Eamon’s voice was respectful but firm when hesaid, “I’m aware, but I still can’t give him to you. He can’tprotect himself right now.”
The meaning behind Eamon’s words registeredwith the man, and he was quiet as thoughts turned behind his eyes.His glance flickered to where Shea was poised to run beforereturning to Eamon.
“I understand your intentions, but you’rewrong. We’re his personal guard. We were chosen specifically by himfor our loyalty and abilities. Not one man under my command wouldharm a hair on his head, and each would gladly die for him.”
“Loyalty can change,” Eamon said softly.
Holding Eamon’s eyes, the man nodded slowly.“It can, but not for us. Now, I’m willing to overlook youraccusations since you’ve been out all night searching for him andjudging from your actions have seen some things that don’t sit wellwith you. But, youwillgive him to us.”
Eamon’s passenger had been quiet up untilnow, but after the threat inherent in Caden’s words said, “I’llvouch for their integrity. I’ve fought alongside every man, andwhat Caden said is true. They won’t let any harm come to him.”
Eamon listened intently before looking at theangry faces around him. Many showed displeasure at having theirhonor questioned. In a society where a man was only as good as hisword, Eamon’s doubts were a grave insult. Shea licked her lips,knowing whatever happened over the next few seconds werecritical.
Eamon took his time looking over the menglaring silently at him. His shoulders straightened, and he noddedas he reached a decision. “Shane, give them the Hawkvale.”
Shea’s eyes jumped to Eamon’s back and thendown as two men immediately started for her. Should she take Fallonand run or trust Eamon’s judgment?
The first man reached her and carefullylifted Fallon down, handling him as if he was something preciousbefore handing him to another. That man turned and strode quicklyinto the tent, followed closely by three men wearing the samecolors as Caden.
Shea sent up a small prayer in the hope shehadn’t just sent him to his death.
A rough jerk on Shea’s arm pulled her fromher horse. She barely landed on her feet before her arm was jerkedagain, and she was sprawled belly down with a boot in her back. Aroar came from Eamon, and then there was a thump followed by twoothers.
Shea couldn’t see much but the dirt beneathher cheek, but she had a feeling it was her friends who had madethose thumps as they were treated to the same view as her.
Inwardly, she sighed. When was she going tolearn that good deeds only ever landed her in trouble? If someonehad asked her if saving Fallon had been worth it, she would havetold them no. Both times.
“Get them up,” Caden ordered.
Shea was hauled to her feet, her arms in atight hold that applied enough pressure to be uncomfortable. If shemoved just a little, it would bend the elbow into an unnaturalangle and probably result in a break.
Eamon and the other two were yanked to theirfeet in a similar fashion and brought face to face with Caden. Shearemembered him from the mission with the revenants. She got theimpression, then, that he was part of Fallon’s personal guards.
Up close, Shea could see the serious linesbracketing his eyes and the razor sharp intelligence. His darkbrown hair was partially bound to tame the tight curls in hisshoulder length hair. The hair below the top pony tail was shaved,but this time several swirls decorated his skin, creating anintricate pattern of ink.
He looked carefully between the four of them,his thoughts hidden.
Shea could feel her temper begin to fray,helped along by the lingering effects of the hallucinogenic she’dbeen exposed to. She took a deep breath and released it and thenanother. This wasn’t the time to lose it.
That could come later, when she was byherself.
“What am I to do with you four?” Caden askedthem.
It was clear he didn’t expect an answer, butShea wanted to give him one. Preferably with a few choice wordsabout what he could go do to himself.
Looking above their heads at the men holdingthem, he ordered, “Separate them until I or Darius can questionthem. They aren’t to be harmed, just contained. For now.”
As the others were dragged in oppositedirections, Shea struggled to gain her feet. To do what, she didn’texactly know. She just knew that being separated was bad. Hercaptors weren’t expecting the fight, and she managed to jerk onearm free and had twisted to knee her other captor in thestomach.
“Shane, Shane! Stop! Stop fighting,” Eamonyelled.
The man holding her had a grip like iron andrefused to release her. Gritting her teeth, she twisted her hand soshe was clasping his hand then ducked under his arm and jerked itback so she was standing behind him with his arm bent at an oddangle.
Or that was how it was supposed to go.
Instead he turned with her and kicked one ofher knees, hitting it just right so it crumpled beneath her.
“Don’t hurt him,” Eamon yelled at the menconverging on Shane. “He’s the one who saved Hawkvale. Shane, stopfighting. Please!”
