The Wind's Call (The Broken Lands #4) - T.A. White Page 0,70
Ollie found me. I decided to follow them after that, and I haven’t looked back since."
Quiet settled around the campfire.
Fiona was the one who pointed to her. "I have a feeling there's a lot more to that."
"Maybe so, but you won't hear any more of it tonight.” Eva needed boundaries and the little bit she’d shared had left her feeling fragile. The past felt like it was trying to swallow her soul when she had no intention of letting it into her present.
Fiona's frowned and Eva had the feeling she would have kept prying if Laurell hadn't shoved her friend just then. "Enough maudlin stuff, tell us about how your two idiots managed to get demoted right after the battle in the pass."
The two warriors beside Fiona groaned.
Fiona twisted. "Oh yeah, I never did tell you what they did to make the commander see red, did I?"
"Let's keep it that way," Ghost volunteered as Roscoe nodded emphatically.
Fiona's lips curled up in a cruel smile. "Not a chance, men."
Eva saw Caden's spot on the other side of the campfire was empty, the other man having slipped away at some point.
She rose as Fiona started in on the story.
"Eva?" Ollie asked.
"I'm tired. I'll head to bed now," she told him.
His gaze was uncertain. She summoned the most reassuring smile she could, one that felt brittle but must have convinced him, because he stayed put.
Eva started toward her side of camp where she’d set up next to the wagon as Caden had suggested. Not because he had suggested it, but because it made sense being near Sebastian and Ajari.
She spotted Caden walking back from that direction, and briefly debated turning around and heading to the fire. She didn't want pity from him over her sad story. That was the last thing she needed.
He tilted his head down in a brief nod before continuing. She stopped and watched him go, feeling slightly hurt. While she hadn't wanted pity, she hadn't expected to be ignored entirely either. Her relationship with the Anateri commander was complicated, but it was one she was coming to enjoy, if only because he was one of the few she found the courage to argue with.
She started to settle into the sleep roll she had set out earlier when she paused as her leg brushed against something hard. Her hand quested for what her leg had brushed, her fingers closing on the hilt of a dagger.
Even in the pale moonlight, she could tell it was a quality piece. Much better than the dull, rusted thing she carried to dig out harmful plants. This was a masterpiece for the deadly arts. She had a feeling if she took it out of its sheath it would cut flesh as easily as it would a feather filled pillow.
She looked to where Caden lingered by the fire. Had he left this for her? If so, why?
It wasn't the first item that wasn't hers she'd found among her things. First was the apple. Then it was a flint that was in a lot better condition than hers. Next it was a waterproof jacket. She’d assumed Ollie or Fiona was the responsible party despite their claims to the contrary. Now she was forced to wonder if Caden had been responsible for all of it.
A strange thought to have about a man she could have sworn barely tolerated her.
She set the dagger aside as she snuggled down on her sleep pad and stared up at the sky.
Was the dagger a form of apology? Now that she thought about it, most of the presents had appeared after an altercation with him. If so, why hadn't he given them to her directly?
As a distraction it worked, pulling her from thoughts of her past as she debated the mystery of the dagger and Caden’s motives.
*
Something woke Eva with the moon still high overhead, morning hours away.
She lay still for several seconds, her heart beating loudly as she tried to get her bearings.
Rock skittered down the cliff.
"Careful," someone hissed, the sound faint and high above. Had she not been right under the cliff, she never would have caught the whispers.
"I am being careful."
"Quiet," a deep force said. "You wake the camp and I'll kill you myself."
Fear caught Eva by the throat as she realized what exactly she was hearing. She was no longer alone and safe. There were people who planned mischief that could only result in blood and death lingering on the cliff above.