Cameron said, “Sorry, not yet. The last I heard Rune and Aryal had finished examining the area and were canvassing the camp.”
Niniane nodded and let her head rest against Tiago again. He stroked her silken black hair. He heard footsteps as someone approached. He took Niniane’s shoulders to ease her away, so he could turn to face the tent flap unencumbered.
Just outside, captain Durin said in a quiet voice, “Excuse me, your highness?”
“Yes, Durin, come in,” said Niniane.
Tiago noted with approval as Cameron shifted into a defensive position, mirroring his placement between Niniane and the tent opening. The tent flap lifted, and the Dark Fae male stepped just inside, his expression diffident.
“What is it, captain?” Niniane asked.
“With your approval, ma’am, I would like to set up shifts to guard your tent,” the captain said.
Exhaustion made her slow to react. She looked at Tiago in tired surprise. He said in her head, I approve. You reached out to them, and now they’re claiming you for their own. This is a very good step forward.
She nodded. She said to the captain, “It’s an excellent idea. Work with Tiago to arrange the details. He is responsible for security, and you are to answer to him from now on.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Durin looked at him. “Sir?”
“Keep the shifts short and make sure rations are generous,” Tiago told him. “Everybody’s tired. I don’t expect we’ll be moving now until tomorrow morning. I’ll come by later today to see if there’s anything you need to discuss. That will be all for now, captain.”
“Yes, sir.” Durin bowed his head to Niniane and left.
“Speaking of tired,” Tiago said. He looked at Cameron. “Get some bunk time while you can.”
“Good idea, if you’re sure you don’t need me,” said Cameron. She turned to go.
“No, wait!” Niniane said, her pixie face filled with alarm. She grabbed the other woman’s arm. “Lie down in my bed.”
Cameron’s face softened. “Niniane, you need your bed.”
“I don’t need it any time soon,” she said, her expression turning stubborn. “And I don’t want you going off by yourself.”
Cameron looked at him. He raised his eyebrows and said, “You heard her. Go to bed.”
Cameron’s face creased with exasperated amusement. “Remember, I’ve also heard you two when you argue. I never would have guessed you could present such a united front.”
Niniane smiled at him, and for a moment all the shadows in her eyes had vanished. She said, “We’re learning as we go.”
“And we’re doing a damn-fine job of it,” he added.
“And on that note,” Cameron said. She put an arm around Niniane’s slender shoulders for a quick squeeze. Niniane gave her a quick fierce hug in return, and then Cameron retired to the other part of the tent and they were finally alone.
Tiago walked to the wooden chair where his steaming cup of coffee and the leather-wrapped package waited on the floor. He shrugged off his sword harness, placed the scabbard on the floor then sat and stretched his legs with a grunt. It was a good, sturdy chair of Dark Fae construction, with interlocking parts that could be disassembled for easier transportation. It bore his weight and size well. He approved.
“I have a lap that requires a faerie’s presence,” he remarked to the room in general.
Niniane’s tired face lightened. She approached, and he gathered her up, wrapping his arms around her. She rested her head on his shoulder and let her body go lax with a sigh. He rested his cheek against her soft, fragrant hair.
I have been waiting quite patiently, he said. For which you may compliment me any time you like, but now I want to know what upset you before you went to bed.
He felt the relaxation leave her body. His mood, already not the best, darkened further. His arms tightened.
Silence stretched out. Then she said, “Can we agree that events have been moving at an extraordinary pace?”
He nodded thoughtfully.
“Have we not also agreed that we will trust each other to do our jobs?”
His eyes narrowed. Another nod.
She walked small fingers across his chest. “Shall we consider the possibility that our jobs might also entail assimilating all of these new events and decisions we have made?”
“Yes,” he said between his teeth. “Faerie, you should know I am no longer enamored with this line of reasoning—”
“No arguments,” she ordered. She tapped a finger against his lips. He sighed and pressed a kiss to the admonishing finger. “Perhaps we should then conclude that the troubles I went to bed with may not necessarily be of real concern at this point in time, especially with so many other urgent matters that require our attention.”