That was fine. Eva could live with Caia's hurt feelings. Better those than a crippled leg.
Deciding to ignore the two troublemakers, Eva looked Jason up and down. Besides the dark circles under his eyes, he seemed no worse for wear.
"Congratulations. You managed to survive. Just like I said you would."
Jason grimaced. “About that—"
"He had a little help," someone finished for him.
A grin was already spreading across Eva's face as she stood in her stirrups, eager to get a glimpse of the person who'd just spoken.
A short distance away, a tall, thin man shooed away the horses crowded around him. It was why, though she'd known there were other people close, she hadn't recognized him. She'd attributed his presence to being one of those assigned to help Jason in her absence.
"Ollie!"
Eva was off Sebastian's back in the blink of an eye and racing toward the other man in the next second, a broad smile already on her face. Ollie let out an oomph as she threw herself into his arms.
He pressed his cheek against hers as one hand lifted to smooth over her tangled braid. "I missed you too, Eva girl."
Eva pushed back, her gaze searching his.
Eyes she had always considered wise met hers. More than anyone else, Ollie's long face had always reminded her of the horses they cared for. Perhaps that was why she'd trusted him even from their first meeting.
Even his hair was a dark chestnut she likened to the coloring of a bay.
"What are you doing here? I thought Hardwick needed you."
It was why she hadn't asked Ollie to accompany her to the valley. Hardwick was already down one of his herd masters with Eva's absence. Depriving him of a second would create a strain on not just him but the herd as well.
Those horses held Eva's heart. She wouldn't put them in danger—even if she'd been devastated to leave him behind.
Sometimes you had to make sacrifices, and this had been one of those times. How could she be so selfish as to ask him to come when others needed him more?
Jason was different. As good as he'd become over the last few weeks under her tutelage, he was still just an apprentice. Replacing him would be easier than replacing Ollie.
"I'm not here long. Only until the pathfinder starts his return trip. I'll head back with his group then."
Disappointment stabbed at Eva, deep where she could pretend she didn't feel it. She shoved the pain away.
The fact he came at all was a gift beyond measure.
Ollie was brother, friend, confidant, all rolled into one. He meant more to Eva than she could express. Excluding Caia, he was the first Trateri she’d encountered. The person who taught her rumors weren't always true, and that humans didn't have to be terrifying—as long as you were around the right ones.
He was the reason she could trust Caden. If not for Ollie, she never would have opened herself to the possibility of love.
She owed him more than she could ever repay.
And she'd missed him.
Eva squeezed his arms. "You're here now and that's all that matters."
Now wasn't the time for sadness or mourning what hadn't happened. Sometimes people were their own worst enemies, tainting the good times by anticipating the bad.
Eva refused to be that person. She planned to enjoy Ollie's presence for as long as he was here.
No disappointment. No sorrow. Just taking each moment as it came.
"I see you've brought him up to snuff." Ollie jerked a thumb at Jason. "Couldn't have been easy."
"Hey!" Jason protested, shooting him an irritated look.
"He's a little slow, but he gets it done in the end," Eva said with fake seriousness.
Ollie snickered as Jason glowered. Eva’s lips quivered with the effort of fighting her smile. She lost the battle as she dissolved into chuckles.
His expression made any remaining sadness flit away.
"You did a good job with him. Hardwick would be proud," Ollie said.
Jason's face glowed at the praise.
"I'd watch out if I were you," Ollie advised him. "Otherwise, Hardwick might decide he can't spare you either."
Alarm spread across Jason's face as his gaze shot to Eva's. She pretended not to see the pleading in his eyes as she ducked her head to hide her smile.
That was family for you. There was no hand holding or soft guidance. Only teasing that ripped open your deepest insecurities for everyone to see. Prodding and poking to find out what you were made of. The more you reacted; the bolder they would get.
Eva had been on the opposite side more than once. It was Jason's turn now.
"I like you both better when the other isn't here," Jason snapped. "Come on, Caia. We don't need to stand here and take this."
Ollie snickered down at his folded arms as Jason's attempts to guide Caia away were thwarted.
Jason threw his hands up. "Fine. Stay here and be insulted. See if I care."
Jason stomped away, heading toward a clump of horses near the boulder field.
"You did a good job with him, Eva," Ollie said.
Eva lifted a shoulder. "He's the one who put in the work."
A lot of it. Much more than was evident at a glance.
Up hours before the sun rose to care for the horses and practice the swordplay that he’d learned from Caden and the other Anateri. Waking up at odd hours when the horses needed him.
He was dedicated and driven. Never complaining and always there when she needed him. Eva couldn't ask for more.
"Guess it's a good thing you gave him a chance, then."
She rolled her eyes at him. "Yes, yes. You were right. Shutting people out meant I was missing out on a lot."
And he'd never let her hear the end of it now that she'd admitted her mistake.
"Eva," Jason interrupted. "You might want to get over here."
eight
Jason's back was to Eva as he tracked something along the ridge.
"What is it?" Eva called, jogging up to him.
Eva forgot her question as a rush of movement along the boulders pulled her attention upward. Pebbles skittered down the slope, and she caught a faint scrabbling, like sharp claws fighting for purchase against rock.
Something was up there. And by the sounds of it, that something was big.
"Again?" Ollie pulled a face as he joined them.
Eva raised her eyebrows at them in silent question.
Ollie gave her an apologetic look. "We don't know what it is. It started after you left. We've tried chasing it, but it's gone as soon as anyone gets close."
"Whatever is out there, they're upsetting the horses." Jason glowered at the empty ridge line and raised his voice. "And when I catch them, I'll be sure to show my appreciation for all the extra work they're causing me."
"We're relatively sure it's not human," Ollie explained.
"You've got that right. It's mythological."
"I knew it," Jason said in satisfaction.
Ollie gave Eva a startled frown. "How can you tell?"
Eva hesitated, debating how much to reveal.
She trusted Ollie. She did. But sharing such a private piece of herself, something she'd spent the majority of her life pretending didn't exist was the equivalent to peeling back her skin to bare her soul.