A few noticed her and looked over with curiosity. Those who did recognize her spoke in hushed voices to their friends. Soon Shea found herself the center of attention.
She looked back with an impassive expression, not letting the gossip bother her.
“Shea,” a familiar voice said, puzzlement present in his voice.
Shea blinked, surprised when Clark pushed himself to the front of the group. “Clark, I didn’t expect you here.”
He looked hesitant and unsure as he crossed over to her. A woman trailed him, visibly unhappy when Clark greeted Shea with a familiarity only possible with those who’ve known each other for a long time. He grasped her forearm in a warrior’s greeting and clapped her on the back, the smile that had been missing for several weeks finally present, lighting up his face and making him seem like the boy on the cusp of manhood that he was.
Shea noted the way the woman frowned at their closeness and kept her smirk concealed, not wanting to insult her or make her think there was something there when there wasn’t. She was glad Clark was making friends. He deserved some happiness in his life after the past few weeks.
“They invited me to go with them,” he said, almost hesitantly.
Shea couldn’t guess why, until his attention drifted to Trenton and Wilhelm at her back, the skin around his eyes tightening as if to forestall a flinch.
“That’s great. I hoped they’d accept you,” Shea said, hoping to allay some of his concern that he was in trouble. “My cousin invited me to tag along. Hope you don’t mind.”
He blinked, looking horrified. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
She grinned at him. “I’m just teasing, Clark.”
He gave her a scathing look, some of her old friend peeking through.
“You learn anything interesting from your new friends?” Shea asked.
Clark brightened.
Before he could speak, the woman who’d trailed him spoke up, her voice carrying a faint accent. “Clark, we should make sure we know what team we’re on.”
Clark smiled at the woman, his expression easy and bright. “I’ll be right there.”
The dismissal didn’t sit well with his friend, but she turned to go after giving the four of them a short nod.
“I see you’re making friends,” Trenton said with some amusement.
Clark rolled his eyes. “That’s Delia. She’s been helpful. She’s not like the rest of them.”
“What do you mean?” Shea asked, her gaze intent.
“All but two of them are children whose parents are pathfinders,” Clark said. “She and another man come from villages to the north west.”
“I thought I recognized that accent,” Shea said in a thoughtful voice.
“How did they get here?” Trenton asked.
“They’re expected to make their way here on their own,” Shea said.
Trenton snorted. “That explains why there are so few of you.”
Yes, it did. It didn’t used to be that way. Back in the old days, the pathfinders sent out criers to all the villagers and would escort any who’d like to make the attempt to the Keep. The only part they had to traverse themselves was the little mist, which had been significantly weaker back then.
That practice had ended before Shea was born. Probably even before her mother was born.
Now, the applicants had to find a way to get from their villages all the way to the Keep. It meant few even made the attempt and of those that did, even fewer actually survived to walk through the Keep’s gates. The bonus was that those who did were stronger for the experience.
Reece arrived then, another pathfinder at his side. Shea stared harder. She was familiar. Peyton, she thought her name was.
“My name is Reece. This is Peyton. We’ll be your guides for this little excursion,” Reece said, his face somber as he looked over the recruits. “Do what we say and don’t forget your training and you’ll survive the next few hours.”
