Mist's Edge (The Broken Lands #2) - T.A. White Page 0,161

she knew there was nothing he could do and didn’t want to worry him.

“We’re going to get you out, just hang tight.”

He turned to Eamon, his voice a whip of sound. “Find me some rope. Now.”

Caden stepped forward. “Warlord, your men have cleared the two buildings and have found no sign of the archer.”

Fallon held up his hand before Caden said something Fallon would not be willing to forgive him for. “I’m not leaving her down there.”

“There could still be those waiting to ambush you. You’re exposed here.”

Except they hadn’t attacked him. They had attacked Shea. Why was that? It was the third time she’d been directly targeted. It was enough to make him doubt that he was the one they were after.

“I’m. Not. Leaving. Her.” Each word was precise.

Caden had been with him long enough to recognize that tone and bowed his head. Good. Fallon didn’t want to have to replace him. He’d been loyal for many years, but even he didn’t get to tell Fallon what to do. Fallon went back to glaring at the hole.

“Where is that rope?” he shouted. Impatience a living thing within him.

Other parts of the square caved in. His men shouted and backed up in alarm. Fallon crouched as the ground shook and shook, like a dog trying to dry itself off.

When it had finished he stood, “Shea, are you still there?”

There was a long moment of silence. “Yeah, but this place isn’t too stable right now. I’m not sure I’ll survive another cave-in like that one.”

Eamon ran up, a coil of rope around his shoulder.

“We’ve found rope. We’re coming for you.”

“Don’t. The ground’s not going to hold much longer. I can see how unstable it is. I’m actually surprised the entire square hasn’t collapsed already.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“I can see another way out.”

“You’re lying.”

There was a rusty laugh from below. “I’m actually not. There really is a way out, and I think I’m supposed to take it.”

Fallon frowned. What did that mean?

“I’ll meet up with you when I can. Follow Reece out. He should know the way.”

Fallon’s expression turned thunderous. The Anateri close to him took a step back. Caden, who had been with him from nearly the beginning, just barely flinched. Fallon ignored them all.

“That is not happening,” he hissed.

How could she even suggest something like that? Something that went against the core of who he was?

“I’m not really giving you a choice. I’ll see you up there.”

His eyes narrowed to slits. She would not. He forbade it. There was a rustle below as if she really was trying to make her way to this exit.

He lost what little reason he had left. Fallon leapt forward, an explosion of movement that took him over the edge and into the pit Shea had fallen into.

He landed with legs crouched and arms spread, the impact reverberating up his limbs. Shea turned to look at him, her eyes wide and her mouth open.

“What are you doing?” she shouted. “Have you gone insane?”

He straightened, his legs and back protesting, and strode over to her. He ignored her as she tried to wave him off, grabbing her and wrapping her in a tight embrace

She let him hold her for one long moment, her arms coming up to clasp him, before she shoved him away.

“You idiot. What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking you could use my help.”

One eyebrow rose in an incredulous expression. “How exactly does you being down here help us? Now both of us are stuck in this hole instead of just me.”

He folded his arms over his chest and fixed her with his best arrogant expression, looking down at her with a look that said she should be thanking him instead of giving him a hard time.

“I’ll lift you out,” he said.

She gave him a skeptical look before glancing at the hole above them. “And what about you?”

“Caden has rope. He can use that to get me out of this place.”

Shea’s face reflected her uncertainty. She looked to the side and Fallon saw that she hadn’t been lying earlier. There really was a tunnel that appeared to lead away from this place.

“We could go that way.”

He shook his head. “No, we go up. I don’t want to chance it leading somewhere worse.”

She nodded. He’d told her about the bones near the entrance. Neither one of them wanted to meet the denizens of this place if they could help it, especially alone and lightly armed.

Fallon walked around the small space. It only took a few