Quiet filled the air as the Trateri traded looks.
Confidence exuded from Caden as a smile spread across his face. "I say let them find us. They will discover why we are called Trateri."
Cheers greeted that proclamation, Roscoe and Ghost letting out loud whoops of approval. Fiona beat her legs with a hand as she released a war cry.
"What about the Kyren?" someone yelled.
"Fuck the Kyren."
Eva didn't see who said that last as she looked around.
Caden held up his hands, gesturing for silence. "This is not the Kyren's fight. It is ours. The Trateri take care of their own problems, do they not?"
"Yes, they do," several voices cried as one.
Caden nodded once in approval. "Your individual leaders have your orders. Follow them and if you see the enemy, show them the depths of your determination."
Caden moved through the crowd as they converged on Gawain and Van.
"You're in charge of those from the original mission," Caden informed Fiona when he reached them.
Fiona grimaced. "It's days like these when I wish I'd remained an ordinary warrior."
"You had your chance," Caden said without an ounce of sympathy.
Fiona gestured at Roscoe and Ghost. "You two—with me."
"Does this mean I won't get to play the game?" Brisa asked, sounding disappointed.
Roscoe paused as he gathered the last of the cards. He handed them to Brisa.
"What's this?" she asked, taking them with a puzzled look.
"You hold on to them for now," Roscoe said, climbing to his feet and reaching a hand down for Ghost.
The muscles in Roscoe's arms bulged as he pulled the other man up to standing.
"When we stop for the break, I'll teach you how to play. You're only borrowing them. Understand?" Roscoe lifted his eyebrows to reinforce his point.
Brisa didn't respond immediately, staring down at the cards with an emotion that was difficult to decipher.
Roscoe rolled his eyes. "Don't make a big deal about it. Those are my backup deck."
"Liar," Ghost said around a cough.
One corner of Eva's lips lifted at the uncomfortable look on Roscoe's face. It wasn't often she got to see the other man off balance.
The Trateri rarely gave away their belongings and for Roscoe to do so was unexpected.
Brisa cradled the cards to her chest. "You honor me."
Roscoe pointed at her. "You're not keeping them. I mean it. Those are mine. You're just holding onto them for me."
Brisa's expression showed she wasn't listening. "I will treasure them always and never let damage touch them. When it comes time, they will be passed to my favored offspring with instructions they be preserved for all time."
Ghost clapped Roscoe on the shoulder. "Yup. You made a mistake there. Those cards are now property of the Tenrin."
Roscoe made a sound of protest, looking like he was debating reclaiming his cards.
