“Where have you been?” Eamon asked as soon asshe arrived.
She opened her mouth to answer but was cutoff by Trenton. “He tried to leave on another mission.”
“What?” Both Eamon and Buck looked at herlike she had grown three heads.
She tried to speak but didn’t get even a wordout.
“What were you thinking?” Eamon asked.
“We just got back.” Buck’s words ran overEamon’s. “Aren’t you the least bit tired?”
“Never mind.” Buck waved away her response.“I’m being made a scout master. I’m getting my own team.”
Shea couldn’t believe her ears. Theassignment of scout master was very competitive. Not every scoutgot the chance. Only the best
“That’s great.” She didn’t have to fake theenthusiasm in her voice. It was great. Buck deserved it.
He grinned at her. “Not as great as thisguy’s news. Tell her.”
She looked expectantly at Eamon whose grinnearly split his face.
“They’re promoting me to the Western WindScout Division Commander.”
She blinked twice, not quite believing she’dheard right. There were only five Scout Division Commanders in theTrateri army. One for each of the military elements. It wasn’t justa promotion, it was an elevation in rank and status.
He’d have complete control in the way thescout units in his division were run. He’d be responsible forassigning units to missions, their training, everything.
“I don’t believe it,” she finally said.
“I know,” he told her. “I didn’t either, butthe Hawkvale himself gave me the appointment. It’s as good asdone.”
An awkward silence fell as they waited forher excitement.
The smile she gave this time was slightlystrained, but she meant it when she said, “Congratulations. There’sno one who could do a better job than you.”
He gave her another smile which shereturned.
She looked at Phillip, expecting him to tellher what he’d gotten.
He looked a little ill at ease as he said,“I’d prefer to keep what I received to myself for now.”
She nodded. She understood. Maybe he was likeher and would have rather returned his ‘gift.’
“What about you?” Buck asked.
“What do you mean?”
“We all got something. What did you get?”
Another silence fell as Shea wrestled withwhat to tell them. For some reason, she was unwilling to share herdraft into Hawkvale’s personal guard.
“He’ll be one of Hawkvale’s warriors,”Trenton spoke up behind her.
A silence fell as she found herselfscrutinized by Eamon and Buck. She gave Trenton a dirty look. Hestared back at her unfazed.
“I’ll be damned,” Buck nearly whispered.
“I didn’t think it was possible for someonewho wasn’t Trateri to become an Anateri Warrior,” Eamon said.
