“I was just an apprentice then, but when atown gets this interested in your business, it’s never good.” Shepaused in her ministrations and gave him a long look. “James andCam would probably tell you the same thing.”
He held her gaze for a long moment beforewalking off without a word. Shea watched him go before turningsharply back to the horse. Her movements were rough as she ran herhand along the saddle for a last check. When the horse tossed itshead to avoid the bit, she nearly threw it at the beast. Taking adeep breath, she hid her face against the saddle.
They should have left last night. She shouldhave MADE them leave.
Clearing her throat, she lifted her head andmade sure her hands were gentle as she got the horse to take thebit and brought the reins over its head. Next, she moved to Witt’shorse. Normally, she made the men do their own preparations, butshe wanted to put this town behind her as soon as possible.
She was almost finished saddling the lasthorse when Dane and Witt strode into the courtyard with the eldersright on their heels.
Damn. She could already tell from the setexpressions on both Witt and Dane’s faces that the talks had beenpointless.
Seeing her standing beside three saddledhorses, the elders’ faces soured. The hawk nosed one sneered beforeturning and hissing something at their head elder.
A thread of strain in his voice, the whitehaired man said, “Please. Rethink this. You’ve come all this way.You shouldn’t go home empty handed.”
“Yes,” the middle aged, black haired mansaid, his voice amiable and placating as he stepped in front ofDane. “What will your elders think? At this rate, you’ll havewasted months of your time with no agreement to show for it.”
Witt strode past the cluster and right toShea, grabbing the reins. He spared a brief glance at the mob thatwatched.
“You were right,” he said softly.
She didn’t respond and watched as Dane threwup his hands before shoving through the three to stalk towardsShea.
A horn sounded before he reached them,blaring out in three sharp blows.
There was a breathless pause. Then with arush of air sound returned.
“They’re here. The Hawkvale is here.”
The square exploded with movement as itemptied, leaving only Shea’s men and the elders standing there.Burke and the others looked around in bewilderment at suddenlyfinding themselves alone.
Shea noted the look of gloating satisfactionon Paul’s face before her attention was pulled to where the eldersarranged themselves in a line facing the gate.
She got the kind of feeling she sometimes gotwhen life was about to kick her in the teeth. The kind where allthe rules got thrown out, and her world was set on its head.
She’d had that feeling only twice before.Both times had been devastating.
“We need to leave.” Shea threw the reins atDane and headed for her horse. “Now.”
“I won’t argue with that.”
Warriors clad in leather armor over silkundershirts thundered through the gate, led by a commanding figurewith broad cheekbones and smiling eyes. He pulled his horse to astop in front of the elders, barely sparing them a glance as theysank into deep bows. He frowned at the buildings surrounding thecourtyard. None were taller than two story but all were well madewith solid craftsmanship.
The man pulled on the reins, wheeling hishorse around and nearly hitting the hawk nosed elder with thebeast’s rear. He rode up to a dark haired man with a scar on hisneck, whose undershirt was a vibrant blue.
“Looks like you won that bet.” He gestured atthe buildings. “Not nearly as backwards as the last. It couldalmost be called civilized.”
“When will you learn, Darius?” His friendcaught the coin flipped at him before shooting a distasteful lookaround the square. “It never pays to bet against me. You’ll alwayslose.”
Shea’s eyes nearly bugged out of herhead.
Of all the misbegotten things that reside inthe mist.
It was the man from the canyon. The oneFallon had unhorsed to pursue her. She ducked behind her horse,using it to shield her from view. This wasn’t good.
It was in fact, very, very bad.
Why hadn’t she made everybody leave lastnight?
