Joden dismounted, and handed his reins to Marcus. Keir handed me off to him, then turned to his own horse. Joden smiled at me, his round face almost split by his wide smile. “Oh, Lara, what a song I will make of this!” He kept his voice down, as Keir brought his horse in close. I bit my lip, afraid that Joden was speaking too soon.

Joden lifted me up to Keir, who cradled me in his arms. Jo-den’s voice rang out loudly. “I return your warprize, Warlord.”

Keir shot him an angry look, but said nothing. He turned his horse toward the army, and we set off. I noticed that Tant had made himself scarce. He was no where to be seen.

As we rode, I worked a hand free and lifted it to Keir’s cheek. I could feel his jaw clenching under my hand.

“The Council of Xy agreed that I would serve the kingdom better as warprize.”

The muscles of his jaw moved under my fingers, but he said nothing.

“I made Othur Warden of Xy. He will take good care of my people and the land.”

Keir stared straight ahead, controlling the horse as we rejoined the army. The cloak had fallen to my shoulders, and I heard the warriors react as they saw my hair whipping about in the wind.

I kept talking, murmuring my words softly. “This is what I want, Keir.”

He didn’t look at me. “Marcus! Find Gils and figure out where they stored the medicines. Have him come and tend her. And find her some clothes and shoes.”

“Aye, Warlord.” Marcus moved off, but Keir still didn’t look at me.

I tried again. “You have only to hear my heartbeat to know that each beat is for you.”

He did not respond. I swallowed hard. “For us.”

No response.

Nothing.

I closed my eyes and pulled back my hand, afraid that I had lost.

A finger under my chin forced my head up, and I opened my eyes to find him gazing down at me. Those blue eyes were suspiciously bright, with a trace of humor as he bent his head to whisper against my lips.

“Forever.”