"Marcus." I reached down to peel back his hand, terrified at what I would find. Only to stare dumbly at the crumbled mass of bloodmoss there, pressed against his side.
"I—I remembered. What you told Gils," Marcus panted, as he moved the plant away from the site. Horrified, I looked at the skin, a thin red scar healed tight. Bloodmoss can't be used like that, it only seals the skin, not the organs underneath. If the dagger cut the bowel, or ... With a trembling hand, I smeared some of the blood from his skin onto my fingertips and held it up to my nose.
It smelled clean. No taint of feces or poison. No gut wound.
With a cry of joy, I threw myself into Marcus's arms, and started weeping.
Epilogue
It was the Longest Night; the night the People of the Plains gather to mourn the Dead. Wrapped in furs, I reached out for Keir's hand and let him lead me out into the deep snows. Back in Xy, it was the night of the Grand Wedding of the God and Goddess, the Lord of the Sun and Lady of the Moon and Stars. There, it would be feasting, and dancing, and laughter. Not so on the Plains.
The cold took my breath away as we left the winter lodge and walked out into the dark night. The snow crunched as our boots broke the crust. Keir reached out his hand to steady me as we walked, and gestured for Rafe and Prest to lead the way. An honor to be sure, but they also broke a path through the snow. I looked over at Keir, who looked back with his eyes twinkling. He'd dressed me in warm furs, so that the cold air only touched my cheeks. Keir had tugged the hood over my hair, and made sure I was snug before he'd let me set foot outside.
A month had passed since I'd been confirmed as Warprize. The season of the great cold is not as harsh on the Plains as it is in Xy, but harsh enough. The Heart of the Plains was gone. All that was left was the great Council circle of stone. The lake had frozen over, and the people and the herds of the Plains had traveled to their winter lands.
Only Keir and I, and those who had chosen to winter with us, remained. There were a few tents still up, used as shelters during the day for those that tended the herd of horses and gurtles. But at night almost all-retreated into the winter lodges: long low shelters half buried in the earth, more caves than buildings. Apparently, west of here, there were a few lodges with hot springs, that allow some to remain close to the Heart year round. It sounded like the hot springs of Xy, the baths below the castle, and I was curious to see them.
But Keir intended that we would ride south, where the Tribe of the Cat traditionally wintered. Many of his people had elected to continue to serve him, despite the Council. We'd use the winter to consider our options.
Keir could fight to reclaim his status. Simus would certainly enter the challenges. The Warlord Liam had approached Keir to discuss offering his aid and assistance. If Liam survived the spring challenges, he'd be in a position to aid Keir. That would prevent another warlord from raiding into Xy. Liani's help would allow Keir to forgo the spring challenges. That meant we could return to Xy as soon as the snows would allow. There was so much to do if we were to make this work. Of course, Liam had made it clear that his help came at a price beyond the benefit to his people. Keir and I had exchanged looks at that, but we nodded our understanding. I suspected that Marcus would find himself under siege in the spring.
Nothing was certain. But then, nothing is ever certain in this life. Keir and I knew that the path ahead would be hard and uneven, whether it ran through the Plains or through the mountains of Xy. Still, we'd walk it together.
Everyone spilled out of the lodge behind us, into the snow. They were silent for the most part, although there were no few gasps at the beauty. Heads tilted up to look in awe at the moonless sky, filled with stars. I felt like I could reach up, and gather a handful. I'd never seen so many tiny points of light, stretching out over the land.
Our mood was a somber one as we walked, even Simus was subdued. We carried torches, but none were lit yet. Instead, we all walked in darkness as Joden headed for the stone circle. The wind kept it clear of snow, and he'd decided it would be the perfect place for this ceremony. Joden was still not a full Singer, having decided to delay asking for that status. He'd wait until his heart was truly healed. But Keir had asked him to lead the ceremony for this night, and he'd agreed. For this was the Longest Night and all over the Plains, in the scattered tribes, people emerged from their winter lodges to participate in this ceremony.
Keir looked back, to make sure that I was managing. I gave him a wide smile, and he returned it. Marcus was behind us as well, as was every man, woman, and child.
An odd sense of peace filled me this night. I could almost find it in my heart to forgive Xymund, for all his madness, and his desire to see me dead. But for his decision to sacrifice me, who knows where I'd be now?
Certainly not at the side of my Warlord, among his people.
The snow was crisp beneath our feet, and in the light of our torches, I could see my breath. I'd never seen a night so clear, a sky that glittered so. I looked straight up, and all around, and there were more stars than I'd ever known existed. They lit the heavens and the snow with a soft glow. We reached the stone circle, and the others gathered around us, all of us facing Joden. Everyone grew silent as he raised his hands to the sky.
"We wait for the dead," Joden said, his voice raising the hairs on the back of my neck. "Those who have died in this last season, who have ridden with us all this time. We wait to release them, and our fears, our regrets, our pain."
I couldn't help it, my eyes filled with tears, which trickled down my cold cheeks. Keir squeezed my hand, and I looked into his eyes. Blue eyes that reflected the stars in their depths, and even as I wept, I smiled at him.
Marcus was beside me, well concealed in furs. Nothing of his body showed, for he would not offend the elements in any way.
"Welcome the dead," Joden whispered in the silence:
Everyone turned to look at the rises that overlooked the Plains. I turned as well, puzzled. What were we looking for?
I stood, as my eyes adjusted, and held my breath. All of the Plains seemed frozen and still, as if waiting.
"They come." Joden pointed off into the distance.
I heard it then, the thundering of hooves, and I gasped to see a huge herd of ghost horses appear over a distant ridge, galloping straight for us. I staggered, but Keir steadied me from behind. It never occurred to me that horses die, too.
They were coming, wild and free, running over the snow with no effort, manes and tails streaming out, leaving a faint trail of silver light. As they grew closer, my eyes grew wide, and wider still. They had riders.
With a swirl, the horses surrounded us, galloping in a wide circle around us. I could make out details now. The faces of the riders grew clear as they rode past, pale and white as clouds. But there was no sorrow there, only joy and peace. People about me started to call out names, hailing friends and loved ones. Keir called out too, names I didn't know. So many names.
Four times they circled us, and then they turned and rode right through our midst. I could see them, riding and smiling, dressed as they had been in life. Isdra with her long braid, Epor with his beard and armor, their faces wreathed in smiles. I called their names as they moved past me, and Epor flashed me a grin.
"Keekai!" Keir called out, and she was before us, laughing. She reached out and I could have sworn she ruffled Keir's hair in farewell.
