“Suppose so.” Eamon’s eyes were alive withsuspicion and a little bit of concern.
Shea smothered the guilty feeling she had attelling him half-truths. “This’ll be a pretty amazing story to bragabout when you get together with the other scout masters later,huh?”
He gave her a half grin. “I probably won’thave to fetch my own ale for a while.”
“Maybe you’ll even get that promotion tofield master they should’ve given you ages ago.”
He made a pleased expression and looked offinto the distance.
“Go ahead and sleep as long as you need,”Eamon told her after they had gotten a plate of biscuits, eggs andbacon. “We’re off the mission roster for the time being.”
Shea nearly choked on the mouthful of fluffy,buttery biscuit. Swallowing harshly, she gasped, “What?”
“The orders of the Warlord’s second. He wantsus close for the time being.” Eamon was absorbed in trying to pickup the last scraps of egg with one of his biscuit halves and missedShea’s stricken expression. “I think it’s because he wants us therewhen Hawkvale wakes up.”
Shea’s eyes widened slightly, and she becameabsorbed in fiddling with her food.
“Whatever the reason, we’re tied to campuntil the restriction is lifted.”
Mistaking the slump in her shoulders fordisappointment at being sidelined, he clapped her on the back.“Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll put us back on the roster soon.They’ll probably have so many expeditions for you that you’ll wishyou were still stuck at camp.”
Shea’s lips stretched tight across her teethin a smile that felt more like a grimace. “You’re probablyright.”
“I’ll see you at supper then,” Eamon toldher.
She nodded as he left before staring unseeingat the tents across from her.
What was she supposed to do now? If she’dbeen taken off the roster, that meant no assignments. She was stuckhere.
Already, Darius was suspicious of her. He’doutright told her she reminded him of herself. Caden’s sharp eyeshadn’t missed anything either. She doubted she could get throughtoo many more encounters with them before her secrets wererevealed.
Somehow she had to find a way onto one of theoutgoing parties. How was still a mystery, but she’d figure it out.If it came down to it, she would try to sneak past the sentries.She knew their habits now. It’d be difficult but notimpossible.
She got to her feet and brushed the dirt fromher pants. Sitting here would get her no closer to freedom. Sheneeded to put a plan in place before people knew she’d beenrestricted to camp. Sleep would have to wait a few hours.
Hopefully, she could trade with anotherscout. Maybe one that had been out hunting for Hawkvale last night.Chances were a scouting party wouldn’t leave until later in themorning which might even give her enough time to get a nap.
She cut down a small alley sandwiched betweentwo tents and plodded past a few campfires with the smell ofbreakfast clinging to them. Though it was still the early hours ofthe morning, the sun was up which meant the Trateri were up.
She headed for the tent where the scouts weregiven their assignments. Usually there were a couple of scoutshanging around outside. She hoped she’d find someone she knew.
“Shane!”
Clark’s hand was a blur as he stood up andwaved madly to attract her attention. The men sitting with himstudied her as she made her way over to the group.
She felt her stomach sink as she was greetedwith an open curiosity verging on approval. They possibly knewabout Fallon’s rescue.
Clark bounced to her side and grabbed her armto drag her in front of the other men.
“This is Shane. He’s the one who came up withthe idea to start the board of beasts.” The two on the left dippedtheir chins in acknowledgement.
“That’s a pretty impressive idea you had,”the larger one said gruffly. His hair was a scraggly mess reachingdown to his shoulders, and his features were blunt and weatherbeaten. “The knowledge I’ve picked up from that book saved mine andmy men’s asses more than once now.”
“My captain has made it an order that one ofus is to report to the board of beasts before and after a patrol toget updates in case any new information has been put up there,” theyounger one said. His warm, brown eyes twinkled with good will andhis features still had a trace of baby fat.
“Clark played a bigger role in that than Idid,” Shea said uncomfortably, grateful that they were talkingabout beasts and not Fallon.
“Don’t sell yourself short, boy,” the firstman said. “Way Clark tells it, it was your idea originally. You gotto accept praise when it comes your way. Else people begin to thinkyou got false modesty, and you’re thinking you’re better thanthem.”
