Fiona nodded before guiding her horse away.
Chirron appeared next to Ghost's horse.
Warin dodged his help. "I'm fine."
"Spare me the bullshit. You can't even sit straight. If Ghost wasn't holding you up, you already would have fallen off," Chirron snapped.
Warin's face screwed up. "I'm fine. Give your attention to those who need it more."
Chirron glared at him with a murderous expression.
"Warin." Van came up behind Chirron. "Let him help you."
Warin resisted only a second longer before he gave in. Chirron wasn't going to let him walk away without a fuss and everyone knew it.
Van and Chirron helped him off the horse as Roscoe stopped next to Jane.
He clasped her shoulder in sympathy. "He had a good death. Sometimes that's all we can ask for."
She nodded, her voice quiet. "I know."
Roscoe moved past, stopping next to Eva. His gaze met hers. "Nothing good ever comes of assuming a responsibility that isn't yours."
He sent a meaningful look at where Fiona had disappeared.
Eva wanted so much to believe him, but she just couldn't. Itwasher responsibility. He'd taken the arrow meant for her. That lay this squarely on her shoulders.
"He died protecting me."
"He died doing his duty," Roscoe corrected. "He was an Anateri, first and foremost."
Jane looked up, her eyes rimmed with red. "He's right. Drake wouldn't want you to grieve. For him, there is no better ending than this. He went out exactly the way he lived—on his own terms."
"I'd wager he took more than a few of the enemy with him for company before he went too." Roscoe's smile was crooked.
Caden squeezed Eva's shoulder. "He and the rest of our dead will be honored with a pyre at sunset. Tomorrow, we'll head for the herd lands."
"They're finally letting us in?" Roscoe lifted his eyebrows in question. At Eva's nod, he snorted. "About damn time."
With that, he moved off, leaving them to grieve alone.
Eva went into Caden's arms as he pulled her close, whispering into her hair, "He's right. Don't hold on to your guilt too hard."
Eva sniffled. "Easier said than done."
"It always is." Caden released Eva, looking at Jane. "Are you going to be alright?"
The Anateri lifted her head. "Yes. We always knew one of us might fall in the line of our duties."
Caden's nod was sympathetic. This loss would hurt. As did any loss.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to stay with him until the end," Jane said, her voice sounding tight.
"Of course," Caden said, taking Eva's hand and leading her away.
She let him, casting one last look over her shoulder at Jane and Drake. Try as she might, guilt and regret dragged at her.
It would be a long time before she forgot this—if she ever did.
