\u201cWandered off, has he, like the Wanderer he is?\u201d<\/p>\n
J.T. grimaced at the way Marin\u2019s fingers suddenly bunched around the staff in her hands.\u00a0 He put a gloved hand on her arm and squeezed gently.<\/p>\n
They\u2019d known he was gone within hours of his departure.\u00a0 It had taken a few hours more before Thordin, Thom, Jacqueline, and Rory were kitted and ready to leave the settlement to chase down Phelan.\u00a0 They hadn\u2019t seen hide nor hair of Cariocecus in weeks before that, probably because things were quiet.<\/p>\n
And now he suddenly shows up two days after Phelan decides to make his exit.\u00a0 Coincidence?\u00a0 I doubt it.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cHave you come to gloat, or did you come with useful information?\u201d\u00a0 Marin asked, her voice and expression just barely on the civil side of a snarl.<\/p>\n
Cariocecus tsked softly and shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI wouldn\u2019t dream of gloating.\u00a0 The Wanderer is part of the reason I was largely safe hiding here in your vicinity.\u201d\u00a0 His expression grew somber.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019re gaining on him, but I don\u2019t think they\u2019ll reach him before his enemies do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBeg your pardon?\u201d\u00a0 Marin turned to look at him square, her eyes narrowing.\u00a0 \u201cWho\u2019s after him now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho isn\u2019t?\u201d\u00a0 J.T. scuffed a toe against the snow beneath his feet, grimacing.\u00a0 I shouldn\u2019t have agreed to this plan.\u00a0 We should have tied him to his godsdamned bed.<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cSeems like that might be the shorter list.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cariocecus inclined his head. \u201cPerhaps.\u00a0 But I\u2019m afraid in this case I\u2019m talking about awful things that are covered in fur three quarters of the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSkinchangers.\u201d\u00a0 J.T. grimaced, making eye contact with Marin, who shuddered visibly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just have to hope they somehow dodge them,\u201d she said, her voice heavy with doubt.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s dodged them in the past, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI imagine he must have,\u201d Cariocecus said.\u00a0 \u201cBut I think he had someplace to run to, then.\u201d\u00a0 He made a vague gesture that won a grimace from J.T.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s implying that the way Phelan managed to dodge was to go back to Tir na Nog or wherever the hell his people retreated to.\u00a0 Fuck me.<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cWe have to find a way to warn them, Mar,\u201d he said with a grimace.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you suggest we do that?\u201d\u00a0 Her brow furrowed.\u00a0 \u201cI sure as hell don\u2019t have a way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPhelan can see the ghosts,\u201d J.T. said doubtfully.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll go,\u201d Cameron said from behind them.\u00a0 \u201cI know how to ride in this kind of weather and they\u2019ve only got two days lead.\u00a0 I can catch up to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNeve will kill us,\u201d Marin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019ll understand,\u201d Cameron said softly.\u00a0 \u201cIt feels like something I\u2019ve got to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGo,\u201d she said, then glanced at J.T.\u00a0 \u201cAnd you try to send a ghost to warn Phelan, if it\u2019s possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll see if I can convince \u00c9riu,\u201d he said, stomach sinking.<\/p>\n
If I can convince her, she might be the only chance he\u2019s got.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cWandered off, has he, like the Wanderer he is?\u201d J.T. grimaced at the way Marin\u2019s fingers suddenly bunched around the staff in her hands.\u00a0 He put a gloved hand on her arm and squeezed gently. They\u2019d known he was gone … Continue reading