For reasons that were a mystery even to her, she hadn’t escaped after that first mission but had instead guided her team back to the base camp.
Every night Shea had promised herself she would leave, but she put off her escape night after night as they got closer to camp. That last night she’d risen with every intention of leaving, but Eamon had woken as well, making it impossible to sneak off. She pretended that she needed to do a perimeter check. By the time Eamon settled into sleep, Buck was up and ready for his watch. The night continued like that until dawn arrived, and her chance was gone.
Now, nearly a month and a half later she was still with them. Every time she thought about slipping away and heading home something stopped her. Camaraderie and companionship bound her to them more effectively than Fallon’s chains.
Besides, what better place to hide out than under her enemy’s very nose? After her escape no one would ever think she would be dumb enough to return. If they were still searching for her, they’d focus on the roads to the north. Maybe even return to Goodwin of Ria to see if she went there. No, she felt pretty safe masquerading as a boy in Fallon’s own army.
“When will we get there?” Cale, the expedition leader for the supply train, barked as he rode up beside them. Shea remembered him from Goodwin of Ria and was grateful he didn’t recognize her. He hadn’t given her a good feeling in the last meeting. He was well on his way to providing an even worse one on this encounter.
He had a sharp beak for a nose and very pronounced eyebrows. He wasn’t soft, none of the Trateri were, but he was softer than the soldiers Shea was used to seeing, lacking that chiseled edge of lethality most carried. The only thing that saved him was the scar on his neck and his well-muscled body. Despite that scar, he would be considered handsome by most. For Shea, he seemed too put together. Despite being on the trail, he spent an hour every morning attending to his appearance.
“We were supposed to arrive hours ago,” he said.
Buck rolled his eyes where Cale couldn’t see him and mouthed the last sentence mockingly. Shea bit her lip and looked down trying to contain the smile threatening to break out. The man said something similar every time they got close to a village. They had come to expect it and could practically repeat the conversation verbatim now.
“We’re closer to camp than you think. Probably just a day or two more,” Eamon said.
Cale looked up at the ridgeline and sniffed. He’d already made the argument that they should just go over it and was shot down by Eamon courtesy of Shea. It was one of the reasons the trip was taking longer than expected. They had to detour around several hills to find land that could support a wagon.
Despite Cale’s expectations, it wouldn’t have been faster to go over. The climb would take just as long because of the steep grade. Their breaks would have to double, and they’d most likely have had to leave the wagons and horses behind as the steepness meant they wouldn’t be able to make the climb.
“Is there anything else?” Eamon tilted his head expectantly when Cale didn’t move.
“I plan to bring your insubordination and general bad attitude to the attention of your superiors,” Cale said vehemently.
“In that case, you’ll want to make sure your concerns are sent directly to Mathias. He’s the one who deals with issues of this nature. If you give it to Thomas or William, they’ll forget all about it as soon as you’re gone,” Buck told him helpfully.
“You think this is funny?” Cale’s lips twisted angrily. “I’ve heard about you three and that your captain doesn’t think much of you. After I get done with you, you won’t be fit to wear the green. Maybe they’ll even put you on the frontlines with the rest of the throwaways.”
“Sir, I’ll thank you not to threaten my men.” Eamon’s eyes had gone flinty. “I am the scout master for this expedition, and you agreed upon this route. If you have a problem, I will not stop you from raising your concerns with my superiors, but you will not speak to my men like that again.” His lips parted in a nasty smile. “They don’t like that, you see. Shane, there, has delicate feelings and when he’s out of sorts he makes mistakes. Don’t you, boy.”
Shea startled and did her best to appear delicate, lowering her eyes before nodding slightly.
Buck said seriously, or as seriously as he could with his lips twitching. “You never want your scout upset, sir. They might lead you into a jagger nest or a revenant’s den.”
Cale gave them a look of disdain before pulling hard on his reins and riding back the way he’d come. Not many chanced pissing their scouts off for exactly the reasons Buck just explained. Out here in the wilderness there were few rules and it was terrifyingly simple to get away with murder. Beasts were so prevalent that either scenario would be plausible and unquestioned. Cale wasn’t all that intelligent to threaten them out in the open.
“Gods save me from having deal with the lazy scut ever again,” Buck muttered.
“Watch it, friend,” Eamon warned. “Lazy and useless he might be, but his brother is the most powerful man in the army.”
Buck spat to the side. “Half-brother. Hawkvale would do well to force him to make his own way in the world rather than letting him ride on his coat tails.”
“He’s related to Hawkvale?” She would never have guessed. The two couldn’t have been more different. They looked and acted nothing alike.
“They’re half-brothers,” Phillip said, riding up.
A new addition to the team, he was on his first mission with the three. Shea didn’t trust him. He asked too many questions and saw too much. She had to constantly be on her guard. Though he made her suspicious nature run rampant, he was also one of the best trackers she had ever seen.
She could tell the other two weren’t sure of him either. They were polite, but there was none of the normal easy joking.
“Either way, just watch yourself,” Eamon cautioned Buck, “You never know who is listening.”
Both were careful not to look at Phillip, but it was clear they wanted to change the subject when Buck said, “What kind of expression was that, Shane?”
“Hey! What the hell?” Shea raised a hand to her head. “I was trying to look delicate and frail.”
Buck hooted and cackled. “Delicate? You looked like you were about to take a dump.”
“I did not.”
Eamon roared in laughter. “Yes. Yes, you did. I thought I was going to fall off my horse trying not to laugh.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Shea muttered, spurring her horse to move faster. “That was my delicate look.”
The two just roared louder as Shea cantered away. Rounding the bend, Shea shook her head. Something she had learned over the years, men could be immature regardless of age.
Chapter Fourteen
“Whoa, halt.”
“Again?” Phillip muttered, pulling on the reins.
Shea stood in her stirrups, craning her head to see around the supply wagon in front of them. It was their turn to pull rear guard while Eamon and Buck scouted in front.
“I’ll ride up and see what’s taking so long,” she told him.