“Can they see us here?” he asked softly.
She checked again and shook her head, her skin flushed with anticipation.
Before he could do more than take a single step toward her, a knock on the door sounded. His face tightened even as his body tensed, a visible struggle taking place.
“Go, it’s probably your people,” Shea said in a soft voice. There were plans to be made and plots to be hatched. This could wait. “I’m not going anywhere.”
He sighed, his exhale gruff as he reached out to run a rough touch down her arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps in his wake. Shea shivered at the sensation.
His expression still showing that raging battle, he stepped back and stalked toward the door. Shea’s lips tilted up in a smile as she reached out and twitched the screen closed, veiling her from view of the rest of the room. It wouldn’t do much to hide the sound, but it would have to do. As someone used to the lack of privacy on the trail, this was much better than some of the bird baths she’d resorted to where she was constantly on guard against interruptions.
Shea stepped into the steaming water, containing her hiss at the luxurious warmth. She sank into it with a grateful sigh, letting the heat and lavender ease muscles that ached from the abuse she’d put them through over the journey. Resting her head against the back of the tub, she relaxed and listened to the conversation taking place on the other side of the screen.
Irritated, but resigned to the interruption, Fallon yanked the door open, using it to shield his body even as he reached for the dagger he kept on his person at all times. Seeing Caden and several other of his men, he sheathed the dagger and stepped aside to let them into his room.
Caden noted the action, a gleam of approval in his eyes. As the leader of Fallon’s Anateri, he took Fallon’s personal protection very seriously.
“Your Anateri are settled in the rooms closest to you,” Caden said as he prowled inside, his eyes noting the dimensions of the room and cataloging them for future reference. “But it would still be best if you allowed a couple to stay in here with you.”
Fallon watched as his first Anateri stalked along the edges of the room, much as Shea had, checking for secret passages and spy bolt holes. He noted with satisfaction as Caden caught all of the ones Shea had.
“That is not possible,” Fallon said after a long pause.
He’d considered the option but discarded it. For one, it would mean admitting fear and weakness in front of their enemy—something he would like to avoid. These pathfinders struck him as every bit as prideful and observant as his own people. In the Trateri ranks, an admission of weakness was an invitation for someone to test your skills. He doubted Shea’s people were any different.
These were not soft Lowlanders, used to an easy life. They’d been honed, hardened, and made tough by the unique challenges of their environment. They were like the hard-backed lizards of his homeland. The meat was tough to get to because of the difficulty in penetrating its armor. Yet hidden inside that difficult shell was the most succulent of delicacies.
Braden’s eyes were sharp as he filed in after Caden. He was content to let Fallon’s Anateri do their jobs, watching as they swarmed through the room.
“If you value your life, you will not touch that screen,” Fallon warned in a lazy voice when one of his men got too close to Shea’s bathing area.
The man nodded and stepped away. Fallon was glad. He didn’t relish the thought of coming to blows with one of his men over their stupidity.
Before Braden could say anything else, Fallon gave him the signal that said they had possible watchers present. Braden’s blink was slow as he acknowledged that he’d seen the slight movement of Fallon’s hands.
Caden circled back to the other two, looking vexed. The lack of security and his inability to adequately protect Fallon would be driving the other man crazy.
“The Lion Clan and Ember Clan leaders have elected to stay with their men,” Braden informed Fallon, his voice as low as he could make it without tipping off any spies that they were onto them.
“That leaves Rain and the healer, Chirron, in a room,” Fallon said, his thoughts already turning to strategy. They’d done better than he could have hoped for. The division of their leadership would mean they were better equipped if someone decided to attack either group.
Braden’s nod was grave. “I’ve also taken a room and slipped some of my men into the rooms surrounding us.”
“It looks like we’re the only ones in this wing,” Caden said. “I had my men scout and none of the other rooms on this floor or the floor beneath us are filled.”
Which meant that the separation was on purpose. Somehow Fallon wasn’t surprised.
Braden frowned, his face thoughtful. “We could move our men into the rooms.”
Fallon shook his head. “No, let’s see what they’re planning first. Of the two options, I’d rather move everyone into the great hall. The rooms leave us too spread out, and given the special situation with them, I’d rather not have my people so exposed.” He tilted his head meaningfully at the walls.
Braden nodded, his face grave. He agreed with Fallon, otherwise he would have mounted an argument.
“I’ll be glad when we can be on our way,” Caden remarked, looking around the room with a dour expression.
“Aye, this place is strange. Like the land itself wants us gone,” Braden said.
Fallon had noticed it too. It was like the weight of eyes followed them everywhere, as if even the hills and rocks noticed their passing.
