If this was a taste of only a fraction of a warrior’s life, she wanted nothing to do with it.
Fiona rode through the line. Spotting Eva, Fiona slowed, bringing her horse around so she could pace beside her.
"I hear you trained without me," she said.
Eva pointed at Caden. "Not my fault."
Fiona laughed. "It's a good idea. I should have thought of it sooner. Next time, wake me. I have a few easy moves I can show you. They're designed for someone small, like you, who doesn't have our strength."
"Fiona is a skilled warrior,” Caden said when Eva glanced at him. "I might have tried to recruit her once upon a time if she wasn't so obstinate and bull-headed."
Fiona's smile was taunting. "Admit it, you don't like having your authority challenged."
He raised an eyebrow. "And how many times have you allowed one of your warriors to challenge yours?"
"Never," Fiona said with an easy shrug. "That's why I prefer to lead."
"Everyone follows at some point," Caden pointed out.
Fiona's response was forestalled when Hanna came galloping from the back of the line. "Quit flapping your gums and follow."
"Keep your head on, I'll be there in a moment," Fiona shouted back.
"Trouble?" Eva asked.
"Probably, but I’m sure it’s nothing we can't handle," Fiona sighed. To Caden, "Perhaps keep her close for the next section."
He nodded, the skin around his eyes tightening faintly. "How close are we to the city?"
"Not far, but the pathfinder said he's uneasy. I've learned to listen when one of them get a feeling," Hanna said.
With that, she wheeled her horse, tearing toward the back of the line again. Fiona groaned before touching her heels to her horse’s side to follow.
Caden whistled. The Anateri who'd pulled back to give them a degree of privacy closed in on them again as Jason sat up, looking more alert than he had in hours.
"Is there a threat?" he asked.
Eva felt her stomach dip as knots tangled around themselves. Up the line from where they'd just come there seemed to be some disturbance as the riders came to a stop.
"Keep her close," Caden warned his people.
Eva's hands tightened on her reins as the tension of the situation increased. Any fatigue and tiredness dropped away as adrenaline sank like rocks in her stomach.
They passed the rest of those who'd stopped, making their way toward the front.
Several people called out greetings and questions. Caden and the other Anateri shook their heads, as lost as the rest. Galloping hooves from the rear announced Darius's presence as he joined them.
They stopped near where Reece had dismounted, crouching with one hand on the ground as he peered over the slight ridge and the half trail that meandered down it.
"What's the hold up?" Darius asked.
Reece shook his head. "I'm not sure yet."
Ajari loped toward them, and stopped, raising his head and sniffing the air.
"I think it's mist," Reece said, his expression troubled. "But it doesn't feel quite right."
No one remarked on his comment, all of them had at least some experience with Shea. No one questioned the pathfinder's ability to sense the mist.
