Shea’s gaze went to the back of Fallon’shead. She could tell nothing about his emotional state from here.Was he glad to be rid of the traitor? Did he mourn for his brother?Did he feel nothing?
She touched his back lightly. There was abarely perceptible flinch. Invisible to any of the onlookers.
Grief then.
It couldn’t be easy to know your own fleshand blood had taken part in repeated attempts on your life. Havingto watch as someone you grew up with be slowly crushed andsuffocated must be agonizing.
Shea slowly slid her arms around his waist,ready to withdraw if he indicated she wasn’t welcome. When hedidn’t move to reject her, she hugged him and slid forward pressingher front to his back and then laid her cheek against his shoulder,offering comfort in the only way she could in this moment.
So gently, she could almost believe sheimagined it, he touched the top of her hand in a brief caressbefore lacing his fingers with hers.
Together they waited as the body struggledless and less until it finally went still. The men continued tostack the rocks until long after all movement had stopped.
“That should be enough,” Fallon said.
The men nodded and began to reverse theprocess, removing the stones one at a time. Finally, after whatseemed like an eternity, they uncovered the rug and cut the ropeoff before unwrapping it. The body rolled out, its limbs floppingas if boneless.
Shea knew even before they checked the pulseCale had drawn his last breath.
“He’s dead, my lord.”
Fallon nodded. “Bury him in the rug. He is nolonger Trateri and will not be released from this world in ourway.”
The same two men gave him respectful nods andreached for the shovels lying next to the rugs.
One by one the onlookers drifted back downthe hill, leaving only Fallon, his two friends and Shea behind towatch.
“Caden can give you a ride back to our tent,”Fallon told her.
Her arms tightened, and she didn’t hesitate.“I’ll remain.” The ‘with you’ was added silently.
Together they waited as the men completedtheir task, one shovel full of dirt at a time. Finally, the bodywas buried and Caden, Darius and the other two departed.
Fallon dismounted and approached the grave.He knelt and bent his head, touching the freshly turned dirt beforehim.
His goodbyes, if he said any, were silent.After a long moment he stood, grief etched in the way he held hisbody. Shea knew that had it been any but her there in that momenthe would have kept even that hidden.
The sorrow made him seem more like a man,with a man’s emotions, instead of the lofty warlord that all heldin high esteem.
Shea’s heart hurt for him even as sherejoiced that the danger Cale presented to the Highlands was ended.There were still the maps to consider, but the immediate threat hadbeen eliminated. All that held her tied to the Trateri now were herown attachments.
Fallon mounted and they rode back to camp insilence. Once they reached Fallon’s tent, he helped her dismountbefore saying, “There should be a bath ready for you inside. I havea few things to take care of before I join you for the night.”
He was gone before Shea could respond. Shewas left addressing thin air as he walked away.
She shut her mouth with a click and glancedat the two men standing guard on either side of the entrance.
Back to reality.
Shea sighed and headed inside. The inevitableconfrontation she knew was coming would be easier once she wasclean and fed.
The warm water beckoned. Shea stripped.
She caught her breath as her arm twinged whenshe tried to raise it above her head, the skin pullinguncomfortably. It was painful getting her shirt off and the samewith her pants.
Only when she was standing naked in front ofthe tub full of warm water, steam wafting off it, did she realizethere was a problem. There was no way she could submerge her armand leg. Not with the depth of the cuts. The one on her arm wouldprobably be fine. It was shallow enough that it would sting likeacid was being poured into it, but the wound on her leg was deepand would probably need stitches.
She settled for stepping inside and scoopingthe water up to let it slide down her skin. Grabbing a sponge lyingnext to the tub on a stool, she soaped it up and then lathered iton, wiping away the dirt and blood before rinsing it off.
