What could the people of before have used this place for?
There was a low grunt behind him as Caden pulled himself into the space. After a quick look around, Caden joined Fallon at the edge, stepping carefully and leaning over to look down.
“Quite a fall from this height,” Caden said, his face uncomfortable.
He wasn’t the biggest fan of heights and had not enjoyed their time in the treetop villages of the Airabel.
Fallon and he shared a glance before Fallon walked back down the long narrow cave toward Patrick.
“Why have you brought us here?” Fallon asked. “I somehow don’t think we will catch much game.”
No, the only wildlife they were likely to spot would be birds and the odd mountain goat—neither of which would be worth the effort, given the easy pickings in the valley.
Shea’s father looked up from where he’d brushed away some debris that had been swept in by the wind.
“We’re not doing that kind of hunting,” he said, lifting a small object from the ground.
He turned toward Fallon. In his cupped hands was a dull gray ball. Patrick ran a finger along it and the ball shifted, a tiny head with horns lifting as wings unfurled.
Fallon peered closely as the tiny creature yawned, showing incredibly sharp incisors as its wide eyes took in the two men. It chirped and cocked its head, putting its feet under it to stand in Patrick’s palm, its tail uncurling behind it.
“What is it?” Fallon asked
“A goyle,” Patrick said, peering at the small creature intently. “A baby from the looks of it.”
Fallon looked from it to Patrick, trying to see why the little thing was important enough to drag him up here to see it.
His thoughts were calm and sharp as he considered all the possibilities. But no matter how he examined the situation and considered all the angles, it still wasn’t clear to him.
It was a simple creature, not important or different from any other beast in any way he could see. Shea would know. She always seemed to see directly to the heart of a matter.
“We thought they were extinct. I spotted one a few days ago and decided to check this place out since they’ve been known to nest here in the past,” Patrick said.
Fallon gave him a stare that held no little hint of exasperation. It was the type of look he gave to a recruit who was testing his impatience. Shea’s father hadn’t struck him as the type to waste a person’s time on pointless endeavors, but maybe he’d been wrong.
“And you wanted to show me this, why?” Fallon asked, a dangerous undercurrent in his voice.
Shea’s father looked up, a cunning expression on his face as his lips tilted in a sly smile.
“This was just the lure,” he said, turning and putting the little creature down. “We’re about to begin the hunting portion of this endeavor.”
Fallon stared at him for a long moment, his tactician’s mind turning over scenarios and considering their excursion in a new light.
“You’re hoping to use us to flush out your enemies,” he said.
Caden stiffened beside him, his expression darkening.
It made sense. They’d met in full view of the Keep and then traversed its halls to a section that was easily isolated. Only, the ambush wasn’t meant for Fallon. He was the bait for a trap designed by Shea’s father.
Patrick inclined his head.
Fallon gave the man an impressed look. It was a move worthy of his most brilliant generals.
“Come, we need to move to the next site,” Patrick said.
“Wait a minute. What’s to say they’re not down there right now with those boomers you lot are so fond of, waiting to pick us off?” Caden asked.
Patrick turned to gaze at Fallon’s First. “They’re not going to use boomers. They’ll wait until they can ambush us all at once. I know just the spot.”
