Caden lifted his hand, brushing the dirt off his palm.
He had to give it to Reece. The man had skills. A day and a half and he'd already found signs of human presence other than the Trateri in these mountains.
He lived up to the reputation of a pathfinder.
He'd known exactly where an enemy was likely to camp. Led them straight to it. If Caden wasn't familiar with Shea and her uncanny method of doing things, he'd say the man was working for the other side.
"They can't be far." Fiona squinted at the hills around them.
Caden grunted and stood.
"What do you want to do?" Ghost asked him.
Caden didn't speak for a long minute, considering the terrain before looking over his people.
Fiona had an edge to her. She wasn't the calm, steady leader Caden had come to know. Her hand opened and closed on the hilt of her weapon. Her gaze was distant as if she could already see her enemy and was anticipating their blood.
Ghost was outwardly calm, but Caden caught the hint of crazy in his eyes. The recklessness and lack of fear that so often resulted in his demotion.
If he and Roscoe weren't so damn effective, they would never have lasted in Fallon's army for as long as they had.
They were rabid dogs. As likely to turn on their masters as their enemies. Their code was their own. The only person they'd ever halfway listened to was Fiona.
And that was a concern, with Fiona not at her best.
This drive for revenge was understandable—but worrying.
Maybe if this was the regular army Caden could ignore it.
But they weren't. They were tasked with protecting the person who was Caden's soul. There wasn't room for a lack of focus.
Which was exactly the issue with Fiona's current state of mind.
Caden's gaze landed on Reece. The only one of them who seemed almost bored. He sat on a waist high boulder, his elbow propped on his knee and his chin leaning against his hand.
It was as if what they were discussing had no bearing on Reece.
In that way, the man differed greatly from his cousin. Shea had an opinion on everything. Reece simply didn't care as far as Caden could see.
Feeling Caden's attention on him, Reece lifted his head, quirking an eyebrow in question.
"Did Van have any idea how many were in this army?" Caden asked.
Reece considered. "Large enough that the extra bodies from Lion and Rain will come in handy if they find your valley."
"You're saying I should thank you for picking them up on the way."
Reece's lips curved. "Would I ever be so shameless?"
Not waiting for a response, Reece dropped his bent leg to the ground and stood. He dusted his pants off and stuck his hands in his pockets as he strolled over to join them.
"Convenient, don't you think? How you received reinforcements at the exact moment you needed them. Almost makes you believe in fate."
"What fate?" Ghost muttered. "They both got lost in the same mist. Makes perfect sense the two groups would come out near each other."
That made Reece frown. "I'd really like to know how they managed to make it out of the mist at all. It shouldn't be possible."
Ghost clapped him on the shoulder. "Worried others will challenge the pathfinder's monopoly on navigating the mist?"
