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where he sat changing
out his socks. “I’ll last.”
    They weren’t the only ones feeling the
journey. Shea was starting to feel a little fatigue herself. A deep
burn had taken up residence in her thighs, and her shirt stuck to
her skin under her jacket. Her pack’s straps had made her shoulders
one throbbing ache, and her upper back was tight. The pace would
fall a little as the afternoon deepened and exhaustion took hold.
They would be more prone to accidents.
    “We’re approaching where I saw red back
activity a few weeks ago. I don’t want to take a detour, but if I
think we’re getting too close, we will. I want as much land between
us and them by nightfall. If we’re lucky and don’t have to veer too
far from this path, we’ll be close to the Lowlands when we stop for
the night.”
    “Typical woman. Afraid of the dark? Every
moment we have is precious. We should keep going even after dark.”
Dane said, shrugging into his pack. “If time’s as tight as you say,
we can’t stop for beauty sleep.”
    “Can you see in the dark? Because I can’t. If
we try, we risk someone getting hurt or killed in a fall. Reaching
Cam and James would be impossible then. Taking the night to rest
also means we can recoup some energy before reaching the
village.”
    Holding Dane’s gaze with her own, Shea waited
until he nodded grudgingly before she turned her back and set
out.
    Witt paused by Dane as he followed her down
the hill. “Perhaps you shouldn’t do any more thinking. It really
doesn’t suit you.”
     
    “Everyone know the plan?” Shea asked.
    The three of them crouched between two
buildings on Edgecomb’s perimeter.
    Aside from the unrelenting pace they’d
adopted to reach the village, the journey so far had been
unremarkable. They’d sailed through red back territory with no
problem and made camp at the top of the Bearan cliffs, then
descended before dawn the next morning.
    Some scouting had confirmed the villagers
held James and Cam. They were to be executed that afternoon, which
was why Shea and the other two were huddled close, hoping to avoid
notice as they plotted their next move.
    Like Birdon Leaf, the buildings in Edgecomb
were built from wood. Unlike their village, no outer wall protected
Edgecomb’s inhabitants, forcing the villagers to rely on the
natural landscape to deter would be intruders.
    A large herd of cattle were kept for trade
and as food supply. As a result, a large number of horses were
stabled in a fenced field right outside of town. Shea couldn’t help
being a bit envious of the ease of transportation the horses
represented. They were a scarce resource in the Highlands as they
were next to useless in the gorges or on the mountain passes.
    “Dane, I want you on one of the roofs
overlooking the town square.” Shea turned to Witt. “Do you think
you can create a large enough distraction so I can get them
free?”
    He nodded.
    “Good, I’ll leave that to you then.”
    “What about you?” Dane asked. “Where will you
be?”
    Shea brushed her hands down her pants.
“Someone has to cut those two idiots loose.”
    Dane frowned and looked down. “Perhaps you
should be on the roof then.”
    “Can’t. My aim’s not as good as yours.” Shea
busied herself adjusting a cloak she’d stolen from one of the
houses. She pulled the hood over her head. Hopefully, the cloak’s
anonymity would get her close to the execution platform without
drawing notice from the inhabitants. “Once things get started just
make sure you pick off anybody between me and the platform with
your boomer. I’m not going to have time to wrestle my way up there.
Oh, and don’t shoot me in the confusion. When I get James and Cam
loose, get off the roof. They’ll come after you pretty quick once
things start happening. If we get separated for any reason, meet
back at the rendezvous point.”
    The three gave each other a long look. It
surprised Shea when neither argued with her. She’d expected them