“We got separated after someone shot an arrow at us.”
Fallon’s attention swung back to Shea. His body went from relaxed against hers, to hard as granite. His gaze swung to the forest around them, taking on a watchful look.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet before setting off into the woods with her towed behind him. One hand rested on the long dagger at his waist.
“How long ago was this?”
Shea tried to think. Time had gotten away from her while she’d been playing cat and mouse. “An hour maybe. I’m not sure.”
“Did you see them?”
Shea winced as his words reminded her of the last time she’d seen those two. With sleeper vines wrapped around them, screaming in pain and fear.
“You could say that.”
His stride didn’t hesitate, covering the forest floor quickly. Shea kept up easily. He still hadn’t let go of her hand.
“They’re probably dead right now. They followed me into a nest of sleeper vines. I don’t think they made it out.” Because of Shea.
“Good.” Fallon’s words were curt as they moved through the forest at a quick clip. “That saves me from having to kill them. When we get back, you can give us a general idea of where you left them, and I’ll send some men to retrieve their remains if there are any. It would have been nice to be able to interrogate them.”
Shea’s reply was faint when it came. “I’ll endeavor to remember that next time.”
Fallon looked back and flashed her an amused look. “You do that, and Darius will worship at your feet.”
“What every girl dreams of.”
“More women than I can count have expressed that desire,” Fallon said. “He’s considered one of the best catches in my army by man or woman.”
“No wonder he’s so arrogant,” Shea said. She was beginning to feel better. Stronger and less shaky. She felt more herself again.
If she remembered correctly, they were close to where Clark and she had stashed the tools to make the beast tracks. They shouldn’t be more than a few minutes from the field where the game had started.
They entered the clearing at a near run. Several of Fallon’s Anateri, including Caden, waited in a clump next to the table of refreshments that had been set up for the end of the game. Trenton was among them, his clothes disheveled and stained with dirt and blood. He had a bandage wrapped around one arm.
The Anateri were armed and looked like they were organizing a search party.
Fallon hailed them as he and Shea came out of the forest. Caden whistled and his men surrounded them, providing a barrier. Anyone attempting to shoot an arrow would not find Shea an easy target.
“Get men into the forest to perform a search,” Fallon ordered as soon as he was in hearing distance of Caden. “Shea said her attackers disturbed a nest of sleeper vines, but there may have been others. I want everyone still out there rounded up and questioned.”
Caden turned and made a few gestures to his men.
Trenton stood straight, relief in his eyes at the sight of Shea. “When I realized we’d been separated, I returned to organize a search. It’s my fault she was in danger. I’ll accept any punishment you deem fit.”
Shea rolled her eyes. The gods save her from arrogant nitwits who wanted to fall on their swords.
Trenton saw her and frowned, his expression stern.
“Oh please, you were in no way responsible for us getting separated. If anything, I know you stayed behind to try to cover my escape,” Shea told him, ignoring the frown he aimed her way.
Trenton ignored her and straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin. “Nevertheless, she was my charge and I failed her.”
Shea narrowed her eyes on him. The stupid idiot was going to get himself into unnecessary trouble for something he couldn’t control. If anyone had been at fault, it was Shea. After those first few arrows, she had run without paying much attention to anything but escape. It was a stupid mistake that a daisy would make. She should have kept her head and wits about her.
“That’s a ridiculous claim,” she said. “Stop being noble. It wasn’t your fault we got separated or that a couple of lackwits with arrows put me in danger.”
Fallon looked between the two of them with a thoughtful expression on his face. “I agree with Trenton.”
Shea scoffed and turned to him with anger dawning on her face.
He held up a hand to forestall her coming words. “His punishment will be to train you to prepare for all sorts of situations that might come up so that next time you can react with more skill. I also think continuing as your personal guard will be punishment enough for his transgressions.”
Fallon gave her a pointed look. Her mouth snapped shut as she frowned at him. She resented the fact that he had made it seem as if guarding her was a punishment, but she couldn’t argue with him without putting Trenton’s neck back on the chopping block. Fallon had unreasonably high expectations for his guards. She didn’t want to be the one responsible if anything happened to Trenton.
Tricky, tricky Warlord.
She’d like to argue against the need for more training but the events of today had shown a huge gap in her skills. She’d survived because she was lucky. There was a good chance she wouldn’t be the next time an enemy came for her.
She turned to Trenton. “I guess we’ll be spending more time in the training arena once you’re healed.”
“There are people she can train with until you’re cleared for duty again,” Caden told Trenton. He turned his head towards her. “I will take over your training until Trenton can work with you.”
Great. The only person worse than Trenton was Caden. She’d seen him train with Fallon. The man was a dictator. One who was relentless and tireless. She nodded her agreement. Arguing was useless, and a little time spent with him could make a difference down the road.
“I’ve dispatched several teams to sweep this section of the forest. They’ll report back when they’ve finished,” Caden told Fallon.
Before Fallon could respond, a large shadow blotted out the sun streaming through the forest branches as screams rose from the encampment. Shea looked up to see golden feathered wings as large as a house.
“Golden eagle.”
Shea hit the ground, pulling Fallon down with her. Caden and Trenton followed, landing with a thump.
The eagle swooped down, overshooting Shea and the rest to pluck a horse from an enclosure. The horse screamed with fear, its legs kicking before it went still as the eagle’s claws broke its neck.
Another eagle dropped from the sky. This time rising with a person in its clutches.
Shea’s heart thundered in her ears. The leftover adrenaline that had been in her system earlier flooded through her, erasing any fatigue.