The Wind's Call (The Broken Lands #4) - T.A. White Page 0,17

dark hair and dark eyes.

"I checked on the closest sentry. He's dead," he told Fiona without delay.

All eyes swung back to Eva. She gulped, very much afraid this latest death would be laid at her feet too. She had to admit; it didn't look good. From the outside looking in, she might have been tempted to blame her too.

"How about you explain everything from the beginning?" Fiona said, her gaze a little harder than it had been before.

Eva jerked her head in a nod. "They're not Trateri."

"How would you know?" the man next to the bodies asked.

"The accent," Eva said, tapping her throat. "And their horses."

Everyone looked around for the horses in question. They were gone. Probably scared off in the commotion or by the mythological when he’d killed their owners.

"They were mountain horses," Eva finished lamely.

"Do you really think one small woman with no training as a warrior could have done this?" Ollie challenged.

Her friend's jaw was set in a stubborn line as he tried to defend her. Ollie tended to avoid conflict under most circumstances. He was easygoing, where Eva was stubborn, and preferred to figure out a path around the obstacles he faced rather than charge headfirst at them as Eva was inclined to do.

But not this time. This time he was almost combative as he challenged the warrior.

Everyone studied the bodies in question. Blood coated the front of the taller one from where his torso had long gashes in it, and the man’s throat had been torn out.

The head of the shorter one looked vaguely wrong, misshapen and slightly caved in. Eva felt her stomach turn as she realized why. Something had crushed it.

Her gaze swung toward Caia, the mare’s lower forelegs and hooves coated in an incriminating red.

Eva swallowed hard and met Hardwick’s gaze. "Please don't hurt her. She was trying to protect me."

His eyes thawed slightly.

The male warrior next to the strangers' bodies whistled as he gazed at Caia admiringly. "I wouldn't mind a mount like that." He slanted Eva a look. "Could you teach mine to do that?"

Eva's didn’t answer, surprise holding her mute.

"Roscoe," Fiona warned.

Roscoe shrugged. "Sorry, but I don't think she did it. I've never seen wounds like these. They're not from any sword or knife I know, and I doubt the herd mistress is even armed."

"Let's make sure of that, though, shall we?" Fiona suggested in a biting tone. She held her hand out to Eva expectantly, her eyes dropping to Eva's satchel when Eva hesitated.

Eva was quick to shrug out of the satchel, handing it over without protest. It didn't take long to go through the entirety of the contents. Eva didn't have much and the knife she’d used to cut the mythological free was probably still lying on the ground somewhere.

It only took minutes for Fiona to finish.

"If you didn't do this, who did?" Fiona asked, steadfastly ignoring Roscoe as he muttered, "Or what?"

A small sound came from above, drawing their gazes to the slight rise behind Eva. The mythological peered down at them, his equine face haughty and defiant.

Eva twisted, pointing up at the creature above. "Him. He did it."

CHAPTER THREE

Those around Eva were motionless, speechless at the unexpected guest on the hill. Ollie gaped as Jason stared up in awe. A hush fell over the group as the winged horse studied them.

He cut a regal figure. He knew it, too, if the pride and defiance he displayed was anything to judge by.

He glared at them, unruffled by their presence; the bodies on the ground pointed to his ability to defend himself.

Why had he stayed? If she'd been him, she would have taken to the sky and escaped the moment she was free.

"Great Rava in the flesh," Delia murmured.

"Eva?" Ollie said questioningly.

"I found him," Eva responded, already knowing what he was asking. "I'm willing to bet he escaped from those two. There was a net around his wings and a collar around his neck.

Fiona and Roscoe shared a glance.

"What is one of them doing here?" Jason asked.

"No one is to speak of this to anyone else," Fiona interrupted, her voice hard. "If I hear even a whisper of what happened here, I will have you tried for insubordination and treason. Is that clear?"

The rest of them nodded uncertainly.

"Ghost, summon the Hawkvale and the Battle Queen," Fiona said grimly.

"Already on it," the man on the horse said. In the next moment, Ghost and his horse wheeled and were gone.

Fiona's intense gaze focused on Eva as her expression grew