Fallon’s head turned slowly. He allowed his mask to slip for a moment, letting the burning rage through for just a moment. Indra gulped and lowered herself back into her seat. “Because I said so.”
The meeting wrapped up quickly after that and before long the clan heads, except for Darius, filed out.
“It could have been any of them,” Fallon said, turning his head as Darius took a seat next to him. “Have your men to check into all of them.”
“This would be easier if we could use Henry’s connections to find the traitor.”
“We can’t chance it,” Fallon said. “Not given what the assassin suggested.”
“So the assassin won in the end. He managed to cast doubt upon a staunch ally.”
The cup Fallon held up to his mouth hesitated before Fallon tossed back the contents.
“Work as fast as you can. Van was right in one sense. Sooner or later an assassin is going to get lucky.”
A commotion at the tent’s entrance drew both men’s attention. They looked up to see a dark haired man pushing his way through Fallon’s men.
“Great, how did Cale hear about this?” Darius muttered.
Fallon gave him a warning look. Darius held up a hand and shrugged.
“Brother, I came as soon as I heard,” Cale said, striding across the room.
“Oh? You have good ears,” Darius said, tapping one finger against his thigh.
Cale gave him a cool look and slightly bowed his head in respect. There was no love lost between the two. Cale was jealous of the close relationship Darius shared with Fallon, while Darius felt Cale was a complete waste of space who constantly used his connection with the Warlord to make his life easier.
“As you can see, the attempt was unsuccessful,” Fallon said.
“Have you caught the parties responsible? They should all be given the traitor’s reward,” Cale said heatedly.
“Yes, well, when they’re caught I’m sure you’ll be first in line to give them that reward,” Darius said sarcastically.
It was well known that Cale liked to attend such events. A bloodthirsty man, he tended to take advantage of those in weakened states.
“I thank you for your concern, but we have much to discuss. You should retire for the night. I’m sure Henry will have much for you to do tomorrow,” Fallon said in dismissal.
“I would be a horrible brother to let a little missed sleep keep me from your side. I wouldn’t want you to have to rely on the loyalties of others in this dark time. After all, family can always be counted on,” Cale said with a sidelong glance at Darius.
“And what assistance might you provide? You don’t know the first thing about such things,” Darius said.
Fallon interrupted before the discussion could degenerate any further. It would not be the first time a shouting match had erupted between the two. He’d hoped placing Cale under Darius’ command several months prior would help to reconcile the two or at least make them less antagonistic, but it had only seemed to worsen their relationship. Each man had his strengths, but both refused to see any good in the other.
“Enough,” Fallon said. “I am tired and would like to see my bed before the sun rises. Cale, thank you for the offer, but Darius has experience in such matters and is as close to me as you. I have no reservations about his loyalty and would thank you not to question it again.”
Cale face reflected anger for a moment before it smoothed back into a pleasant expression. He bowed his head and said, “As you wish, brother.”
He turned and left.
Darius leaned his head against his hand as he watched him go. “It is interesting that he knew of the assassination attempt so soon after. It makes one wonder where he came by the information considering my men were under orders not to share news of the attempt with anyone.”
Fallon stared after his half-brother, his face lost in thought. “It does make one wonder. Keep an eye on him just in case.”
Darius lifted his head and gave Fallon a penetrating stare, “You think he might be involved?”
“It would not be the first time a close family member has plotted against a Warlord.”
Darius nodded, knowing that was how Fallon’s grandfather lost his life.
“As you will.”
“Hot food, showers, maybe even a clean change of clothes.” Buck leaned his head back and rolled his eyes in imagined bliss.
“I can practically taste the stew already,” Eamon said, smacking his lips.
Shea snorted as she steered her horse onto safer ground. Every time they returned to the main camp all they wanted to talk about was what they would do first.
Assigned to a supply party tasked with gathering the monthly tithes, the three had just finished guiding their charges to the three villages on their route. Now they were heading back to the main Trateri camp, also known as home.
Despite the bitching that had followed their orders, they’d rather enjoyed their time on what scouts considered light duty. Though the terrain was still rough, the villages rarely put up any fight and every one of them was clearly marked on a map. It was easier than a lot of the mapping missions they drew, but it was also considered bitch work since there was little to no glory to be had.
“This time you’re getting a shower if I have to throw you in myself,” Buck groused at Shea.
She stuck her tongue out at him. He was only half joking. Though she ensured she stayed as clean as possible, the others had begun to notice that when it came time to bath or whip out their dicks to take a piss, Shea was always conspicuously absent. She found ways to take care of business later when no one was around. She’d been doing it so long that for the most part they chalked up her shyness to a Lowlander thing. They were beginning to push, though. The Trateri didn’t have the same body consciousness that Lowlanders did and often bathed in open showers or in streams.
“I’m in no hurry to get a look at your damn dicks,” Shea told him.
“But they’re such fine dicks, Shane.”
“Fine they may be, but I prefer a little privacy in my bath.”
“Why? Do you need a little alone time to jack off? You know if you use your hand too much it’ll just make what’s between your legs fall off.”
“I think you might want to take your own advice, Buck. Maybe there’s a nice village girl somewhere out there who can give your nether regions a bit of attention.” Eamon grinned.
Buck’s nose wrinkled in disgust, and his mouth pursed as if it had just bitten into something sour. “A Lowlander girl? Impossible. I’d break her in half. These Lowlanders are just too frail. If she got anywhere near my cock, she’d faint dead away.”
“Wow,” Shea said shaking her head in disbelief. “That’s quite an ego you have there.”
“It’s the truth. Lowlanders have twigs between their legs.” He shot her a sly grin. “Why else would you be afraid to shower with us?”
“That’s it,” Shea said dryly. “That’s the reason right there.”
The past month and a half had been an eye opening experience for Shea as she settled into the team. On the Hawkvale’s recommendation, Eamon had been given his own scouting team and made Shea his permanent second. She thought that might cause problems with new members who were older and thought they had more experience, but Buck was quick to set any newbie straight. He did that by beating them to a pulp the first time they challenged her authority. She reinforced it by ensuring that person got all the worst jobs like digging the trenches for waste.