Matt knew that he hadn\u2019t liked the look in Thordin\u2019s eye when he\u2019d left him with Gwilym out in the field beyond the walls, but he also knew he couldn\u2019t well have refused to do the smart thing and round up Thom and whoever else might have been available to deal with their visitor. There was something unsettled in his stomach as he dashed through the wide-open gates, almost running face-first into Phelan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe wolf,\u201d Phelan said. \u201cDid you find it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s one of Daniel\u2019s pack,\u201d Matt said. \u201cThordin sent me to come get Thom and get the guy some pants.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe didn\u2019t come right up to the gates?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last time they showed up, we almost shot them. I don\u2019t think I\u2019d come right up to the gates or the hedge if I were any of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Phelan grimaced, glancing away. \u201cMaybe not. Go. I\u2019ll meet up with Thordin.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHurry,\u201d Matt said. \u201cI didn\u2019t like the way Thordin was looking at him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSomehow, that doesn\u2019t surprise me.\u201d Phelan\u2019s eyes half lidded and he exhaled quietly. \u201cGo. Hurry. I\u2019ll do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matt nodded quickly, clapping Phelan on the shoulder as the older man headed out the gates even as Matt pressed on toward the hill, toward the forge. Thom had to be there\u2014that\u2019s where he\u2019d been before, when they\u2019d heard the howl.<\/p>\n
He wouldn\u2019t have gone far.<\/em> With any luck, his sister would be there, too. They could deal wit the visitor and figure out why he\u2019d come.<\/p>\n Can\u2019t be for anything good. Nothing like this ever happens and is <\/em>good.<\/em><\/p>\n Well, except for Phelan showing up, and Neve and Thordin and Cameron. Nothing else, though.<\/em> Matt grimaced, stumbling a few steps as his boot slipped in the snow.<\/p>\n Move faster. Move faster.<\/em><\/p>\n He dashed up the hill, yelling his brother-in-law\u2019s name and hoping against hope that this time his gut was wrong.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Matt knew that he hadn\u2019t liked the look in Thordin\u2019s eye when he\u2019d left him with Gwilym out in the field beyond the walls, but he also knew he couldn\u2019t well have refused to do the smart thing and round … Continue reading