His gaze followed hers. Understanding dawned on his face.
He got it. Good. Took him long enough. Shea spun and continued on, not looking at anyone as her strides ate up the ground. She made no attempt to move quietly, rather liking the heavy thunk of her feet hitting wood. It made a nice accompaniment to her anger.
She’d always been a private person, or as private as you could be when half your life was spent on the trail with other people. There wasn’t a lot of physical privacy to be had out in the wilds, but she managed for the most part. The thought that the Anateri had heard Fallon and Shea in the middle of sex, or even worse, that they had heard any of the conversation afterward was enough to send Shea’s blood boiling.
The worst part was she should have known better. Fallon hadn’t hidden the presence the Anateri had in his life. They went everywhere he did, but while in camp their presence wasn’t quite as apparent. They were rarely in Fallon and Shea’s quarters, and when they were out and about, they could easily be lumped in with the rest of the Trateri.
So yes, she was pissed at herself just as much as she was pissed at Fallon. It didn’t help that the conversation last night hadn’t had the outcome that she wanted, matters left unresolved. Again.
They were quiet on the journey through the twisting pathways of the treetop roads, Fallon content to let Shea have her way in this. The trip took a lot less time coming back than it had going, the two of them less willing to get distracted by the sights. They moved with purpose, and before long, the village came into view.
One of the elders waited on the branch leading into the village. He looked nearly as old as the tree behind him, his hair thin and pulled back in a dozen different braids. His face was wrinkled and gnarled like a tree, his skin almost the color of bark. His clothes were a bright splash of color, like the only flower in a meadow. He held a walking stick that he leaned on for balance.
“I see you showed your man our oasis,” the elder said to Shea, his eyes sharp and knowledgeable in that old face.
“Yes, I thought he would appreciate it at nighttime.”
“And what did you think of our little friends’ home?”
Fallon was respectful of the older man, but not so much that it wasn’t clear who was in charge. “I’ve never seen the like in all my travels. I will take the sight of your oasis at night to my grave.”
The elder gave a gap-toothed smile full of innuendo—something hard to do when he was missing more than one tooth. “That place has a reputation among our village. A lot of babies have been born nine months after their parents have taken a dip in that water and spent the night under the fairy lights. A child conceived there is said to be touched by the gods.”
Shea’s cheeks caught flame as the Anateri suddenly found anywhere else to look. Fallon’s eyes swung to hers, amusement in them. She hadn’t known that. The elder hadn’t bothered explaining that when he told her about the place last week. Why couldn’t he have explained that little myth? And why did he choose now to reveal it?
“Is that right?” Fallon’s arm slid around Shea’s shoulders and he tugged her into his side. “We would welcome such an occurrence.”
Shea’s gaze shot up, a warning in her eyes. They were in no way ready for a child. They hadn’t even finished settling their differences, too much was up in the air to even consider such a big step.
His face was thoughtful and considering as if the idea was not an unwelcome one. Shea’s eyes widened and she shook her head at him. Nope. Not happening. Not any time soon. Besides them as a couple not being ready, she doubted she was. Not for the responsibility that such a tiny existence presented.
Fallon had brought it up in passing before, and Shea had been content to let it go with minimal protest, thinking that it was some theoretical future child. If the look on Fallon’s face was anything to judge by, it was not quite so theoretical to him.
She made a note to bring up later the fact that she took an herbal supplement that made pregnancy very unlikely. It was a common herb in both the Highlands and Lowlands. All female pathfinders were taught how to recognize and prepare the herb to prevent pregnancy. Fallon might want children, but unless she stopped taking the herb, it wasn’t happening.
“Elder Eckbert is the one who requested we summon you, Fallon,” Caden said in a respectful tone of voice.
Fallon nodded and looked at the elder with a questioning look. “Is that right? What is it that you wish to speak with me about?”
Eckbert cackled. “It is, though if I’d known where you two were I would have delayed a few more hours.”
Shea shifted again, silently cursing the fact that she’d ever wanted to take Fallon to that oasis. If she’d known everybody in the Forest of the Giants was going to comment and speculate on her and Fallon’s whereabouts, she would have never given them anything to talk about.
“We’re here now. You might as well speak of your concern.”
“Very well.” Eckbert narrowed his eyes on Fallon. “My people tell me you’re taking fifty of our men.”
Shea stiffened at Fallon’s side, instantly on guard. The Trateri took honor very seriously. If you did anything to impinge on that honor, they reacted with decisive force, usually in the form of violence. While they had an odd respect for those who fought and lost in battle, they had only loathing for those who signed and then broke a treaty. The consequences of such an action often resulted in complete destruction of the village. Any survivors would be enslaved and divvied out among the clans.
Eckbert’s village had already agreed to the treaty. If they tried to go back on their word, Shea feared what might happen to them.
“That is the number that was agreed upon when you signed the treaty. Are you saying that you’re unable to meet these terms?” Fallon’s voice was calm, not giving any hint to his thoughts.
Shea looked up at him in concern, noting the suddenly alertness on his face, like that of a wolf that had just scented prey. His body was tense where it touched hers. She liked these people and didn’t want to see them end, not when it was her stories that had led the Trateri to them.
His hold tightened on her and his eyes dropped to hers in warning. Her mouth thinned, but she kept her council. For now.
Eckbert waved his hand. “Bah, of course we can. That’s not the problem. I want to know why you’re not taking more of our hunters. I can easily give you double that.”
The response was met with a long silence. Fallon blinked at Eckbert in a rare moment of surprise. Caden and the other Anateri studied the other man with undisguised curiosity.