Kera finished winding the bandage around her wrist and tied it off carefully. Luckily, she had managed to stop the bleeding before the amount of lost blood became too great. Kera twitched each of her fingers to make sure that everything was all right with her nerves before sighing deeply and rising. I'll have to do this sometime, and it might as well be now, she decided, although inwardly the dread of having to face Loeran didn't ease at all. What else should I really expect? she wondered, opening the door of the guest bunks and stepping outside. I almost killed him. He risked his life to save me, betrayed his fellow soldiers, agreed to help me with this...and I almost took his life.

Kera stepped off the porch of the bunkhouse before turning back and reluctantly grabbing her staff. If I have to have a peace offering, it should be something precious to me, she decided. Although her grip on the piece of wood became tighter, she quickly made her way towards the building that housed the fort's apothecary, all the while trying to ignore the many stares of the soldiers she passed.

Opening the door of the building, she scanned the room until she saw Loeran seated on a bed, examining one of the many bruises that littered his arms and face. Kera groaned under her breath and honestly considered running the other way. No! I will do this, she resolved. Pushing open the door, Kera kept her eyes downcast until she reached the place where Loeran sat. Going down on one knee, she placed her staff on the ground and looked up into his confused grey eyes. "I...acted very dishonorably during our encounter. At the end of our altercation, there was a part of me that honestly considered dragging that knife across your throat. Had I not been in control of myself...I'm not sure what might have happened. This," she continued, motioning to her staff," is one of the two weapons I own. By our customs, you may decide to keep it or leave it. By this motion, it is my hope to restore the peace to our relationship."

Loeran was silent for a moment before picking up her staff and examining it. Kera tried to fight the desire to snatch the weapon back, but it was very difficult. "It seems to be a fine weapon, except for the scuffing at the ends," Loeran said, turning the staff over once more. "I can only imagine how difficult it will be to give this up. Which is why I cannot accept it," he said, handing the staff back to a very confused Kera. "And please, do not kneel like that. Do you not realize that I risked my life to save a member of the royal family? And as regards our actions during the fight...we are Zurates. You were merely doing what comes naturally at the end of a fight - disposing of your opponent. I would have considered it weakness had you done anything less."

"But the look on your face when I..." Kera began.

"Was the natural result of realizing that I could die. Please, Milady Teman, stop trying to explain your actions. You begin to sound chivalrous," Loeran joked.

"I have been too long with the Keelites, it appears," Kera chuckled, picking her staff back up. "But I have the feeling that this helped them to see what the Zurate army is truly like. I could not have done this without your help. You will always have my deepest thanks."

Loeran raised an eyebrow at her and grinned roguishly. "What's next? A hug? These Keelites have worn off on you, milady. I think that after this war you should return to Zura before there is nothing left to salvage."

Kera smirked. "I doubt my family would appreciate that. Although it is tempting. To be able to safely see Darthe again would be truly...comforting, in a way," Kera sighed before shaking her head. "But enough of this sentimentality. For the sake of my honor, I must insist that I repay this help of yours in some way."

Loeran silently regarded her for a moment before speaking. "Perhaps if you intervened with Commander Srendi for me? I begin to worry that he wishes to have me hanged," Loeran continued seriously.

Kera smiled and placed a hand on Loeran's shoulder. "The Keelites would never hang a man without a trial first, but I will speak to him nonetheless. That is...as long as I can have assurance of your loyalty," she teased.

Loeran suddenly dropped to one knee and placed his dagger on the floor in front of Kera. "By the honor of my people, I do this swear. No harm shall come to you while I am near. I will serve you until the day that this conflict between Zura and Keeli shall end. And at that time, I will serve whomever you will direct me to serve," he vowed.

"Loeran, do not swear an..." Kera began.

"The oath is taken, Kera Teman. Either accept it this day, or make me a liar," he requested.

Kera winced at the sudden memory of having once seen Jeran fulfill this exact same ritual. Although she did not wish to wound Loeran further, she knew the implication if she did not accept. "So shall it be," she whispered, picking up the dagger and making a single deep gash on Loeran's upper left arm.

--

Cyril nodded at the physician's latest remark and glanced over at Kera again, a confused light filling his eyes. Kera just stared at the physician, her face not revealing any clues as to how she felt about his accusations. Cyril shook his head and looked back at the physician, who was expectantly waiting for some sort of reply. "I assure you, I will speak with her about this. Now, if you would excuse us," he sighed, grabbing Kera's arm and pulling her out the door of the apothecary's office. Leading her over to the steps, he motioned her to sit down before doing the same thing himself. They sat in silence for a few moments before Cyril turned to her. "Well? I'm waiting for some kind of an explanation as to just why this happened."

Kera looked at him and shrugged, a small smile forming in her expression. "Loeran asked me to," she answered.

Cyril had thought himself prepared for any answer - she was still feeling combative from the fight; Loeran had said something to make her mad; it was an old Zurate custom of battle - but her answer made his mouth drop open. "He asked you to wound him further?" he queried incredulously.

"In a manner of speaking, yes. It wasn't my fault that the apothecary walked in before I was finished," she grinned.

Cyril put a hand on her forehead. "Are you sure you have not caught something?" he inquired sarcastically.

Kera raised an eyebrow and removed his hand from her face. "You can ask Loeran, if you wish. He will tell you the same thing. What your apothecary witnessed was a Zurate oath of fealty. I'm sorry if the Keelites cannot understand Zurate customs, but they exist nonetheless," she explained.

"I never said that Keelites could not understand them. What I can't understand is why he would ask for further injury after that very interesting escapade in the courtyard," Cyril replied. "I can read you better than anyone but Caden can, Kera. You were contemplating killing him, weren't you?"

Kera's hands clenched into fists suddenly and she looked away. "How did you know?" she asked after a moment.

Cyril took one of her hands and turned her face toward him. "I know because I have seen that look before. Almost six years ago, a large group of desert dwellers began raiding the border along Mernida. It became so bad that all the citizens were pulled back west of the capital and Keeli had to send a large force of soldiers to join the Mernidans in their fight. I was one of the men who went. During my time there, I saw the horrors of what war can entail. But I also saw that look...so many times that I still shiver to think of it. You're quite lucky that I don't brood on things the way Jemen does, or I doubt you could have stood me for long," he joked, although the look in his eyes was still pained.

"It shocked me, I can assure you. I have never felt that kind of blinding, irrational rage before. Well, except perhaps the time that Rolen told me he was my brother, but even then I did not contemplate taking his life," Kera sighed. "I'm lucky that Loeran is from Zura as well, or I might have destroyed any chance of his companionship during that fight."

"It would have been an unfortunate loss, to be sure," Cyril said, taking both of her hands. "Although I did not trust him at first, his loyalty to you has convinced me otherwise. If he is willing to sacrifice so much to see your uncle off Zura's throne, I believe that we can trust him."

"Loeran will be useful, I think. Having some contact with this group in Zura's army could prove quite tactful when we try to take the capital," Kera mused.

"And having a Zurate friend that is actually loyal to Zura is not such a burdensome part of the bargain, I presume?" Cyril smirked.

Kera returned his smirk. "No, I must admit that it is not. I had worried that Loeran would have some trouble with betraying our country, but I believe that it is my uncle he concentrates most on defeating."

"Our country?" Cyril whispered softly. "Then you still do not consider yourself Keelite?"

"My loyalties...are to my family and those I have pledged to help. Hopefully when this war is over, I will not have to make such a decision. Is it truly so impossible to have dual loyalties? If I choose one over the other, I will be ripped in two," Kera explained.

"It is impossible to have dual loyalties to different warring factions during times of conflict," Cyril reasoned, his cerulean eyes sparking.

"Perhaps to you, but you have never had to deal with something like this, have you?" Kera challenged. Removing her hands from his, she continued her rant. "Or did I not prove my loyalty merely an hour ago? I allowed your troops to see one of Zura's oldest army customs; that fact alone is a violation of Zura's laws. If I ever step foot in Darthe again while my uncle reigns, I will be arrested and beheaded. When I went with you to Jeba and spent months training Keelite soldiers, I could have left at any time I pleased and returned to my 'home'; but I did not. Is not that in itself proof of my loyalty?"

Sighing heavily, Cyril grabbed one of Kera's hands and looked down at it. Silence reigned for a moment before he spoke. "Forgive me. I misspoke; but...what I saw during that fight...it worries me. I have seen that kind of rage only during battle, and it was...disturbing to see it in you. You often look intimidating, but I have never seen you look...menacing. You and Loeran both lost control of yourselves during that altercation, and I worry what you might do if you are ever truly threatened and in that condition. To take a life...is not as easy as it seems. The act itself lasts only a second at most, but the memory of the look in your victim's eyes...it never goes away. Ever. I wish, more than anything, to shield you from that. At least, until it is necessary. When that time comes, I will have no doubt of your abilities or of your loyalties. I know that you would never betray those you have promised to help. Please, forgive my words," he whispered, looking up.

Staring into his eyes, Kera allowed herself to drown for a moment. Then she pulled him forward and kissed him with all the concern and fear that two days with Rindran had afforded her. Cyril stiffened in surprise for a moment before winding an arm around her waist to draw her closer and losing himself to the kiss. A few moments later, they both pulled apart, breathless. Kera knew (to her great horror) that she was blushing since her face was on fire. "What words?" she chuckled.

"My foolish words. And ever only mine," Cyril whispered before drawing her into another kiss.