nineteen
It didn't take long for Eva, Jason, and Ollie to complete their work. Even less time since Ollie had already gotten a head start.
By the time they finished, the camp was already packed up and the Trateri were lounging in varying sized groups around the meadow as they took advantage of the rare down time while awaiting their next orders.
It was one of the things Eva admired about the Trateri. They worked hard but when they got a chance to rest, they took it.
For someone like Eva, who'd heard throughout her childhood that idlers didn't deserve to take the food from hard working adults, it was a welcome change in mindset.
The Trateri didn't invite free loaders. They expected you to do your part, but they also understood that life needed to be lived. It wasn't just about hard work. It also deserved to be enjoyed. The moments cherished.
Eva slowed as she caught sight of Brisa crouched not far from a few Trateri who were focused on something in front of them.
Sebastian looked over Brisa's shoulder with interest, his ears pricked forward.
The four Trateri the mythologicals were watching were ones Eva knew. All except for one. A woman from Rain who was usually responsible for acting as Gawain's guard.
Eva glanced at those a short distance from the group. Sure enough, Gawain stared at the nearby hills with a considering expression on his face, not paying attention to the woman or her three companions.
Roscoe and Warin glared at each other while Ghost yawned sleepily at the side.
Jason joined Eva. "Are they playing Bravado?"
Eva grunted. "Looks that way."
In the middle of the four, a set of cards lay face up. Eva recognized the layout as one Ollie had tried to explain to her but that she never fully grasped.
What she did understand was that it required both strategy and luck to win.
Brisa inched closer to the players as Ghost picked up a card and put it into his hand.
The humans were careful to keep their eyes locked on each other as they pretended not to notice the mythologicals' fascination.
Eva suspected it wouldn't be long until one of them broke. Not with how Sebastian and Brisa were beginning to crowd them.
Jason snickered as Warin shrunk in on himself, huddling around his hand of cards to avoid Sebastian's breath on the back of his neck.
Brisa scooted closer, sticking her head around Roscoe's shoulder for a closer look at the cards he held.
"This is ridiculous," Roscoe burst out.
"Don't," the woman warned.
Roscoe ignored her, facing Brisa. "Do you want to learn to play?"
Brisa studied him, taking his measure before her gaze drifted to the others. Wordlessly, she nodded.
"That's what I thought." Roscoe reached to swipe the untidy stack of cards waiting face up in the middle.
His hand had just touched one when Warin slammed his hand down. Roscoe tugged, but the cards didn't budge.
"What are you doing?" Warin asked through gritted teeth.
"I could ask you the same thing."
"You know the rules. No touching the pile until the game is over." Warin's eyes were narrowed into threatening slits.
"She will learn better by doing," Roscoe informed him, giving another tug.
"You only want to do this because you're losing."
Roscoe let out a guffaw. "Since when is Lion Clan able to see through cards?"
Warin bared his teeth. "I don't need to see through them. I simply need to read your face to know your hand sucks."
Roscoe gave him a kind smile. "If you were any type of player, you'd know there's no such thing as a losing hand. Only shitty players."
Warin's huff held scorn. "You—"
Roscoe tilted his chin. "What? Afraid to admit I'm right?"
Lion started to lunge forward only to be brought up short as Brisa stuck her head between the two. She peered down at the cards from a distance of only inches.
"I see now. This game is a dominance display. I didn't realize humans had those too. Does the winner get to kill the other?"
The woman from Rain made a small sound as her eyes danced with suppressed humor.
Warin gave the woman a pained look. "Really, Emersyn?"
Emersyn shrugged in apology. "It was funny."
Taking advantage of Warin's distraction, Roscoe yanked the cards out from under his hand. He threw his cards on top before reaching over and grabbing Ghost's to add to the rest.
Emersyn didn't try to stop Roscoe as he reached for hers next. Roscoe added them to his growing pile before watching Warin with an anticipatory look.
"You can keep yours if you want, but the rest of us are getting a new hand."
Warin made a disgusted expression as he flung his cards at Roscoe's face. "Fucking Western Wind clan. You're all dishonest, sneaky assholes."
Ghost leaned his chin on his hand, smirking. "You know what they say—if you're not cheating, you're not trying."
Eva arched an eyebrow at them. Why, oh why, did she have to have friends who thought nothing of providing bad examples of human behavior to impressionable Tenrin?
As if the flock needed any other reason to distrust the Trateri. Yet, here Ghost and Roscoe were showing her the most deceitful sides of themselves.
Jason patted Eva's shoulder with a sympathetic look. "I'll leave you to sort this out."
"What? No longer want to protect me?" Eva asked sarcastically.
Jason took one look at the group and shook his head. "Some tasks are impossible."
Drake's nod was serious. "The trick is recognizing which is which."
Eva glared at the two. "Thanks."
Gawain drifted in their direction, attracted by the commotion. He scanned the small group, interest sparking when he caught sight of Sebastian and Brisa.
"Great. Look what you've done," Warin hissed under his breath.
"Problem?" Gawain eyed the scattered cards and the tense expressions on Roscoe and Warin's faces before focusing on Eva.
Put on the spot, Eva blanked. At a loss as to how to respond, she glanced at the others.
Roscoe shook his head in a minute gesture.
Eva met Gawain's gaze with an innocent expression. "No?"
He made a noncommittal sound, not looking like he believed her. He shot a quick glance at his fellow clan member, raising an eyebrow in question.
Emersyn hesitated before shaking her head.
Gawain nodded, letting the silence deepen. His features settled into contemplative lines as he studied their group.
Eva wasn't fooled for a second into thinking he believed her obvious lie, but she also didn't think he'd make an issue of things.
Tempers tended to flare among the Trateri. Particularly on the dawn of battle.
"Very well then. I'm happy to hear that," Gawain said with a faint smile. "We're about to move soon. I suggest you pack up."
"Understood, clan leader," Warin and Roscoe said at the same time.
Brisa watched events unfold with a fascinated expression, her gaze moving between the Trateri before catching on Gawain.
"Will you be joining us on our journey?" Gawain asked her.
Brisa checked Eva's expression before nodding slowly.
"We look forward to having you." With one last glance at those present, Gawain strode away.