“What is she doing running messages for thewarlord?”
“She refused the position of his Tolroi. Hemade her one of his guard instead.”
There was a low whistle before the strangersaid, “Talk about poking a lion when it’s asleep.”
Caden barked a laugh. Whatever was said next,was lost as Shea moved out of hearing range.
As was her habit, Shea scanned the area forpossible dangers even while lost in thought. It was why, despitebeing distracted, she noticed Witt coming out of a tent.
Seeing her chance, she moved quickly,catching up to him and saying softly, “Witt.”
His head turned. He didn’t seem surprised tosee her standing behind him and waved the two men he was with tocontinue without him.
“Shea. Somehow, I’m not surprised that youwould track me down.”
“That makes one of us.”
He sighed wearily. “I expect you havequestions.”
Her silence spoke for her.
“Perhaps we could do this later.”
Her glare and crossed arms didn’t intimidatehim, and the two lapsed back into silence.
Shea, knowing she didn’t have much timebefore she was missed, broke first. “Why?”
Witt looked away from her, staring into thedistance.
“Why did you tell him all of that? If anybodyin the Highlands finds out, you’ll be exiled or stoned. Whycouldn’t you have just kept silent? They wouldn’t have known anydifferent.”
“Did you ever wonder why we were sent to thatvillage to discuss trade negotiations?”
Shea blinked at Witt. That wasn’t an answerto her questions.
“What?”
His eyes slid back to hers. “I know you’resmart enough to have put together that Goodwin of Ria was a setup.That you, Dane and I were thrown away because we were consideredexpendable.”
Shea’s mouth clicked close, and her eyesdropped from his. Yes. She had suspected as much.
“Then you have your answer,” he told hersimply.
She caught his arm as he moved away fromher.
“What answer? You have a few suspicions andsuddenly your loyalties shift? That’s not an answer, Witt. That’san excuse.”
“It’s not a suspicion,” he said in a gruffvoice. “Paul confessed as much when Fallon questioned us after youescaped. The idiot thought he’d be somehow exempt from being takenprisoner since he helped the elders set it up.”
Shea dropped his arm abruptly.
Witt’s eyes held pity as he watched theexpression drain from her face, leaving her feeling numb.
What fools they were.
The guild was going to have their blood whenthey found out.
“Still, that doesn’t mean you should punishthe entire Highlands for the actions of a few blind, self-servingmen.” Shea meant what she said, even if her voice currently lackedconviction.
