[This post is from Matt’s point of view.]
“What are you going to say?”
The question startled Matt, though he probably should have expected it, especially from Thom. Still, hearing it was jarring, set his teeth slightly on edge. A frown creased his forehead as he now finally glanced toward his brother-in-law. “What do you mean?”
“Well, you’re going to have to convince them,” Thom said. “How are you planning on doing it?”
Matt shook his head. “Well, I figured once I told them who was threatening us and told them that we have the chance to stop him before he makes it here then I’d see how they responded and go from there.”
Thom nodded slowly, looking thoughtful as he looked away, stared off into space as they kept walking—Matt slowly enough that Thom didn’t have to struggle to keep up on his crutches. Matt knew his brother-in-law’s shoulders were still sore though he was fairly certain the worst of the deep gouges left by camazotzi claws were healed by now. “That’s probably a good way to go about it,” he said after a long pause. “Are you going to tell them about Seamus and Orcus and the connection there?”
“I don’t think I’m going to have to,” Matt said quietly. “They already know. At least enough of them already know. I’ll tell them Orcus is ten miles northwest of here and that we have three days—less than three days, really—to stop him in his tracks before he comes here. We’ll have to scout out his forces, figure out how to beat them, then hit him hard—or, if we can’t figure out how to hit him before he comes, at least we’ll have an idea of what he’ll bring up against us. At least it doesn’t seem like he’s got allies.”
“Not that we know of, anyway.”
“Right,” Matt said grimly. “Not that we know of.”
