“What makes you so sure?” Caden asked, eyes narrowed.
“Because they’re hoping to make it look like a Trateri was responsible for assassinating me,” Fallon answered.
Patrick watched him with an intent gaze before a grin spread over his face and he slapped his thigh. “Got it in one.”
Caden frowned as he studied the two men. “They’re hoping to turn the focus on us in hopes we don’t retaliate for Fallon’s death.”
Fallon jerked his head down. It was a bold move, one he had trouble believing these pathfinders came up with. For one, it was no easy task to redirect suspicion in a situation where the Trateri were already predisposed to be suspicious of their hosts. Furthermore, even if Fallon was slain and a Trateri left with the bloody blade in hand, Fallon’s people would still blame the pathfinders.
Unless, the pathfinders had caught wind of something that made them think such a move possible. His face turned thoughtful. That, or they didn’t care what happened to the rest of their own people when Fallon’s death was discovered.
Could be either option.
“Let’s see if you’re right,” Fallon said, coming to a decision. The thrill of the hunt was on him. He relished the opportunity to work off some of the aggression that had built up while he played at diplomacy.
Patrick’s expression turned brutal, the inner warrior coming out to play. This was the man who had tangled with a warlord and not blinked an eye. He was dangerous, Fallon had no doubt of that. It made him respect Shea’s father a little bit more. This was a person who had no boundaries when it came to protecting those he loved. He’d do anything, destroy anything that threatened what was his.
It was a sentiment they shared. Knowing how Shea felt about such things, it was surprising to find such an outlook in her father.
“My pleasure,” Patrick said.
He stood, walking beyond the little hole to the back of the cave, much to Fallon’s and Caden’s surprise.
He tucked himself between two rocks and disappeared from view.
So, that’s how he planned to get out of here without having to go back the way they’d come. The rock had formed in such a way that you couldn’t find the crack in the two rocks unless you were standing right on top of it.
“This time I’m going first,” Caden said before Fallon could step through.
“When did you become such a mother hen?” Fallon asked in irritation.
“Since you became warlord and people started trying to kill you,” Caden said waspishly.
Fallon glowered at his First, a look that didn’t seem to intimidate Caden at all. Probably just as well. The man had grown up with him and Darius. He was as unfazed by that look as his general.
Caden didn’t wait for agreement, slipping into the small space and forcing his way through the tight fit.
Then it was Fallon’s turn. It was even more difficult for him than for the other two. He was bigger than both, his chest brushing the rock in front of him as he scraped through the small opening.
He had a brief vision of getting caught, stuck and his enemy having easy access to cut off his head, then he was through, standing in a decent-sized space that had holes of similar size burrowed into the foundation of the rock around them.
It was like standing in the middle of a beehive, with a latticework of small entrances surrounding them.
“Do each of these lead to a cave like the one we just came from?” Fallon asked, his eyes moving from one dark hole to another.
“Some do,” Patrick said, one hand on his hip as he looked around. “Others lead to little caches and dead ends. Stay quiet and don’t disturb those above.”
His words drew their attention upwards to where bat-like creatures hung from the rock. About the size of a dog, they had leathery wings wrapped around themselves forming a cocoon-like shape. That was all Fallon could tell from the brief look.
“Nightfliers,” Patrick supplied. “You don’t want to get eaten by accident.”
Patrick didn’t wait for them to come to terms with the possible killers above them, continuing on his way without a second glance, his steps sure and confident. It was obvious he had visited this space many times.
“These people are so strange,” Caden told Fallon. He looked at the creatures above with dislike.
“Did you really expect anything else from Shea’s people?” Fallon asked.
Caden grimaced. “I guess not.”
