They\u2019d lit torches and stuck them into the snow. Lanterns hung from poles strapped into lance-cups, swaying in the breeze and with the nervous and agitated shifting of horses. Men and women in cloaks capes stood near, some still astride their mounts, others standing in the snow with my husband and friends. Thom and the others had brought out some bottles of alcohol, whiskey and bourbon and god knows what else gleaming amber in the flickering light. They were sharing it around with the riders who\u2019d dismounted with at least one bottle making the rounds among the men and women still on horseback.<\/p>\n
It was a tall man in a black cloak who saw Leinth and I first, his eyes growing wide. \u201cMon Dieu<\/em>!\u201d he sputtered, passing a bottle of bourbon into the chest of one of his companions. \u201cThe Warrior Queen and belle d\u00e9esse de mon general<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n Beside me, Leinth sucked in a slow, deep breath. \u201cThey can see her soul, Marin,\u201d she whispered. \u201cThey see the Silver General, Mistress of the Imbolg. They see her alive in you. She\u2019s near the surface.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d I muttered, stomach twisting uncomfortably. It seemed that was one past life that bled into my present one more often than any of us would have thought or believed. Maybe it wasn\u2019t so bad.<\/p>\n Then again, maybe it is.<\/em><\/p>\n My fingers tightened around Leinth\u2019s hand and she took another deep breath.<\/p>\n Thom saw us half a second later.<\/p>\n \u201cMar, I didn\u2019t think you were up. Leinth, I thought you were watching the gate.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour wife decided it would be best to join you out here.\u201d She glanced toward the man who\u2019d seen us. \u201cWhat did you say before?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbout you?\u201d His accent was French, timeworn but still recognizable. \u201cYou are our general\u2019s lady, the Huntmaster\u2019s goddess.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked at me for a moment before her eyes hardened and her gaze darted toward Thordin. \u201cWhere is he?\u201d she snapped.<\/p>\n \u201cLeinth, I\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up unless you\u2019re going to tell me the truth,\u201d she snarled, shaking free of my hand and rounding on Sif and J.T. \u201cWhich way?\u201d<\/p>\n Sif wordlessly pointed toward the ravine and that was all it took. Leinth took off in that direction at a dead run.<\/p>\n I looked at my husband and said, \u201cSomething tells me you have a lot of explaining to do.\u201d<\/p>\n At least he had the grace to look guilty about it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" They\u2019d lit torches and stuck them into the snow. Lanterns hung from poles strapped into lance-cups, swaying in the breeze and with the nervous and agitated shifting of horses. Men and women in cloaks capes stood near, some still astride … Continue reading