There was a murmured assent and then thesounds of movement heading away. Shea waited several minutes afterthe last sound had faded before peeking out of her hiding spot.Seeing no one, she stepped out.
That was a very interesting conversation. Onethat could have ramifications for her.
From what she could tell, the two men werepart of an ambush party led by a mysterious woman. A woman, Sheastrongly suspected was the same woman she had overheard thecartographer talking to right before Shea rescued Fallon.
This would make the second attempt onFallon’s life that Shea knew of. If she was a betting woman, she’dsay her first encounter with Fallon in the village of Edgecomb hadbeen another. Three attempts on one man’s life. An important manwith an army at his back controlled only by his iron fist.
She knew that despite Fallon’s brutal tacticsin conquering the Lowlands, things could be much worse for thepeople here. She shuddered to think what his army would do shouldhe be murdered.
The traitors in his own camp would likelycast doubt on the Lowlanders in the area to distract his men fromfinding the real murderers.
The Lowlands would run red with rivers ofblood as the Trateri avenged their fallen leader. Someone theycounted as a hero who would lead them into a golden era. At the endof it all, the traitors would probably have exactly what theywanted, control of the Trateri and all the Lowlands but without thevision Fallon brought to his conquest.
Or, conversely, it could cast the Trateriback into turmoil with each clan battling with the next. And theLowlanders with a front row seat to it all.
Either scenario didn’t end well for theLowlanders.
But.
This could also be a golden opportunity forShea.
On one hand, Fallon’s men were well trained,elite fighters. Shea had never seen them fight, but from what she’dseen of Fallon and his skills, she had no doubt they were lethalmen.
With the element of surprise and an attack atprecisely the right time from an overwhelming force, even an elitegroup could fall.
Shea could go home. With Fallon dead, therewould be no one to exercise the penalty on Eamon, Buck and theothers.
Home.
Back to Birdon Leaf. The people who had senther on a mission knowing that she and the others would be sold intoTrateri hands. People who, in the entire time she resided in theirvillage, had not made one attempt to get to know her, show her anyrespect or extend even an ounce of compassion.
Of course, she didn’t have to return toBirdon Leaf. Given the village’s crimes, Shea was sure the guildwould station her elsewhere.
She missed her Highlands.
But.
If she left, Fallon would die. That vexing,frustrating, man with the godlike body and a razor sharp mind wouldcease to exist in this world.
Shea hurt, her heart actually hurt, at thethought of never matching wits with him again. At never verballysparring with him.
For the first time in almost longer than shecould remember, Shea felt like she was a part of something. She hadfriends here. People she trusted. She would not, could not abandonthem for a people she felt no kinship for and furthermore did nottrust to have at her back.
Going home would feed a need in her. Yes. Butthe sad truth was that the home she wanted no longer existed. Allthat was left for her back there was heartbreak anddisappointment.
If it had been otherwise, she would havetaken one of the countless opportunities she had to escape. Theyhad been there, over and over again, but she always found somereason to stay a little bit longer.
Feeling her decision settle around her, Sheasmiled. It was bittersweet. Full of loss and hope. One path hadclosed to her. It had been gone a long time. She had just been toostubborn to see it. There would be no winning redemption. Norejoining the fold.
She missed her Highlands. Yes. But she knewbetter than anybody, home wasn’t a place; it’s a state of mind.It’s the people you’re with. And for her, those people were allhere.
Perhaps, if she had truly believed thatFallon’s death would have been the better option for the Lowlands,she might have taken this easy way. But the cork was out. TheTrateri wouldn’t stop coming, even with Fallon gone. She’d ratherhe shape what this land could be than allow others to pervertit.
Shea headed along the ridge, careful to keepher silhouette small to limit the potential of someone seeing her.At the first opportunity, she slid down the hill, moving as quietlyas she could as she made her way back to camp.
Night was coming fast now. The sun had sunkbehind the mountains, leaving only dim shadows behind.
Shea snuck past the two men they had left onlookout. She hadn’t been gone long and hoped they hadn’t noticedher absence. It was a faint hope, but she didn’t want to start thisoff with a confrontation between herself and Fallon. She needed himto believe her and the chances of that happening dwindled if he wasalready furious.
