Five – 04

“Matt, take Thordin and Cameron to a position on the edge of the ravine,” Thom said.  “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Where are you going?” Matt asked, brow furrowing as he hefted the axe Thordin had been teaching him to use, as if he was nervous to be wielding it in combat for the first time.

Thom shook his head.  “Cariocecus is going to meet me at the gate with a last few pieces of information.  It wouldn’t look very good if I wasn’t there to meet him.”

“You’re assuming he’s not going to double-cross us,” Phelan muttered, already on his knees in front of boxes of ammunition.  “He could decide that playing nice with the bitch-goddesses could be healthier for him in the long run.”

“Given the rounds he went with Vammatar himself, I doubt it.”  Thom tried to hide his discomfort.  Phelan’s suggestion was a possibility, but one that Thom hoped was a remote one at best.

One of these days, I’d rather have certainty than hope.  Maybe someday that’ll happen.

Marin caught his hand and squeezed as he turned to go.

“Be careful,” she whispered.  He smiled tightly.

“Always,” he said softly.  He squeezed her hand back before letting go.  “Jay, Matt.  Get everyone arrayed like we did when we faced Vammatar out there.  I’ll be taking Marin’s position this time.”  I want you where you can do some serious damage with that bow, not waiting to get overrun at the edge.

He heard his wife start to protest, but he was already jogging away, toward the gate where he hoped he wouldn’t have to wait too long for their erstwhile new ally.

Damn, I hope we’re not getting played here.  I hope he’s as trustworthy as Marin and I have assumed that he is.  They were all out on a limb with Cariocecus and they knew it.

We just have to hope.  Thom took a deep breath and slowed his pace, resting one hand lightly on the hilt of the sword that thumped lightly against his hip.  He’d taken to wearing it after his ribs had healed sufficiently—and after the second unexpected attack on their settlement.  It just made good sense.  To listen to some of their friends, he hadn’t waited long enough.

Cariocecus was waiting for him when he arrived at the gate.  The godling was out of breath, golden-bronze skin so pale the gash beneath his eye looked an angry, livid red.

“Three packs,” Cariocecus said as soon as he spotted Thom.  “Three.  That’s three dozen of the bastards, Seer.  They’re coming from the south, probably up through the woods and the ravine, the same way—”

“The same way Vammatar came after us,” Thom said, the calmness of his voice belying the quickened pace of his heartbeat.  Thirty-six of them.  Basically one apiece—and Phelan said these take a lot of killing.  We could be in big trouble.

Cariocecus hesitated for a brief moment, then nodded.  “Yes.  Seer, I don’t know if I’m capable of helping with this.”

Thom’s eyes narrowed.  “You were a god of war.”

“Yes.”

“So find yourself some kind of projectile weapon, position yourself on that goddamned bridge and get ready to cover our flank.”  Thom’s eyes narrowed.  “Unless you’re scared of them.”

“I would be, were I you.”  Cariocecus shook his head slowly.  “Do you have any idea what you’re up against, Seer?”

Thom shook his head.  “It doesn’t matter.  This is our home and our family.  If we don’t stand together and protect this place, there’s no point in any of us surviving the end of the world.”

Cariocecus stared at him for a long moment before he looked away.  “You know, I didn’t realize until this very moment that I never could have won against you.”

“Better late than never,” Thom said, suppressing a shiver.  “Get to the bridge and cover us.  We’re making our stand at the edge of the ravine.”

Cariocecus nodded slowly, then turned and jogged away.

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