Shea turned to leave.
“In case it’s not clear in that thick head ofyours already, you will be joining me. I wouldn’t want to leavewithout my personal scout.”
Shea’s eyes closed. She’d expected as muchbut had hoped he’d leave her behind.
She nodded once and left.
Outside, she waited until she was out ofsight of the men guarding his quarters before allowing herself tofall apart. Her body trembled, and she had the urge to curl up in aprotective ball.
They were planning to invade the Highlands,and they needed her to do it. How long before Fallon tired ofseduction and chose torture instead? Furthermore, Shea was aboutfour months overdue to check in with the guild. Were they aware shewas missing? Were they even now sending out a party to discoverwhat had happened to her?
Pathfinders were scarce since most prospectsdied during the final test. When one disappeared, the eldersusually tried to discover what happened, whether it was because ofthe wilds or more suspicious circumstances.
Witt had been right when he said the elder’shad been known to abandon settlements to the wilds. However, thereasons behind such an act were usually more serious than a simplepolitical disagreement. It usually involved the death of apathfinder at the hands of villagers.
Not everybody was content to give the guildtithes for its continued help. Sometimes they took that emotion outon those responsible for acting as a link to the outside world.
The unspoken threat of abandonment usuallyworked, and pathfinders were left un-accosted, even as theyremained outsiders in the settlements they were sent to serve.
Shea could only hope Birdon Leaf had come upwith some excuse to waylay the elders. Even that hope was slimafter four months. If they hadn’t already, they would send someonebefore much longer.
From the way Fallon had thrown her refusal tobe his Tolroi in her face, she guessed he wasn’t as sanguine abouther rejection as he first led her to believe. No man enjoyedrejection and that double for a warlord used to taking what hewanted.
He now saw her as something of a challenge.If it had been any other type of man, she might have been able toturn that to her advantage. But with a man like that? A manincapable of being influenced or led around by his dick? No. Fallonwould demand any woman to follow his pace, dance to his tune.
Shea had made the right decision thismorning. Best not to fall any deeper in with him.
Composed again, Shea stood. She needed tofind Caden and give him Fallon’s message. She might even be able touse this situation. Two squads and Fallon’s ten men would be a loteasier to slip away from than a whole army.
She’d wait and bide her time.
After asking several men for Caden’slocation, Shea finally tracked him down at the training fields. Hewas in the midst of sparring with another man. They flowed back andforth across the field, their blades parrying and striking with aliquid grace. It was elegant, terrifying and amazing all atonce.
Both men were masters of their craft, and itshowed in the speed with which they moved and the precise blowsthey struck.
Shea lingered at the edge of the practicearea, unsure whether she should interrupt or not. On one hand, themessage from Fallon was important, and he was the warlord. On theother, Caden was technically Shea’s superior and could make thingsvery difficult for her if angered. Pissing off just one person thismorning was enough.
Shea hated this indecisiveness. It wasn’tlike her. She wasn’t used to not knowing what to do. On the trail,she rarely felt overwhelmed and always had a plan. But here? Thisplace was a never ending maze of frustration and questions.
A loud grunt rose as the stranger saw hischance and lunged forward. Caden parried at the last moment,sliding his blade under and then over his opponents to sneak underhis guard and land a blow squarely on his opponent’s chest.
Caden drew back and said, “You saw victoryand got careless.”
“I should have known you wouldn’t drop yourguard like that.”
Seeing her chance, Shea stepped forwarddrawing Caden’s attention.
“What is it, girl?”
Shea related Fallon’s message.
“Understood.” When Shea just stood there, notknowing what to do next, Caden ordered sharply, “Return and helpyour master prepare for the journey.”
Shea dipped her head in reply and turned todo just that.
“Is that the girl the men are talkingabout?”
“Yes.”
