Eamon agreed with him. “We probably wouldn’thave made it at all if it weren’t for the lad’s mischief.”
Perry looked her over slowly, noting her slimlimbs, less than impressive height and smooth skin that had neverseen a razor. “I find that hard to believe.”
“Took down one of those huge beetles byhimself. He’s also the one who found you lot. If not for him, wewould have been wandering for a lot longer.” Eamon nodded at her.“He might be young, but he knows his craft.”
“A beetle, huh?” stick chewer asked. “Mostdon’t walk away from an encounter like that.”
“Can’t be far out of being a Daisy,” Fionasaid.
“He was a Daisy when we started,” Eamonconfirmed.
Shea’s hands curled into fists at her side,while she tried to keep all expression off her face. Please,please, please, find something else to talk about.
“Battlefield promotion then,” stick chewersaid.
“We’ll need your assistance dealing with therevenants,” Perry informed Eamon. “We’re down to three scouts sinceour last encounter. Damn things took apart three parties before wecould get away from them. Thought I’d lose my men in battle. I wasprepared for that. Instead it’s these damn creatures wearing usdown.”
“Understood. I’ll prepare my men for thechange in plans.”
“We’ll leave at first light.”
Dismissed, Eamon turned on his heel, headingfor his men gathered around one of the fires. Shea trailed in hiswake.
The sun had begun to sink behind themountains while they were giving their report to Perry, but littlefingers of amber light fought off the deepening gloom.
Shea’s stomach growled at the smell of food,but she didn’t let that distract her. She needed to speak to Eamonbefore they reached the others.
“Eamon?”
Eamon stopped, looking over in question.
Shea gathered her courage, knowing that shewas about to piss him off. Oh well, it needed to be said. If hecalled her a coward, so be it. “It’s suicide trying to travelthrough revenant territory.”
“Oh?” He didn’t say anything else, justthat.
“Revenants are smart,” Shea said. “And theylearn from every encounter with humans. If these guys had troublewith them earlier, they’re going to have twice as much now.Whatever tactics they used last time won’t work because the beastshave already adapted.”
“I see your point, but that doesn’t changethe fact our destination is on the other side of theirterritory.”
“We could go around it,” Shea offered.
Eamon crossed his arms and shook his head.“Not enough time.”
“It’s better than losing half the company toan attack.”
“They’re that dangerous?”
“A small pack? No. But if there are severalpacks in this area, they’ll call for reinforcements. That wouldn’tbe good for us.”
“Perry would never go for it.”
“But-“
“I understand what you’re saying, but we’llbe going through their territory tomorrow. We’ve got orders now. Wehave to follow them. End of story.”
Shea bit her lip and crossed her arms infront of her defensively, looking miserably down at the ground. Hisresponse wasn’t exactly a surprise. She’d known he was going to saysomething to that effect, but she’d hoped she could change hismind.
Seeing the dejected expression on Shane’sface, Eamon sighed. “I understand your concerns. I even share them,but there’s not much we can do besides make the best of thesituation. Share with the boys what you know of these beasts.That’s all you can do right now. You never know, it might savetheir lives tomorrow.”
