Brisa giggled.
They both looked at her.
The Tenrin sobered. "Was that not supposed to be funny?"
Jason pressed his lips together before sending Eva a pleading look. "Please tell me we're not stuck with her."
"I'd like to."
Jason made a whining sound, hearing the but in her voice.
"But I'd be lying."
He stomped his feet in place. "Come on."
Eva shrugged. "If you don't like it, get her to leave yourself."
Jason eyed Brisa with a hostile expression as he judged the likelihood of that happening. The Tenrin gave him a pretty smile and batted her eyelashes.
Jason groaned, giving up. "Fine, but you'd better not make my life harder."
nineteen
Itdidn'ttakelongfor Eva, Jason, and Ollie to complete their work. Even less time since Ollie had already gotten a head start.
By the time they finished, the camp was already packed up and the Trateri were lounging in varying sized groups around the meadow as they took advantage of the rare down time while awaiting their next orders.
It was one of the things Eva admired about the Trateri. They worked hard but when they got a chance to rest, they took it.
For someone like Eva, who'd heard throughout her childhood that idlers didn't deserve to take the food from hard working adults, it was a welcome change in mindset.
The Trateri didn't invite free loaders. They expected you to do your part, but they also understood that life needed to be lived. It wasn't just about hard work. It also deserved to be enjoyed. The moments cherished.
Eva slowed as she caught sight of Brisa crouched not far from a few Trateri who were focused on something in front of them.
Sebastian looked over Brisa's shoulder with interest, his ears pricked forward.
The four Trateri the mythologicals were watching were ones Eva knew. All except for one. A woman from Rain who was usually responsible for acting as Gawain's guard.
Eva glanced at those a short distance from the group. Sure enough, Gawain stared at the nearby hills with a considering expression on his face, not paying attention to the woman or her three companions.
Roscoe and Warin glared at each other while Ghost yawned sleepily at the side.
Jason joined Eva. "Are they playing Bravado?"
Eva grunted. "Looks that way."
In the middle of the four, a set of cards lay face up. Eva recognized the layout as one Ollie had tried to explain to her but that she never fully grasped.
What she did understand was that it required both strategy and luck to win.
Brisa inched closer to the players as Ghost picked up a card and put it into his hand.
The humans were careful to keep their eyes locked on each other as they pretended not to notice the mythologicals' fascination.
Eva suspected it wouldn't be long until one of them broke. Not with how Sebastian and Brisa were beginning to crowd them.
Jason snickered as Warin shrunk in on himself, huddling around his hand of cards to avoid Sebastian's breath on the back of his neck.
