“Oh, I didn’t realize you were busy. I can come back,” Shea offered.
Henry stood, aiming a friendly smile her way. Shea hadn’t realized he was there until now. “Nonsense, our matter is unimportant, and we were almost finished anyway.”
Shea looked at Fallon in question. She really hadn’t meant to interrupt.
He nodded, his face guarded and remote. “Henry’s right. This can be continued later.”
Taking that as their dismissal, the rest of the group filed past Shea and out of the tent. Henry was the last to go. There was a slight hitch to his gait as he moved towards her.
He patted her on the shoulder as he reached her. “He’s a difficult man, but I think you’ll find the rewards worth it in the end.”
Shea gave him a confused look as Henry chuckled and made his exit, leaving Fallon and Shea alone for the first time since their argument.
Fallon busied himself, pouring another glass of wine as Shea moved closer.
“I really am sorry to have interrupted. If I’d known, I would have waited,” Shea said, feeling awkward. She hated the distance she could feel between them, but she didn’t know how to bridge it.
“It’s fine. This is your home too. You should never feel that you have to wait to enter it.”
He poured her a glass of water and slid it her way. She took it and sipped, relishing the cool feeling as it hit her parched throat.
“I hear there’s an all-clan tournament,” she ventured.
He arched an eyebrow. “Do you know why they’re excited for one?”
She shook her head ruefully, “Not a clue. Clark couldn’t wait to tell me, but I have no idea what the hubbub was about.”
Fallon chuckled and Shea felt the weight on her shoulders lighten. “An all-clan is rare. It’s a holdover from when we were divided. When one was called, any clan in attendance declared a truce with the rest of the clans.”
Made sense. No one would want to show up for a tournament if they would face an ambush at the end of it. Of course, with the Trateri, that might have been part of the fun.
“It was a chance to gather and pit their skills against one another without bloodshed.” He thought a moment and then revised that statement. “Without much bloodshed. Now, it’s a way for young warriors to showcase their skills in the hopes of raising their status or securing a position in my elite units. The clans also stake their pride on the outcome.”
“Eamon’s asked Clark and Charles if they would design an event.”
Fallon looked surprised. “That’s a pretty big complement. The organizers are very particular about who they allow to arrange the individual events since all are open to anyone who wishes to compete.”
Shea shrugged. “Clark seemed to be very excited about it.”
“He should be. They don’t let just anyone help. Will you be involved?”
“He seemed to think I would be. Not too sure though.”
His gaze sharpened on her. “Why?”
She lifted one shoulder. “I’ve never been to one of these. I wouldn’t know the first place to start, and shouldn’t the credit go to a Trateri?”
He scowled. “You are Trateri.”
She looked away and shrugged again.
He took a deep breath. “Do your people ever have tournaments like this?”
Shea thought about it. “I don’t think so. They’re mostly focused on training. Once an apprentice passes the last test, they’re assigned to a village or their next posting. It can be years before they circle back to the keep again.” She tilted her head. “Some of the towns have festivals where there are occasional competitions, like who can toss a rock the farthest.”
Shea had never been very interested in attending those, not understanding the interest in comparing whose throw had the longest reach.
“There are events like that, but most test a skill. My favorites have always been hand-to-hand combat or tests of horsemanship.”
Shea would have liked to see him compete in one of those. “And how many of these have you won?”
He gave her a wicked smile. “Every single one.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Every one? Even your first?”
“I’m a legend. Haven’t you heard?”
She snorted. “You’re something all right.”
He had a crafty expression on his face when he asked, “Shall I prove it?”
She tapped her glass with one finger as she considered him.
He leaned forward, setting his wine aside. “Let’s make things even more interesting with a bet. I win, and you owe me a boon.”
“Fine, but turnabout is fair play. If you lose, you owe me one.”
“Deal.” He held his glass out for her to toast.
“Alright, deal.”
They drank to seal the deal.
Fallon finished his with a long gulp. “It’s too bad you’ll be considered an organizer and ineligible to compete. I would have liked to have seen you victorious.”
Shea’s drink went down the wrong pipe kicking off a storm of coughing. “In what event? There’s nothing I could beat the Trateri at.”
“I don’t know. You have shown a surprising resourcefulness over these past few months. I’m sure you could have brought my men to their knees.”
His statement struck her as funny, Shea snorted and threw her head back to laugh. “In what world are you living? Have you not seen me these last few months practicing with Trenton? Last week I nearly fell off my mount. I make toddlers seem skilled.”
He pointed at her with his glass. “You forget these tournaments test more than just skill with a weapon. They’re designed to test your mind and body and mental fortitude. There will be endurance courses, even navigation courses. Also, Trenton is considered elite. You can’t judge your skills by his. Most of my soldiers would have similar difficulties. You are better than you believe.”
“Hm.” Shea wasn’t quite convinced.
“I have faith in you. I will be here to push you until you have the same belief in yourself,” he told her.
She gave him a sideways look before dropping her eyes and taking a sip of her drink. He lifted an arm. She shifted over, turning her back and leaning against him.
Fallon pressed a kiss on the side of her forehead. “My world is grey and cold when you’re not in it.”
“Mine too.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“I STILL think we should be spending this time going over last-minute preparations,” Charles complained.
“Shush your worrying. We’ve already gone through things ten times,” Clark said. “The Warlord is riding. He hasn’t competed in years. This might be our last time seeing him.”
Shea ignored the exchange, watching the contenders on the field. Evidently, Fallon’s inclusion in the race was a bigger deal than she had previously thought. Since news of his entry, the audience for the event had swelled to four times the size of other events.