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“Want to know the best part of being a warlord?' came a hoarse whisper.
I bit my lip, puzzled by the question.
Keir’s mouth curled up slowly into a smile. 'I always get what I want.”
― Warprize
I bit my lip, puzzled by the question.
Keir’s mouth curled up slowly into a smile. 'I always get what I want.”
― Warprize
“The only source of my power are the pages you hold and the words written thereon. As you read them, I hope the magic starts to work between my words and your imagination.”
― Warprize
― Warprize
“We all wish to protect our loved ones from pain. But part of loving is sharing....Sharing hopes and fears, pain and loss, bodies and minds. Why else love?”
― Warcry
― Warcry
“Fear Hold you still when you need to move, and moves you when you need to be still.
Fear makes you silent when you need to be Loud, and Loud when you need silence.
Fear closes your throat, makes it hard to breathe.
Fear weakens your hand and blinds your eyes.
Fear is a danger.
Know your fear.
Face your fear.”
― Warlord
Fear makes you silent when you need to be Loud, and Loud when you need silence.
Fear closes your throat, makes it hard to breathe.
Fear weakens your hand and blinds your eyes.
Fear is a danger.
Know your fear.
Face your fear.”
― Warlord
“They take them from the plants and animals or the elements. Still Waters, Gentle Breeze, pah. Why not Dead Deer, or Rutting Ehat?”
― Warlord
― Warlord
“I tried to stay in the clear parts of the road, avoiding horse dung. Perhaps going barefoot had not been the wisest choice.”
― Warprize
― Warprize
“You disobey the Warprize?” I looked at him.
“Yes, if that’s the choice.” He twisted the reins in his hands. “The way the Warlord’s been stomping around like a crazed ehat, snapping and snarling at any that come near, I’ll disobey you. Better a punishment at your hands then death at the Warlord’s.”
I nodded, faced forward and kept walking. But my heart was a bit lighter. Snapping and snarling, was he? Like an ehat, eh?
Of course, I still didn’t know what an ehat was.”
― Warprize
“Yes, if that’s the choice.” He twisted the reins in his hands. “The way the Warlord’s been stomping around like a crazed ehat, snapping and snarling at any that come near, I’ll disobey you. Better a punishment at your hands then death at the Warlord’s.”
I nodded, faced forward and kept walking. But my heart was a bit lighter. Snapping and snarling, was he? Like an ehat, eh?
Of course, I still didn’t know what an ehat was.”
― Warprize
“Where is Simus?” Keir asked.
As if at his command, the flaps of the main entrance opened, and there was a commotion as Simus was borne aloft on a cot by four men, like the roast pig at the mid-winter festival. I had to smile, and saw that others in the crowd were not immune to the humor of the image.
“Make way!” Simus boomed out, his voice filled with laughter. “Make way!” He grinned like a fool, white teeth gleaming in his dark face, carried aloft over everyone’s head, propped up with brightly colored pillows. But his joy changed to a yell of panic when one of his bearers stumbled slightly. This caused an outbreak of laughter in the crowd, as Simus berated his bearers for their clumsiness.”
― Warprize
As if at his command, the flaps of the main entrance opened, and there was a commotion as Simus was borne aloft on a cot by four men, like the roast pig at the mid-winter festival. I had to smile, and saw that others in the crowd were not immune to the humor of the image.
“Make way!” Simus boomed out, his voice filled with laughter. “Make way!” He grinned like a fool, white teeth gleaming in his dark face, carried aloft over everyone’s head, propped up with brightly colored pillows. But his joy changed to a yell of panic when one of his bearers stumbled slightly. This caused an outbreak of laughter in the crowd, as Simus berated his bearers for their clumsiness.”
― Warprize
“Joden sighed. “Durst does well. Xymund denies any knowledge of Arneath’s actions. He claims that there is a faction of the city that is unhappy about the peace. Warren hasn’t found any hint of a conspiracy. Keir questioned many people, but we could find no trace of…” he paused, an unhappy look on his face.
“No trace of Xymund’s involvement.” I finished calmly.
Joden nodded, sitting heavily on a stool. “Simus has taken him to the practice grounds to work out his frustrations.” Joden held up a hand to stave me off. “Simus said to tell you that he will only sit on the sidelines and yell insults.” He heaved a sigh. “It will do them both good”
― Warprize
“No trace of Xymund’s involvement.” I finished calmly.
Joden nodded, sitting heavily on a stool. “Simus has taken him to the practice grounds to work out his frustrations.” Joden held up a hand to stave me off. “Simus said to tell you that he will only sit on the sidelines and yell insults.” He heaved a sigh. “It will do them both good”
― Warprize
“Death comes in an instant, Marcus." I looked at him steadily. "But love lasts forever.”
― Warlord
― Warlord
“We of the Plains believe that our dead travel with us, ride along beside us, unseen and unknown, but knowing and seeing... Until the longest night. On that night, we mourn our dead, who are released to journey to the stars.”
― Warlord
― Warlord
“He glared at me and pointed at the plate of food. “Eat. I must return to the tent and see if Hisself requires anything.” He smirked and raised an eyebrow. “Simus is telling his tall tales, and those city-dwellers are believing every word. I needs get back and poke holes in the bucket he carries his conceit in.”
― Warprize
― Warprize
“He’s not dead,” I spoke up. “The last we heard, he still lived.”
“He did?” Simus asked, then let his eyes slide over to Keir. “Losing your touch?”
A cry of outrage filled the tent. I grabbed at the blanket, as Keir stood, sword in hand. Simus had two daggers that appeared from nowhere. I looked at the privy entrance, to see Marcus standing there, waving my underthings in his fist and shaking them in the air. “Where did the likes of these come from?”
I jumped up and grabbed for them, but that scarred little man dodged me. “Those are mine!” I made another attempt, darting around the bed. Simus roared out his laughter and Keir got out of the way.
Marcus danced away again. “The Warprize accepts nothing, except at the hand of the Warlord!” His face was bright red, the scarring a dull white against it.
“Give me those!” I went after him again and this time managed to wrestle the cloth from his hand. Flushed and breathless, I shoved them behind my back and faced down Marcus, toe to toe. “You have no business—”
“Nothing, except at the hand of the Warlord!” Marcus roared out, spittle flying from his mouth.
“You bragnect! I bought them with his coin!”
Marcus blinked. Apparently it was an effective curse in their language, since it seemed to leave him speechless. His recovery was quick. “Could have asked Hisself or I.”
I rolled my eyes, just imagining that conversation.”
― Warprize
“He did?” Simus asked, then let his eyes slide over to Keir. “Losing your touch?”
A cry of outrage filled the tent. I grabbed at the blanket, as Keir stood, sword in hand. Simus had two daggers that appeared from nowhere. I looked at the privy entrance, to see Marcus standing there, waving my underthings in his fist and shaking them in the air. “Where did the likes of these come from?”
I jumped up and grabbed for them, but that scarred little man dodged me. “Those are mine!” I made another attempt, darting around the bed. Simus roared out his laughter and Keir got out of the way.
Marcus danced away again. “The Warprize accepts nothing, except at the hand of the Warlord!” His face was bright red, the scarring a dull white against it.
“Give me those!” I went after him again and this time managed to wrestle the cloth from his hand. Flushed and breathless, I shoved them behind my back and faced down Marcus, toe to toe. “You have no business—”
“Nothing, except at the hand of the Warlord!” Marcus roared out, spittle flying from his mouth.
“You bragnect! I bought them with his coin!”
Marcus blinked. Apparently it was an effective curse in their language, since it seemed to leave him speechless. His recovery was quick. “Could have asked Hisself or I.”
I rolled my eyes, just imagining that conversation.”
― Warprize
“I started, squeezing Keir’s shoulder. He did not look at me, turning to look at Simus instead. “Simus, I ask that you undertake the protection of the warprize personally. Designate whatever men you need to hold her safe. Once the commotion has started, place the army on alert.”
Iften rose at that. “Warlord, it’s my place to take charge of the camp, not Joden.” He almost spat Joden’s name.
Keir almost snarled. “Iften, if you had both feet planted on the earth, were bathed in flames, calling a wind, holding my token, and blessed by rain from the skies, still I would not trust you with my warprize.”
Marcus snickered, as did some of the others. Iften turned bright red, but held his tongue.”
― Warprize
Iften rose at that. “Warlord, it’s my place to take charge of the camp, not Joden.” He almost spat Joden’s name.
Keir almost snarled. “Iften, if you had both feet planted on the earth, were bathed in flames, calling a wind, holding my token, and blessed by rain from the skies, still I would not trust you with my warprize.”
Marcus snickered, as did some of the others. Iften turned bright red, but held his tongue.”
― Warprize
“I didn't know what it meant."
"Didn't know what forever meant."
"'Forever' means every day, every breath. Through the mistakes that we make, through the love that we share between our bodies, through illness we suffer, through sorrow, grief, and joy. All of it, Lara."
"It's the total of all our shared moments, good and bad, perfect and ugly."
"What I am trying to say is that now that I do know what it means, it makes it mean so much more."
"Forever.”
―
"Didn't know what forever meant."
"'Forever' means every day, every breath. Through the mistakes that we make, through the love that we share between our bodies, through illness we suffer, through sorrow, grief, and joy. All of it, Lara."
"It's the total of all our shared moments, good and bad, perfect and ugly."
"What I am trying to say is that now that I do know what it means, it makes it mean so much more."
"Forever.”
―
“So, Iften is of the Pig. That explains a lot."
Keir's head jerked up, and he laughed out loud.”
― Warsworn
Keir's head jerked up, and he laughed out loud.”
― Warsworn
“Muttering something, Tant raised his hands to the sky as he walked beside me. I wasn’t sure if it was a prayer or curse, but I distinctly heard “Why me?”
― Warprize
― Warprize
“He leaned down and nuzzled my ear. "Ah, my Lara. I took you from your sheltered den, kitten."
"No." I straightened, wiping my face. "I left my den and chased you, remember?”
― Warsworn
"No." I straightened, wiping my face. "I left my den and chased you, remember?”
― Warsworn
“Keir's chest was big and muscular. It took more force and longer periods of drumming to clear his lungs of the water within. So the warriors were the ones that had to drum for him as he hung over the side of the bed, coughing. I didn't have the strength to be effective, but I was the only one that could bully him into cooperating. At one point in the process, Keir had swivelled around and glared at Gils. "You're enjoying this too much."
"Keir," I admonished, and he turned back around to let Gils continue.
"Me? Enjoy beating on my Warlord and helping him?" Gils asked cheerfully as he thumped on Keir's back. "Not I, Warlord."
Keir coughed, then spat to clear his throat. "Say that to the naked sky?"
"Well, looks like we are done for now." Gils backed off, smiling and moving toward the exit.
"I's chores and patients to see, yes I's have." He bolted out of the tent, grabbing his satchel by the strap.
I snorted back a laugh.
Keir pulled himself up, and gave me his best glare, but I shook my head. "Oh no, my Warlord.
I seem to remember someone insisting that I do this. Fair is fair.”
― Warsworn
"Keir," I admonished, and he turned back around to let Gils continue.
"Me? Enjoy beating on my Warlord and helping him?" Gils asked cheerfully as he thumped on Keir's back. "Not I, Warlord."
Keir coughed, then spat to clear his throat. "Say that to the naked sky?"
"Well, looks like we are done for now." Gils backed off, smiling and moving toward the exit.
"I's chores and patients to see, yes I's have." He bolted out of the tent, grabbing his satchel by the strap.
I snorted back a laugh.
Keir pulled himself up, and gave me his best glare, but I shook my head. "Oh no, my Warlord.
I seem to remember someone insisting that I do this. Fair is fair.”
― Warsworn
“What was that?"
He smiled, the wind catching his braids. "A teaching tool."
"For children." Rafe shook his head. "For a quiet man, you can sure make someone froth at the mouth."
Prest grinned.”
― Warsworn
He smiled, the wind catching his braids. "A teaching tool."
"For children." Rafe shook his head. "For a quiet man, you can sure make someone froth at the mouth."
Prest grinned.”
― Warsworn
“You’ve been punished.” Simus’s dark eyes twinkled as he changed the subject. “Speaking of that, have you started to work on the song?”
Joden nodded.
“Tell us the chorus at least, Joden.” Simus gestured with a hand, almost spilling my kavage. “Are we to wait until you perform it to hear it?”
“No.” Joden chewed on a chicken leg. “Yes.”
“No fair.” Simus turned to Keir. “You’re the Warlord. Order him to give us a hint.”
Keir snorted. “Order a singer?”
Simus leaned toward me, a wicked gleam in those dark eyes. “You’re the Warprize. You could…” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
“If she does,” Joden spoke calmly, “the verses will talk about a certain wounded warrior who got fat and lazy as he healed.”
Simus looked down at his third plate-full. “I need food to mend. Isn’t that right, little healer?”
I looked at him, keeping my face serious. “Simus, the entire army could heal on what you eat.”
Keir and Joden roared. Simus tried not to laugh as he objected to my statement.”
― Warprize
Joden nodded.
“Tell us the chorus at least, Joden.” Simus gestured with a hand, almost spilling my kavage. “Are we to wait until you perform it to hear it?”
“No.” Joden chewed on a chicken leg. “Yes.”
“No fair.” Simus turned to Keir. “You’re the Warlord. Order him to give us a hint.”
Keir snorted. “Order a singer?”
Simus leaned toward me, a wicked gleam in those dark eyes. “You’re the Warprize. You could…” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
“If she does,” Joden spoke calmly, “the verses will talk about a certain wounded warrior who got fat and lazy as he healed.”
Simus looked down at his third plate-full. “I need food to mend. Isn’t that right, little healer?”
I looked at him, keeping my face serious. “Simus, the entire army could heal on what you eat.”
Keir and Joden roared. Simus tried not to laugh as he objected to my statement.”
― Warprize
“Would that all was as well within the castle. Alas, that you have inflicted me with one Simus of the Hawk.
Never mind the fact that Simus strides from his chambers to the mineral baths naked as a plucked chicken, smiling and greeting all and sundry with a cheerful smile.
Never mind the fact that he and Warren have taken to weapons practice in the Great Hall, jumping from table to table swords in one hand, flagons in the other, fighting and laughing, and cursing each other, causing ladies to swoon and leaving heel marks on all the tables.
Never mind that half the lords want to kill him, the other half want to befriend him and that all of the ladies seem entranced. Which includes my own Lady Wife, thank you very much.
Oh no, the worst of it is that Simus is having relations with Dye-Mistress Mavis, or so the sounds echoing in the castle halls at all hours of the night announce to all and sundry.
By his tradition, Simus does no wrong, or so Dye-Mistress Mavis has informed me, Warren, and the Archbishop. Further, when we confronted her, she told us in no uncertain terms that she is an adult and Master of her trade and that her behavior is none of our concern. She added something to the effect that you aren't the only one willing to make sacrifices for her guild.
Which had the Archbishop clutching for his holy symbol.
I think Dye-Mistress is only after the cloths that Simus wears like a peacock. I have tried to explain that to Simus, but he just smiles that wide smile of his and indicates that he sees no harm to being 'used'.
The entire Court and Council is scandalized. They all come to me and complain, taking the greatest pleasure in going over every juicy detail.”
― Warsworn
Never mind the fact that Simus strides from his chambers to the mineral baths naked as a plucked chicken, smiling and greeting all and sundry with a cheerful smile.
Never mind the fact that he and Warren have taken to weapons practice in the Great Hall, jumping from table to table swords in one hand, flagons in the other, fighting and laughing, and cursing each other, causing ladies to swoon and leaving heel marks on all the tables.
Never mind that half the lords want to kill him, the other half want to befriend him and that all of the ladies seem entranced. Which includes my own Lady Wife, thank you very much.
Oh no, the worst of it is that Simus is having relations with Dye-Mistress Mavis, or so the sounds echoing in the castle halls at all hours of the night announce to all and sundry.
By his tradition, Simus does no wrong, or so Dye-Mistress Mavis has informed me, Warren, and the Archbishop. Further, when we confronted her, she told us in no uncertain terms that she is an adult and Master of her trade and that her behavior is none of our concern. She added something to the effect that you aren't the only one willing to make sacrifices for her guild.
Which had the Archbishop clutching for his holy symbol.
I think Dye-Mistress is only after the cloths that Simus wears like a peacock. I have tried to explain that to Simus, but he just smiles that wide smile of his and indicates that he sees no harm to being 'used'.
The entire Court and Council is scandalized. They all come to me and complain, taking the greatest pleasure in going over every juicy detail.”
― Warsworn
“My eyes widened as I took in Rafe and Prest. Rafe seemed fine, but Prest. . . "Prest, you shaved your head!" Those long black braids were gone. Prest's bald head gleamed in the light.
He shrugged and ran a hand over his baldness. "Easier to shave." He flashed me a smile. "It grows back.
"Eventually," Rafe added. "Until then, I will need to protect my eyes from the glare.”
― Warlord
He shrugged and ran a hand over his baldness. "Easier to shave." He flashed me a smile. "It grows back.
"Eventually," Rafe added. "Until then, I will need to protect my eyes from the glare.”
― Warlord
