two
They'dhadonerule—don'tlet outsiders know the location of this valley. A rule, if Fiona's report was correct, they had already broken.
Eva felt almost numb as she trained her eyes on the mountain range surrounding their valley. The first big task entrusted to her, and it looked like she might fail through no fault of her own.
The unfairness of it all was mind bending. Rage inducing even.
Eva released a breath, fighting the urge to curse—or climb on Caia's back and ride somewhere far, far away. A place where alliances and expectations were nothing except an unfortunate memory.
But that would make her a coward—and someone who didn't keep their promises. Eva was neither of those. It would be far easier if she were.
Damn it.
"You think they know already?" Jason followed her gaze to the mountain tops.
Eva nodded. "Oh, they know."
Probably long before any of them. The Kyren, the mythological race they were here to see might have been conspicuously absent since their arrival, but Eva had never deluded herself into thinking they were gone.
They were watching. Observing.
The Trateri scouts responsible for patrolling the area had picked up multiple signs of their presence. Signs Eva had no doubt they'd left behind as a warning.
We're here. We'll see if you break faith.
Why they were refusing to interact with the Trateri or even Eva, she didn't know. They were the ones who'd extended the invitation to her. Practically forced her presence if she wanted to be honest.
She was perfectly happy in her role as a herd mistress. She’d had friends. A mentor. A place she belonged for once in her life.
All of which she gave up to be here, chasing a dream she was increasingly beginning to feel was nothing but a mirage.
Maybe it was best this had happened. It would save her a lot of wasted time and effort.
Even as she thought it, Eva knew she wasn't being entirely honest with herself. There was a hole in the pit of her stomach that said she cared far more than she was willing to acknowledge.
Ah well, what would come, would come, Eva thought as she tipped her head to peer at the sky.
"We should get moving." Fiona guided her horse to face camp. "We won't know the situation until we get there."
Eva's lips quirked. "True enough."
No use crying over something that had already happened. The Kyren would either accept the circumstances or retreat from the Trateri. All Eva could do was take things as they came and hope for the best.
Eva didn't bother with a saddle, mounting bareback in a maneuver that looked effortless but could easily have ended with Eva ending face first on the ground.
It had happened before.
Drake put his fingers to his mouth and whistled. There was a high-pitched neigh from the herd as a chestnut lifted her head and raced in their direction.
As Eva settled on Caia, Jason set one hand on the mare's shoulder. "Don't worry about the herd. I'll take care of them in your absence."
Eva's nod was filled with gratitude. "Thank you."
Jason patted Caia's shoulder, dodging when she tried to take a bite out of him for his presumption. "Don't thank me. You're taking the brat with you. My job just got ten times easier."
Unhappy that she'd missed, Caia bared her teeth in a gesture she'd picked up from hanging with mythologicals too much.
Jason bared his teeth right back before lifting his fist and showing it to the mare.
