“Say this as well to Lara,” Simus said. “Little healer, I regret pulling him from your side.”
“From your lips to her ear,” Eloix promised.
“The elements ride with you,” Simus said softly. Eloix bowed her head. Yers opened the tent flap and they both left together.
Joden stood there, blinking in the shadows of the tent. “Such a song I could write,” he breathed.
“Not now,” Simus said firmly. “Sleep, then we will see what the skies bring our way. Get to your tent, Joden. Or better yet—” Simus barked an order and one of the warriors threw back the flap and looked in. “Joden and I will snatch a few hours’ sleep. See to it that Joden returns to his tent,” Simus commanded, starting to remove his leathers. “And make sure he’s bedded down before you leave, else he will make songs in his head the rest of the day.”
“I’ll see to it,” the warrior chuckled. “Come, Singer.”
“Not a Singer yet,” Joden protested, as the warrior tugged on his arm.
Simus snorted his amusement as he stripped and crawled into his bedroll. He settled into the furs with a willing sigh of relief, and closed his eyes. His old thea had always said that a warrior sleeps when he can, the better to be prepared. But his thoughts raced, filled with his own questions.
With a huff, he rolled over and forced himself to think on something else. Something...distracting.
Like the mysteries in the depths of cool, grey eyes.
Those thoughts, that sense of curiosity. Simus smiled at himself. As if a warrior-priestess would share her secrets. That would be even stranger than the events of this day. He yawned and settled into sleep.
And dreamed of kavage laced with milk...and just a touch of honey.
Chapter Seven
Wild Winds tiredly stripped and curled up on his bedroll. Snowfall fussed as she carefully covered him completely with his furs, as if he were still ill. Still dying.
“So?” he asked sleepily, pulling the blankets to his shoulders. “What do you think of Simus?”
“I do not understand,” she said softly, dodging his question and his eyes. “Why you would send me from your side.”
Wild Winds rolled over onto his back, stretching under the bedding, then relaxing with a sigh as they warmed with his body heat. “Now it’s more important than ever.” He yawned. “And you are avoiding my question. Tell me your truths.”
“He is a handsome, strong warrior, taller than most. But Simus does not trust you.” Snowfall shrugged. “He does not trust us.”
“No reason that he should,” Wild Winds said. “One night will not change that. But I am still intent on my purpose. You must contest to be his Token-bearer.”
“You have seen to my training,” Snowfall countered, her voice crackling with pain. “You will need my help with the others.”
“No.” Wild Winds looked at her. “I need your help to win back the trust we lost with Hail Storm’s actions, for he has destroyed what the warrior-priests were. Now we must rebuild what we are, and how better than to offer one of our own to serve Simus? To learn more of the man who would stand at the side of one who would bring change to the Plains?”
“He is an arrogant, over-confident wind blowing over the Plains,” Snowfall blurted out. “Over-sure of himself, and rude as well.”
Wild Winds fought a smile. “You know so much of the warrior, having watched him listen to our truths?” He tucked his chin under the blankets, hiding his mouth.
“He is all bluster and charm, with no substance behind.” Snowfall glared at Wild Winds as she knelt beside his pallet. “You are my master and mentor and I have followed your ways in the dark times,” Snowfall snapped. “Now the magic is returned, and you are healed, and you say to me, ‘leave my side.’ I feel like the rain is falling up from the ground.”
Wild Winds pulled the blanket down from his mouth, and sat up. “Sit, Snowfall.”
Snowfall sat beside his pallet.
“The dead spoke to me, when they healed me. Three old friends, who had been my skull spirits,” he said.
“You freed them.” Snowfall’s eyes were wide.
“I did, but they returned to aid me.” Wild Winds smiled at the memory of them supporting him, speaking to him once again after long years.
Snowfall waited.
