Marin dashed the last few yards down the hill toward Sif, leaving Phelan to follow at a less frantic pace. Bile rose in his throat as panic rooted itself in his breast, setting his heart out of rhythm. He tried to keep his breathing even as he watched Marin touch Sif\u2019s shoulder, seeing the other woman flinch, hands tightening around the edges of her blade.<\/p>\n
Bloody hell, Sif. You\u2019ve finally up and cracked, haven\u2019 t you?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cMy god, Sif, your hands…what did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n She didn\u2019t look at Marin, turning to Phelan instead, her face streaked with drying tears. \u201cSomething stirs in the deep,\u201d she said, her voice cracking. \u201cIt comes for the one who slew its father, but I was told that man doesn\u2019t exist anymore. So why would it be here if that were true?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet it go,\u201d Phelan said quietly, staring at the blade in her hands and the blood running down its edges. He eased up alongside Sif, reaching for the blade\u2019s hilt slowly. \u201cSif, drop the blade. You\u2019ll cut your finger clear off and then what good would you be to the bloody idiot?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe can\u2019t even stand the sight of me,\u201d she said, bitter laughter bubbling up from her throat. \u201cWhy would he want my help?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRegardless of whether he wants it or not, he needs <\/em>it.\u201d Phelan wrapped his hand around the hilt of her blade. \u201cLook at me, Sif.\u201d Anger replaced panic as she stubbornly kept staring at the snow. \u201cDamn you, woman, look<\/em> at me! It\u2019s not coming<\/em>, it\u2019s already here.\u201d<\/p>\n Sif\u2019s head snapped up and her eyes met his. Her hands spasmed, the blade falling away from bleeding fingers and palms. Phelan snatched it away as Marin grasped both of Sif\u2019s hands. She gasped in pain, then gritted her teeth, eyes narrowing as she glared at Phelan. \u201cWhat do you mean, \u2018it\u2019s already here\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust what I said.\u201d Phelan set his jaw. \u201cThe creature is here, near the lakeshore, already hunting\u2014and Thordin\u2019s gone after it.\u201d<\/p>\n Sif swore viciously and tore herself from their grasp. She marched across the barrow, leaving a trail of blood in her wake, pausing only once to look back at the two of them.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t just stand there,\u201d she said. \u201cGet horses. We have to catch him before he gets himself killed for a second time in his life.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Marin dashed the last few yards down the hill toward Sif, leaving Phelan to follow at a less frantic pace. Bile rose in his throat as panic rooted itself in his breast, setting his heart out of rhythm. He tried … Continue reading