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.
Eva's eyes narrowed. More and more she wasn't liking the chestnut Kyren. He reminded her too much of humans who'd taken one glance at Eva and decided she was unworthy.
As much as she'd like to treat him the same way she did those short-sighted idiots, she didn't have the luxury. Instead, she was stuck trying to explain herself to those whose minds were already closed.
"What army?" Eva asked.
Technically, she had no proof an army had followed the Trateri out of the mist. Only speculation and a history with worst case scenarios.
The one we spotted not far from your valley, Danyon continued. How would they be here if not for your Trateri leading them?
"It's true Lion Clan was pursuing rebels when they encountered the mist," Eva admitted. "But they weren't part of the group the pathfinder led out. If they're here, it's because they managed to find their way out of the mist themselves."
How do we know you're not working together? That they're not Trateri? Danyon asked. We only have your word for it.
Eva took a deep breath. No, no, Eva. You can't thump him on the nose with your hand like you'd do a misbehaving horse.
It took effort to bite back her retort. Only when she'd found her composure did she meet Orion's gaze.
"You've dealt with the Trateri many times. Do they look like Trateri? Do they wear the same clothes or move in the same way? If that army was lost in the same mist, it would make sense that they were released from it in the same area as the rest."
Danyon snickered. You've already done such a good job arguing your humans can't navigate the mist on their own. Don't ruin it now.
Eva took a deep breath, pushing down her frustration. "You've met their enemy. Talk to the mares I freed. They'll know. Not everyone they recruit is human."
Eva could have said more. She could have spoken about the strange power that brushed against her during the leader's death. Or the fact she suspected that power acted very much like a parasite in need of a host.
Instead, she remained quiet. The Kyren weren't the only ones plagued by trust problems. How could she ensure they wouldn’t take the information she shared and hurt her or the Trateri with it?
Sad to say, but there it was.
Eva shook her head, abruptly tired of it all. The games they played and the carrots they kept dangling in front of her in hopes she'd jump. If they'd wanted an obedient dog, they should have chosen someone else.
"You know what: this is a farce. You don't care about the truth. You just want a reason to back out of the alliance."
Eva, Sebastian said quietly.
No, she was done.
Eva took a step toward Orion. "You asked us here, not the other way around. You approached me. If you were never going to trust us, why do any of this?"
The Kyren were silent.
Typical.
Eva met each of their gazes. "Don't forget. It was a Kyren who came to me for help first. Every step of the way, your kind has led this dance. If anyone should be wary, it's me."
Why watch them for all these weeks? It was so much easier to gain a person's measure through interaction. What could they learn by keeping their distance?
Eva didn't know. She wasn't even sure she cared at this point.
Orion stirred, addressing the others. Give us a moment.
Talia and Danyon didn't argue, trotting to the ledge and dropping over it. Polaris was slower, lingering to give Orion a searching look.
Orion inclined his head at the other. She won't hurt me.
Polaris blew out a snort, his tail flicking to show his dissatisfaction as he followed the other two. The entire time he stared at Eva, letting her know without words that if she harmed the herd lord in any way, she'd answer to him.
Eva folded her arms over her chest, unimpressed. He wasn't the first to threaten her with bodily harm and she doubted he'd be the last.
It seemed to be a trait she brought out in others. Human and mythological alike.
Finally, Sebastian was the only one left.
He looked between Eva and Orion uncertainly.
Go, nephew. I won't hurt your friend.
Sebastian didn't move. Eva?
She nodded in dismissal, appreciating the courage it took to ignore his herd lord in favor of gaining her approval.
"I'll be fine. Besides, if anything happens to me, Caden will come."
He'd told her as much once.
It might not seem like much to a Kyren who had a habit of underestimating her commander, but to Eva it was a vow.
Caden would get revenge. She had no doubt about that. It might end in his death, but he'd make the Kyren pay a hefty price before he went.
There was a certain security in knowing there was someone out there who had her back. Who'd burn the world down in her name.
Not that she'd ever want that, but Eva couldn't pretend her heart didn't flutter a bit.
For someone whose trust in others had been as badly damaged as Eva's, it was a heady feeling knowing someone cared enough to set his own survival aside to avenge her.