"I feel no different than that month of training we spent in Sparrow company getting our asses handed to us."
Roscoe and Fiona winced in sympathy.
"That bad, huh?" Fiona asked.
He made a pained expression. "I wouldn't recommend it."
Fiona set her hand on his and squeezed. "We're glad you made it through."
Ghost covered her hand with his. "Always, commander. You know me. I'm like a cockroach. Unkillable."
Fiona chuckled as she sat back on her heels. "I see you haven't lost any of your arrogance."
Ghost's smile was a tad wicked.
Roscoe fist bumped Ghost's shoulder. "You got better just in time. It sounds like you'll get your shot at revenge very soon."
Chirron made a disgusted sound. "Does no one listen to me? He's not better. His system was put under extreme stress. He needs rest; not to go swinging his sword at insects."
Eva could tell by the bland look on Ghost's face that Chirron might as well have been speaking to the air. That was how much stock Ghost was putting in the other man's words.
"Give it up, Chirron. You're not going to win this battle," Van informed the healer, sounding like he found the entire exchange all too amusing.
Chirron made an aggravated sound before throwing his hands up. "You're all insane."
Van gave Chirron the lazy smile of a lion. "You could always save yourself the headache and return to your old ways."
Chirron's mouth snapped closed as he pinned the other man with a fulminating glare.
Van's laugh rumbled in his chest.
"I'm assuming you didn't call us here so Chirron could lament the unchangeable," Gawain said with a steady gaze on Eva.
"Why are you looking at me when you ask that?"
One side of his mouth tilted up. "You left with the Kyren this evening. Now you're back at this late hour and we've been called from our rest. The conclusion should be obvious to those of us who are paying attention."
Van's lazy slump disappeared as he focused on Gawain. "Do you have something to say, Rain?"
Gawain slid him a look. "I don't know, Lion. What do you think?"
"Enough." Caden's order cut through the brewing tension with the sharpness of a blade. "Eva, you have something to share?"
Eva took a deep breath, forcing her hands not to shake as she became the center of attention.
"Orion summoned me at sunset." Eva's expression was neutral as she kept her gaze trained on Caden's. "The Kyren have rescinded their invitation and are asking us to leave."
Van cursed and stood in an explosive movement. He lifted a hand, rubbing his face, unable to keep still. Gawain's reaction was a little more controlled as he closed his eyes, exhaling slowly.
Chirron observed, watching their reactions carefully.
Eva took note of all this in an instant before focusing on the people she truly cared about.
Ghost seemed too tired to waste emotion on the news, leaning weakly against Roscoe's shoulder. His friend's face was a grim mask as the reality of the situation sunk in.
Fiona's expression was remote as she stared into the distance, not even looking at Eva.
Lastly, Caden whose face she still couldn't read. His features were arranged in neutral lines. It was the same face she'd once seen at Fallon's back. The one that made him the perfect weapon for a Warlord.
The silence lengthened until Eva couldn't take it anymore.
"I'm sorry. This is my fault. We came up here because we thought I could bridge the gap between our two peoples and I failed," Eva confessed.
Now, others were going to pay the price.
Fiona shook her head. "Don't take that on. This isn't your fault. No one here blames you."
Roscoe lifted his shoulders and dropped them as if he was shaking off his mood. "She's right. Who needs a winged horse anyway? We're badass enough all on our own."
Van frowned. "I don't know. I sort of blame her. Her entire role was to get us mounts."
Eva lifted her eyebrows and sent Fiona and Roscoe a look that said, "you were saying?"
It was quick but Eva caught Fiona's faint smile before she ducked her chin to hide it.
Chirron shook his head at Van. "You really are as dumb as your size suggests."
Van gave him a baffled look to which Chirron rolled his eyes and refused to speak to the other.
"In a way, this frees us up," Gawain observed, seeming more thoughtful than angry.
Caden finally showed a reaction. His smile diabolical as if this was what he'd been waiting for all along. "Agreed. The Kyren have given us a gift. From here on out, we do what we want and don't take anyone else's opinions into account."
There were gruff sounds of agreement. The Trateri around her stamping their feet to show their approval.
Evil grins grew on Ghost and Roscoe's face.
"Guess I'm not going to be resting later, after all," Ghost drawled.
Chirron growled but didn't waste his breath on argument. Even he could see it would be a losing battle.
The expectations of the Kyren were no longer holding them back. They were now free to give all their attention to hunting down their enemies.
Knowing her skills wouldn't be much use for what was coming, Eva left Caden and the rest to their war council.
As always when faced with a situation out of her comfort zone, she headed for those who made her feel most at home. The herd.
Jane was a quiet shadow as she trailed Eva through the camp, which had long since fallen silent. The Trateri had only bothered raising a few tents, most preferring to sleep under the wide-open sky next to small fires.
More than one sleep pallet stirred, heads lifting as Eva passed. Seeing it was only her, they ignored her passage. Some wriggled onto their sides, pulling their blankets higher over their head.
Eva left the last of the camp behind, pausing on its outskirts. For a long moment, she wavered before making her way to the small knoll overlooking where Jason and Ollie had staged the horses.
She plopped down on the ground and wrapped her arms around her knees, letting her mind go quiet.
Her emotions were like a bow drawn too long, and she wasn't entirely sure what she was feeling right this moment.
Eva set her chin on her knee and stared out at the rolling hills of the meadow sprawled before her. To one side, the darker shadows of stone monoliths and mountains protruded into the sky. On the other, trees blended the line between sky and earth.
Dotted throughout the foreground was the herd, well taken care of and already settled into their nightly routine.
They bunched in twos and threes, seeking protection with one another. It was a soothing sight in a night that had been full of ups and downs.
Eva didn't know how long she'd sat before she saw a shadowy figure move out of the camp and toward a set of horses to her side.
Jane touched the pommel of her sword as she moved closer to Eva.
Recognizing the figure, Eva shook her head and stood. "It's Fiona."
Understanding filled Jane's face before she stepped back. Eva dusted any remaining pieces of grass and dirt off her bottom before starting in Fiona's direction.
"Fancy seeing you out here. I thought you would have gotten some sleep for tomorrow," Eva said when she was a few feet from where Fiona looked to be leaning her face into the neck of her horse.