"Hard to do that when your head isn't attached to your body," Caden told him.
If they'd remained, their options would have been a lot more limited. In a pitched battle, the Trateri were at a disadvantage.
They needed to use the terrain to create an opportunity to turn the tide. Limit the other army's movements in such a way that their greater numbers were rendered unimportant.
Staying mobile allowed them to whittle down their enemy's ranks in rare moments of vulnerability. Staying still meant death.
Only now, moving forward could result in the same.
"I know, but I don't have to like the situation," Reece grumbled.
"Find us a place where we can wait out the storm then complain to me," Caden told him.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Reece said, touching his heels to his horse and riding ahead.
"Only it seems you did," Van complained.
Caden's lips twitched before he suppressed his amusement, knowing Van needed no encouragement.
It was one thing for the clan leader to voice his unhappiness. Another thing if Reece decided to take it as an insult.
Van squeezed his horse's sides in a sign to move forward. "I'm beginning to think all pathfinders are prone to complaining about the things that can't be changed."
Caden made a thoughtful face. They did seem to have that tendency.
"Let's see how you act when you've been in these lands a little longer. Learn all the ways you can die and then tell me I’m being paranoid," Reece called over his shoulder.
Van mocked the other man silently.
Caden ignored him, looking over their back trail. The Trateri were spread out over nearly two miles of terrain, moving as quickly as they safely could.
Gawain and Chirron were not far behind the advance party. Way at the back, almost indistinguishable from the rest if not for the bright gray of Caia's coat and her own blond braid, rode Eva.
Not far from her position were two other figures Caden assumed were Drake and Jason.
The group was farther behind than Caden was comfortable with, moving slowly with a string of backup mounts.
Caden's gaze swung toward their fore trail, empty now that Reece had followed the curve of the canyon out of sight.
The drumbeat of hooves announced Fiona and Roscoe's arrival as they traveled down the line, bypassing riders.
The two lifted their chins in greeting as they arrived next to Caden and Van.
"We taking a break?" Fiona asked, shooting a considering look at the sky.
Written in her expression was how bad an idea she thought that was.
"No, the pathfinder is too afraid of drowning," Van answered for Caden.
"You're fucking hilarious." Reece's voice echoed off the canyon walls; the direction impossible to pin down with all the echoing.
Van bristled, his hand reaching for a weapon as he looked around him in confusion. "Where are you?"
"Can't you guess? A big, capable warrior like you? Or is the healer right and your big head is filled with nothing but violence?" Reece called.
Van squinted at the canyon walls in bewilderment as Fiona and Roscoe traded a smirk.
The clan leader's face darkened as he urged his mount forward. Caden followed, already knowing what to expect.
Sure enough, as soon as they turned the corner the canyon doubled back on itself before abruptly widening.
Reece and his horse stood on top of a stone abutment with a wicked grin on his face. "Surprised?"
Van relaxed into his saddle. "Not particularly. It's a paltry trick. Nothing else."
Reece guided his horse back to the ground. "You're right about that. Canyon's echo. Maybe remember that."
Fiona raised her eyebrows at them. "Did I miss something?"
Van sneered. "Only the pathfinder expressing his worry about our current situation."
"If you'd ever been caught in a flood, you would be too," Reece defended.
"Ah ha," Fiona drawled.
"Any news?" Caden asked.
Roscoe was the first to answer. "Buck spotted a couple of their scouts a few miles back. They've discovered our trail."
"It won't be hard for them to track us from here on out. There's not too many ways people can go out here," Reece said.
"The countdown has begun," Caden said, his gaze toward Caia and her rider.
Fiona, Van, and Roscoe traded looks. Far from the fear you'd expect to see, there was only excitement.
Van exhaled and rolled his shoulders, practically quivering with anticipation.
A thrill stole through Caden. Along with an adrenaline rush that made him feel alive.
It was a feeling he'd almost forgotten after all this time. Then something happened, and he was reminded all over again of how different he was from normal people.
"Storm might change things," Fiona noted with a nod at the dark clouds.
"We'll adjust," Caden responded.
"That we will," Fiona agreed.
Roscoe let out a whoop.
Reece jerked away from the other man and scowled. "Didn't I just demonstrate how this place echoes? For people wanting to move like ghosts across the land, you're not doing a good job of it."
"For a ghost of a Trateri, we're right on the mark," Roscoe said.
Reece flapped a hand at the man before focusing on Caden. "Trail continues for quite a ways. There's no guarantee there is an exit until I travel it's length."
"How long would that take?" Van asked.
Reece gave a negligent shrug. "Hours. Days. Depends on how far it goes."
“What about the Kyren? He could fly over this place and have it mapped out in an hour,” Gawain suggested.
“The only person Sebastian listens to is Eva. Unless we’re comfortable sending her out there with him—” Fiona trailed off.
Caden shook his head. “Not an option.”
For more than one reason.
Eva wasn’t a warrior. Nor was she a scout or a pathfinder. She didn’t have the skills necessary for such a task. If anything happened, she’d be on her own. While she wasn’t defenseless, Caden wasn’t willing to risk it.
“The enemy is probably hoping we do exactly that,” Reece said. “From the air, the Kyren would be easy to spot. They’d be able to guess our location.”
That was Caden’s concern too.
Van made a face. “This entire thing would be easier if we could make use of the tools in our arsenal.”
“Maybe it’s that kind of thinking that led to the current state of events,” Gawain returned.
“Sebastian is only here because of Eva. Asking him to intercede would only confirm the Kyrens’ belief that we’re not worthy,” Caden said.
Besides, if worse came to worst, Caden planned to have Sebastian fly Eva to safety. In Caden’s mind, that was a far more valuable use of his presence than using him as a scout.
“For now, we proceed as usual,” Caden said before focusing on Reece. “I want your opinion on whether we continue on this route or not.”
If he let him, Reece would waffle and waver until the end of time. Just like Shea. The pathfinder wouldn't want the responsibility of what could happen if there was no exit.
Caden didn't blame him, but he still needed a decision. Of them, Reece had the most experience in terrain like this. His guess would have the best chance of success.