"Find us a place where we can wait out the storm then complain to me," Caden told him.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Reece said, touching his heels to his horse and riding ahead.
"Only it seems you did," Van complained.
Caden's lips twitched before he suppressed his amusement, knowing Van needed no encouragement.
It was one thing for the clan leader to voice his unhappiness. Another thing if Reece decided to take it as an insult.
Van squeezed his horse's sides in a sign to move forward. "I'm beginning to think all pathfinders are prone to complaining about the things that can't be changed."
Caden made a thoughtful face. They did seem to have that tendency.
"Let's see how you act when you've been in these lands a little longer. Learn all the ways you can die and then tell me I’m being paranoid," Reece called over his shoulder.
Van mocked the other man silently.
Caden ignored him, looking over their back trail. The Trateri were spread out over nearly two miles of terrain, moving as quickly as they safely could.
Gawain and Chirron were not far behind the advance party. Way at the back, almost indistinguishable from the rest if not for the bright gray of Caia's coat and her own blond braid, rode Eva.
Not far from her position were two other figures Caden assumed were Drake and Jason.
The group was farther behind than Caden was comfortable with, moving slowly with a string of backup mounts.
Caden's gaze swung toward their fore trail, empty now that Reece had followed the curve of the canyon out of sight.
The drumbeat of hooves announced Fiona and Roscoe's arrival as they traveled down the line, bypassing riders.
The two lifted their chins in greeting as they arrived next to Caden and Van.
"We taking a break?" Fiona asked, shooting a considering look at the sky.
Written in her expression was how bad an idea she thought that was.
"No, the pathfinder is too afraid of drowning," Van answered for Caden.
"You're fucking hilarious." Reece's voice echoed off the canyon walls; the direction impossible to pin down with all the echoing.
Van bristled, his hand reaching for a weapon as he looked around him in confusion. "Where are you?"
"Can't you guess? A big, capable warrior like you? Or is the healer right and your big head is filled with nothing but violence?" Reece called.
Van squinted at the canyon walls in bewilderment as Fiona and Roscoe traded a smirk.
The clan leader's face darkened as he urged his mount forward. Caden followed, already knowing what to expect.
Sure enough, as soon as they turned the corner the canyon doubled back on itself before abruptly widening.
Reece and his horse stood on top of a stone abutment with a wicked grin on his face. "Surprised?"
Van relaxed into his saddle. "Not particularly. It's a paltry trick. Nothing else."
Reece guided his horse back to the ground. "You're right about that. Canyon's echo. Maybe remember that."
Fiona raised her eyebrows at them. "Did I miss something?"
Van sneered. "Only the pathfinder expressing his worry about our current situation."
