by T. A. White
“And what situation was that?”
She gave him an incredulous look. “You don’t send every scout available out to search for some run of the mill foot soldier. It had to be somebody important. Important people always have enemies. It’s not a far jump from there to someone trying to assassinate the man.”
Darius allowed his lips to tilt upward in a small smile. “And yet, you’re the only one who leapt to that conclusion.”
Shea couldn’t help that and in truth it said more about their fighting force than it did her.
They were wasting time interrogating her when they should be talking to some of the cartographers. They made the maps. By now, they had probably checked the maps in question so they should know she was telling the truth.
The second man could also have corroborated her story. The fact they were still questioning her said they were playing some kind of game.
She didn’t know what time it was, but she was tired. Even with adrenaline keeping her alert, she could feel exhaustion crouched right below the surface like some great beast waiting for the right moment to pounce.
“If you checked the maps or even talked to the other guy we saved, you could find out if I’m telling the truth,” Shea burst out. Her patience was fast disappearing and with it the brakes she normally kept on her mouth.
“We have,” Caden said quietly.
Shea inhaled sharply. Then what the hell was the last half hour about. They must know she wasn’t a spy.
“Indeed. I’ve got men out hunting down the cartographer responsible for creating the faulty maps. The cartographer master, scout overseer and Vincent are being held. Once we’ve got all the information from them we can, we’ll give them the trial. Those that survive will be exorcised from the clans.”
“Then why am I still tied to this chair?” Her voice snapped with anger.
Darius shrugged one shoulder. “Because we can.”
A power play. Great.
“And for all the reasons I spelled out before. You’re an enigma that just doesn’t fit.”
Darius waved one of the guards over. Shea felt a surge of relief as he pulled out a key and began unlocking her cuffs.
“You’re free to go now. On the behalf of the Trateri, I extend our heartfelt gratitude at your actions.”
“If this is how you treat people who do you favors, no wonder no one thought to stray from their orders.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Shea wanted to draw them back.
Caden’s face darkened at her insubordination, and the guard drew in a deep breath before giving her a look to say he thought she was an idiot.
Right now, she kind of agreed. She was an idiot with a big mouth.
Darius gave her a sidelong look, one that held a trace of recognition.
“I’ve heard something similar before.”
Shea felt the weight of his eyes as she looked away to rub her wrists. They didn’t hurt, but she needed an excuse to avoid his gaze just then.
“It’s odd, but you remind me of her.” Darius’s voice was thoughtful. “You even have the same color hair.”
Damn it, she knew she should have kept dying her hair. After that first night when she had used oil, she hadn’t bothered. Being out of camp and in the wild for long periods made it near impossible to keep her hair dyed without drawing attention.
Keeping her voice calm, she said, “Do I? It’s a pretty common color in the Lowlands.”
“Hm,” was Darius’s only answer.
“If that’s all, I’ll be on my way,” Shea said standing and meeting his eyes. It took everything in her not to bolt at the speculation she saw there.
He waved his hand to dismiss her. She didn’t delay, giving them a sharp nod and striding to the tent flap. The whole way it felt like his eyes were burning a hole in her back
“Oh,” Darius said and Shea froze, turning her head slightly back to him. “Hawkvale will probably want to thank you himself when he’s recovered.”
She inclined her head and ducked out of the tent before he could stop her again.
She was going straight to the operations master and getting orders for the first scouting party leaving here. She had stayed too long, and it was time to do what she should have done months ago. Leave.
Chapter Seventeen
“Shane, wait up.”
Shea turned to see who was calling her, but her feet didn’t slow a beat even when she saw Eamon ambling towards her. She increased her pace until she was walking as fast as she could without running.
“Shane, kid, wait up.” Eamon jogged after her. Catching up, he placed a hand on her shoulder and forcibly pulled her to a stop. “Why didn’t you stop?”
She jerked one shoulder up in answer and looked down at her feet.
“Shane.” Eamon’s voice held a note of warning.
She looked him in the eye and said through gritted teeth. “Was just in a hurry is all.”
His eyes narrowed as they took in her closed off expression, and the way she immediately dropped her gaze after answering him.
“Bullshit.”
Shea glared at him while her jaw took on a mutinous slant.
“Are you just now being released?”
Shea’s face froze as she squinted up at him before glancing over her shoulder at the tent she’d just left. Darius and Caden walked out and were heading for Fallon’s quarters. Caden tossed a glance her way, taking in Eamon’s worried stance and her angrier one.
She turned her back. “Just now? Do you mean to tell me you and the others were released earlier?”
“I was freed shortly after we were separated. Phillip was released even before that and Buck not long after me.”
“What?” Shea semi screeched as her eyebrows climbed to her hairline.
That’d been hours ago. The sun had risen at some point during her detainment and was now a giant ball of orange hanging low over the mountains as the sky lightened to an almost painfully vibrant blue.
Shea’s stomach grumbled reminding her that it was early morning, and her last meal had been the pastry the guard had given her.
“I take it they just finished debriefing you.”
She gave him a glare and spun on her heel. She was going to find one of the cook’s fires, get some breakfast, then head to her tent for a nap. Afterwards, she’d head for the operations master and see what she could do about getting out of here.
Eamon’s long legs easily kept pace with her shorter ones, content to leave her to her thoughts as she strode along, her face holding all the warmth of a thunder cloud.
“Your story couldn’t have been that different from ours.”
“What?”
“I’m just trying to figure out why they kept you so long.”
Shea turned her head slightly as if she’d seen something, not wanting him to see the caution that was suddenly there.
“With us, they just asked why we thought to leave the main search. Once they thanked us for saving Hawkvale, they released us. Was it not the same for you?”
Shea shrugged, careful to keep her face turned away. “I think they were a little more suspicious since I’m a Lowlander.”
Eamon frowned as he considered this piece of information.
“They thought I might be a spy so I think they checked out your stories before they debriefed me.” She tried for a grin but only managed a half-hearted grimace. “Guess they believe that now, since they released me.”
“Suppose so.” Eamon’s eyes were alive with suspicion and a little bit of concern.
Shea smothered the guilty feeling she had at telling him half-truths. “This’ll be a pretty amazing story to brag about when you get together with the other scout masters later, huh?”
He gave her a half grin. “I probably won’t have to fetch my own ale for a while.”
“Maybe you’ll even get that promotion to field master they should’ve given you ages ago.”
He made a pleased expression and looked off into the distance.
“Go ahead and sleep as long as you need,” Eamon told her after they had gotten a plate of biscuits, eggs and bacon. “We’re off the mission roster for the time being.”
Shea nearly choked on the mouthful of fluffy, buttery biscuit. Swallowing harshly, she gasped, “What?”
“The orders of the Warlord’s second. He wants us close for the time being.” Eamon was absorbed in trying to pick up the last scraps of egg with one of his biscuit halves and missed Shea’s stricken expression. “I think it’s because he wants us there when Hawkvale wakes up.”
Shea’s eyes widened slightly, and she became absorbed in fiddling with her food.
“Whatever the reason, we’re tied to camp until the restriction is lifted.”
Mistaking the slump in her shoulders for disappointment at being sidelined, he clapped her on the back. “Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll put us back on the roster soon. They’ll probably have so many expeditions for you that you’ll wish you were still stuck at camp.”
Shea’s lips stretched tight across her teeth in a smile that felt more like a grimace. “You’re probably right.”
“I’ll see you at supper then,” Eamon told her.
She nodded as he left before staring unseeing at the tents across from her.
What was she supposed to do now? If she’d been taken off the roster, that meant no assignments. She was stuck here.
Already, Darius was suspicious of her. He’d outright told her she reminded him of herself. Caden’s sharp eyes hadn’t missed anything either. She doubted she could get through too many more encounters with them before her secrets were revealed.
Somehow she had to find a way onto one of the outgoing parties. How was still a mystery, but she’d figure it out. If it came down to it, she would try to sneak past the sentries. She knew their habits now. It’d be difficult but not impossible.
She got to her feet and brushed the dirt from her pants. Sitting here would get her no closer to freedom. She needed to put a plan in place before people knew she’d been restricted to camp. Sleep would have to wait a few hours.
Hopefully, she could trade with another scout. Maybe one that had been out hunting for Hawkvale last night. Chances were a scouting party wouldn’t leave until later in the morning which might even give her enough time to get a nap.
She cut down a small alley sandwiched between two tents and plodded past a few campfires with the smell of breakfast clinging to them. Though it was still the early hours of the morning, the sun was up which meant the Trateri were up.
She headed for the tent where the scouts were given their assignments. Usually there were a couple of scouts hanging around outside. She hoped she’d find someone she knew.
“Shane!”
Clark’s hand was a blur as he stood up and waved madly to attract her attention. The men sitting with him studied her as she made her way over to the group.
She felt her stomach sink as she was greeted with an open curiosity verging on approval. They possibly knew about Fallon’s rescue.
Clark bounced to her side and grabbed her arm to drag her in front of the other men.
“This is Shane. He’s the one who came up with the idea to start the board of beasts.” The two on the left dipped their chins in acknowledgement.
“That’s a pretty impressive idea you had,” the larger one said gruffly. His hair was a scraggly mess reaching down to his shoulders, and his features were blunt and weather beaten. “The knowledge I’ve picked up from that book saved mine and my men’s asses more than once now.”
“My captain has made it an order that one of us is to report to the board of beasts before and after a patrol to get updates in case any new information has been put up there,” the younger one said. His warm, brown eyes twinkled with good will and his features still had a trace of baby fat.
“Clark played a bigger role in that than I did,” Shea said uncomfortably, grateful that they were talking about beasts and not Fallon.
“Don’t sell yourself short, boy,” the first man said. “Way Clark tells it, it was your idea originally. You got to accept praise when it comes your way. Else people begin to think you got false modesty, and you’re thinking you’re better than them.”
He finished his speech by taking a huge bit out of a biscuit and then gulping down some of his drink.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Clark piped up again. “Shane, is it true you’re the one who found the Hawkvale? That’s all anybody has been talking about since we rode into camp.”
Damn. She was hoping he hadn’t known. This meant everybody here knew as well.
“I heard you and your men refused to give Hawkvale to his personal guard and got punished for it,” the brown-eyed man said eagerly.
Shea gritted her teeth. Did everything from last night make the rounds? These men gossiped worse than the old biddies in Birdon Leaf.
All eyes were on Shea. Even those outside the circle of men she was talking to. Those at neighboring fires had given up any pretense of ignoring them and had turned to listen.
Left with no choice, Shea confirmed, “My team and I did find Hawkvale.”
Clark let out a whoop, and Shea cringed as his brown-eyed friend echoed it. The bigger man chewed thoughtfully on his biscuit while examining her closely. A low rumble came from the neighboring campsites, and three men stood and ambled closer to stand with arms folded over huge chests behind the three men sitting before Shea.
She shifted uneasily. So much for not drawing attention to herself.
“I told you,” Clark crowed. “I told you I knew him. I can’t believe this. I’m friends with the man who saved Hawkvale. You’re going to be a legend, Shane. After this, you’ll probably be promoted, and I’ll get to say I knew you when you were just a Daisy.”
Shea smiled tightly in response to the nods of appreciation and crossed her arms over her stomach.
“Clark, could I speak to you alone for a second?” Shea grabbed Clark’s arm and hauled him away before he could answer.
“Shane, what’s the rush?” Clark asked, nearly stumbling as she swept around a corner.
Her eyes darted around, making sure they were as alone as they could get in this tent city. No one seemed to be paying undue attention to them, but there was an itching sensation drilling into the back of her head as if they were being watched. Another subtle scan of the area didn’t reveal what set off her instincts, but she’d learned over the years to pay attention to them. They’d saved her life more than once.
There were men dressed in the distinctive green of a scout and the more common browns and tans of a front liner. None paid undue attention to Shea or her companion and continued on their way.
She took a deep breath, forcing a composure she didn’t feel.
“When’s your next mission?” she asked.
She felt a twinge of guilt at the innocent questions in his eyes.
“Not ‘til tomorrow morning. They wanted us to rest up a little. Why?”
How much should she tell him? Not the truth, but maybe a version of it.
She allowed some of the frustration she was feeling to register on her face and dragged a hand through her short hair. “This stuff with the Hawkvale is just making me a little antsy. All the attention is kind of getting to me. Not to mention our squad has been taken off the register for at least a week.” She gave him a sheepish smile. “I’ve never been in camp that long. I guess I was just hoping that I could tag along the next time you or one of the others head out.”
“I can ask Perry if you could come with us,” Clark offered.
As a scout, he understood what she was talking about. Sometimes spending all your time with a small group of men out in the great wide expanse made it difficult to come back to the chaos of camp life. Being forced into a rest could wind a scout up quicker than any beast encounter.
She considered his offer. Tomorrow would be too late. She needed to leave today. Preferably ten minutes from now.
&nbs
p; “Still, it’d be a shame missing all this recognition,” Clark continued. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Hawkvale doesn’t throw you some kind of feast.”
She shrugged off-handedly. “I’ve never really been a fan of attention. Besides, I doubt they’ll invite me to any feast. I’m not Trateri.”
“I don’t think it’ll matter if you’re Trateri. You might even get adopted into a clan because of this.” Clark’s eyes lit in excitement. “That’d be something. If you became a true Trateri. You’d be one of us.”
“You wouldn’t happen to know of anybody who’s leaving sooner? For instance, this morning?”
Clark sighed, disappointment clear in his eyes. “I think Remy’s group is leaving this morning. I’ll ask if they can use another scout.”
Shane nearly leapt forward to hug Clark but at the last minute turned her excitement into a brisk pat on the back.
“Meet me at the corral in an hour,” he told her. “If he says yes, you’ll leave directly from there.”
Shea smiled big, and Clark stilled. He blinked, as if seeing something he hadn’t before. The smile fell from her face.
“Thanks, Clark. I owe you for this,” Shea continued, ignoring the look of surprise and speculation on Clark’s face.
“No problem.”
Shea’s mind was already on her small tent and its belongings, mentally cataloging what she needed for her journey and what she could leave behind. She gave him another distracted smile before setting off for her tent.
An hour later Shea leaned against the rough fence encircling the corral, bag packed, waiting for Clark and his friend. The sun felt good on her face and the morning had warmed significantly. It was going to be a hot one.
