\u201cWhat the hell is she doing?\u201d Thom blurted.<\/p>\n
J.T. swallowed bile, watching Leinth cross the snow to the gates. He stood, frozen by indecision for a few long moments before he swore under his breath and started after her.<\/p>\n
\u201cJay!\u201d<\/p>\n
He waved off Thom\u2019s warning and fell into step with Leinth a few seconds later. She glanced at him sidelong, a brow arching delicately.<\/p>\n
J.T. shook his head. \u201cWhat are you doing, Leinth?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHeading out to face the enemy,\u201d she said simply, as if it was the most natural thing in the world to open the gates and step out into the killing fields beyond the walls. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStopping you from throwing open the gates,\u201d J.T. said, taking her by the arm and pulling her back toward the tower. \u201cWe need a plan before we do something like that<\/em>, trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause plans have done you such good in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n J.T. snorted, steering her toward the ladder. \u201cYou\u2019d be surprised.\u201d<\/p>\n She canted her head to one side. \u201cPerhaps.\u201d<\/p>\n He snorted again and pointed to the ladder. She gave him a chilly look before she started to slowly scale the ladder upwards. He gave her a moment before he followed her up, climbing quickly despite the awkward weight and shape of the claymore strapped to his back.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know,\u201d Thordin said blandly to Leinth as he helped her off the ladder, \u201cThe last time one of us went out there to face an enemy alone, he almost died.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not the Wanderer,\u201d Leinth reminded him, a trace of acid in her tone. J.T. winced and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThat doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d he said. \u201cAgainst this enemy, we need to stick together. No one\u2019s going out there alone.\u201d<\/p>\n Thom glanced at him, pale in the light from the lantern. \u201cYou say that like you know what\u2019s coming.\u201d<\/p>\n J.T. smiled grimly. \u201cAre you looking for confirmation?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Wild Hunt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShit,\u201d Thom breathed. \u201cThat\u2019s what I was afraid you were going to say.\u201d<\/p>\n J.T. shrugged helplessly. It was only the truth.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re in trouble,\u201d Thordin said quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cHell yes,\u201d J.T. said, peering out into the distance. \u201cBut we\u2019ll win. Always do.\u201d<\/p>\n We always do because we\u2019ve got to. This time can\u2019t be any different.<\/em><\/p>\n It just can\u2019t be.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cWhat the hell is she doing?\u201d Thom blurted. J.T. swallowed bile, watching Leinth cross the snow to the gates. He stood, frozen by indecision for a few long moments before he swore under his breath and started after her. \u201cJay!\u201d … Continue reading