[This post from Marin’s point of view.]
“Shit,” Thom breathed, letting go of me as we both started to move faster, clearing the last few yards up the hill to the forge. “What’s going on?”
J.T. swallowed twice, shaking his head slowly. “I—you guys better sit down.”
“Probably smart,” my brother agreed from the shadows inside. “But probably not in here with the baby. Let me bank the forge.”
I nodded slightly, rubbing Lin’s back as J.T. stepped out into the afternoon sunshine. Phelan emerged a second later, earning a lofted brow from me. “Who else is in there?”
“Just Thordin,” Phelan said as he wandered a few yards away and sat down in the grass. J.T. drifted after him like a ghost, though he didn’t sit, just stood and stared out over the ravine. I watched him for a moment, my heart sinking, joining my stomach somewhere around my knees.
“What the hell is going on guys?”
“Wait for Matt,” J.T. murmured.
Thom settled his arm around my shoulders again and I leaned into him slightly. Lin started to fuss a little and Thom reached over, resting his hand lightly on the back of our son’s head. The whimpery, not-quite-crying stopped and Lin went quiet again, resting his head against my chest. I breathed a quiet sigh of relief and Thom held me a little bit tighter.
My brother emerged from the forge a moment later, Thordin coming behind like a much taller shadow. Thom looked expectantly at J.T.
“All right. We’re all here. What is it?”
“Olympium isn’t done with us.”
I grimaced, shaking my head. “Tell me something we didn’t know.”
“Another of the Otherlanders most thought was dead is still alive,” Thordin said quietly. J.T. glanced at him, then exhaled softly, seeming to sag a little as if in relief.
“All right,” I said slowly, already not liking where this was going. “So what does that mean for us?”
“She asked for help,” J.T. said. “Specifically, she asked for my help.” He met my gaze. I’d never seen him so uncertain. It made my throat tighten and my stomach knot up. “I don’t know if I can do it, but something tells me I have to try.”
