\u201cI have to admit that I\u2019m curious, though,\u201d Thom said as they headed out into the makeshift corridor.\u00a0 \u201cAbout her motivations\u2014about why she\u2019s so gung-ho about sinking her claws into someone of your late cousin\u2019s bloodline.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phelan\u2019s lips thinned in the dimness.\u00a0 Wind and snow rasped against the roof above them and Thom tried not to wince, hoping against hope that they\u2019d made everything solid enough to weather the storms of winter\u2014a winter that would linger for at least four more months, if he was guessing right.<\/p>\n
Thordin glanced at him.\u00a0 \u201cDo you even have an answer to that question?\u201d he asked curiously.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Phelan said slowly, \u201cthough I suppose I didn\u2019t quite have it until this moment.\u00a0 The pieces are finally starting to fall into place.\u00a0 She must have known something that I didn\u2019t\u2014that\u2019s why they were always keen to get their hands on him, all of them, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you going to share with the class?\u201d\u00a0 Thom asked with a weak, wry smile.<\/p>\n
Phelan laughed weakly.\u00a0 \u201cI suppose I could, couldn\u2019t I?\u00a0 I\u2019m thinking that she was playing the long game.\u00a0 She must have known the prophecies were talking about someone from his bloodline.\u00a0 If you want to control the new world at this point in the game, you control that bloodline.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTime out, back up.\u201d\u00a0 Thom stared at him, noting that from the glimpse of Thordin that he\u2019d caught out of the corner of his eye that the big warrior didn\u2019t look at all surprised by what Phelan had just said.\u00a0 \u201cWhat prophecy are we talking about here?\u00a0 Let me guess, it has something to do with the magic sword he\u2019s carrying.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phelan winced.\u00a0 \u201cDid I tell you it was a magic sword?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter, after what happened with the firbolg, I was going to figure it out.\u201d\u00a0 Thom frowned.\u00a0 \u201cDoes it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably,\u201d Phelan muttered.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo probably about it,\u201d Thordin said, looking at Phelan sternly.\u00a0 \u201cIt most certainly does.\u00a0 It has to do with the damned blade, the last princess of Avalon, and prophecy.\u201d\u00a0 His gaze slid toward Thom.\u00a0 \u201cBut he doesn\u2019t want to tell you because he\u2019s afraid that you\u2019ll start asking questions about how you and Marin and your son are all caught up in it all, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
A strange, queasy feeling gripped Thom\u2019s stomach and he frowned, shoving his hands deep into his pockets.\u00a0 That just confirms that we\u2019re caught up in the same prophecies they are.\u00a0 How is that anything new?<\/i>\u00a0 He frowned at the ground in front of his feet as they emerged from the corridor and out into the tent beyond.\u00a0 \u201cWell,\u201d Thom said quietly, \u201che\u2019d be right to be worrying about that, because I would start asking.\u201d\u00a0 He glanced toward Phelan.\u00a0 \u201cAnd those aren\u2019t tales you\u2019re willing to tell yet, are they?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Phelan said quietly.\u00a0 \u201cPart of me is.\u00a0 The rest thinks it\u2019d be a bad idea.\u201d\u00a0 He shook his head, his gaze drifting to the darkened sky and the white-out beyond the tent\u2019s walls, visible through the flaps left open for ventilation.\u00a0 \u201cAll I know for sure is that I need the two of you alive, Thom,\u201d Phelan murmured.\u00a0 \u201cI need both of you alive and preferably whole\u2014the same as Cameron and Neve.\u201d\u00a0 His eyes slid shut for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cSome prophecies say that your sons are the important ones.\u00a0 I don\u2019t believe them.\u00a0 I believe the others that tell me that you\u2019re just as important\u2014if not moreso.\u201d His throat convulsed as he swallowed.\u00a0 \u201cI have to believe that, Thom.\u00a0 I don\u2019t have any choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thom shivered.\u00a0 He wanted to ask why, but his gut warned him not to.\u00a0 The answer, he somehow knew, was one he wouldn\u2019t like.<\/p>\n
He threw his arm around Phelan\u2019s shoulders.\u00a0 \u201cRight, well.\u00a0 Better make sure we live to fight another day.\u00a0 Let\u2019s see to our arsenal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAye,\u201d Phelan murmured.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
They walked on, Thordin trailing in their wake.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cI have to admit that I\u2019m curious, though,\u201d Thom said as they headed out into the makeshift corridor.\u00a0 \u201cAbout her motivations\u2014about why she\u2019s so gung-ho about sinking her claws into someone of your late cousin\u2019s bloodline.\u201d Phelan\u2019s lips thinned in … Continue reading