Is this intentional? Undermining Edana?

Edana gave Roisin a hard look. ‘There are reasons why we are here. Dun Crin is our destination, a ruin somewhere in those marshes. We don’t know exactly where it is. It could be twenty leagues to the south, or one league east. Camlin is a masterful scout and he will find it, I have no doubt.’

I am? I will?

‘He suggested we begin from higher ground. Once we are in the marshes the travelling will be slow going. It will be easier to cover ground on better terrain, skirt the marshes and choose a point of entry.’ She paused and gave a moment to look at each one of them.

‘This is my land,’ Edana said, looking at the warriors gathered about her. ‘It’s been taken from me. My parents murdered. My people scattered and oppressed.’ She looked at the gathered warriors, meeting each eye. ‘You are all brave faithful men, and I thank you for your courage and your honour. Do not think that Lorcan and I are beaten. We have yet to begin the fight. We will win back our rightful thrones, with your help, and that starts here, today. That starts now.’

Warriors nodded, muttered their approval. Even Camlin felt his blood stirred at her words. She’s growing up.

‘Camlin,’ Edana said to him. ‘Take us to Dun Crin.’

Camlin sped through the village, his bow strung and arrow nocked. He kept to the shadows as much as possible.

They had walked all day, steadily descending from the moorlands towards the marshes. Now they were in a kind of borderland, the terrain dry enough for scattered woodland and roads, but dissected by a thousand streams and middling rivers. Camlin had spied the village and planned on circling around it, but something had drawn his eye. The lack of sound or movement. And there were no signs of normal village life, hearth fires, livestock, dogs – nothing. Instinct told him he needed a closer look, and so did Edana when he informed her of his concerns.

Now he was starting to regret it, though.

Probably another bad idea to add to my long list of bad ideas, he berated himself. Why couldn’t I just mind my own business and walk around?

He looked to the far side of the street, where Baird was keeping pace with him, his sword drawn. Camlin had also sent half a dozen men wide around the village, with orders to sit and wait for him and Baird. Unless they heard trouble – then they were to come running. The rest of their crew were camped a quarter-league back, with Edana and Roisin. Lorcan had volunteered to come with them, but Camlin had told him to sit tight; he’d received a sulky glare in return.