That wasn’t to say the position of telroi wasn’t one of respect among the Trateri. It was. Just as a commander was a position of respect, but a general garnered more esteem. That was what he was proposing.
“How is that different than what we have now?” Shea asked, her face cautious.
“Not much would change,” he said. “You would still act as you do now. The biggest difference is you would have your own power separate from my own. I could not gainsay your decisions, as you couldn’t mine, though I’d hope you’d listen to my council. You would be my partner in truth. If I fell, you would lead. It is not reversible; we would be each other’s for the rest of our lives, no matter any disagreements that might arise in the future.”
The Trateri weren’t like the Lowlanders or the Highlanders. They formed relationships, but they understood that people changed through time. A bond could be broken any time either person wanted. Some never broke the bond, others had so many relationships through the course of their lives it was impossible to count on all their fingers and toes.
What Fallon was proposing was permanent. A marriage, for lack of a better term, similar to what the rest of the Broken Lands shared. Only, without the male being in the position of power.
Shea gazed off to the side. Fallon waited, something that didn’t come easily to him. Not with this woman. She might reject his offer, but that didn’t mean he’d give up. Like any good warrior, he knew how to pick his battles and bide his time.
“You’re sure about this?” Shea said. “These are your people. You’ve done the work. I don’t mind not being in a position of leadership.”
He took her hand in his, playing with her fingers as he fought to put into words what he thought and felt. He wasn’t a poet. He was a warrior, given to action, but he’d try. For her.
“I’m sure. This is the best path for us.”
It was not lost on him how she’d struggled to find her place among them. This would give her purpose and direction. He could think of no better person than a former pathfinder with an unshakable moral compass to shepherd his people into this next era.
Shea was a visionary. She saw the world as it should be rather than as it was. She saw hope where he would destroy so he might start again.
She studied him for along moment, her thoughts indecipherable. “This means a lot to you.”
It was a statement not a question. He answered regardless. “It does. It’s everything I can offer you.”
Shea sat up, touching his cheek as her gaze delved into his. Whatever she saw there made her face soften, and she dropped a kiss on his lips. “I accept.”
Fallon’s heart thumped wildly in his chest. He climbed to his knees and let out a victorious cry.
Shea sputtered, reaching up to try to cover his mouth. “Shh, what are you thinking? They’ll want to come in and make sure you’re alright.”
Sure enough, Fallon heard his Anateri moving through the other chamber. Shea dove for the covers.
“We’re fine,” he called, not moving from his kneeling position.
“Perhaps you could yell a little louder,” Caden’s dry voice came. “I don’t think the entire camp heard you.”
Shea smothered her giggle as Fallon grinned. “I’ll do my best next time.”
They waited until the Anateri had retreated before Fallon crawled into bed next to Shea and tugged her into his arms. Before long, the two drifted to sleep.
*
Fallon jerked awake, coming to alertness in less than a second. It was a valuable talent for any warrior to have, one he’d cultivated over many years. No one snuck up on him anymore.
He looked down at Shea sleeping by his side, surprised she hadn’t done the same. His telroi—no, battle queen now—was as light a sleeper as any warrior he’d served with. She’d have to be, given the inherent dangers she faced on the trail.
That she hadn’t woken spoke to how exhausted she must be. Not really surprising. For all that she had undergone rigorous training by her own people and later Trenton, fighting during battle was different. You expended energy at a much faster rate, the fear of death and the adrenaline rush from fighting for your life burned through your reserves faster than most would understand. That, coupled with the restless sleep and dreams since they’d reached this place, meant everything had finally caught up to her.
Fallon was careful as he slipped out of bed, making sure his absence wouldn’t wake her.
There was a soft tap on the privacy screen. Then Wilhelm’s voice. “My lord, there are two men here to see you.”
“Who is it?” Fallon asked in a low voice.
There was a pause. “The leaders of Rain and Earth clans.”
Fallon paused in the middle of pulling on his pants. What did those two want? He glanced back at the bed, the lure of the soft body there and the possibility of rest calling to him.
