“What are you doing here, pathfinder?”
Reece cocked one eyebrow. “It seems you didn’t respond to my note, so I was forced to take matters into my own hands.”
The smile that broke across Fallon’s face was the stuff of nightmares. It was victory and retribution all at once. Reece blanched, looking for a moment like he finally realized the extent of the predicament he was in.
“And are you the same person who left that note on our pillow?” Fallon’s voice was silky. He didn’t move but the space suddenly seemed a lot more cramped.
He didn’t wait for the other man’s assent, springing forward before anyone could react and grabbing Reece by the collar of his shirt. Fallon lifted him half off the ground and shook him. “I need to pay you in kind for that little stunt.”
“Call off your brute, Shea.” Reece glared at Fallon.
“He doesn’t answer to me.”
Reece sneered. “Then what good is he?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I can think of a few things.” Shea’s voice was bored, as if what was taking place in front of her didn’t affect her in the least. That was a lie. Her insides twisted and turned as if she’d swallowed a swarm of snakes.
“I never figured you for the type who was distracted by what was between your legs,” Reece said. “He is handsome, I’ll give you that, but you would have done better with someone a little less in touch with their inner barbarian. Someone more amenable to being led around by his nose.”
The words stung, but Shea didn’t let it show. Reece was the type to key onto what bothered you and then poke and poke until you snapped. Smart man that he was, he usually managed to escape the resulting blast. He’d done similar things to her growing up, while they were mentored under the same pathfinder.
Fallon bared his teeth and lifted Reece higher. The smaller man grimaced and tried to wiggle free. Fallon’s grip didn’t budge.
“I wouldn’t antagonize him if I were you,” Shea told Reece. “I’m not lying when I say he doesn’t answer to me. He can and will snap your neck if it suits him.”
He tossed him at Caden. “Take him into custody. No one is to interrogate him until I get there.”
“Understood.” Caden pulled Reece’s arms behind him and slipped a tie around his wrists, binding him so he couldn’t attack. Shea wanted to point out that Reece would need his arms for the descent to the encampment but kept quiet. They would figure that out themselves soon enough.
Fallon aimed a fierce frown at Eckbert and Ilyra. “Would either of you like to tell me why you provided shelter to one of my enemies?”
“Yes, I would be interested to know that as well,” Van said, his voice gleeful. His look had the anticipation of a predator scenting blood. “I say we skip the explanations and you let me take care of this matter.”
Ilyra blanched ever so slightly and Eckbert drew himself up as tall as his back stooped with age would allow him.
Fallon’s lips tightened, and he seemed to be thinking it over.
“It’s part of their culture,” Shea blurted out. “The forest can be a cold and dark place. For that reason, they extend shelter and guest rights to any who visit. I’ve never heard of them turning a traveler away. If they’d wished to act against you, they never would have presented him at this dinner.”
Shea faced Fallon and Van and kept her expression calm, even if it was the last thing she felt. There was a palpable tension on the air, one so thick that it seemed like the room could explode into violence at any moment. The Anateri, along with the generals, had dropped one hand to the blades at their waist. They eyed their surroundings with a hostility that increased by the minute.
Several of the villagers, hunters if Shea didn’t missed her guess, had adopted similar positions. Out of the corner of her eye she saw movement. Men and women armed with bows and arrows took up position along the edge of the room. A few held spears and knives. They didn’t raise them, but the threat was there.
Shea took a step, placing herself between the two sides. Fallon’s eyes narrowed as he took notice of what she’d done. If either side attacked, she would be caught in the crossfire. Rage sparked to life behind his whiskey colored eyes, and his nostrils flared as he took a deep breath and released it. Just like that, all that anger was hidden, leaving her to deal with the impervious warlord.
She took a deep breath. She didn’t know what she was doing. She just knew she couldn’t stand by while the situation escalated.
“Ilyra, Eckbert, would you like to explain how Reece came to be a visitor here?”
Ilyra’s eyes were careful. She knew the significance of what Shea had done. “He approached our heart late last night and requested guest rights.”
“Your heart?” Fallon’s question was a snap of sound
“It’s what they call the village center that resides in the trunk of the tree,” Shea told Fallon.
“You did not think it suspicious? His arrival so late at night?” Darius asked.
Eckbert shook his head. “We thought nothing of it. The pathfinders have long been visitors of this place and they often show up at odd times.”
“And when he requested an audience with the Hawkvale?” Braden asked.
Eckbert shrugged. “We assumed he was seeking an alliance with your people much as we have. The Telroi was once a pathfinder. It is not outside the realm of possibility that the pathfinders would want to assure themselves of her health. It’s our understanding that they take the continued well-being of their people very seriously no matter how far they stray.”
Shea shifted uncomfortably. That was very true and might have been the case had she not fully aligned herself with the Trateri. Now, she doubted they would shed a tear if she was to meet with an unexpected ending.
“Yes, we had no idea you would have such an extreme reaction to the pathfinder’s presence.” Ilyra managed to sound both mildly reproachful and respectful at the same time.
Fallon studied them under veiled eyes, his expression not giving away any of his thoughts. Shea held her breath.
“Very well,” he said at last. “Your explanation is reasonable. I believe you did not know of our feelings on this particular pathfinder and did not mean any harm in your actions.”
Shea released a breath.
“That still does not negate the fact that a potential enemy got so close. Darius and several of my men will take up residence in your village to keep something of this nature from happening again.”
“Is that really necessary?” Ilyra asked. She seemed concerned at the thought of a squad of Trateri soldiers moving in for the foreseeable future.
“It is as much for your protection as ours. I had not considered the possibility that my enemies might latch on to you as an avenue to infiltrate my ranks or use your home as a platform to launch an attack from above. I will take steps to correct that oversight.”