She checked their faces, finding resistance in their expressions. They'd already made up their minds before she said a single word.
Not that she'd expected anything else. The Trateri were the same. Give even the appearance of going back on your word and you'd find it ten times as hard to make your voice heard.
In the Kyren's eyes, they'd already betrayed the treaty. No excuse could make up for that.
"Would the Kyren render aid to some of their own even if they were on a secret mission for the Trateri?" Eva asked.
What does that have to do with things?Talia asked, the fascination she'd had for Eva before muted at Polaris's reminder.
We would,Orion's voice was deep as he spoke over Talia.
"Even if you'd promised the Trateri that you'd hold their secrets close?"
Polaris's head turned as he gave Orion a deep look.
At that, Eva's lips curled up the faintest bit. He saw where she was going with this. Good. It would make things easier.
"And yet you're asking them to turn their own people away when in danger?"
Danyon let out a doubtful sound.I'd hardly call that danger.
"Humans depend on each other for survival. The pathfinder judged it too dangerous to abandon them midway and continue on his own," Eva said.
Again, a sound argument, except for the part where the pathfinder's path should never have crossed theirs,Polaris pointed out.
Eva shifted her attention to him and tried to radiate her sincerity and truthfulness.
"I know you have eyes on us and that you're perfectly aware of how the newcomers came to be in this part of the Highlands. Humans aren't like the Kyren. We can't control when the mist appears or where in the Broken Lands it deposits us."
Eva paused to study the effect of her words.
Orion, as always, was hard to judge. His expression giving nothing of his inner thoughts away. With Polaris in the role of antagonist, you'd think he'd be the one Eva was most wary of.
Not so.
More and more, she saw Caden in him. His questions were pointed, not giving her any breathing room. He was their enforcer. The protector of the rest. His only focus was their security and rooting out anything that could endanger the herd.
It was only right he parsed every word of hers, analyzing them for lies.
He wasn't like Sebastian. He didn't have reason to trust her yet. Even if the day came where she could earn his esteem, he would still have to keep his guard up for the possibility she’d change.
It was the hardest part of being a protector. You were doomed to never truly trust another.
No matter how much you might wish otherwise.
In contrast to Polaris's intent regard, Talia only gave an impression of mild interest. Aloof as though the topic was of no concern to her.
If Eva was to bet, Danyon would be the one she needed to be on guard against. He'd been careful to speak gently, teasing the others about scaring her, but there was a pointedness in his words that said he didn't want her here.
"You're right though. We are the ones who brought them here. The pathfinder could have walked right past them when he encountered them in the mist. Pretend he didn't see them. No one would have ever known." Eva lifted a shoulder. "They would have wandered lost. Possibly forever."
Eva's eyes were cold as she smiled at the Kyren.
"Is that the kind of ally you want? People who would abandon their own in favor of self-interest?"
If that was the case, perhaps they should stop this alliance right here. It'd be better for all of them.
Very convincing. Really. I might even believe it if not for the army that followed them out of the mist,Danyon said with the air of someone winning the deciding blow against their opponent.
