Four riders from the Wild Hunt clattered onto the open field in front of the gates one chilly afternoon as storm clouds gathered on the horizon. I was perched on the wall when they arrived, watching the clouds roll in, and their leader spotted me, lifting his arm in greeting. I nodded and came down from the wall, crossing the snow to meet his party as they dismounted.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeamus said you would come,\u201d I said without preamble, shoving my hands deep into my pockets and squinting in the rapidly fading light. \u201cWhat\u2019s happened? What\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ice on the water is cracking,\u201d Vasily said, his Russian accent thick but not unintelligible. \u201cAnd not because of a thaw.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him for a long moment, uncomprehending, then turned my gaze toward his companions, Quintus, Marlowe, and Horace. All three men looked equally grim, exchanging silent looks with each other as they each pretended to be too busy with their horses to bother with my questions. It was an act, of course, but their discomfort shot shivers up and down my spine.<\/p>\n
What could frighten the Wild Hunt?<\/em><\/p>\n Something that would likely take the heart out of me, that was all but certain.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s out there, Vasily?\u201d I asked, my voice soft. \u201cWhat\u2019s cracking the ice? Something beneath it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDa<\/em>,\u201d he said, his voice as soft as mine. \u201cForgive me, koldun\u2019ya<\/em>, but it is bad news we bring, not good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe thought you might,\u201d I assured him. \u201cWhat is it? Did you see it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust its eye,\u201d he whispered. \u201cIt stared right at us and I felt cold to the depths of my soul. That eye was the size of a man, the color of ice in the sunshine. I\u2019ve heard tales of such creatures, but I\u2019ve never seen one.\u201d He stared at me, face pale as the snow beneath our boots.<\/p>\n \u201cOdinson and Sif will know,\u201d he whispered. \u201cThey\u2019ll know what it is, and hopefully how to kill it. Else…\u201d<\/p>\n I shivered. I didn\u2019t know what he\u2019d meant to say, but it didn\u2019t matter. I caught his meaning regardless.<\/p>\n Whatever was out there was trouble\u2014and this time, we\u2019d be facing it alone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Four riders from the Wild Hunt clattered onto the open field in front of the gates one chilly afternoon as storm clouds gathered on the horizon. I was perched on the wall when they arrived, watching the clouds roll in, … Continue reading