Free Warsworn by Elizabeth Vaughan Page B

startled bird.
    "So." Keir looked out at the village. "Iften."
    "Warlord."
    "Disband the warforce. Tell Wesren to make camp for the night, away from these walls. In the fields beyond that willow, perhaps. His decision."
    Iften glowered, but made no objection. He turned his horse and left us, calling to his men. Keir continued to sit, staring at the village as the war-force melted away. "Brave people, to enclose themselves within those walls and wait for death." A shudder went through him. "I doubt I could do the same."
    "Wait for death?" I replied, sharper than I intended. "Not if I can help it."
    "How so?" Keir asked mildly. I wasn't fooled, for his gaze was sharp. "How can you help them?"
    "By going in there, of course."
    Keir gave me a long, incredulous look. I returned it unflinchingly. There was no change in his expression, he just reached out and grabbed the reins near my horse's chin. "No." Without another word, he turned the horses and started to follow the warriors. Marcus and the others moved into position around us.
    "Keir—"
    "No, Lara." He didn't even look at me as he led the horses forward. I threw my leg over, grabbed the saddle with both hands and slid to the ground. My horse's pace was enough that I stumbled back a step or two as I landed, enough to throw Prest's horse off his stride. Isdra got hers stopped and the look she gave me almost made me laugh out loud. But Keir's face choked off my mirth. His face was a storm cloud building in the sky, dark and angry, and his eyes the lightning. He dismounted and stalked over to me, leaving the horses to stand where they were.
    Prest leaned down to push a strip of privacy bells into my hand. I closed my fingers around them, but never took my eyes off Keir.
    "There aren't enough bells in all the tribes…" Marcus let his voice trail off as he and Isdra pulled away, as Epor and Prest did the same. They gave us plenty of room, but kept their watch just the same. I wasn't sure why, since the biggest danger of all was standing, towering over me, the muscle in his lower jaw pulsing with his anger.
    "What means this?"
    "Keir, we have to help these people."
    "Didn't you just finish telling me the dangers of this plague? Of the deaths it causes? 'A danger greater than any army' That is what you said." Keir ran a hand over his face. "Why would you even think to enter those gates?"
    "To aid the sick, and care for the dying. To learn which plague it is, and where it came from. Keir, it may already be in the kingdom. We must warn Simus and Othur and Eln. The more information we have, the better prepared—"
    "No." Keir cut me off and started to pace, moving with his usual grace. His horse watched us carefully. Mine had fallen asleep again, his head hanging, ears flopping over, eyes closed. He'd put all his weight on his left leg, his right hind foot cocked behind him. Keir cut through my line of sight. "We must be at the Heart of the Plains as soon as possible. Your confirmation must take place as soon as possible. If we delay, we lose our advantage."
    "Keir, these people swore an oath of fealty to you, an oath you demanded. Winning Xy as a fiefdom doesn't just mean taking the spoils. It also means taking responsibility for the people of Xy." I pulled the uncomfortable helmet off, letting the bandages fall to the ground and ran my fingers through my hair to untangle the braid. "The oaths flow both ways."
    "We pass it by, flow around it as the stream flows past a stone. Acknowledging their sacrifice, but keeping clear of the danger."
    "We can't do that. We need information. The army may already be exposed since you've traded with the farmers that we have passed. I am a healer; I have sworn oaths to aid those in need. I have to go in there." I smiled at him. "A healer goes where she is needed. To a Warlord's side or into a stricken village."
    "That's insane. You are the link between our peoples; the only Queen of Xy and the only Warprize. I will not risk you."
    "I swore oaths when