WarDance (Chronicles of the Warlands #5)(37)

“Well done,” Simus said.

Essa stopped there, looking at him as if seeing him for the first time. “After, I noticed his tattoos were gone, as if ripped from his body. What do you know of that?”

“Sit,” Simus said. “Even if you did not hold my token, I would share what I know.”

“Hard to listen, much less think when you are stomping around like that,” Ultie muttered around a mouthful of bread.

Essa huffed, but settled on a gurtle pad. He balanced Simus’s brooch on his knee, and held his kavage mug in both hands.

Simus cleared his throat. “For me it started when a warrior-priest popped up from the grass and forbade us to approach.” He continued, going through the events of that day and into the night.

One of the warriors closest to Essa nudged his arm, and offered bread and meat. Essa’s eyes never left Simus’s face, but he took a piece of the flat bread and nibbled at it. Yet as Simus’s story progressed, the bread was abandoned as Essa listened in grim silence.

“And Wild Winds disappeared?” Essa demanded at the conclusion of Simus’s tale.

“I awoke to find him and his people gone, and angry Warlord candidates gathered outside my tent demanding explanations.” Simus glanced at Ultie.

Essa closed his eyes and rubbed the corner of his eye. “What in the name of the elements does this mean?”

“Nothing,” Ultie said. “We are gathering for the Trials as we always have and always will.”

“Nothing?” Essa gave the man a hard look. “Ultie, the Council was sundered and now the warrior-priests are—”

“You have trusted Wild Winds in the past,” Ultie said. “Trust him now.”

Essa sighed, shaking his head, but remained silent, giving Simus his chance. He leaned forward, intent to know the answer to the question that had nagged at him since this strange meal began. “Why do you not trust Joden?”

Essa shrugged at Simus’s question. “Joden supported Antas against the Warprize until he changed his mind. If he were to become Singer, what is to prevent them from killing me and making Joden Eldest Elder, with Antas’s backing?”

“No,” Simus shook his head. “Joden opposed the Warprize when he faced the devastation that was the ‘plague’. Antas used Joden’s doubts to support his own claims.”

Essa raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps. But Joden’s acknowledgment of the Warprize came at a convenient time, didn’t it? When Antas seemed to have gone too far?”

“You twist his actions—” Simus replied hotly.

“All I know,” Essa overrode him, “is that Joden was all you say before he followed Keir of the Cat to Xy. But since that time, he has broken with our ways, and his truth seems—”

“You hold my token, Eldest Elder Singer.” Simus glared at the man. “But I will not sit and listen to you insult Joden of the Hawk.”

“I will share these same truths with him, face to face,” Essa said calmly. “For he will approach me to become Singer, will he not?”

“Of course he will,” Simus said. “All who know him know his intent.”

“Even I know it,” Ultie muttered.

“Joden of the Hawk is an honorable warrior,” Simus continued. “He is not treacherous. He would not—”

“If you had told me that Antas would attack the Council, I would have laughed and called you fool,” Essa said. “This wind of change you would bring blows the seeds of our destruction as a people.”

Simus would have protested, but Ultie raised a hand and stopped his words. “Essa, who do you think sent warriors and warrior-priests after you?” Ultie asked.

“I have no proof,” Essa said, shrugging. “But Antas seems likely.”

“I doubt that Antas will appear here,” Ultie said. “Too many hold his actions against him. You are here now. You can call the Council of Elders together. Reness will arrive at the last moment; she always does. Nires is here, who was named Eldest Elder Warrior to replace Antas.”

“That was a temporary measure for the Outcasting.” Essa frowned. “And that needs doing as well. It’s the warriors gathered that will name the next Eldest Elder Warrior.” He sighed. “It’s complicated.”

“No,” Ultie said. “It’s simple. You will shelter here with me for a time, regain your strength. You will sing at the dances, and replenish your gear. You will gather the Singers and would-be Singers to you, and then you will sort things out.”

Essa gave him an exasperated look. “Ultie, it’s not that easy.”

“Yes, it is.” Ultie reached over and plucked the brooch off Essa’s knee and tossed it to Simus. “We thank you for your truths.”

A clear and simple dismissal.




The spicy gurtle meat didn’t sit easy as Simus made his way back toward his camp.

The sun was lower now, the camps finishing their challenges and meals, and preparing the night’s dancing. The scents of fry bread and kavage floated on the air, along with various bits of talk. Simus ignored it all as he strode along, thinking on Essa’s words. Dreading having to tell Joden of this talk.

And as if he’d heard Simus’s thought, Joden appeared beside him as he walked, matching him step-for-step, his broad face smiling. “You look as if you are planning a battle. Why so grim?”