She let out a sigh. She hated when her words were turned back on her. Worse, he was right. Partners, good partners, shared their troubles even when the other could do nothing to help.
“They called me a traitor,” she said, her voice barely audible. Even saying the words brought back that ugly feeling deep in her stomach.
Fallon was quiet for a long moment. “I can see how they might think that.”
Shea looked away. He wasn’t telling her anything she didn’t know.
“I would like you to consider this,” he said with a thoughtful look. “Your actions have not led to any harm being visited on them by me. In fact, I think it’s just the opposite. I would have invaded long before now had you not been part of my life. Even with their weapons and knowledge of the terrain giving them a distinct advantage, I would have dealt them a severe blow. One, I sense they would not easily have recovered from. At least not for several generations. It’s only because of my love for you, and your own actions, that they have avoided that fate.”
Shea wasn’t sure of that. She had a feeling it might have just been a matter of time before Fallon turned his sights on her homeland. He was too much the conqueror to leave a job half finished. He had a vision, and while seeing the Broken Lands united might be a worthy cause, it would take a lot of bloodshed to accomplish. Something that she had a strong objection to.
“To them you may be a traitor, but to our people you’re considered a hero.” He gave her a crooked smile. “Or did you forget jumping on that golden eagle to save Mist?”
Shea snorted. She doubted she’d ever forget that little debacle. Trenton certainly wouldn’t. He still got a vexed look on his face whenever someone brought it up. It had admittedly not been one of her better plans, but it had ended well, as she’d been able to save a child from being carried off and fed to the eagle’s young.
“So, your father came to your defense,” Fallon said, his voice thoughtful.
“Doubtful. He’s willing to drag me before the council to answer to similar charges.” Shea’s voice held a tinge of bitterness. A part of her would always crave her father’s approval, and knowing he was willing to bring her up on charges of treason burned.
“I’m not so sure of that,” Fallon said, his focus turning to where her father was moving among the pathfinders.
“What makes you say that?”
“I suspect that was little more than a ruse to get me to fall in line with what he wanted. He strikes me as being very cunning.”
“You’ve got that right. I’d say he’s as adept at mind games as any of your clan elders,” Shea said. Having lived through some of those games, she could attest to that.
He slid a look her way. “And yet such a talent seems to have skipped a generation.”
Shea shrugged. “I’ve never been very good at thinking sideways. There was no point in it in my prior life. If what you’re saying is true, how would he know such a threat would motivate you in the direction he wanted?”
“That is a good question,” Fallon said, studying her father with the kind of focus he usually reserved for particularly tricky opponents.
“Is that all you’ve got? A feeling?” Shea asked.
“My feelings are rarely wrong,” he said, giving her a censorious look. “Reading people accurately is how I’ve gotten to where I am today.” He tapped her nose. “Perhaps next time you should stop to talk with him rather than avoiding him. You might learn something interesting.”
She frowned at him, before looking over to where her father stood watching the two of them with astute eyes.
“Now, point out this person who said this thing to you,” Fallon said without missing a beat, his expression bland.
A laugh escaped her, surprising her. She glanced up at him “Nice try, Warlord, but I know you better than that.”
If she revealed that person’s name, it was almost guaranteed they’d end up dead or seriously injured before the night was through. Fallon didn’t allow anyone to threaten those he considered his, even by something as simple as a few stray insults.
He gave her a disgruntled look under lowered brows. “This will only allow me to keep an eye on a potential threat.”
She snorted as she walked off. “Right, and if I believed that, I would also believe that a revenant can be reasoned with.”
He grumbled as he followed her. “You know I can just ask Trenton.”
She gave him a smug smile over her shoulder. “Too bad he didn’t see who said it.”
He frowned at her; she frowned back until her lips tilted up in a crooked smile. She slapped him on the arm. “Now, feed me before my stomach tries to crawl through my back.”
He moved before she could dodge, wrapping his arms around her and pretending to gnaw on her neck. She shrieked with laughter as she wiggled free. It was rare for him to act playful while in view of others, especially when some of their companions could be considered potential enemies.
He gave her a slight smile, his face already back to the one she termed his warlord face, an unreadable expression that he normally regarded the world from. It had intimidated more than one Lowlander into surrendering before a single blow had been struck.
