“Have a nice ride?” Dane asked, breaking thesilence.
Shea looked out of the corner of her eye atthe guard. He had settled back into his slouch when he saw she justintended to talk but watched her intently. She figured she only hada few minutes before the Trateri separated them.
“Very nice. I got to watch the countryside goby while having a chatterbox yap at me all day. And you? Did youenjoy your stroll?”
“Oh yes. Being forced to walk miles withthese warriors threatening every few minutes to cut off my legssince I obviously wasn’t using them efficiently was great fun.”
Shea allowed herself a small smile at thistart response.
“If you two are done comparing notes, perhapswe should get down to business,” Witt said crossly.
The humor in Dane’s eyes faded as he lookedat her grimly. “Do you have a plan?”
“Working on it.”
The mood turned heavy as they absorbed herresponse. Shea always had a plan. It might not be a good one, butshe usually had something.
“You should escape.”
Shea rolled her eyes to him and gave him alook.
“He’s right, girl,” Witt agreed. “Leave usand run. I know you’ve already worked out your exit. We’re justholding you back. So go.”
Shea exhaled loudly. She had worked out herexit, but she wasn’t going to leave them. A pathfinder didn’tabandon her charges. Not if they were still alive.
Besides, her maps were still in her saddlebags. It wouldn’t be a good thing if they fell into Trateri hands.They contained details on the safest routes past the Bearan Fault.Granted it was in code, but a good cryptographer would be able todecipher them given enough time.
Even if she was willing to break her vows asa pathfinder, she couldn’t leave those maps behind or the entireHighlands would pay the price.
She couldn’t let the boys know that, though.Dane and Witt wouldn’t say anything, but Paul and the otherswouldn’t be able to keep their mouths shut. They’d use the maps asa bargaining chip for their freedom. No doubt about it.
“Can’t do that.”
“Shea-“
“No,” she said forcefully. She lowered hervoice so only they could hear. “I’m not going to do that. At leastnot yet. I don’t see a way to get us all out. Right now they’rewatching us too closely to make any sort of attempt. But I figureonce we get to their main camp that’ll change. There’ll be too manypeople, and they’ll eventually be lulled into believing we have nointention of escaping. We’ll probably be separated again.”
Hopefully, the maps would remain undiscovereduntil then. So far, they’d left her saddle bags alone.
She looked at Dane and Witt, making sure theyknew she was serious. “That’s why if you see your chance, you takeit. Don’t try to rescue me. Don’t come back for me.” The look onher face silenced any disagreement they might have had. “You dothat, and I promise to do the same. Once there, if I see my chance,I’ll take it.”
Witt nodded. They’d never make it if eachtried to save the other. But if they focused on their opportunity,the odds increased greatly.
Seeing Damon standing with his hands on hiships looking at the tree where he left her, she knew she didn’thave much time left. She rose to a crouch in front of Dane and gavehim a hug before doing the same with Witt.
She patted Witt on the calf, slipping herknife into his boot as she drew away. The blade was one of two shekept on her person at all times. Damon hadn’t taken the time tosearch her when he picked her up. Probably thought because she wasfemale she was harmless. His ignorance; her gain.
Witt’s eyes were unreadable as they held hersfor a long moment, knowing the risk she’d just taken. She smiled athim, the grin lighting up her face like a ray of sunshine after acloudy day. Then it was gone. A twinkle still lingered as ifinviting him to share a private joke. His lips tilted up at thecorners.
She was yanked to her feet and hauledoff.
“She was hugging them. Search their hands tosee if she slipped them anything.” Damon tossed over his shoulderas he marched her back to her tree. He sat her down and startedwrapping rope around her wrists. “I thought I told you to stayhere.”
Shea watched him work silently.
“Well?”
She lifted an eyebrow. “I assumed ‘here’meant inside camp.”
