Vale and Buck stopped arguing.
“There are beasts ahead,” she tried againwhen he ignored her.
“Beasts?”
Ignoring the ridicule in his tone, Shea said,“Yes. Beasts.”
“And you know that how?” Lorn finally deignedto look at her, eyeing her with distaste and skepticism. Her handsclenched on her reins. “You? A boy who hasn’t even had his firstshave or fucked his first woman. Somehow you know more than menwho’ve been doing this since they could walk? I’ll believe thatwhen fire falls from the sky.”
Shea’s ears turned red. A dozen pithy remarkswanted to spill from her tongue.
She held them back. It wasn’t like she wasn’tused to being dismissed. People rarely listened. Even when she wasleading. They scorned her experience and ultimately they died. Whyshould these barbarians be any different?
To Eamon, she said, “Look at the cliff. Ithas gouges in it from something with claws. Given how high up theyare, it means the thing is big.”
A sharp crack sounded through the air. Herhead turned with the force of the blow, her right cheek smarting.She touched the corner of her mouth. Her fingers came away red.
Blood.
Bastard.
Almost trembling, she met Lorn’s furiouseyes.
“I’m scout master,” he said tightly. “Me, nothim. You do not go to him when you have issues with my orders.”
He looked at the suddenly quiet men aroundhim. A few of them held his eyes for a moment before looking away.Eamon watched Shea closely, noting the slight tremor in her handsand the rage she quickly snuffed out of her expression.
“Is that clear?” Lorn asked.
Her throat felt tight. Words fought insideher for release.
He raised a fist slightly. “I asked, is thatclear?”
“Yes,” Shea choked out.
“Good. Because next time I’ll beat youbloody.” To the others, he said, “Vale, take three men and go downthe left passage. Eamon, you and I will take the rest down theright. We’ll go on foot, and after you’re done scouting, meet backhere.”
She shouldn’t have been so surprised at theblow. Really. She’d have done the same if someone had questionedher orders on a mission. Maybe.
Still, they were heading into danger.
While the men prepared to split, Lorn blockedShea’s horse with his. “Not you. Since you’re so scared ofwhatever’s out there, you can stay here and guard the horses.Alone.”
He dismounted, affixed his blade to his beltand joined Eamon and his men.
“Not too bright are ya, Daisy?” a man said,walking past her to join Vale.
“Never try to undermine a commander’sorders,” a voice said from her side. She looked down at light browneyes over a big nose and pitted cheeks. “It just pisses them offand makes more work for the rest of us.”
Having said his piece, the man walked off.Within minutes, Shea was alone with the horses.
They were all going to die.
Or perhaps not. Maybe they would get luckyand those marks she saw were old. You never knew.
She dismounted and pulled her pack with her.Either way, this gave her the opportunity she’d been waitingfor.
She was finally alone. It was time to headback to Birdon Leaf.
