Those in the sky circled as Caden rode up to Fallon with a smile. "You're late."
"That's what I get for relying on directions from a child." Fallon reined his horse to a stop. "We've been looking for you for days. These mountains don't give up their secrets easily."
Fallon gave Eva a respectful nod. "Caller."
"Warlord."
Caden and Fallon clasped forearms.
"You managed to find us in the end anyway," Caden said.
Fallon tilted his head at a group waiting not far away. "You can thank them for that."
Buck and Witt nodded a greeting, looking at ease.
"I saw where you fought. Quite the battle you had," Fallon said.
Caden grunted.
Fallon lifted an eyebrow. "Am I to assume you took care of the mess?"
One side of Caden's lips twitched up. "Most of it. There may be a few stragglers hiding in the hills. I trust you can take care of them."
Fallon's lips curved. "I've already sent forces out. Any who managed to survive won't slip through our net."
As the two men talked, Eva scanned the faces of those behind Fallon.
"Shea's out scouting," Fallon said, noticing where her attention had gone. "You'd think having a baby would slow her down a little, but instead it has only made her more stubborn. Pathfinders, I've found, must be allowed to roam as they will. Anything else invites chaos."
Caden sent Eva a look. "We both chose women who can't be contained."
Humor glinted in Fallon's eyes. "Didn't you once tell me all women are the same and that I should find someone a little easier?"
Eva lifted an eyebrow at Caden to see a rare red flush in his cheeks. "Did you now?"
"That was before," he said.
"Good answer."
His wicked smile made her remember the things they'd done a few nights ago. Eva looked away, studying the army that extended for miles.
Worry niggled at her.
The last time an unexpected force showed up it had changed everything. Who was to say the Kyren wouldn't react in the same manner?
As if sensing her thoughts, Polaris's deep voice sounded in her mind.Invite your Warlord back to the herd lands.
Eva's startled gaze landed on the Kyren.
"What is it?" Fallon said with a sharp look in his eye as he noticed Eva's movements.
Eva's expression smoothed out. "The Kyren wish to invite you to their home."
Surprise showed on Fallon's face before it was gone. He sent Caden a sidelong look. "I see relations with the Kyren are better than I expected."
"Some days," Caden admitted as there was a scream from above.
A Kyren that looked as battle worn as Polaris swooped down to settle a few feet away. He fluttered his wings and looked at Fallon in invitation.
