Fallon was down there. Fallon was down there. Fallon was down there.
Shea didn’t realize she was repeating the words over and over until Eamon stepped in front of her and grabbed her face.
“I know, lass. I’m sorry.”
Shea made a choked sound. She couldn’t cry, her eyes were dry. This couldn’t be happening.
“Was the Warlord down there?” a voice shouted.
There were running footsteps as several people spilled into what remained of the courtyard.
“I told you to keep them back,” Caden snapped, his voice coming from a distance. All Shea could do was stare at the hole where Fallon had been.
“They used one of the buildings to slip past us,” another voice answered.
Fallon was gone.
“You didn’t answer me. Was the Hawkvale down there when it collapsed?”
“I don’t answer to you, Rain,” Caden snarled.
“I’d be careful, outcast, in how you speak to the clan leaders. I don’t care if he did make you Anateri. With the Hawkvale dead, one of us stand to take his place,” Van said.
Dead.
There was a scuffle as Caden lunged at the other man. Only the quick reaction of his men kept him from landing a blow. Eamon and Buck surrounded Shea, their eyes on the others even as they protected her.
“Do you see a body?” Shea’s voice sounded like that of a stranger.
The other men paused, all eyes coming to her. She didn’t notice, staring at the dark abyss of space.
No one answered her.
She finally looked up, her eyes calm and her face composed. “Well? Do you see a body?”
“Will somebody shut her up? We don’t have time for histrionics.”
Shea bared her teeth. A fight. Good. She needed one.
“How ‘bouts I show you histrionics?” Buck threatened, stepping forward.
Van looked at him and curled his lip. “I can see the first order of business will be ensuring discipline in the ranks.”
“There will be no first, second, third, or any other order of business,” Shea said, her eyes flinty. She lifted her chin when the other men glanced at her. “Because the Hawkvale is not dead and you will not be taking his place.”
Van gave a derisive laugh as he looked around the rest of the group. Zeph had joined Van and Gawain. His face was guarded and remote. None of the other men laughed, just looked at Shea with varying levels of intensity.
Van looked at Shea with scorn. “What are you going on about?”
Shea spread her hands to encompass the area. “Do you see a body?”
They all looked at the collapsed square. No body presented itself.
“What does that matter? No man could have survived that collapse.”
Shea lifted an eyebrow, “No one said Fallon was down there at the time of collapse.”
Van made a sound that was half-huff, half-laugh, like he thought Shea was jesting. Her face remained serious, her eyes winter cold. “You’re serious.”
