Chirron observed, watching their reactions carefully.
Eva took note of all this in an instant before focusing on the people she truly cared about.
Ghost seemed too tired to waste emotion on the news, leaning weakly against Roscoe's shoulder. His friend's face was a grim mask as the reality of the situation sunk in.
Fiona's expression was remote as she stared into the distance, not even looking at Eva.
Lastly, Caden whose face she still couldn't read. His features were arranged in neutral lines. It was the same face she'd once seen at Fallon's back. The one that made him the perfect weapon for a Warlord.
The silence lengthened until Eva couldn't take it anymore.
"I'm sorry. This is my fault. We came up here because we thought I could bridge the gap between our two peoples and I failed," Eva confessed.
Now, others were going to pay the price.
Fiona shook her head. "Don't take that on. This isn't your fault. No one here blames you."
Roscoe lifted his shoulders and dropped them as if he was shaking off his mood. "She's right. Who needs a winged horse anyway? We're badass enough all on our own."
Van frowned. "I don't know. I sort of blame her. Her entire role was to get us mounts."
Eva lifted her eyebrows and sent Fiona and Roscoe a look that said, "you were saying?"
It was quick but Eva caught Fiona's faint smile before she ducked her chin to hide it.
Chirron shook his head at Van. "You really are as dumb as your size suggests."
Van gave him a baffled look to which Chirron rolled his eyes and refused to speak to the other.
"In a way, this frees us up," Gawain observed, seeming more thoughtful than angry.
Caden finally showed a reaction. His smile diabolical as if this was what he'd been waiting for all along. "Agreed. The Kyren have given us a gift. From here on out, we do what we want and don't take anyone else's opinions into account."
There were gruff sounds of agreement. The Trateri around her stamping their feet to show their approval.
Evil grins grew on Ghost and Roscoe's face.
"Guess I'm not going to be resting later, after all," Ghost drawled.
Chirron growled but didn't waste his breath on argument. Even he could see it would be a losing battle.
The expectations of the Kyren were no longer holding them back. They were now free to give all their attention to hunting down their enemies.
Knowing her skills wouldn't be much use for what was coming, Eva left Caden and the rest to their war council.
As always when faced with a situation out of her comfort zone, she headed for those who made her feel most at home. The herd.
Jane was a quiet shadow as she trailed Eva through the camp, which had long since fallen silent. The Trateri had only bothered raising a few tents, most preferring to sleep under the wide-open sky next to small fires.
More than one sleep pallet stirred, heads lifting as Eva passed. Seeing it was only her, they ignored her passage. Some wriggled onto their sides, pulling their blankets higher over their head.
Eva left the last of the camp behind, pausing on its outskirts. For a long moment, she wavered before making her way to the small knoll overlooking where Jason and Ollie had staged the horses.
She plopped down on the ground and wrapped her arms around her knees, letting her mind go quiet.
Her emotions were like a bow drawn too long, and she wasn't entirely sure what she was feeling right this moment.
Eva set her chin on her knee and stared out at the rolling hills of the meadow sprawled before her. To one side, the darker shadows of stone monoliths and mountains protruded into the sky. On the other, trees blended the line between sky and earth.
