out here to protect you even if those men are close,” Tyson offered gently.
She shook her head firmly. “It’s not about the number of men around to protect me. I know they’re here. I can almost feel their hatred right now. If we go any closer to the forest right now, someone’s going to get hurt. I know this as much as I do that you’re standing right beside me.”
He looked back at the forest and then back to her. She could tell that he didn’t fully believe her, but at the moment all that mattered was getting back to the fortress. “If you’re certain, we’ll head back and tell the Ardin.”
“Good.” She smiled at him, glad to have his agreement finally. He’d seemed determined to give her as much time outside the walls as possible. Nice thought, but right now, being outside the Thent seemed worse than being stuck inside.
Not that she expected the talk with those two to go much better than this one had. She had been afraid. They might simply think that she’d let her imagination take control. They didn’t believe what she dreamed without proof. Since this had happened while she was awake, that might make what she said even more difficult to accept.
She didn’t care if they were convinced of it. They needed to know about it. She didn’t think Laed and Kynar would wait very long to make some kind of move. Colm and Linc should be prepared for anything. Kynar and Laed had no honor.
They walked back in silence. She didn’t know how she was supposed to make them understand that what she’d seen was true and not a rush of panicked thoughts, images and feelings. The short stroll back to the gate seemed to take no time at all. Now that she was back in the walls, the fear faded and worry began to build. Would they take her concerns seriously? She could only try. The rest was their decision.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Colm looked away from the men practicing in a clear, grassy area near the corner guardhouse. From his position, he had a good view of almost the entire inner courtyard. When he saw two people walking through the gates, his eyes sharpened. That appeared to be Tyson. When the wind gusted, he saw the bottom of a skirt and knew it was Tyson and Cami.
What were they doing back so soon? He’d thought with the chance to go for a long walk that she’d stay out there until the sun set if they let her. The tension in her had been growing. The problem with the single women had been part of it and her determination to keep a distance between them also had a part in it. Being confined within the walls hadn’t helped. It would have driven him out of his mind to stay within the walls for as long as she had.
Tyson stopped and looked around the courtyard. Colm wondered what he was searching for when he began walking toward them, Cami at his side. Colm tilted his head a little and watched. Something was off. Both of them seemed a little stiff.
By the time they neared him, he knew there was something wrong. The only reason he didn’t walk out to meet them was that if something had happened while they were outside the walls, he would have been told.
“Hi, Cami, I didn’t expect to see you back so soon.” He smiled as they stopped in front of him. He expected an easy smile in return, but her look was so serious and unsure that he knew for certain that something wasn’t right.
She took a deep breath and opened her mouth, but closed it again. Her teeth nibbled at her lower lip. She seemed to be trying to think of what to say. Her hands twisted together. What could make her so nervous?
“Is something wrong?” He looked from Cami to Tyson.
“Your Lady is convinced that the false Ardin are out there.” Tyson looked at Cami.
The man’s tone and expression both showed his confusion. If there had been the slightest hint of condescension in his voice, Colm would have taken him down for the disrespect.
“Cami, did you see something?” Colm asked.
“Not ‘see’ the way you mean.” Her eyes met his.
He bit back the curse. “Why don’t we take this inside the Thent where we can sit and talk about it in comfort?”
Cami still looked nervous. He knew these abilities were new to her. Whatever was bothering her, they’d