Mist's Edge (The Broken Lands #2) - T.A. White Page 0,34

saw it compromised.

She might not agree with her people’s stance on many things, but on protecting what the ancients had left behind, she would do all in her power to ensure those weapons remained hidden. Even if that meant leaving Fallon. Even if that meant her death.

Shea took a sip of her ale, keeping her face expressionless as they continued the discussion. He might believe she still knew how to get home, but she saw no reason to confirm it for him. What he didn’t know couldn’t be used against them.

She loved Fallon but his thirst for conquest sometimes scared her. What was he capable of in this mindless pursuit of uniting the Broken Lands? What was he willing to sacrifice? She still didn’t know the answer to that. It meant she kept her council on many things that might threaten the life she was building with him.

“This doesn’t leave us with a lot of options,” Braden said, dissatisfied. “If we can’t find a way to meet this challenge, we will lose much of what we’ve built here.”

Yes, they would. Everybody’s faces were grim as they considered the prospect.

“It is possible that this whole thing is a temporary situation,” Shea said into the quiet.

Fallon shifted to his attention to her. “How so?”

“Even in the Highlands, the mist waxes and wanes, coming in cycles. It is not an ever-present threat. In the Lowlands, the threat of the mist has faded until it is little more than a myth of the times after the cataclysm. It is possible that this is a fluke, one that will not remain.”

“Or it could be the first sign that the worst is yet to come,” Fallon said.

She nodded. That could very well be the case. They were in uncharted territory. Shea really knew nothing for sure.

“Are you able to teach some techniques for dealing with it?” Eamon asked. “Things like tethering to the soul tree? It might not be much, but it could be the difference between losing everyone and just losing some. You might not be able to teach us how to navigate it, but you might be able to show us how to survive it.”

Shea thought about his words. It was a long shot, but it was better to try than give up out of hand. “I will think on what might help. It would be wise to talk to the villagers above. They might have something worthwhile to contribute.”

“I thought you said the mist hasn’t reached down here in hundreds of years,” Darius said.

“It hasn’t, but I noticed something strange about the trees when we were in the mist. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that their ancestors chose this area to settle. There might be some nugget of information in their oral stories that could help us now.”

“Trenton and Wilhelm will help you.” Fallon’s words were an order thinly veiled as a request. Shea had no doubt he intended them to also guard her from danger—something she had little need of up there. The villagers had never been hostile, accepting her into their midst and treating her with a respect Shea was not used to.

“In the meantime, I’m giving the order to keep all patrols in camp unless its mission critical,” Fallon told the rest. “Until we know how to deal with this, I don’t want to risk losing men on nonessential tasks. All expeditions are to be cleared by myself, Darius or Braden.”

There was a murmured assent from those at the table. It wasn’t a long-term solution but it would do for now.

By some unspoken command, Eamon and his men stood, giving Fallon and Shea respectful nods before departing. They were followed by several others, people Shea guessed were in similar positions as Eamon. Trenton and Wilhelm stood and followed them.

The group was whittled down, leaving behind only the clan heads, Braden, Darius, and Daere.

Shea glanced around, not knowing if she should remain. Whatever they planned to talk about was probably important, and she doubted she would play any part in it. She set her glass down and began to stand. Fallon’s hand on her wrist forestalled her, asking without words for her to remain.

She kept her sigh internal and settled back down. She was still not sure how she felt being included in these discussions. On one hand, she was flattered that Fallon respected her enough to have her be part of the decision making at the highest level. On the other, she hated the responsibility such a position gave