“Well, sitting around isn’t going to help,” I said, gulping down my cocoa and coming to my feet. “Phelan, come with me. I’m going to go take a look at the wards.” I glanced toward Leinth. “Tell Neve what happened out there, let her tell Sif.”
“Are you sure we have to?” Phelan muttered. I glared at him.
“Yes on both counts,” I said.
“Have to what?” Neve had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, her hands shoved deep into the pockets of her sweatshirt.
“I’ll let them tell you. Come on, Phelan.”
Phelan glanced between his cousin and I for a moment before he nodded. “Right. Neve, let Jac know I’m in one piece, okay? I don’t know that she’ll worry, but just in case.”
“What the hell just happened?” Neve demanded, rounding on my brother, who cringed slightly. I tried valiantly to smother my smile as I hurried away from the fire, not entirely sure I wanted to witness whatever was about to go down in the center of the tent.
“You’re a cruel woman, leannán,” Phelan panted as he caught up with me, shaking his head. “You left your brother to deal with that.”
“He’s a big boy. He’ll be fine.” I ducked back out into the open air on the far side of the tent, staring out across the hillocks and snow toward the edge of the ravine. “At least for the moment, he’ll be fine,” I amended.
Phelan squeezed my shoulder. “We all will be,” he murmured. “You know that.”
I shivered. “At least I think I do.”
I set off across the snow, leaving Phelan to trail in my wake. I heard him sigh quietly as he jogged to catch up.
The fact that he had a little more faith in my visions than I did was worrisome sometimes.
This was one of those times.
Phelan seems to be trying to have his cake and eat it too. He tells her that nothing in her visions is set in stone and then he tells her that her visions indicate that everything will be OK. sigh.
Phelan gropes for things to say to reassure everyone. It’s his job.