If Buck was disappointed Eamon didn’t answer his unspoken question, he didn’t show it. He pointed back up the slope and said, “We left them up there. It shouldn’t be too hard to retrieve them and then meet you on the trail.”
“Do that. Catch up when you can.”
Until now, Shea had thought Eamon trusted his men implicitly. It was something he’d harped on to the point of annoyance when she first joined up with them. It didn’t sit well now that he wished to keep Fallon’s identity a secret even from those who’d always had his back.
Over his shoulder, he told Shea, “Stay close and don’t stop for anything.”
“I don’t suppose-” she began wistfully, eyeing Buck and Phillip.
“No.”
She grumbled to herself and pulled faces in the dark. He hadn’t even let her finish her question.
Sensing something was off, Buck asked, “What’s up with Shane?”
“Don’t ask. Shane, follow me and stop asking to trade companions,” Eamon hissed.
“Fine.”
She didn’t see why Phillip or Buck couldn’t take her place. One rider was the same as the other. At least they were passable with a blade and could defend their passenger if need be.
Airing her grievances became impossible as Eamon tore down the trail, Shea following close behind. They couldn’t travel too fast for fear of dislodging Shea’s unconscious passenger, but the pace was faster than before.
For the most part, she kept her eyes focused on the rump of Eamon’s horse as he led the way. As she was usually point, this wasn’t a role she was unaccustomed to. He probably didn’t trust her, which was totally unfair. So she’d been a little argumentative after exposure to the webs. That didn’t mean she couldn’t navigate. Hell, there had never been a time when she couldn’t find her way from point A to point B. She could be on her deathbed and still be able to lead an expedition into the wilderness. His suspicion was totally unwarranted.
“Eamon,” Shea shouted, finally noticing his passenger swaying dangerously. “Secure your man.”
Eamon reached behind him, saying sharply, “Stay awake.”
The man jolted upright and looked around.
“Stay awake. The last thing we need is for you to fall off. We didn’t save you from the spinners only to have you break your neck on the way back to camp,” Eamon warned.
The man nodded wordlessly and straightened in an attempt to stay more alert.
“Shane-“
“I know,” Shea interrupted. “Keep an eye on him. I will.”
After the close call with his passenger, Eamon slowed the pace a little, which was for the best as the terrain became rougher.
She felt slightly more herself as two large forms approached, traveling fast enough to overtake Shea and Eamon. One of their horses neighed a greeting, and Shea’s horse answered by snorting loudly.
Buck rode past to take up position on Eamon’s flank while Phillip did the same with Shea. There wasn’t much conversation as they continued in grim silence, pushing their horses harder once the other two had caught up.
Hours later the camp’s many fires and torches lit up the sky, creating a halo effect against the mountains. Eamon pushed the group even faster and, with a grimace, Shea leaned forward to urge her horse to keep pace.
Reaching their destination’s edge, they paused only long enough to answer the sentry’s challenge question before riding directly for the heart of camp, not stopping for anything.
Even though it was well past midnight, the camp was filled with a frenetic energy as men moved quickly through the open spaces between tents. With the amount of people moving around, Shea doubted anybody was left in bed.
Heads turned to stare as they made their way through. Only a few at first and then more as others caught sight of the person draped over Shea’s horse. She fought to keep her expression bland as a man did a double take and then shot a horrified glare at her.
Eamon rode directly for Fallon’s personal tent. Because Shea was following him, she rode that way too, feeling a sense of déjà vu.
No matter how many times the camp moved, it was always configured in the same way. When Shea had first been brought to the encampment from Goodwin of Ria so many months ago, she’d been chained to a post in this same grouping of tents. What she hadn’t known then was that Fallon’s tent was the big one right next to Darius’s.
Now, despite everything she had done to hide herself right under Fallon’s nose, here she was, back where she had started.
Men converged on their group, spilling out of the surrounding tents as word reached them that Fallon was alive and needed help. Rough hands reached up to jerk him down, and Shea pulled hard on the reins causing her horse to shy away.
The two men trying to take him swore at her and reached for him again. Shea knocked them back, baring her teeth and glaring. She knew it was useless unless she drew a weapon, even as the men geared up to grab for Fallon again.
Eamon’s horse was suddenly between them and her, and his roar caused the chaos to grind to a halt. “Enough! Hawkvale is seriously injured and doesn’t need you lot jerking him around.”
Buck quickly flanked them, his hand dropping to his weapon as he eyed the soldiers nervously. He looked worried but nevertheless took Eamon’s back.
“Then give him to us so we can get him to a healer,” a sharp faced man with a flat nose shouted back.
“We won’t release him to any but Darius or a healer,” Eamon said tersely.
“Are you insane, man? We’re his personal guard.”
Shea started eyeing the possible escape routes, mentally analyzing the quickest path out of camp just in case a fight erupted. She had done it once before and that time she didn’t have a horse or knowledge of the area.
Fallon’s guards outranked Eamon and under normal circumstances an order from them within the boundaries of camp would be undisputed. Because of the suspected betrayal that had led to Fallon falling prey to the spinners, they didn’t have the luxury of trusting blindly. Someone, or several someone’s, had betrayed Fallon.
Whether Shea liked him or not, his death would have devastating consequences for not only the Trateri but the rest of the Lowlands as well.
When Eamon refused, Caden, having arrived just moments ago, said in a low voice, “Scout, do you know who we are? Think carefully because the wrong answer will see you dead.”
Eamon’s voice was respectful but firm when he said, “I’m aware, but I still can’t give him to you. He can’t protect himself right now.”
The meaning behind Eamon’s words registered with the man, and he was quiet as thoughts turned behind his eyes. His glance flickered to where Shea was poised to run before returning to Eamon.
“I understand your intentions, but you’re wrong. We’re his personal guard. We were chosen specifically by him for our loyalty and abilities. Not one man under my command would harm a hair on his head, and each would gladly die for him.”
“Loyalty can change,” Eamon said softly.
Holding Eamon’s eyes, the man nodded slowly. “It can, but not for us. Now, I’m willing to overlook your accusations since you’ve been out all night searching for him and judging from your actions have seen some things that don’t sit well with you. But, you will give him to us.”