\u201cMatt, take Thordin and Cameron to a position on the edge of the ravine,\u201d Thom said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be there as soon as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you going?\u201d Matt asked, brow furrowing as he hefted the axe Thordin had been teaching him to use, as if he was nervous to be wielding it in combat for the first time.<\/p>\n
Thom shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cCariocecus is going to meet me at the gate with a last few pieces of information.\u00a0 It wouldn\u2019t look very good if I wasn\u2019t there to meet him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re assuming he\u2019s not going to double-cross us,\u201d Phelan muttered, already on his knees in front of boxes of ammunition.\u00a0 \u201cHe could decide that playing nice with the bitch-goddesses could be healthier for him in the long run.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the rounds he<\/i> went with Vammatar himself, I doubt it.\u201d\u00a0 Thom tried to hide his discomfort.\u00a0 Phelan\u2019s suggestion was a possibility, but one that Thom hoped was a remote one at best.<\/p>\n
One of these days, I\u2019d rather have certainty than hope.\u00a0 Maybe someday that\u2019ll happen.<\/i><\/p>\n
Marin caught his hand and squeezed as he turned to go.<\/p>\n
\u201cBe careful,\u201d she whispered.\u00a0 He smiled tightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlways,\u201d he said softly.\u00a0 He squeezed her hand back before letting go.\u00a0 \u201cJay, Matt.\u00a0 Get everyone arrayed like we did when we faced Vammatar out there.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be taking Marin\u2019s position this time.\u201d\u00a0 I want you where you can do some serious damage with that bow, not waiting to get overrun at the edge.<\/i><\/p>\n
He heard his wife start to protest, but he was already jogging away, toward the gate where he hoped he wouldn\u2019t have to wait too long for their erstwhile new ally.<\/p>\n
Damn, I hope we\u2019re not getting played here.\u00a0 I hope he\u2019s as trustworthy as Marin and I have assumed that he is.<\/i>\u00a0 They were all out on a limb with Cariocecus and they knew it.<\/p>\n
We just have to hope.<\/i>\u00a0 Thom took a deep breath and slowed his pace, resting one hand lightly on the hilt of the sword that thumped lightly against his hip.\u00a0 He\u2019d taken to wearing it after his ribs had healed sufficiently\u2014and after the second unexpected attack on their settlement.\u00a0 It just made good sense.\u00a0 To listen to some of their friends, he hadn\u2019t waited long enough.<\/p>\n
Cariocecus was waiting for him when he arrived at the gate.\u00a0 The godling was out of breath, golden-bronze skin so pale the gash beneath his eye looked an angry, livid red.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree packs,\u201d Cariocecus said as soon as he spotted Thom.\u00a0 \u201cThree.\u00a0 That\u2019s three dozen<\/i> of the bastards, Seer.\u00a0 They\u2019re coming from the south, probably up through the woods and the ravine, the same way\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe same way Vammatar came after us,\u201d Thom said, the calmness of his voice belying the quickened pace of his heartbeat.\u00a0 Thirty-six of them.\u00a0 Basically one apiece\u2014and Phelan said these take a lot of killing.\u00a0 We could be in big trouble.<\/i><\/p>\n
Cariocecus hesitated for a brief moment, then nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYes.\u00a0 Seer, I don\u2019t know if I\u2019m capable of helping with this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thom\u2019s eyes narrowed.\u00a0 \u201cYou were a god of war.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo find yourself some kind of projectile weapon, position yourself on that goddamned bridge and get ready to cover our flank.\u201d\u00a0 Thom\u2019s eyes narrowed.\u00a0 \u201cUnless you\u2019re scared of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would be, were I you.\u201d\u00a0 Cariocecus shook his head slowly.\u00a0 \u201cDo you have any idea what you\u2019re up against, Seer?\u201d<\/p>\n
Thom shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter.\u00a0 This is our home and our family.\u00a0 If we don\u2019t stand together and protect this place, there\u2019s no point in any of us surviving the end of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cariocecus stared at him for a long moment before he looked away.\u00a0 \u201cYou know, I didn\u2019t realize until this very moment that I never could have won against you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBetter late than never,\u201d Thom said, suppressing a shiver.\u00a0 \u201cGet to the bridge and cover us.\u00a0 We\u2019re making our stand at the edge of the ravine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cariocecus nodded slowly, then turned and jogged away.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cMatt, take Thordin and Cameron to a position on the edge of the ravine,\u201d Thom said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be there as soon as I can.\u201d \u201cWhere are you going?\u201d Matt asked, brow furrowing as he hefted the axe Thordin had been … Continue reading