“You shouldn’t have run off and called attention to yourself.” Disapproval colored Braden’s tone.
Shea shot him dark look. “I’m sorry. When someone threatens to kill me, I tend to try to remove myself from the situation.”
“I never intended to kill you.”
Shea scoffed, letting the sound speak for her.
“I didn’t. I just said at one time I had planned to kill you. You know, before. It’s been a while since I’ve actively plotted your death.”
Shea opened her mouth with a sharp retort but was prevented from speaking as a horse and rider clattered around the corner, torch held aloft. Seeing them, he called over his should, “Here, I’ve found them.”
“Time to go.” Shea bounded away from the building, Braden on her heels. Another rider cut them off at the end of the street as the first closed in behind. They started for an alley but pulled up short when another horse and rider trotted out of the shadows.
They were surrounded.
Braden put his back to Shea’s, notching an arrow and holding his bow at the ready. He’d given her his sword so at least she wasn’t completely unarmed.
Charles turned the corner, letting his horse walk towards them at a leisurely pace. “General, what a surprise. I had not thought to see you out here.”
“Who is this?” Braden asked Shea, not taking his eyes off the armed men approaching them.
“Charles. You met him. He was in charge of the beast board.”
Charles smile was ugly. “I suppose I shouldn’t be too surprised he doesn’t recognize me. It would be too much to expect a general to know those that serve under him.”
“I know the name of every man and woman in my command. You’re not one of them,” Braden said, still not looking at Charles. His attention was wholly focused on the two riders behind them.
“Of course not. You wouldn’t want a cripple getting in the way.” Charles hands tightened on the reins.
“Is that what this is about?” Shea asked. “Misplaced anger over your lot in life?”
Charles snorted. “Maybe a little, but it’s not the only reason.”
Scorn showed on Shea’s face.
Charles smiled. “You don’t believe me.”
She shrugged.
“At first, I only intended to get you out of the way. As I’m sure the general here can tell you, you’re a distraction to the Warlord. His men have noticed, and they don’t like it. This idea of conquest. It is ridiculous. We take, we pillage, and then we return home. That’s how it’s always been.”
“Fallon always intended to claim the Lowlands,” Shea said. “I’m not the one who convinced him to stay.”
“But you are the one who made it possible. Your beast board. Your ideas. Even this place. Do you think he’ll let this end once he reaches your homeland?” Charles shook his head. “No, he’ll take, and take, and take until there is nothing left.”
A shadow flickered in the light behind Charles.
“Your lands are rotting,” Shea said. “There’s nothing left there except madness and death.”
“You’re lying.”
“She’s not,” Braden said. “I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Our healers are trying to figure out what’s wrong, but they have been unsuccessful. Many have succumbed to the madness.”
The man next to Charles shifted. “The men from Rain did say something wasn’t right.”
“Quiet. Nothing they say matters. She’s still an outsider. A throwaway. We do our people a service getting rid of her,” Charles said.
He dug his heels into the horse’s sides and spurred it towards Shea. She held the sword in a guard position, watching closely.
