The sound of wolves howling roused him from a sound sleep.\u00a0 Marin didn\u2019t stir, even as Thom lay there next to her, his heart suddenly hammering against his chest.\u00a0 One howl, another answering.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s just the pack coming back.\u00a0 Must be.<\/em><\/p>\n He sucked in a pair of breaths, trying to calm his thundering heart.\u00a0 He hoped it was nothing more than that.<\/p>\n Thom eased out of bed, swallowing bile as he did.\u00a0 His stomach was unsettled the same way it was when he had his most disturbing visions, the ones that he wouldn\u2019t remember until later.\u00a0 Maybe it\u2019s just because I got startled awake.\u00a0 That could be it.<\/em>\u00a0 He dressed quickly and shoved his feet into his boots.<\/p>\n Marin had rolled toward the center of their bed, as if seeking his warmth.\u00a0 Drawing their blankets more tightly around her, Thom leaned in and dropped a gentle kiss on her temple.<\/p>\n \u201cKeep sleeping,\u201d he whispered.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be back soon.\u201d<\/p>\n She murmured something unintelligible and curled into a ball. He breathed a sigh of relief.<\/p>\n Good. She needs the sleep.<\/em><\/p>\n The hall was chilly, though not as chilly as it would be once he finally made it to the tent.\u00a0 He zipped his jacket and dug around in his pockets for his gloves, trying to remember who had the watch.<\/p>\n \u201cRory,\u201d he muttered.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s got the watch.\u201d<\/p>\n If he hadn\u2019t raised the alarm yet, all was probably well.<\/p>\n Probably.<\/em>\u00a0 Thom grimaced.\u00a0 Probably isn\u2019t for certain.<\/em><\/p>\n Thordin met him as he emerged from the hall.\u00a0 The older man\u2019s eyes were sunk into dark hollows, as if he hadn\u2019t slept.\u00a0 Maybe he hadn\u2019t.<\/p>\n \u201cYou heard it, too?\u201d he rumbled.<\/p>\n Thom nodded.\u00a0 \u201cWoke me out of a dead sleep.\u201d\u00a0 Assuming I wasn\u2019t jerking awake out of a vision, anyway.<\/em>\u00a0 He knuckled his eyes, smothering a yawn.\u00a0 \u201cMarin\u2019s still in bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust about everyone is.\u00a0 No alarm raised.\u201d\u00a0 Thordin\u2019s gaze drifted toward the main flap.\u00a0 \u201cI have a bad feeling, Thom.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne that has nothing to do with Sif?\u201d<\/p>\n Thordin grimaced.\u00a0 \u201cCan\u2019t be sure it\u2019s not that, but I\u2019ve still got a bad feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, let\u2019s see what\u2019s going on out there.\u201d\u00a0 Thom adjusted his gloves and headed for the chill of the late winter evening, Thordin at his heels.<\/p>\n Maybe I should have grabbed my sword before I came out here.<\/em><\/p>\n He hoped he wouldn\u2019t regret having left it behind.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The sound of wolves howling roused him from a sound sleep.\u00a0 Marin didn\u2019t stir, even as Thom lay there next to her, his heart suddenly hammering against his chest.\u00a0 One howl, another answering. It\u2019s just the pack coming back.\u00a0 Must … Continue reading