Thom stopped at the fire on his way to where they\u2019d face the enemy, mostly to assure himself that the blessings were done and that his friend would at least be well-armed to face the enemy.\u00a0 Jacqueline was gathering up the last boxes of ammunition into one of her spare baskets and Phelan and Marin were both rising from their knees.\u00a0 Relief washed over both of their faces when they spotted him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich way?\u201d\u00a0 Phelan asked quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ravines, like we thought.\u00a0 I told him to cover us from the bridge as best he could.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll have to hope none of his arrows end up in us.\u201d\u00a0 Phelan shook his head and sighed, resigned.\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t have to say it, fear fiach<\/i>.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know I don\u2019t,\u201d Thom said, is gaze steady.\u00a0 He reached out to squeeze Phelan\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cBut I\u2019m going to anyway.\u00a0 Have some faith, take a breath, and know that we\u2019re praying right along with you that we all make it through this alive.\u00a0 Having Cariocecus with us, as much as we may hate to admit it, might increase our odds of survival at this point.\u201d\u00a0 He could be the ace in the hole that we need because I\u2019m more than half positive that we\u2019re not going to have any sort of cavalry riding to our rescue anytime soon.\u00a0 Not this time.<\/i><\/p>\n
Maybe not ever again.<\/i><\/p>\n
Marin\u2019s hand slid into his and she squeezed his fingers.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re wasting time,\u201d she murmured.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right.\u201d\u00a0 He squeezed her hand back.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re ready, then?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone else was getting into position,\u201d Phelan confirmed.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re the last because we were dealing with this last batch of ammunition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thom nodded.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Their friends had gathered in two ragged lines facing the section of the ravine most likely to be climbed by their incoming enemies.\u00a0 The howls echoed off the trees and the ravine walls, but even as he jogged toward the edge, Thom couldn\u2019t see any sign of the incoming skinchangers, either in human form or wolf shape.<\/p>\n
Wait for it.\u00a0 They\u2019ll be on you before you know it.<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cMarin, I want you in the second line.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike hell,\u201d his wife snapped.\u00a0 \u201cSomeone has to cover your ass and it\u2019s going to be me.\u00a0 Besides, I\u2019m the best hand with a bow you\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s right,\u201d Phelan said.\u00a0 \u201cI know you don\u2019t want to hear it, but she\u2019s right.\u00a0 We need her in the front with you and I.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t say you were going to be in the front, either,\u201d Thom said as he strode through the ranks toward where Matt stood with Thordin and Cameron near the edge of the ravine.\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re staying at the rear with us between you and them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re coming after me,\u201d Phelan said, his voice soft.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we\u2019re protecting you.\u201d\u00a0 Thom stopped short of the front line and turned toward Phelan.\u00a0 \u201cLet us protect you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phelan opened his mouth to protest.\u00a0 Marin put her hand on his arm.<\/p>\n
\u201cPhelan, please.\u00a0 You almost got killed the last time.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to go through that again.\u00a0 None of us want to go through that again.\u201d<\/p>\n
He winced at the pleading note in her voice, looking away.\u00a0 \u201cLeann\u00e1n<\/i>, you know that I can\u2019t stand the idea of anyone else dying for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one is going to die for you today,\u201d Marin whispered.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t talk like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
She sounded more confident than she probably was.\u00a0 Thom knew that slight waver in her voice, but he prayed that Phelan hadn\u2019t heard it, hadn\u2019t noticed.<\/p>\n
The once-druid put his arms around the smaller woman and held her against his chest in a long, hard hug.\u00a0 She hugged him back, exhaling a shaky breath.\u00a0 Thom watched them, fingers tightening around the hilt of his sword.<\/p>\n
Agree to stay back, Phelan.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be stubborn, just do it.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d he whispered.\u00a0 \u201cFor you two.\u00a0 Fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
One victory, at least.<\/i>\u00a0 Thom nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYou and Jac stay close to each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight,\u201d Phelan said with a slight sigh.\u00a0 \u201cYou bloody well be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Marin said with a wry smile.\u00a0 \u201cWe will.\u201d<\/p>\n
She took Thom by the hand and led him toward the rim of the ravine, where her brother, Thordin, and Cameron waited for them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Thom stopped at the fire on his way to where they\u2019d face the enemy, mostly to assure himself that the blessings were done and that his friend would at least be well-armed to face the enemy.\u00a0 Jacqueline was gathering up … Continue reading