[This post is from Phelan’s point of view.]
“What’s going on out there?” Phelan picked up speed as he moved toward the wall, fully intending to scramble up to perch alongside Sif, who stared grimly out toward the field, her bow ready but her draw arm relaxed, even with an arrow in hand.
“Confrontation,” Thordin answered.
“A reckoning,” Matt corrected as he slowly sank back down into his spot on the wall. Phelan’s stomach flipped over as he caught sight of the warhammer slung across the other man’s back.
That looks like—
He stopped that thought before it could be fully realized, clamping down hard.
You have bigger shit to be concerned with right now. Focus.
“Then she’s out there,” Phelan said, starting to climb up the wall. Sif spared him a moment’s glance before turning her attention back to the field.
Matt nodded grimly, not looking at Phelan. “She’s out there,” he muttered, regret heavy in his voice. “Told me to come back here, wait with all of you. I shouldn’t have listened.”
Phelan winced at the words, which rang all too familiar if he cast his mind back through the centuries. He’d heard that tone of voice before from more than one man—from both Cíar and Teague on multiple occasions.
“What else did she tell you to do?” Phelan asked, his voice quiet, nearly lost in the storm. Matt tore his gaze away from where Hecate stood out on the field facing whoever Olympium had sent to treat with her.
“What do you mean?” Matt asked, suspicion mingling with incredulity in his tone.
Phelan shook his head quickly. “I was just wondering what she’s planning.”
“To save all of us,” Matt said, his voice shaking with as much anger as fear. “That’s why we came. She knew that they’d be looking for both of us.” He sucked in a breath. “She regrets what she’s done to all of you over the centuries, Phelan. Please believe me when I say that and believe her when this is over. She was trying to fill a void that couldn’t be filled until now. It was driving her insane as much as everything else.
“She’s willing to sacrifice everything now to make it right and I’m hoping against hope it’s not going to take that last step to do it.”
