She was already wearing the same uniformshe’d seen the other guard’s wear. By the feel of the clothes inher arms, she figured she’d been given three spares. That wasbetter than what she’d had as a scout.
She hoped whatever had possessed her lastnight was well and truly gone because from now on she was treatingFallon as an enemy captor. Someone she had to show respect if shewanted to live, but not someone you shared your body with.
“You’d better get to work now,” Trenton said.“He’ll be expecting breakfast shortly.”
“Uh, right.”
She stored her gear and grabbed a warmbiscuit from one of the cooks. Shea tugged at her uniform one lasttime as she stared at the entrance to Fallon’s quarters. Sheignored the examining look the guard was giving her.
She could do this. She could. She’d just goin there, figure out what Fallon wanted to eat and get it for him.This was nothing. It would be like every other morning for the pastfew weeks.
“Food won’t serve itself.”
Shea looked sharply at the guard. He staredback in challenge.
“A word of friendly advice, the warlorddoesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
He scoffed. “Don’t just keep it in mind. Whenhe’s in a mood, everybody suffers. We don’t need to suffer becauseyou can’t do your job.”
His tone wasn’t hostile. At least nottotally. It was more that he was giving it to her straight, with noregard to feelings or dancing around the issue.
It had the welcome effect of quelling some ofShea’s nerves. His way of talking was something Shea was familiarwith.
“I understand.”
“If you understood, you’d quit flapping yourgums and get your ass inside to attend to your warlord.”
Shea sighed inwardly. Yup. This wasfamiliar.
She kept what she might’ve said to herselfand walked into the tent.
It appeared empty at first glance. The tablehad an assortment of food, enough to feed Shea’s entire squad fordays. Warm biscuits, sweet pastries, wild berries, thinly cut hamand several types of cheeses gave off a tantalizing aroma that setShea’s mouth to watering. That biscuit she had gobbled down was afaint memory in the face of this feast.
The one thing missing was Fallon. Shea movedfurther into the room, not seeing him anywhere. He couldn’t stillbe at last night’s campsite. Though dawn was barely gone, Fallondidn’t strike Shea as the type to sleep in.
The guard had indicated he was here aswell.
Slowly, her eyes were drawn to the partitionthat hid his sleeping quarters.
She rolled her eyes up at the ceiling,questioning her luck. Procrastinating wouldn’t help and would onlydelay the inevitable. Might as well get it over with.
Shea moved closer to the partition and calledout softly, “Fallon?”
She tilted her head slightly, listening foran answer. All she heard was the faint splash of water.
Louder, she called, “Fallon?”
“I’m back here.”
Shea glared at the partition. Of course hewas. She didn’t want to go back there. For her continued peace ofmind, not to mention her new vow to treat him as an enemy and not aman she found attractive, she wanted to stay on this side of thepartition.
“Did you need anything?” She cringed as thewords left her mouth. Just what he needed, a perfect opening.
“A plate of food.”
Thankful for the temporary reprieve, Sheabusied herself selecting a few pieces of the meat, two biscuits anda handful of the berries. Once the plate was complete, she facedthe same prospect as earlier.
