It was over.
Sebastian spun, lifting his tail and shitting on the body.
"Is that really necessary?" Eva asked.
It felt like it. Yes.
"I will never understand you," Eva said.
You don't need to. You simply need to accept my greatness.
Eva made a derisive sound as Caden and Sebastian rode toward her.
Eva aimed a tired smile at Caden. "I had a feeling you'd come."
"Do you remember that time you said you feared I'd be bored not serving the Warlord?" Caden asked in a carefully controlled voice.
Eva paused. She did remember that conversation. It had happened just after he told her he planned to follow her to the herd lands.
She'd worried her life wouldn't have enough action in it for a warrior of Caden's caliber.
"In the future, I would like that boredom you promised me."
Caden's gaze was that of a man who'd been through hell and back. Who'd faced the demons that haunted his soul and fought them to a standstill.
Eva's expression softened. "I'll see what I can do."
Caden face relaxed somewhat as he looked around. "What is this place?"
Sebastian pranced under Caden as he shook his head to send his mane flying. We're in the ancestral lands. I never thought I'd stand here in real life. I've only seen it in dreams. It's so much more than I ever expected.
Caden's gaze dropped to the back of Sebastian's head as thoughts moved across his face. Eva didn’t comment on his odd expression. There were more pressing matters to address.
"I want an explanation," Eva told Orion.
Oh?
"I think I'm entitled to one, don't you?"
It wasn't that she believed everything the Whisperer had said, but there was enough truth in his words to raise questions.
That was how he caught his victims. By wielding the truth and twisting it just slightly. Enough to cause doubt.
"Was all this just so I could kill your enemy? Being named the Caller? This alliance?"
Had it all been a ruse to draw the Whisperer out of his hiding place?
Eva was tense as she waited for Orion's answer. She didn't know what she expected, but the truth would be nice.
Even if that truth wasn't one she wanted to hear.
No. Orion answered after what felt like an eternity. You were named Caller because that's what you are.
Eva held her breath, not quite sure whether she believed him or not.
She wanted to. More than anything, but there was this sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that said he'd been using her this entire time.
All Callers go through trials. This was yours.
Eva lifted her chin. "And did I pass this trial?"
Amusement touched her. Yes.
Eva didn't know if that was enough. People had gotten hurt because of the Kyren. Many of whom she cared about. Others had died.
Orion started to turn and then paused. You've seen the result when the Kyren accept a Caller too easily. The Whisperer wasn't always the way he was now. There are stories of him from before that make it hard to believe what he became. Treat this as a cautionary tale of what happens when you lose yourself.
Part of Eva understood their caution.
What the Whisperer became would be a mental scar she carried with her for the rest of her life. Influencing every future decision for fear she'd follow his path.
Then there was this place.
She could feel the power in it. The changes it could so easily bring.
Already, their short time here was affecting them. Making each one of them a little bit stronger. She could see why it was so necessary to be careful of those you allowed to reach it.
Eva sighed, knowing the issue was more complicated than a few short words could untangle.
"What about the alliance?" she asked.
It will resume. This incident has proven they are not like other humans.
"Do you really think they will trust you after this? Some will argue you abandoned them."
And they'd be right.
Did we?
Eva's expression reflected her confusion.
Perhaps you should talk to your lover. Orion looked at Caden before walking away, his body fading from view.
Eva shook her head. "How did he do that?"
As the Herd Lord, he has a permanent connection to the ancestral lands. Like the rest of the Kyren, he can only visit in body at the Caller’s behest. His spirit, however, can come and go as he pleases.
Eva watched Caden carefully. "What did he mean about the Kyren not abandoning the Trateri?"
Caden looked preoccupied, distracted by their surroundings.
It was only after several seconds that he focused on Eva. "Exactly what he said. We were losing when the Kyren helped turn the tide of battle.”
Eva stared, not sure she'd heard correctly.
The Kyren had seemed pretty determined to break relations. Even if a few had disagreed, Eva wasn't sure it was enough to compel them to help when the Trateri needed them.
Caden's faint smile warmed his eyes. "A lot of it has to do with your apprentice and that Tenrin."
"Jason and Brisa?"
It wasn't that she doubted Jason. If she had to choose, he'd be the one she trusted to show the Kyren what humans were capable of.
He had a unique strength. It went beyond his physical capabilities to the very core of his personality. He was one of the few able to admit his wrongs and change his viewpoints when someone showed him the way.
What's more, courage formed the bedrock of his personality.
The Kyren would appreciate that, if nothing else.
It also helped that the man was as stubborn in his own way as Eva.
"It seems all that the Kyren and the Tenrin needed was a push in the right direction and a sacrifice on their Caller’s part."
Eva winced. "Jason told you."
She'd known Caden would be unhappy when he found out she’d sent Jason and Brisa to safety while she acted as a decoy.
"I heard a little." His dour tone showed how much he disapproved.
In his place, Eva would have felt the same. To know the person who held your heart allowed themselves to be taken by the enemy on purpose?
Yeah. It would take a long time for the sting of that to fade.
"I hope you will not do that again," Caden said, bending a look on her.
Eva attempted a smile. "Me too."
There couldn't be too many more close scrapes with danger before her luck finally ran out. It was best not to tempt fate.
Caden held out a hand to her. "Come. It's time to return."
Eva hesitated, taking one last look at the ancestral lands. A part of her wanted to linger. To stay here where the land and air welcomed her.
Sebastian lipped the hand that still held the ring. You can come back. It's not an either-or. The axis will allow you to come and go whenever you wish.
Eva opened her fist to see the ring lying cold and inert in her hand. "Why was the Whisperer so surprised to see Caden?"
In the heat of the moment, it had barely registered with Eva, but now it was all she could think about.
Sebastian looked uncertain. You should speak with your protector regarding that.
Eva's gaze drifted to Caden, having a feeling she already knew.
When the Kyren had brought Caden back from the brink of death, they'd changed him. She just hadn't known how until right this second. Whatever they'd done, Caden was no longer fully human. Just what he was, Eva didn't know. At least not all of it.