Shea smiled at her. “My mother used to take me on trips when I was your age, and she would teach me everything about the world around me.”
She really had. Even twenty years later Shea still remembered those trips and the patience her mother had displayed. Shea had been a curious child. Always trying to wander off and explore.
“I can teach you a little before I leave and then more when I return,” Shea said, looking around at the forest. They wouldn’t be able to go far, but to a girl who’d grown up in the Trateri homelands, this place would seem plenty wonderous.
Mist’s hand touched the back of Shea’s hand. She waited until Shea looked at her again to point to another plant, this one with a yellow flower that looked like a spiral inside.
“Do you want to know what that is?”
Mist nodded, her eyes still solemn. Shea’s mouth quirked in a half smile. “Very well.”
Daere drifted closer as Shea explained the various properties that she knew for the flower the locals called a golden spiral. An hour passed as Mist and Daere found more and more things for Shea to describe. Before long Shea was holding an impromptu beast class as she sketched out different beast footprints in the dirt.
Shea was completely absorbed in the descriptions as the three of them put their heads together to look at the current beast print Shea had pressed into the ground.
She didn’t even notice how they had become the center of attention until someone asked, “How do you distinguish between the revenant and the cackle dog? The two prints look almost identical to me.”
Shea looked up to find several Trateri dressed in clan colors that she didn’t recognize, gathered around watching. The men and one woman were all bigger than the other Trateri she’d met. Their features broader with a fierce look in their eyes that made Shea think that they weren’t used to playing nice with others.
Ember’s clan leader stood among them, his clothes much plainer than yesterday. He was missing the leather armor and the bloodthirsty look. Surrounded by those Shea assumed were his kinsmen, he almost seemed relaxed.
Daere stood up, brushing her hands against the seat of her pants. “Zeph, I had heard your clan finally joined us.”
Zeph inclined his head, a smile pulling at the corner of his lips. “It is good to see you again, little cousin.”
Shea’s eyebrows lifted. Cousin? This man was related to Fallon?
Seeing the question written on her face, Zeph addressed Shea, “We’re related on the paternal side, whereas Hawkvale shares a connection with my lovely cousin on the maternal side.”
Shea nodded, not knowing what else to say. The Trateri family bonds were important to them and resembled a thorny thicket. Though Fallon had no immediate family, he seemed to have many extended relations.
A tall man, his blond curls tamed into a bun on top of his head ventured close and crouched next to Mist. “Are you learning about these beasts that we’ve heard so much about?”
Mist ducked her head and edged closer to Shea, not stopping until she was behind her.
The man looked up a Shea, his eyes sharp and suspicious. Mist stayed where she was, her head pressed into the back of Shea’s leg.
Shea stared back at the man and his friends with no clue as to what to say. Mist’s reaction was extreme, and she didn’t know quite how to explain it to strangers. Or if she even should, given the fact that Fallon planned to find the person behind the child’s abuse.
Daere stepped into the silence. “What brings you here?”
Zeph and his man didn’t look away from Shea and the girl, their eyes focused and intent.
The blond leaned forward, trying to peer around Shea. He gave Mist a charming smile “It’s alright, little one. I won’t harm you.”
Mist burrowed deeper into Shea.
“It doesn’t look like she wants to talk to you,” Shea said, not liking how much interest he showed in the child.
She still wasn’t sure how abrupt she should be, not with Ember’s clan leader standing right there. The last thing she wanted to do was alienate another potential ally of Fallon’s. What she wanted to do was scoop Mist into her arms and leave the area as fast as possible. Perhaps set Chirron on them to investigate. The chances were the little girl had associated the man from Ember with someone she used to know, but it wouldn’t hurt to have him checked out.
“Bax?” Zeph asked, his gaze watchful.
“There are bruises on the little one’s arms and the back of her legs.” The blond’s voice remained pleasant as he relayed that information, though there was an edge to it hinting at his unhappiness.
Zeph gaze moved to Shea as the last semblance of friendliness faded from his face.
“I don’t care who you spend your nights with, but if that child has suffered abuse at your hands, I will see that you are punished to the fullest extent of our laws.” Zeph gave her a look that said he’d very much enjoy taking her apart with his bare hands. That he might not wait for justice.
