Chronicles Of The Warlands - Warlord Part 24

I stiffened. "Why doesn't it matter?"

She lifted her face, proud and detached. "Bearing no children, I remain a child myself, unable to serve the

Tribes as a warrior. I will perform this last task, then I will seek the snows."

That explained why Essa and Reness had called her a child, then. I had thought it a form of endearment, but it wasn't. It was her status.

"Amyu." I leaned forward, desperate that she understand. "I have ways to aid a woman to bear children,

but I don't have them with me. There are herbs in the mountains, horse gra.s.s for example, that might-"

"So I turn to your ways to bear for the Tribe?" Amyu spat. "What does that make me? Of the Plains? Of Xy?" She grimaced and turned to go.

"You asked for my help for Eace. Can't you accept that help for yourself?"

She paused, back straight, then headed for the tent flap. "Eat, Daughter of Xy. They are seeing to a bath for you."

She left me sitting there, with food before me, and no real appet.i.te. What a waste that would be. How many lives, like Amyu and Marcus, did the Plains lose because of their ways and traditions?

I took a drink of kavage, dark and bitter on my tongue. Maybe there was a good reason to take babes from their mothers, but I couldn't see it. And I'd die a hundred times before I'd allow a babe of mine to be taken from me.

Suddenly, it seemed so hopeless. The idea that I could change anything about these people, even with Keir's help ... it seemed so ridiculous. So impossible. That we could combine our peoples, and benefit both, despite their differences.

Keir. My throat suddenly closed. I missed him so much. I wanted him close, to talk, to argue, to touch. I hated this separation, hated not knowing what was happening to him. Maybe I could get a message to him, somehow. Maybe Rafe, or Prest? I took up the flat bread, and started chewing.

I stopped in mid-bite. Did she say something about a bath?

"This wasn't quite what I had in mind." I tried not to laugh at them, since it wasn't their fault. But my hosts had very odd ideas of what 'bathing under the bells' meant.

They'd put up a tent over a stream that pooled deeply next to the bank. The tent stretched from bank to bank, and down into the water. There was no top. They'd carefully asked if I had to be private to the skies, and I'd solemnly told them that it wasn't a problem.

"It's private," I conceded. The warrior-priests were glaring at me rather fiercely. Apparently Reness carried a bit of weight and they'd been told in no uncertain terms to arrange a bath for me.

"Of course, my Warlord provided warm water," I added sweetly.

Amyu suppressed a slight smile as my offended guards filed out. "We will guard upstream and down, so that you are not disturbed." Amyu offered a basket full of drying cloths, and a clean tunic and trous on top. I dropped my satchel on the sh.o.r.e, and took them with a great deal of satisfaction. It was going to be chilly, but it was a bath, and I couldn't wait to wash my hair.

Amyu gave me a nod. "Call out if you need me."

I waited until the tent flap fell shut, then stripped off my clothes. The sun was high, almost to the nooning, so that would help keep me warm as I dried. I'd wash out my underthings as well. Naked, I sat on the gra.s.sy sh.o.r.e, and dug out my precious bar of vanilla soap. There was a bit of vanilla oil left too. I'd save that for my hair. I chortled in delight. A bath. Finally!

I set everything out where I could reach it, and then slipped into the water, gasping as the cold stole my breath.

The bottom was sandy under my toes, clear of sticks and rocks. I reached down and added some sand to my hands as I worked the soap for suds. I was determined to get as clean as possible. The sand added a bit of grit as I worked the soap over every inch of my skin.

It didn't take long for the water to feel warm and the air cool. I waded out into deeper water, holding my breath to submerge myself completely, and started in on my hair. It would take time to dry but it would be worth it. It felt so good to scrub my scalp.

Finally, after sudsing and rinsing twice, I stood up straight. My hair felt heavy with all the water and I wrung it out as best I could. Twirling it up in a long rope, I laid it over my shoulder, and moved toward the bank. I'd dry it out and comb it once I was- Something grabbed my ankle.I jumped, squeaked, and dropped the soap.Keir rose from the depths, dripping wet and glorious. I gaped in amazement, drinking in his face."Lara," he whispered, reaching out to me. "We need to-"I leaped into his arms, reaching out to pull his head down, and claimed his lips with mine.Keir moaned into my mouth, and his arms came up to wrap me in their strength. I kissed him again and again, craving his touch, his taste, his hot breath on my chilled skin.

Keir broke the kiss, gasping for air. "We must talk."

I reclaimed his mouth, and raised my leg to rub his hip, trying to get him closer. His arm moved down, his

hand under my b.u.t.tocks, and then both hands, supporting me, lifting me.I held on for dear life, grabbing his shoulders, refusing to release his mouth. He groaned as he enteredme, and moved me with ease, his arms and shoulders flexing under my fingers. I broke the kiss, and wrapped my arms around him, urging him on with soft demands in his ear, letting my fingers play with his wet hair.

It had been so long.

We both shuddered in release at the same time, holding each other tight, fearful of making a sound. The

air was chill, yet there was nothing but heat burning within. I listened to Keir try to catch his breath as I

stroked his damp shoulders. "The skies favor the bold," I whispered softly.

He pulled back his head to smile at me, and kiss me again. "I had to see you. To know that you were well. To taste-"

I kissed him again, desperate for more. Part of me trembled at the risk he was taking, at the thought that we might be caught.

The rest of me trembled for other reasons.

Keir shifted me then, lifting me a bit higher, and carried me over to the bank where my clothing lay. He placed me on the gra.s.s, and stood before me, gently stroking my cheek. "There's not much time, Lara.

We-"

I threw my arm over his neck, and fell back, forcing him to cover my body with his. He groaned again, a sound filled with longing, want and need. My soul sang to hear it.

He braced himself over me, breathing hard. "Lara."

I looked up into those wonderful blue eyes. "Take me, my Warlord."

That was enough to unleash my Cat. He growled low, and moved between my legs, and the entire world

exploded. I was pressed hard into the gra.s.s, and met each thrust with an answering movement. I wrapped my arms around him, and buried my face in his neck, m.u.f.fling my cries against the damp skin of his neck. And just as I could feel my body reach the heights, I bit his neck, playing with the thin skin with my teeth. He arched his back and pressed deep within, convulsing in my arms.

"Xylara?" Amyu's voice cut though my daze.

Keir pulled me up and forward, and we fell into the water together, the cold shocking me with awareness

of the danger. I exploded up out of the depths, to find Amyu standing on the bank, her dagger drawn.

My hands jerked over my b.r.e.a.s.t.s. "Amyu!"

"I thought I heard something." She scanned the area closely.

"I dropped my soap." I turned my back. "Now, if you don't mind . . ."

I looked over my shoulder and made sure that she left the tent. I bent down, peering into the water that

surrounded me- But Keir was gone.

Chapter 13.

We should have talked.

We really should have talked.

After I'd dried off and dressed, I'd staggered back to my tent and announced my intent to take a nap. Amyu had a.s.sumed it was because of the birthing, but the excitement and ... well... vigor of my adventure with Keir had worn me to the bone.

I'd woken to a feeling of contentment that I hadn't felt in a long time. I stretched under the covers, and then smiled, completely relaxed and comfortable. Until I realized how stupid I'd been. I lay in my bed, staring up at the tent over my head, and cursed myself for a fool. Keir and I had needed to talk. And what did I do? I'd thrown myself into his arms like a love-starved slip of a girl.

Still... a smile curled over my lips at the memory.

Maybe Keir would find another way to talk to me. I sat up in bed, quite pleased with myself.

"Xylara?"

"I'm awake, Amyu." I ran my fingers back through my hair, and gathered the blankets to hug them to my chest. "Is it the nooning?"

Amyu stuck her head in, frowning slightly. "It is well past the nooning, Xylara."

"Oh." I smiled brightly at her. "I was more tired than I realized, I guess."

She gave me a doubtful look.

I continued, refusing to allow her disapproval to spoil my sense of well-being. "Some kavage, please? I

can wait until later for food."

"The Warlord Liam of the Deer has asked to court you over the evening meal," Amyu reminded me as she left.

I puffed out a breath of frustration and reached for my clothes. I lifted my voice as I dressed. "Is this an

other like Ultie? If so, I can save us all time and trouble and say 'no' now."

Amyu returned with a tray. "The Warlord Liam has a very good reputation, Xylara." She set the tray down on the bed.

I reached for a drink. "I don't like this, Amyu. The Council is hearing truths, and I'm not permitted to be

there or know what is being said. That is not right."

She paused, and then spoke. "You are of Xy. It is a matter of the Plains, to decide if you will become one of us, with the status of a warprize. These debates that the Council holds are open and free, and you

being there might affect the truths of those that speak." She shrugged slightly. "You may hold some truths against the speakers, even."

"I know what a token means."

"Even those of the Plains sometimes hold truths against the speaker, even after the token is returned,"

Amyu chided me. "We are not all perfect, Xylara."

I nodded ruefully. "Amyu, how is Eace? Can I see her?"