by T. A. White
Eva nodded. Very good. He knew something at least. "It's also toxic to horses when in bloom."
The daft creatures would eat it because it tasted good. In enough quantities it would cause their organs to shut down.
"I know all this. Why are you telling me again?"
"Since you know so much, I won't have to explain why we spend part of every day pulling it out," Eva said over her shoulder. "Before lunch I want you to go over the pasture and pull any of the plants you find."
Bonus, it would give her a little peace until lunch.
"Why me?" he asked.
"Because I told you to."
Several angry seconds passed before Eva relented. "Do this half and then you can head in for the midday meal."
She listened, thinking he was going to refuse when he didn't move. Finally, she heard the thud of his footsteps as he stalked off. She shook her head. She really hoped his assignment to her wasn't a permanent one. Dealing with his bad mood on a regular basis would be a nightmare.
Why couldn't she have gotten the easy one for once?
Eva tilted her head back, addressing the horse in front of her. "I guess I'll have to find tasks that keep him away from me until he stops acting like a disagreeable ass."
The mare snorted in agreement.
*
Eva stretched, working out the kinks in her back. Her muscles felt tired and bruised; her bones ached. It had been a long few hours since she’d sent Jason to pull weeds.
She'd discovered the beginning of several crusty scabs on Soona's back, probably rain rot from where her coat hadn’t dried properly after the storm earlier that week. It had required treatment so it didn’t worsen and cause the horse discomfort. Couple that with the younger, unclaimed horses being a bit rambunctious this morning, and she was ready for a meal to fill her belly and a break to give her sore muscles a rest.
Eva set out for the cook's tent.
Part of her job for the morning had been to verify all the horses were present and accounted for. Trateri horses were typically left to roam free while near camp. They rarely wandered too far, preferring to stick with their herds for safety.
Wooden fences, built long ago by the pathfinders to corral their livestock, stretched across the slight hills of the valley, making Eva's job even easier. It hadn't taken long to count the horses, many of whom she knew as well as she knew her own face. Thankfully, none of them had wandered off during the night.
As a result, her walk was peaceful.
Eva was halfway back when a plant caught her eye. She squatted next to it, fingering the half-formed leaves that had already started sprouting. Nettle bright.
Eva growled, cursing inattentive apprentices as she pulled her satchel over her hip and grabbed a sharp tool out of it. She used the tool to dig the plant out by the roots before standing once again. She'd only made it ten feet before she found another nettle bright.
She looked around the pasture, noticing others too. Her stomach grumbled even as she ignored it. Lunch would have to wait. She was going to have to walk the entire pasture to make sure Jason hadn't missed any.
Several hours later, she had finished, finding no less than twenty other nettle bright plants.
Eva stalked toward camp; her temper heated as she tried to talk herself into giving Jason the benefit of the doubt. It was his first day. Nettle bright looked different when it was a young plant. Maybe his old herd master hadn't taught him to recognize it.
It was hard not to dismiss that excuse out of hand. When she’d arrived, Ollie and Hardwick had shown her what plants could cause the herd harm if eaten. It was a basic requirement for any herd master and one of the first lessons you received as an apprentice.
Still, there could be a logical reason for the shoddy work. She'd let him explain before she tried to verbally rip off his head.
She was almost to the cook’s tent when a small crowd beside the corral the pathfinders had built near the end of the pasture, drew her attention. Hardwick had taken over the corral almost as soon as he arrived and used it as a place to train the younger horses, those who hadn’t received a rider yet.
It was a little early for him to start training. She knew he preferred to work with the horses well after the midday meal; furthermore, he usually asked her to help since her presence kept the horses calm and attentive.
Eva caught a glimpse of Jason through the crowd, noticing the other two apprentices standing off to one side. She looked around for Ollie and Hardwick, seeing no signs of them.
Strange. Hardwick didn't allow apprentices in the corral without supervision. His horses were too precious to chance an apprentice damaging them.
Eva drew closer, Caia trotting after her. A stallion's scream split the air. It was all the warning Eva needed as she started sprinting toward the corral.
Stupid man. What did he think he was doing?
He didn't have permission to be in there, and he definitely didn't have permission to deal with that stallion. Worse, Eva recognized the stallion, a chestnut with a lighter mane and a white blaze on his nose. He was stubborn and slightly vicious. One day he'd make an excellent war horse, but that day wasn't today.
Today they'd be lucky if the chestnut didn't kill her idiot apprentice.
Jason flicked a whip behind the stallion's legs. "Enough. Stop fighting me."
The chestnut came back down to four feet, whirling and kicking up dirt as he paced one way before whirling and pacing in the opposite direction.
"Maybe we should wait for Hardwick or Ollie," Delia said uneasily, flicking a glance at where the three warriors stood at the edge of the corral.
Eva only had time for a quick glance at the three, noting the subdued uniform of the warrior class–dark pants and a dark-colored shirt, and a leather jacket worn over the shirt as a nod to the crisp day. Over the left breast pocket, a pattern was embossed proclaiming their division and rank.
Eva recognized one of them, the hard stare of the Warlord's first Anateri taking in the proceedings. Caden, a man as intimidating as he was dangerous, frowned at Jason and the stallion, his thoughts unreadable.
The woman beside him radiated boredom and disinterest as she watched the events unfolding. The third warrior looked mildly worried as he watched the horse charge Jason.
"I've got this, Delia," Jason gritted, jumping out of the way.
No, he didn't. He was going to get himself stomped to death.
Eva forgot the warriors as Jason flicked the whip toward the chestnut's hindquarters. The stallion's ears flattened against his skull, a wild look entering his eyes. He glared at his tormentor, his legs slightly spread. He screamed another challenge before rearing, knocking Jason to the ground. The apprentice barely scrambled out of the way as the stallion’s hooves came down where he’d been sprawled seconds before.
Delia and Quinn jolted forward, finally realizing the extent of the danger.
The warriors moved to intervene, but were too late.
Eva was already over the fence and stepping between the stallion and his prey.
"Calm." She thrust her palm out.
The horse ground to a halt with a snort as he shook his head furiously. Eva didn't let his antics intimidate her, knowing the scent of fear would only enrage the stallion more.
She couldn't do anything about the stink of it coming from the idiot behind her, but she could control her own reaction. It was all she could do in the moment.
She kept the cadence of her voice smooth and soothing. "I understand the urge to stomp him to death. I admit to feeling the same myself a time or two in the short time I've known him, but I can't let you do that."
The horse's ears slowly raised as they rotated to pick up the sound of her voice.
"Good," she said, seeing he was calming. "Now back."
The horse stepped back as Eva advanced. The horse continued retreating until he stood by the fence, not looking directly toward the two humans in the corral even as one ear remained rotated toward them.
&nb
sp; Eva kept up a continuous croon as she squatted, making herself as non-threatening as possible.
The sound of movement came from behind her. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Jason stretching toward the whip he’d dropped.
The horse's ears went back.
"Jason, touch that whip, and I'll break your hand," she said in that same soothing voice.
Jason froze, darting a glance at her. He must have believed her because he settled back down.
The warrior woman barked a laugh from her side of the corral. "I like her."
"Fiona," the man at her side warned.
Fiona flashed him a grin as she leaned one wrist on the wood, her gaze intelligent as she watched Eva face down the stallion.
Eva put the two out of her mind, focusing all her attention on making sure she and the idiot survived the encounter.
She crooned nonsense, careful to keep her posture nonthreatening as she watched the stallion for signs of aggression.
It was only when the horse quit whipping his tail from side to side and his ears had returned to being pricked slightly forward that Eva felt it was safe enough to stand.
"Jason, move very slowly over to the fence," she ordered.
He reached for the whip again.
"Leave it."
He scowled at her and Eva thought he was going to ignore her before he stood, edging carefully away without taking his eyes from the chestnut.
Eva remained where she was, knowing the stallion could change his mind about stomping Jason out of existence at any moment.
Eva studied the horse for several seconds. He really was a magnificent creature with his head lifted proudly. His nostrils flared as his sides heaved. As much as he'd calmed, he was by no means predictable.
Eva had no doubt if he felt threatened in the least he'd react aggressively.
It was why she was giving Jason time to escape the corral while she remained behind.
He reached the fence and climbed over it. Eva let out a sigh of relief. Good. That was one less thing to worry about.
Her gaze caught on Hardwick and Ollie where they’d joined the crowd, watching the happenings with sharp eyes. Ollie’s expression was tense and unhappy, like he was about to come over the fence at any moment. Hardwick's gaze was fierce, his lips pursed into a thin line. Eva had a feeling he was furious, but it was hard to tell behind the normally terse expression.
When neither man intervened, Eva took that as confirmation her instincts in handling the situation were correct.
The stallion visibly calmed once Jason was no longer in the corral with him, his breathing steadying and his muscles relaxing. Eva didn't let his posture fool her. He might be less agitated, but that could still change.
She'd seen horses like him before. With proper training and the right rider, he'd eventually be an exceptional mount. But not if an idiot like Jason ruined him before he got the chance.
Eva slowly lowered to grab the whip, making sure to keep her motions smooth. She walked calmly to the edge of the corral, hopping the fence with little effort.
When she landed on the other side, she realized she held the attention of everyone near the corral, including Caden. His face was an indecipherable mask, but she couldn’t help but feel a silent judgement rolling off him.
She hated that he had witnessed this debacle. The man always seemed to find her when she was at her worst.
Caden was highly respected among the Trateri. He held a position she could never hope for, his word unquestioned, his opinions valued the rare times he spoke. He was quiet, and more observant because of it.
It was hard not to feel like he was unraveling your secrets when he studied you. Once upon a time, Eva had looked up to him. She’d gotten breathless when he was near, allowed herself to dwell on what it would be like to have the regard of a man like him.
That nonsense was over. Killed by a few unguarded words in a time of tragedy.
Now, she went out of her way to avoid him. Right then, she’d like to be as far away as possible.
She pushed Caden and the other warriors who still stared at her in curiosity out of her mind. She couldn’t focus on them. She had more important things to deal with.
Anger coiled in her belly over the close call. Jason had put not only himself in danger, but the stallion as well. At this point she wasn't sure which of those facts she was more upset about.
"I don't know why you interfered. I had it under control," Jason said sulkily.
Eva sucked in a breath, taking a step toward the idiot. Under control her rear.
Ollie was quick to step into her path, his tall body blocking the idiot from view. Eva jerked her attention up to him, noting the placating expression on his face as he held his hands up.
"There's no need to go getting your temper riled," he said softly so only she could hear. "Hardwick will deal with him. Just walk away."
"Wish I had someone who showed me favoritism," Jason muttered.
Eva wasn't sure if they were meant to hear, but they did. Ollie stiffened, his mouth tensing as his eyes darkened.
The jab pricked the temper that had barely settled, and Eva shouldered past Ollie. She threw the whip at Jason’s feet.
"Eva," Hardwick warned in a hard voice before she could speak.
His warning stopped her cold as she glared at Jason. The other apprentice lifted his jaw mulishly as if tempting her to knock him down a peg. She was tempted. Oh, was she tempted.
"You've done enough for the day. Take the remainder to catch up on the sleep you missed last night," Hardwick said quietly.
Eva became abruptly aware of the number of gazes on her. Her hands uncurled from the fists they'd formed as she took a steadying breath.
Hardwick's words were a warning and a reminder all rolled into one. As much as Jason deserved to be punished for his reckless actions, it wasn't her place. He was Trateri; she wasn't.
There were certain lines that couldn't be crossed—even if she was right and he wasn't.
Caia clopped toward Eva, snorting into her hair before nudging her in the back.
Eva relaxed, letting go of the worst of the anger as she reached up and petted the mare’s velvet soft muzzle. This was what was important, not railing against the injustice of it all. Such emotions were useless. They had no place in a tagalong's life.
She grunted an assent and jerked a nod at Hardwick. As much as it burned, she understood why he'd stopped her.
She turned away before hesitating, the satchel on her side reminding her of why she had come back to camp in the first place. She reached in pulling out the nettle bright and shoved it toward Jason's chest.
"You missed some." He flushed, his hands coming up to catch the plants automatically. Eva's gaze swung to Hardwick. "I think I got all of it, but you might want to check."
The skin around Hardwick's eyes tightened further as he cut his eyes toward Jason.
Ollie laid one hand on her shoulder, gently squeezing it. "Thanks, Eva. We'll make sure to do that."
Eva paused before giving him a brisk nod. She walked toward Caia, the mare's ears perking in excitement as Eva set one hand on her shoulder, before jumping up in a lithe movement and kicking a leg over Caia's back as she mounted bareback.
"Let's run, Caia," Eva whispered.
As one, the two whirled and thundered toward the other end of the valley, far from the corral. Too bad it wasn't as easy to outrun the rest of Eva's problems.
CHAPTER TWO
The pounding of Caia's hoofbeats kept time to the pulse of Eva's anger. They made their way to the outer perimeter, circling it as Eva worked through her emotions. The movement of her friend's powerful muscles under her and the wind in her hair did their job in soothing most of her fury at last.
She'd been told time and again she needed to keep her temper. They were right. Yet, as soon as someone threatened one of the creatures she loved—whether intentionally or unintentionally—reason and wisdom flew out the window. She was protective of her horses. A
lmost to the point of being self-destructive.
Eva made a conscious effort to shrug off the disaster of a morning. She was here. Alive. Free, and doing work she enjoyed. Nothing could mar this.
Eva tipped her head back and threw her arms wide to embrace the horizon, laughing as she did so. Caia could decide the course. Eva was simply along for the ride.
Sensing the change in her friend, Caia poured more speed into her gallop, her hooves beating rapidly over the meadow.
This would never have been possible in Eva's old life. There, women didn't ride horses, or hunt or fight, or do anything the Trateri women took for granted. In the Lowlands, the roles of men and women were predetermined. It didn't matter if you had a knack for something.
This was what freedom tasted like and Eva would do anything to preserve it. Even put up with cocky, convinced they know better, apprentices.
She could see why the Trateri were a mostly nomadic people. Who would give this up for the stifling confines of the same vista day after day? After only a year with them, Eva couldn't imagine another life. Her old one felt like it'd happened to someone else.
This felt real. Before, her world had been full of pale, insipid pastels. Now, it was painted with bright, vivid colors that grabbed her by the heart and demanded she feel.
When their energy had at last been spent, Eva gripped Caia’s mane and sat back, slowing the horse to a canter and then a trot. Caia's sides heaved, a lather had formed on her coat even as her head bobbed with happiness. Eva patted her friend’s neck as they traveled along the perimeter, waving to one of the lookouts as they passed, before guiding Caia toward the opposite side of the valley.
She wasn't in the mood for human company quite yet. She wanted to be alone with her thoughts a little longer.
Caia and Eva picked their way along the cliffs crouched at the base of the mountains. Large boulders and uneven ground made the going slow even as the view made it worthwhile.
To either side of her were mountains, tall and fierce as they stabbed the sky, so close they almost felt like they might crash down on top of her at any moment. In front of her was the meadow, a small dirt path leading toward camp, beyond which was Wayfarer's Keep, crouching like a giant stone beast. Behind her was the little mist, as the pathfinders called it, coiling in on itself.