Mist's Edge (The Broken Lands #2) - T.A. White Page 0,86

it on her own nor did she want to.

“No, of course not. Hold him responsible. Let him feel your anger. Just don’t run away. Don’t shut him out.” This last was said with a meaningful look.

Shea flushed and looked away, knowing she was at fault for that last one. Had already fallen back on it the night before.

He made a slight huff of acknowledgement seeing his words had scored a point. “We’re warriors and not often given to soft words, but he cares for you. Probably more than any other person in this world. All I’m asking is that you give him a chance to find his way back before you do anything drastic.”

There was a small sound at the entrance of the tent. Shea looked up to find Fallon standing there, his eyes shadowed and his face expressionless.

Darius aimed a smile at Fallon and raised his cup. “We’re drinking. Join us.”

Fallon’s eyes went to Shea and then back to Darius. He advanced, grabbing a goblet from the long table and then settling on a pillow across from Shea. Darius poured him some wine and sat back.

Shea sipped hers while avoiding looking at Fallon. She held herself stiff and straight.

“How many of our men do you think will have stories of this oasis tomorrow?” Darius asked. “Some of those women were eyeing us like they were preparing for a feast. I’ve never seen the like in Lowlanders. If I didn’t know better, I would say there is Trateri blood in their past.”

“The Airabel are few, and the isolation of their home and events in the past have led to the danger of inbreeding. They are most likely hoping your men can give them new bloodlines,” Shea said.

Darius aimed an affronted look her way. “You mean they plan to use us as broodmares.”

“In this instance, I think it would be more like stallions.”

“Well, don’t that just beat all. This land gets stranger and stranger all the time.” He leaned forward. “Do they actually think we’d leave our children behind?”

Shea gave him a quizzical look.

Fallon answered her unspoken question. “The Trateri love children. Our lives are hard and dangerous. Every life is a precious gift. If my men were to sire children, they would take them with them when we left.”

Shea shrugged. “Only if they knew about them ahead of time. They’re betting that by the time the women show, your army will have moved on. It’s unlikely that you’ll be in this area again anytime soon, and by the time they circle back the women will have given birth and claimed their own people sired the children.”

Both men stared at her with twin looks of distaste.

“I will let the men know to be careful with the women. We’ll leave a detachment behind to keep an eye out for any births,” Darius told Fallon.

Fallon shook his head. “Of all the things I thought we’d face, I never thought we’d be in danger of Lowlanders making off with our unborn children.”

“It’s an ever-changing world, my friend.” Darius drained his wine and stood, leaving the half-finished bottle behind. “Well, I’m off.”

Shea looked up, a little surprised at the abrupt departure. Fallon, with his typical granite facade, didn’t even twitch. He took a slow sip of the wine and acknowledged Darius’s departure with a nod.

“Before I go, I suggest you take a look at your personal chambers.” With that last remark, Darius made his departure.

Fallon’s head tilted as he stared into his wine. Suspicion dawned on his face and he stood, making his way to their personal quarters without a word. Shea let him go as she calmly sipped her wine.

Three, two, one.

There was a crash in the other room and a stream of curses reached her ears. She trained her eyes on the front entrance and was only mildly surprised when no one ventured in to see if they were in any danger. Darius must have warned them. Smart man.

“Would you like to explain why there is a new entrance to our bedchamber?” Fallon’s silky voice came from behind Shea.

“You’re smart. I’m sure you can figure it out.” Shea took another sip of her wine.

He prowled closer, his movements containing a lethal edge.

“You were going to leave me.” He sounded like the very idea that she would contemplate such an action enraged him.

She raised an eyebrow. “Now why would I want to do that?” She gave him a long minute to answer. His eyes narrowed, taking on a dangerous glint “Ah, yes. Perhaps that’s