Warsworn by Elizabeth Vaughan Page B

filling she's going to drink it." Isdra continued to use her fingers and hands to beat softly. The babe yawned, and let her head fall onto Isdra's shoulders. Isdra, on the other hand, gave a critical look at the ceramic cup with its long spout. "Are you sure that will work?"
    "Yes." I reached for the water and gurt. "What do you use on the Plains?"
    "We use a dried animal teat," Isdra frowned. "It's more like a breast than that cold dish."
    "It works, trust me." I mashed the gurt into the warm water. "Where did you learn that?" I nodded at her hands.
    She chuckled softly. "'Tis what we do to comfort a child. We drum a pattern on their backs and chant to them. It calms them, and as we slow the pattern, they usually fall asleep. We use it to wake a sleeping child as well, at need."
    Isdra was right, the babe sucked the gurt up with no complaint, falling asleep with the narrow spout still in her mouth. Isdra smiled at the lax child in her arms. "I should go. Epor will need help…"
    There was a pounding at the door that broke our fragile peace. I started for the door at Epor's call, even as Isdra settled the child down in the blankets we'd placed by the hearth. Epor came through, carrying a gray-haired woman wrapped in blankets. She was conscious, and had her arms about his neck. Epor headed for the back room. "Here's one with breath still in her body, Warprize. There is one other that I have found, but I will need Isdra to chase him down." He eased the woman down in the chair.
    The woman held the blankets close around her, and seemed to sink into them.
    "Chase him?" I asked as I put a hand on the woman's shoulder to steady her. She looked up at me through reddened eyes, and I could feel her tremble even through the blankets. Even through the ginger I could smell the foul odor of her sweat.
    Epor grinned. "He's running loose, thinking we are the enemy." He gave me a sly grin. "Of course, we were." I gave him a look as he chuckled. But he turned serious in an instant. "I tried the phrases you gave us, but it's no use. I want to secure him, for his safety and ours." Isdra frowned. "I should have been there to help."
    Epor gave her a grin. "Ah, but you had a babe in your arms. I knew you were lost to me, the moment you heard the squawk from the bed." He turned back to me, his eyes taking on a sad, woebegone look. "Warprize, are these cloths up my nose really necessary? They will not stay in!"
    "Yes, they are."
    "What if I did this?" He took a strip of bandage from my supplies and tied it over his nose and mouth. "If we dip this in the oil? Please?"
    I had to smile at his pleading tone. "That would work."
    "Epor, you are my hero." Isdra sighed with relief as they quickly rigged the masks and made ready to leave.
    The old woman struggled out of the blankets and clutched at me with her thin hands. Her palm was cold and clammy on my arm. "Are they going after Kred? Tell them, please, not to hurt him. Kred is raving, he's mad with the Sweat. He doesn't know what he does."
    "They'll not hurt him," I assured her. I focused back on Epor and spoke his tongue. "She says he's ill."
    Epor nodded, and looked at the old woman, and spoke
    Xyian with his terrible accent. "Do not be afraid." She just stared at him. He straightened, and returned to his language. "Isdra has told you? Of the dead?" At my nod he continued. "We will continue to search and find the crazed one. Pile three benches in front of the door, Warprize, and scream if any try to enter."
    I nodded as I followed them to the door. "We will need supplies, too."
    "There is kavage in my saddle bags." Isdra nodded toward the pile. "A pot would be welcome."
    "Oh yes," Epor agreed as they headed out. "It will be a long night." I returned to the back to find the old woman standing by the bed, looking down at my other patient. She looked up, her sorrow clear. "He's dying."
    I took her arm, and guided her back to the chair. "He's ill, certainly." She sank down into the chair, trembling with