The Wind's Call (The Broken Lands #4) - T.A. White Page 0,97

mounted up and rode out.

Given the location of the body, Darius and Reece suspected the dead man had been a sentry, which meant the main campsite wasn't far. Find it, and Caden was likely to be close by, keeping watch.

Or at least that was the theory.

They hadn't ridden long before Eva began to notice signs of conflict. Charred grass and shrubs, disturbed earth where vegetation had been ripped away.

The warriors around her were tense, their expressions guarded and their bodies poised for action. More than one loosened the swords attached to their saddles, while the archers prepared their bows and arrows for easy access.

The only sounds she could hear were those of the horses, the quiet clop of their hooves and the occasional snort. These horses, unlike those assigned to non-warriors, were trained for silence. They would tolerate the presence of blood and death where another might spook. They were as loyal as any hound, ready and willing to follow their rider into danger.

Some of them, Eva had trained herself, working to get them ready for the life of a warrior's mount. She knew exactly what they were capable of.

Caia's ears flicked. They were close.

In the next moment, they stepped into a small campsite where a hard-fought battle had been waged.

There was a muttered curse from Ghost and a plea for the gods’ protection from one of the warriors as they rode into its midst.

The grass was charred in many places, and Eva caught sight of the remnants of tents, burnt and blackened. Bodies, more numerous than she could count at a first glance, lay facedown in the dirt. Some were bloody, red staining the ground under them. Others were blackened; whatever fire had found the camp, had found them too.

Amid it all, Caden calmly watched them approach from a seat atop a boulder near the middle of the carnage.

His face was dirty, soot staining his skin. There was a small bruise under one eye and the skin of his knuckles was torn and bloody, but other than that he seemed unhurt.

The group was silent as they observed the devastation.

Caden's gaze was focused, his eyes like chips of ice as they touched on Eva briefly as if to reassure himself of her safety before moving away.

"You're late," Caden said, not moving from his spot. "I expected you hours ago."

Darius's lips turned up slightly. "Your lady had trouble pinpointing the direction. Next time you send for reinforcements, perhaps make sure they can find their way back again."

Eva started, twisting to glare at the general. She hadn't been that inept.

Caden's eyes moved to hers, his lips twitching in a ghost of a smile that was gone before she could even process seeing it. "We'll work on it."

Eva didn't think so. This type of thing was for warriors and scouts. Not herd mistresses.

"What happened here?" Darius asked, running a bored eye over the destruction. "This is extreme even for you."

Caden stood, tossing the sharpened stick he'd been toying with to the ground.

Ajari stepped into view, the mythological's expression considering, as he took in the scene.

"I'd like to claim credit, but a good bit of this was done by her pet," Caden said with a nod to Eva.

Everyone's gaze swung to Eva. She shook her head in confusion.

"I don't have a pet," Eva started. It was the last thing she said before she found her arms full of an enthusiastic fox. He'd almost doubled in size since she'd left him with Caden, and he now had a third tail. The three tails made for a fluffy bundle as he licked her neck and chin, making happy sounds as he nuzzled her.

"Not a pet, huh?" Fiona asked, raising her eyebrows. "Could have fooled me."

Laurell leaned over, offering her hand for the small creature to sniff. "He's cute."

Hanna stared at him. "His coat would make a good fur-lined cloak or a blanket."

The fox bared his teeth and snapped them at Hanna, who reared back out of reach.

Those teeth were sharp and lethal.

"You didn't tell us she was a Caller," Caden said to Ajari as the mythological stepped closer, his gaze on the fox, fascination on his face.

At Caden's words, he glanced over in curiosity. "Oh? Your people remember the Callers?"

"Our oral stories stretch back many generations," Caden said. "We've preserved pieces of our Before history."

"Still, I'm surprised you would know of such a being. They didn't often wage war," Ajari said in a silky tone.

Caden inclined his head. "I try to make note of all that