“From what I gathered, it had been weakening for a while,” she said. “Records we have support that assessment. Our trip to the Badlands must have finished the job. I’m not sure if it was Griffin or me who broke it.”
Ah, now he understood her hesitance to go down this path. If she was the one who destroyed the seal, she would see herself as responsible for this whole mess, including all of the deaths from the last few days.
He needed to put a stop to that thinking. He was well acquainted with how a mind could poison itself with guilt, turning even the best of warriors into shells of their former selves.
“Either way, it was Griffin who called the beasts here,” Fallon said in a quiet voice, his eyes intent on hers. “He, and he alone, is responsible for everything that’s happened.”
Shea held his gaze. He could see she didn’t quite believe him. That was alright. He’d repeat the message as many times as needed until it got through, and if that didn’t work he knew many tactics to distract her with. Pissing her off always seemed to work.
“Here, here,” Darius said in a frank voice. He would have seen the same thing Fallon had. “When are we going to go after the bastard that started all this?”
Fallon flashed a dark smile. “As soon as we’ve rested. I expect we’ll leave come morning.”
Darius toasted him with the goblet. “I expect to be part of that group. I’ll take great pleasure in tracking this bastard down and subjecting him to our brand of justice.”
Shea did well keeping her wince hidden. She wasn’t hardened as many Trateri were, thirsting for blood when someone wronged her. He didn’t hold it against her. She’d had a very different upbringing. As capable as she was, she hadn’t had to face the things they had, or make the choice between giving the children of the clan water or making sure the horses were well watered because you knew you’d need them when the next clan attacked.
Her sense of right and wrong and her prickly exterior coupled with her soft inner self, were some of the things that he loved best about her. It reminded him that his people’s way wasn’t always the only one.
“Actually,” Fallon started.
Darius slammed the goblet down, ale spilling out of it. “No, I’m not remaining behind again.”
“We need someone to lead in my absence and work with the pathfinders. Once this threat is taken care of, I want to finish putting the Highlands under my thumb,” Fallon explained. Darius was one of the few who he’d go to the trouble for. The rest he would have expected to fall in line with his command without question.
“Have Braden do it,” Darius said, frustration on his face. “He needs to reestablish his position anyway, and he has more experience with the pathfinders.”
Fallon considered it. His suggestion wasn’t bad, actually. Braden would push back, but Fallon could deal with that. Braden had been preoccupied with some of Fallon’s other interests for the last few years. Perhaps it was time he brought the other man back into the main body. They could do with a reminder of Braden’s leadership.
“Very well,” Fallon agreed.
Darius smiled as he sat back.
“You know Daere is going to have words for you after this,” Fallon said in a conversational voice. That wiped the smile off Darius’s face. His cousin was a formidable woman and tended to be very creative in how she took her frustration out on other people. She was a bit like Shea in that way. The news that Braden would be more present in her life would be met with strong opposition. Since she was limited in the anger she could direct Fallon’s way, she would turn to Darius as the culprit.
Fallon picked up a goblet, hiding his smile as he took a sip. Shea’s lips quivered in hidden mirth as she figured out what he’d just done. He ran his hand down her back, happy the distraction had lightened her mood.
“Piss and balls.” Darius leveraged himself to his feet. “I wish those two would just fuck already. This dance of theirs is giving everyone a headache.”
Fallon agreed. Shea looked over at him with interest and he nodded. It was no secret that there was something between his cousin and Braden. They were stuck in this repetitive pattern, neither willing to make their feelings known. So far it hadn’t affected their duties, mostly because they were never in the same place for very long. If it had, Fallon would have been forced to act sooner. It’d be interesting to see if things changed with the enforced close contact.
“See what new information you can gather in your dreams,” Darius told Shea as he departed.
“I don’t think it works like that,” she called after him.
He held up a hand in acknowledgment but didn’t pause as he stepped outside.
Fallon stood and headed to the private side of the tent that had been set up for his and his telroi’s use. Shea could use a little private time with Mist.
Small hands came up to turn Shea’s head toward the girl in her arms. Mist stared back at her, her eyes large and sad in that little face.
“Are you mad?” Mist asked.
Shea blinked at her, realizing abruptly that the little girl was talking freely. When she’d left her behind, she had spoken for the first time after being locked in silence, unable or unwilling to express herself.
“You’re talking more,” Shea said, excitement and happiness bubbling up inside.
Mist gave her a shy nod.
