[This post is from Marin’s point of view.]
Out on the field before the wall, Sif had slowed—but so had the figure ahead of her. My stomach sank.
“What the hell is going on out here?”
A chill shot through me as I heard the annoyance—and an undercurrent of fear—in my brother’s voice. My jaw tightened and I didn’t dare glance back to see the expression on his face. I already knew what it looked like, anyway.
He wasn’t happy, but neither was I. I didn’t answer him, either, knowing that he’d be on top of the wall with me soon enough—he and Thom both, probably, with Thordin and J.T. likely taking the other side. I’d be surprised if it turned out any different.
Seamus glanced sidelong at me—I caught his gaze out of the corner of my eye—and grimaced. “You’d better get up here fast,” he called, half twisting back to look behind him, down to the ground on the other side of the wall. “There’s not much time.”
“Where’s Sif?” Thordin asked.
This time, both of us ignored the question. My brother climbed up onto the wall, taking up a position next to me, his eyes narrowed, gaze focused first on me and then shifting out to the field. “Is that him?”
“That’s him,” I confirmed. My hand tightened around my bow. Sif and Anhur hadn’t quite met up out there in the field, but they were getting close enough that I didn’t dare tear my gaze away.
This feels too familiar. I don’t like it.
“Why is he here?” Matt asked.
“Not sure, but we’re certainly going to find out soon,” Seamus said quietly. “Running theory is that it has to do with Menhit coming back for another bite at the apple.”
Matt went rigid next to me. “No.”
“What are we saying no to?” Thom took up a position on the other side of Matt, perching nearest to the gate, his brow furrowing.
“He can’t be here because of her,” Matt said, staring at me. I could feel the weight of his stare, his voice laced less with fear and more with horror. “She was working for Hecate the last time she showed up here. Then, after I went with Hecate, she told her to back off, to leave us alone. Whoever that guy is out there, he’s not here because of her.”
“That assumes that Menhit’s not hiring out to the highest bidder—or worse, gone freelance.” Seamus took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. A shiver crept down my spine. There was a ring of rightness to his words, as if I knew he’d grasped the truth of it.
Behind me, I could hear Thordin clambering up onto the wall.
I held my breath.
Out on the field, Sif had stopped walking.
