\u201cNeve!\u201d<\/p>\n
Marin caught her friend before she could go pitching face-first into the snow, holding her up as Neve twisted, looking back toward the ravine.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the Grays,\u201d she gasped, wide-eyed gaze returning to Marin, flicking toward Thom and J.T., Thordin and Sif.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019ve come back.\u00a0 Phelan and Seamus are trying to hold them at the bridge\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGet her out of here!\u201d\u00a0 Leinth called from closer to the warding lines.\u00a0 \u201cShe\u2019ll be safer in camp!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChristos<\/em>,\u201d Thordin swore, fingers itching.\u00a0 \u201cMarin, your bow.\u00a0 Take Neve back and get your bow.\u00a0 Wake the rest.\u201d\u00a0 His heart pounded hard against his breast.\u00a0 The Grays meant Phelan\u2019s old enemies were back\u2014he knew enough to know that.<\/p>\n But no <\/em>dirae.\u00a0 It could be far worse.<\/em><\/p>\n He tried to kill the thought before it fully bloomed and failed, silently cursing himself for a fool.<\/p>\n Then he unslung his ax and headed for the wards.\u00a0 \u201cThomas, Jameson, with me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBloody fucking hell,\u201d J.T. growled, his blade rasping free of its scabbard.\u00a0 He glanced toward Marin.<\/p>\n Her gaze went to her husband in a heartbeat, one hand reaching for him even as she propped up Neve.<\/p>\n \u201cGo,\u201d Thom murmured, pressing a quick kiss to his wife\u2019s temple.\u00a0 \u201cWake Cameron when you take Neve back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBe careful,\u201d Marin said.\u00a0 \u201cBe damned careful.\u201d<\/p>\n Somehow, I doubt that\u2019s going to be an option, <\/em>Thordin thought.\u00a0 He clapped J.T. on the shoulder and without another word, barreled toward the warding lines where Leinth still stood, expression slack.<\/p>\n The smoking form of a Gray lay sprawled beyond the holly bushes.<\/p>\n Thordin beheaded it with a careless swipe of his ax and plunged onward, the words to a barely-remembered battle-song on his lips as his booted feet ate up the snow-covered feet between him, the bridge, and two Taliesins\u2014one current, one former\u2014facing certain destruction at its apex.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cNeve!\u201d Marin caught her friend before she could go pitching face-first into the snow, holding her up as Neve twisted, looking back toward the ravine. \u201cIt\u2019s the Grays,\u201d she gasped, wide-eyed gaze returning to Marin, flicking toward Thom and J.T., … Continue reading