“For now, we proceed as usual,” Caden said before focusing on Reece. “I want your opinion on whether we continue on this route or not.”
If he let him, Reece would waffle and waver until the end of time. Just like Shea. The pathfinder wouldn't want the responsibility of what could happen if there was no exit.
Caden didn't blame him, but he still needed a decision. Of them, Reece had the most experience in terrain like this. His guess would have the best chance of success.
He hesitated for only a brief second. "We push forward. The canyon widens a little way down, lessening the danger. I think it's worth the risk."
Caden looked at the rest. "You heard the man; get ready to move."
"I'll continue scouting ahead." Reece clicked his tongue at his horse, steering it down the canyon.
"I thought our scouts tended to be loners, but pathfinders are on a different level," Van said.
"Can't be easy serving a community who doesn't appreciate your skills," Roscoe remarked. "It's bound to twist a man."
They'd all heard the stories of the Battle Queen's original village and how she'd come to be with the Trateri. It was something most of them didn't entirely understand.
A woman with Shea's skills would have been highly sought after among the clans. Same went for her cousin.
To throw someone with those skills away was an act of madness. One the Trateri were happy to take advantage of.
Nell shifted under Caden as the prisoners trudged in his direction, their attention on the ground in front of them. Exhaustion dragged at their shoulders and was present in every step they took.
Caden lifted a hand in acknowledgment to Gawain and Jane, who had taken charge of the prisoners when they broke camp.
The two nodded back.
Caden spent a second observing the two, noting the defeated look on one of their faces.
One corner of his lips tilted up in a cruel smile.
It looked like sleeping out in the open for a night had the effect he'd wanted. They were ripe for the picking. A little push and one or more of them would topple over that edge. Break—just as Caden anticipated.
"Any problems?" Caden asked.
Gawain shook his head. "They've been pretty quiet throughout the morning."
Caden fixed the men with an indifferent stare. "Is that so?"
He thought that had more to do with them conserving what little energy they had. Sleep would have been impossible. Even if the prospect of the storm hadn't terrified them, Caden's people would have ensured they didn't catch a wink.
They'd taken turns throughout the night, creating disturbances. Drake was a master at tapping into a person's worst nightmare and making it real.
Caden didn't even want to know how the man had learned to make so many beast sounds.
It was a real talent.
The troublemaker lifted his head and sneered. "You won't get anything out of us."
Caden didn't speak, simply watching the man with a disinterested expression.
The troublemaker struggled forward, only to be brought up short by the rope Jane held.
"I know what you're doing. It won't work." The man's laugh held a touch of madness. "You're running scared. It won't be long now before our army wipes away your taint from this land."
"So, you know they're following us," Caden said, moving the reins to one hand as he shifted his weight on Nell. "That's good to know."
The troublemaker blinked, panic filling his face. "No."
