Mist's Edge (The Broken Lands #2) - T.A. White Page 0,13
the east.”
Shea fought the wistfulness she felt at his words. She was happy for him. She was. It was a big deal to be given your own squad, and she knew how hard he’d worked for it. He deserved it, but she couldn’t help feeling left behind.
“Find anything interesting?” she asked.
Buck took a seat on a pillow next to her before setting a pair of maps down on Eamon’s desk.
“As a matter of fact, I did. A herd of giant elk nearly trampled my team. We would have been goners if we hadn’t found a nice boulder to wait out the stampede on. Craziest thing I ever saw. They came out of nowhere, and I didn’t see any predators driving them.”
“Where was this?” Eamon asked.
Buck leaning forward and gestured to the map. “A few days east of this stream. We didn’t see any sign of humans up that way, but with how thick this forest is and how good these people are at hiding, that’s not saying much.”
Shea leaned forward to look at the map. It was a strange story, but then strange things tended to happen in these lands. Until they had more information, it was considered peculiar but that was about it.
“I’ll make a note of it in my reports.” Eamon looked up at Buck. “There’s been several sightings recently that are out of the ordinary. I’ll have the men keep an eye out for similar occurrences.”
Buck snorted. “Since when aren’t there odd things about in this land?”
Eamon’s expression said he half agreed.
Buck seemed willing to let that be the end of it. He leaned back and smiled at the two of them. “It’s like old times. If we were on the trail, it would be exactly like them.”
“We’re heading out with a small group tomorrow if you’d like to join,” Eamon volunteered.
Shea blinked, not expecting the invitation. Normally, Eamon kept things closer to the vest. It made her wonder if he missed their old team.
“What? Both of you?” Buck asked, looking between them.
Eamon and Shea nodded.
“I’m in. This’ll be exactly like old times. Let’s just hope Shea doesn’t have to jump onto the backs of any shadow beetles.”
“That was one time,” Shea protested. “And it saved your worthless hides.”
Buck snickered. “I’ll never forget the sight of you free falling through the air. I was sure you were going to bounce off and get stepped on.”
“That was a controlled fall. I knew what I was doing.” That last part might have been a bit of an exaggeration. To this day, she wasn’t sure how she survived that stunt. “Besides, Eamon is making us take the Anateri. They’re not going to let me do anything even remotely dangerous.”
Buck’s face brightened. For a moment he looked like a child about to meet his heroes. “They’re coming? Even better.”
“Maybe for you,” Shea muttered.
“How can you say that?” Buck asked. “They’re the elite of our elite. I don’t know anyone who has even come close to joining their ranks.” He paused. “Well, except for you—before Fallon discovered you were a woman.”
“Shea’s just chafing at the fact that there’s somebody who questions the more reckless decisions she makes before she has a chance to act on them.” Eamon gave her a censorious look, having counseled her on similar topics when he was her squad leader.
She stuck her tongue out at him.
“You think they’ll give me a few pointers?” Buck asked.
“I thought you were happy as a scout.”
He shrugged. “I am, but if an invitation ever came to join their ranks, I wouldn’t pass it up. Besides, I’ve never seen better swordsmen. Getting tips from them might prolong my life out there.” He made a gesture meant to encompass the world outside.
Shea stood, preparing to take her leave. “You’d be better served spending your time studying the beast board. If it comes down to a fight against beasts, you’re more likely to lose no matter how skilled you are with a blade. Better to study and learn so you avoid danger in the first place.”
He blew a raspberry at her. “You’re no fun. There’s nothing to say I can’t do both. Right, Eamon?”
One side of Eamon’s mouth quirked up. “Don’t get me involved in this.”
Shea shook her head, chuckling, as she walked away.
“That means you’ll do it, right? You’ll put in a good word for me?” Buck yelled at her back.