"Don't worry about the commander, lady," Jane added. "He has a way of surprising you."
"I'd wager we get there and he'll frown and ask what took us so long," Drake said.
Jane chuckled. "Do you remember the town near that marsh? I thought for sure he was dead when he ended up at the bottom of that pile of revenants. Instead, when we pulled them off him, he glared and said he had it handled."
"Or when we got caught in that flash flood and all nearly died. Somehow, he was the only one who managed to end up two miles away from everyone else," Drake said.
The two shook their heads before Jane slapped Eva on the shoulder. "Don't frown so. Caden will likely outlive us all. He has more lives than a cat."
Eva blinked, wondering whether their stories were actually meant to make her feel better. They didn't—especially given Caden’s habit of referring to her as a trouble magnet. Seemed like he had his own talent for attracting interesting situations.
A small smile touched her face. Either way, it was a kindness they offered her, trying to allay her concern when they didn't have to.
Jason approached, leading Caia, his expression hesitant. "I thought you might want to ride her for today."
She took the reins, surprised. This was the second nice thing he'd done for her in as many days. She wouldn't soon forget he'd been the one who told her Ollie had survived. "I do, thank you."
He jerked up a shoulder in a nonchalant shrug. "It's not a big deal. You'd have had to ride something, and she's been a pain in the ass ever since you left."
There was a slight tinge of pink to his cheeks though he didn't meet her eyes.
His careless kindness warmed her—especially when she’d thought her time with the Trateri was nearing its end. Perhaps she'd done the same as Darius and the other Trateri, jumped to conclusions during a heightened situation where emotions were running high.
"Jason.” Eva stopped him as he started to walk away. "Darius thinks it best I keep my distance from Sebastian for now. Can you keep an eye on him today?"
She dug in her pouch and offered him a comb. "He likes having his mane brushed. If you scratch the side of his neck, he'll pretend he doesn't like it, but he really does."
Jason stared at her in surprise, taking the brush carefully as if she'd offered him a priceless treasure.
"Really?" he asked.
She nodded. "He also likes the fatty bits of meat best."
Happiness and pleasure filled Jason's expression, transforming it from the sour frown she was used to seeing.
"I won't let you down," he promised.
"I know you won't. You're very skilled with the horses. You'll make a fine herd master one day," she told him.
He hesitated, before stepping forward and clasping her in a one arm hug, shoulder pressed against hers like the hugs she'd seen Trateri of the same clan give each other, before he stepped back and jerked a nod in her direction.
There was a low whistle from Drake. "That's a change."
"It was a thank you, that’s all,” Eva said, feeling slightly embarrassed. “He's wanted to be in charge of Sebastian's care from the beginning."
Drake slid her a look. "That was a clan greeting. We only give them to those in our own clan or those who we consider our blade brothers or sisters. He essentially accepted you as one of his own. Don't discount it's meaning. Someone like him has likely offered it to a rare few."
Eva was silent as she considered Drake’s words. She glanced Jason's way as he hurried through the camp.
Perhaps Ollie had been right, and she had misjudged him, dwelling upon the bad impression he'd left on her during their first meeting and attributing all his actions since to that.
Eva mounted with the rest, guiding Caia into line as the small group Darius had picked for this journey set out.
Reece and two Trateri scouts had already left, scouting ahead to make sure the way was safe.
Eva and Caia fell in behind Darius, Jane and Drake taking up position around her as Sebastian took to the sky.
Eva looked for Ajari but didn't see him on any of the horses. He wasn't on Sebastian either. Come to think of it, she'd never seen the mythological ride the Kyren.
