Phelan grabbed Jacqueline and Cameron and spun them toward their horses.\u00a0 \u201cGo!\u00a0 While she\u2019s distracted!\u201d<\/p>\n
Jacqueline seized his arm.\u00a0 \u201cNot without you!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone\u2019s got to distract them,\u201d Phelan said as he shoved them away.\u00a0 \u201cGo<\/i>!\u201d<\/p>\n
Cameron opened his mouth to argue with both of them, then swore as he caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of his eye.\u00a0 \u201cPhelan, get down!\u201d<\/p>\n
The warning came too late. \u00a0The Dirae<\/i> landed on Phelan\u2019s back, claws cutting deep.\u00a0 Cameron darted forward, leading with Caliburn\u2019s tip, the blade slicing deep into the creature\u2019s neck.\u00a0 It reeled back, gasping and bubbling out its last breath and life\u2019s blood, stumbling away from Phelan, who\u2019d gone down to one knee, eyes wide.<\/p>\n
Oh hell.<\/i>\u00a0 Cameron sheathed Caliburn and hauled Phelan to his feet.\u00a0 \u201cJac, grab his bag.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got to get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHere.\u201d\u00a0 Leinth thrust the bag and Phelan\u2019s dropped staff toward Jacqueline.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll guard your escape.\u00a0 Ride hard, and quickly.\u00a0 I\u2019ll catch up if I can.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Hecate gave a shout of rage and triumph.\u00a0 Cameron winced, half carrying Phelan the last few steps to the horses.\u00a0 The once-druid\u2019s face was pale and he was already shaking, already in shock.\u00a0 Cameron waited just long enough for Jacqueline to haul herself up into the saddle before starting to boost Phelan up behind her.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the horse, Phelan,\u201d Cameron said as he helped him mount.\u00a0 \u201cJust hang on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWas that one of the\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust shut up and lock your arms around her waist,\u201d Cameron growled, shouldering Phelan\u2019s pack himself as Jacqueline concerned herself with making sure Phelan stayed mounted behind her.\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t worry about anything else.\u00a0 Let us worry about it.\u201d\u00a0 His gaze flicked toward Jacqueline.\u00a0 \u201cKeep him on your horse.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTrust me,\u201d she said quietly, \u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n
She kicked her horse into motion as Cameron swung up into his saddle.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeamus would be proud,\u201d Leinth said from near his stirrup.\u00a0 \u201cRide hard and don\u2019t stop until you get them to safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cameron swallowed hard and nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2014I have to know.\u00a0 How many\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt least seven generations,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cDescended from our son.\u00a0 Now ride, Dragon.\u00a0 Ride.\u201d<\/p>\n
She slapped his horse on the flank and the creature leapt into motion, headed down the roadway as she spun away.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re mine, you waning bitch.\u00a0 You made a mistake today when you showed up here, when my power is at its zenith and yours is waning at best!\u201d<\/p>\n
Cameron shuddered at her words and leaned close over his horse\u2019s neck, pushing hard to catch up with Jacqueline and Phelan, already a hundred meters and more beyond him.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t know when they\u2019d be able to stop and if Phelan had any of the special poultice they\u2019d used the last time the Dirae<\/i> had attacked them, but he had to hope that he did and it wouldn\u2019t be too late by the time they got to flush the wounds and pack them.<\/p>\n
I reacted quickly when they hit me, and he\u2019s full-blooded.\u00a0 This is going to be bad.<\/i><\/p>\n
They were another two hundred yards down the road when Phelan slumped off Jacqueline\u2019s horse and into the snow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Phelan grabbed Jacqueline and Cameron and spun them toward their horses.\u00a0 \u201cGo!\u00a0 While she\u2019s distracted!\u201d Jacqueline seized his arm.\u00a0 \u201cNot without you!\u201d \u201cSomeone\u2019s got to distract them,\u201d Phelan said as he shoved them away.\u00a0 \u201cGo!\u201d Cameron opened his mouth to … Continue reading