\u201cYou\u2019re crazy,\u201d Thordin blurted. \u201cIt\u2019s not possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
But it was. Thom knew it with every leaden beat of his heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cWake Phelan,\u201d he said, his voice remarkably steady, sounding eerily calm. \u201cWake Neve, wake Cameron, wake Marin and J.T. and Kel. Get Sif and get Leinth. We\u2019re going to need them.\u201d<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll need all the power we can muster and then some, I\u2019m afraid. We have to hope that our wards will be enough to turn them. They\u2019ve turned everything else.<\/em><\/p>\n Then again, nothing\u2019s been a force like this.<\/em><\/p>\n His fingers flexed and he got his feet back under him again, moving back toward the railing. Rory and Thordin watched him warily, as if they were afraid he\u2019d fall or maybe throw himself over the railing and into the snow. \u201cWhen you wake Marin, tell her to bring her bow and to bring my sword,\u201d Thom said as he stared out into the night, searching for any hint of what he knew was coming\u2014another flicker, another burst of light, another howl or hunting call.<\/p>\n Why here? What would we have that they\u2019d want?<\/em><\/p>\n A chill worked its way down his spine. He could think of half a dozen things quickly enough.<\/p>\n \u201cThom\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He tore his gaze away from the snow-covered landscape and looked at Thordin and Rory. \u201cWhy the hell are you two still here? Go wake them. Now<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI got it,\u201d Rory said to Thordin. \u201cStay here.\u201d<\/p>\n He scrambled down the ladder and into the snow. Thom could hear the faint sound of his boot crunching on the snow as his friend dashed away. Thordin met Thom\u2019s gaze, expression grim.<\/p>\n \u201cThey shouldn\u2019t be here,\u201d Thordin said in a low voice.<\/p>\n \u201cNeither should Cariocecus or Sif or Leinth\u2014maybe not even you or Neve or Phelan. But you\u2019re here and I know what\u2019s coming. We have to be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s not enough time.\u201d<\/p>\n Thom turned away again, catching sight of a flicker in the distance out of the corner of his eye. \u201cThere\u2019s never enough time.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s why we have to try to be ready all the time, in any moment.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll make our stand,\u201d Thom murmured. \u201cWe\u2019ll deal with whatever threat they\u2019re posing and we\u2019ll make it through. We\u2019ve done it before.\u201d<\/p>\n We\u2019ll do it again.<\/em><\/p>\n We have to.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cYou\u2019re crazy,\u201d Thordin blurted. \u201cIt\u2019s not possible.\u201d But it was. Thom knew it with every leaden beat of his heart. \u201cWake Phelan,\u201d he said, his voice remarkably steady, sounding eerily calm. \u201cWake Neve, wake Cameron, wake Marin and J.T. and … Continue reading