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I'll honor you with first meats. If false, I'll kill you with my own hands."
    "Done," the scout responded, still grinning. "Know that you will gift the first meats to Lail of the Badger."
    "Summon the warleaders, but use no cries," Keir ordered.
    Warriors ran off, in every direction.
    "We'll need musk teams and kill teams, ten members each," Keir snapped out. "Marcus, gather what we need for the musk teams, four in all." With a nod Marcus disappeared to do his bidding.
    "You'll try for them all?" Joden demanded.
    Keir gave him a defiant look. "The skies favor the bold, Joden." Keir turned to face me, then looked back over his shoulder. "Besides, you need something to sing of, yes?" Only I saw the look of shock on Joden's face.
    Keir faced me, his eyes alight. "An ehat hunt, Lara. It's rare enough to find two, but four is unheard of. We will try to take all of them, together."
    "It's dangerous, isn't it?" I asked, stepping closer.
    The warleaders were coming from all across the camp; I only had a moment to express my concern. Keir drew me close, and lowered his voice. "Death comes in an instant, Lara. We both know that. But ehats are the finest meat on the Plains, and the leather, wool, everything down to the gut is valued for its use. Four ehats will fill the hands of all my warriors, and their hearts with the glory of the tale." I kissed him gently. "Have a care, my Warlord, for you carry my heart with you." I stepped back as Yers ran up, with Iften and Wesren right behind. The warleaders were gathered now, and Keir stepped forward. Yers smiled at him, with no hesitation. "Four ehats, Warlord? Simus will curse that he was not here."
    "Is this wise, Warlord?" Ortis asked, his voice carefully neutral. "To risk for all, when we could easily take one?"
    "Perhaps we should let them go, to appease the elements," Aret offered. She took one look at Keir's face and hastily added, "In case we have offended."
    Sal snorted.
    Iften stood, his arms crossed over his chest. "We are not worthy of this gift." Keir's face was tight with anger, but he controlled it. "Our skill at the hunt will show our worth. Any who think they are unworthy," he glared at Iften, "or have offended," he moved his glare to Aret, "they are free to decline the hunt." His upper lip curled. "They can chant for their evening meal."
    "I want fresh ehat, fresh from the fire." Yers smacked his lips. Keir laughed, nodding in agreement. "As is traditional, I will take the first musk team. Iften, if you would hunt, you may have the second. Yers—"
    Iften interrupted. "I'd rather first kill."
    Keir raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You decline the honor?" At Iften's nod, Keir wasted no more time.
    "Yers, you may have the second musk team."
    "An honor, Warlord." Yers reached for the buckles of his armor and started to remove it.
    "Ortis and Aret, if you would hunt, you may have third and fourth musk." Ortis nodded, and handed his weapons to those around him. Aret paused, then shrugged, and started to remove her armor as well.
    "Joden." Keir started to unlace his leather. "I offer you second kill." This caused a bit of a stir, but Joden refused. "I must watch the hunt, Warlord, if I am to sing of it."
    "Then Sal, Uzaina, and Tsor, you have the honors. Choose your warriors well." They all nodded, and moved off, talking and sending runners off as well, apparently to summon warriors. Wesren stood silent for a moment, without an assignment. His face flushed, he turned toward Iften. That warrior-priest was there as well, handing something to Iften, who placed it in his mouth. I looked away before they could catch me staring.
    Keir had dropped his leather armor in the grass, and started to pile his weapons on top. "Joden, would you keep watch over the Warprize during the hunt?"
    "I will tend to Xylara," Joden answered. "See to your own hide, Keir. Ehat horns know no difference between warlord and warrior."
    Keir nodded. "Rafe and Prest, would you ride with me?"
    They both jerked in