“It’s the truth. Lowlanders have twigsbetween their legs.” He shot her a sly grin. “Why else would you beafraid to shower with us?”
“That’s it,” Shea said dryly. “That’s thereason right there.”
The past month and a half had been an eyeopening experience for Shea as she settled into the team. On theHawkvale’s recommendation, Eamon had been given his own scoutingteam and made Shea his permanent second. She thought that mightcause problems with new members who were older and thought they hadmore experience, but Buck was quick to set any newbie straight. Hedid that by beating them to a pulp the first time they challengedher authority. She reinforced it by ensuring that person got allthe worst jobs like digging the trenches for waste.
For reasons that were a mystery even to her,she hadn’t escaped after that first mission but had instead guidedher team back to the base camp.
Every night Shea had promised herself shewould leave, but she put off her escape night after night as theygot closer to camp. That last night she’d risen with everyintention of leaving, but Eamon had woken as well, making itimpossible to sneak off. She pretended that she needed to do aperimeter check. By the time Eamon settled into sleep, Buck was upand ready for his watch. The night continued like that until dawnarrived, and her chance was gone.
Now, nearly a month and a half later she wasstill with them. Every time she thought about slipping away andheading home something stopped her. Camaraderie and companionshipbound her to them more effectively than Fallon’s chains.
Besides, what better place to hide out thanunder her enemy’s very nose? After her escape no one would everthink she would be dumb enough to return. If they were stillsearching for her, they’d focus on the roads to the north. Maybeeven return to Goodwin of Ria to see if she went there. No, shefelt pretty safe masquerading as a boy in Fallon’s own army.
“When will we get there?” Cale, theexpedition leader for the supply train, barked as he rode up besidethem. Shea remembered him from Goodwin of Ria and was grateful hedidn’t recognize her. He hadn’t given her a good feeling in thelast meeting. He was well on his way to providing an even worse oneon this encounter.
He had a sharp beak for a nose and verypronounced eyebrows. He wasn’t soft, none of the Trateri were, buthe was softer than the soldiers Shea was used to seeing, lackingthat chiseled edge of lethality most carried. The only thing thatsaved him was the scar on his neck and his well-muscled body.Despite that scar, he would be considered handsome by most. ForShea, he seemed too put together. Despite being on the trail, hespent an hour every morning attending to his appearance.
“We were supposed to arrive hours ago,” hesaid.
Buck rolled his eyes where Cale couldn’t seehim and mouthed the last sentence mockingly. Shea bit her lip andlooked down trying to contain the smile threatening to break out.The man said something similar every time they got close to avillage. They had come to expect it and could practically repeatthe conversation verbatim now.
“We’re closer to camp than you think.Probably just a day or two more,” Eamon said.
Cale looked up at the ridgeline and sniffed.He’d already made the argument that they should just go over it andwas shot down by Eamon courtesy of Shea. It was one of the reasonsthe trip was taking longer than expected. They had to detour aroundseveral hills to find land that could support a wagon.
Despite Cale’s expectations, it wouldn’t havebeen faster to go over. The climb would take just as long becauseof the steep grade. Their breaks would have to double, and they’dmost likely have had to leave the wagons and horses behind as thesteepness meant they wouldn’t be able to make the climb.
“Is there anything else?” Eamon tilted hishead expectantly when Cale didn’t move.
“I plan to bring your insubordination andgeneral bad attitude to the attention of your superiors,” Cale saidvehemently.
“In that case, you’ll want to make sure yourconcerns are sent directly to Mathias. He’s the one who deals withissues of this nature. If you give it to Thomas or William, they’llforget all about it as soon as you’re gone,” Buck told himhelpfully.
“You think this is funny?” Cale’s lipstwisted angrily. “I’ve heard about you three and that your captaindoesn’t think much of you. After I get done with you, you won’t befit to wear the green. Maybe they’ll even put you on the frontlineswith the rest of the throwaways.”
“Sir, I’ll thank you not to threaten my men.”Eamon’s eyes had gone flinty. “I am the scout master for thisexpedition, and you agreed upon this route. If you have a problem,I will not stop you from raising your concerns with my superiors,but you will not speak to my men like that again.” His lips partedin a nasty smile. “They don’t like that, you see. Shane, there, hasdelicate feelings and when he’s out of sorts he makes mistakes.Don’t you, boy.”
Shea startled and did her best to appeardelicate, lowering her eyes before nodding slightly.
Buck said seriously, or as seriously as hecould with his lips twitching. “You never want your scout upset,sir. They might lead you into a jagger nest or a revenant’sden.”
Cale gave them a look of disdain beforepulling hard on his reins and riding back the way he’d come. Notmany chanced pissing their scouts off for exactly the reasons Buckjust explained. Out here in the wilderness there were few rules andit was terrifyingly simple to get away with murder. Beasts were soprevalent that either scenario would be plausible and unquestioned.Cale wasn’t all that intelligent to threaten them out in theopen.
“Gods save me from having deal with the lazyscut ever again,” Buck muttered.
“Watch it, friend,” Eamon warned. “Lazy anduseless he might be, but his brother is the most powerful man inthe army.”
Buck spat to the side. “Half-brother.Hawkvale would do well to force him to make his own way in theworld rather than letting him ride on his coat tails.”
“He’s related to Hawkvale?” She would neverhave guessed. The two couldn’t have been more different. Theylooked and acted nothing alike.
“They’re half-brothers,” Phillip said, ridingup.
A new addition to the team, he was on hisfirst mission with the three. Shea didn’t trust him. He asked toomany questions and saw too much. She had to constantly be on herguard. Though he made her suspicious nature run rampant, he wasalso one of the best trackers she had ever seen.
She could tell the other two weren’t sure ofhim either. They were polite, but there was none of the normal easyjoking.
“Either way, just watch yourself,” Eamoncautioned Buck, “You never know who is listening.”
