Mist's Edge (The Broken Lands #2) - T.A. White Page 0,151

a traitor was only to be kept among them until they decided how to proceed.

“And what is it that I was supposed to have shared?” Fallon asked, his voice equally quiet.

“That you had decided to seed those who might mean you harm into this mission,” she said through gritted teeth.

It was the situation with his brother all over again. Fallon had decided to draw his brother out into the open by leaving the appearance of weakness so those who plotted against him would be tempted to strike, giving him the chance to turn the tables on them.

“I always have enemies. It is best you assume they are always present.”

The sound that escaped Shea was very close to a growl. “That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it. Gawain, Rain. Why did you bring them? It’s obvious even to me that there is no love lost between you.”

Fallon’s chuckle slid against her like velvet. “Very few of the clan leaders have any soft feelings towards me. I threaten their power. Any one of them would be overjoyed to have my head.”

“Then why do you keep them alive?” She didn’t understand it. He was the Warlord. An all-powerful conqueror genuinely loved by his soldiers. If he didn’t want them in power, why didn’t he do something about it?

“Because we need stability. As much as I dislike the majority of the clan leaders, they fill a useful role. Most genuinely care for their people and want the best. Without them, the clans could splinter more than even I could control.”

“So, you let them plot against you?”

“Yes, I let them plot, until their scheming presents an actual danger.”

“And meanwhile they’re free to go around putting others at risk, including Clark,” Shea shot back, her eyes spitting fire.

“What would you have me do, Shea? Kill all those I suspect of disloyalty. Become the monster your pathfinders see me as?”

Shea was brought up short. No, that wasn’t what she wanted. Not at all. It made her hesitate. There had to be some happy medium. A way to protect those they cared about without becoming merciless beasts.

Fallon sighed. “You are partially correct. I did let some of those troublesome elements secure a spot on this journey, but not for the reasons you are thinking. At least not entirely.”

They began walking again. The men were setting up campfires since they had decided to stay here for the night. Shea checked the cavern ceiling. The gaping spaces in it and the general size of the cavern should make fire relatively safe. At the very least, they were unlikely to asphyxiate on the smoke.

“So, this isn’t a ruse to lure out your enemies. Again.”

He gave her a crooked grin. “That hadn’t been the original intention, but who am I to argue with this opportunity?”

Shea snorted. She bet. Fallon was the sort of man to take advantage of every chance life presented. The possibility of eliminating more enemies while consolidating his power base was probably too tempting to pass up.

“What was the original intent?” Shea asked.

“You said it yourself. The Highlands are dangerous. Your people are dangerous. There’s no reason to think that that danger won’t take a toll on my men. Better to sacrifice those whose loyalty is in question then my best.”

Shea raised an eyebrow. That was diabolical, and not the main reason, if her knowledge of Fallon was anything to go by. She fixed him with an intent stare, saying without words that she knew there was more.

His grin flashed. “More importantly, I couldn’t chance leaving them behind where their rot might spread to the other clans.”

“Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer?”

He inclined his head.

She shook her head. Figured.

She walked through the orange glow from the fires to the ridge that overlooked the abandoned city, Fallon a solid presence at her side. When she stopped, he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her chest, tugging her gently until she leaned back against him. She did so with a sigh.

“I never thought I’d see the like,” Fallon said into her ear. “It’s beautiful, in a desolate kind of way.”

Shea made a sound of agreement, content to look out over the city. Worry about Clark out there, alone and possibly hurt, tried to take hold. She pushed it back. Worry was a wasted emotion. There was nothing she could do right now, and Fallon had already sent men to search. She wasn’t so arrogant as to think she was the only one with