hapless captain of the patrol. “They rendered assistance by escorting them to the warprize.” His tone was of one who had been offended.
“Which was what your warprize had requested.” I kept my voice calm and moderate.
Keir swivelled his head to look at me. He gave me a hard look and turned away.
“Once they were in the tent, they attacked as soon as the warprize was vulnerable.” He resumed his pacing.
“Once in the tent, I tended the most severely injured. That is my job as Master Healer.”
Keir turned back and glared at me. “There was no injury. It was a trap, an assassin’s trick aimed at your death.” He swung back to the men. “The so-called wounded attacked you and everyone else in the tent.”
Goddess. “Was anyone else hurt?” I whispered to Gils, as I scanned the crowd.
He lowered his head to my ear. “No, Warprize. We’d just enough warning to get out of the way and let the patrol and your guards handle them.” He paused, and a look of awe came over his face. “Atira killed her assailant and didn’t disturb her leg at all.” He was clearly impressed by her actions. “And when the Warlord burst into the tent…” He shuddered and continued quietly. “We’re never gonna figure out which head goes with which body.”
Keir was still ranting. “When I learn who was behind it, I will…”
I leaned against Gils, feeling very tired. “Arneath.” It took almost all my energy to speak his name.
General Warren’s head came up and he stared at me.
I nodded. “It was Arneath, a member of the Palace Guard.” I closed my eyes. “I think one of them was Degnan. I didn’t recognize the others.”
“Degnan? Son of Durst?” Keir sounded outraged. I heard a low growl, and opened my eyes again. Keir was towering over General Warren, his sword in his hand. Warren was smart enough to jerk his head back down and keep it bent.
“This was a trick, your presence, the watch…” Keir’s voice was low and keen and deadly.
Warren didn’t move. “No. The day my king swore fealty to you, you became my liege. I am a soldier and a man of honor. I would never allow a hand to be raised against a Daughter of Xy.” He lifted his head and looked Keir squarely in the eye. Keir stood there, and I held my breath, thinking to see the man strike as he had in the throne room. Instead, Keir sheathed his sword.
Warren spoke. “Let me return to the castle and make inquiry. I’ll return with the information, and if my people planned this, you may have my life. Do not let the actions of a few destroy the peace.”
“I believe him.” I added my voice, hoarse as it was.
Keir did not respond, but resumed his pacing. I could see that every muscle was tense. His jaw was tight, and the muscles at the back of his jaw seemed to pulse with anger. I felt uncomfortable, disheveled and laying in the bed, when everyone was in the room. My arm ached, throbbed. I shifted it slightly, and stifled a cry when the pain flared sharper.
Keir was at my side in an instant. “You must rest.” He fixed Gils with a glare. Gils moved with all due haste to get me back down on the bed. Keir turned.
“Warren. Take the dead and return to the castle. Inform me of what you find.” He gestured with his hand, switching to his own tongue. “Leave us. All of you.”
Men rose and left quickly. Simus had two men to help him walk out. Eln quirked his mouth. “I take it we are being dismissed.” He rose from the bed. “I will check your patients before I go. With your ‘ apprentice’.”
“Healer.” Keir held out a bag of coins. “For your trouble.” He tossed it to Eln.
Eln stood tall and regal, and watched the bag as it arched toward him and fell to the floor with a plinking sound. He looked straight into Keir’s eyes, his eyebrows arched in quiet anger. “Long before she was your warprize, she was my friend and student.” He looked down at me and warmth returned to his face. “Be well, Lara. If it is permitted, I’ll check on you again.”
He left with that slow stride of his, with Gils in tow.