\u201cYou\u2019re going the wrong way for horses,\u201d Phelan said mildly, fighting back a grin. Despite the gravity of the situation, he couldn\u2019t stop the expression from blossoming. It was just too much like old times.<\/p>\n
\u201cBl\u00f8dning drittsekk<\/em>,\u201d Sif spat, glaring at him. \u201cWhat\u2019s so funny?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing,\u201d Phelan said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m not the one who\u2019s bleeding. We\u2019ll need to deal with that before we ride.\u201d<\/p>\n She snarled and stalked back toward them, snatching her blade from his hands and resheating the weapon. \u201cSometimes I hate you, Wanderer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou and everyone else who\u2019s ever given a damn about me.\u201d He glanced sidelong at Marin. \u201cYou heard the lady. Horses and rescuing an idiot with a death wish.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wish that was something new for me,\u201d Marin muttered, shaking her head.<\/p>\n Phelan at least had the grace to look abashed.<\/p>\n They made quick time back to camp, even with Phelan and Marin\u2019s efforts to bind up Sif\u2019s bleeding hands on the way. They headed for the stable, where Davon had a trio of horses ready and waiting for them.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce Thom came through, I figured it was only a matter of time before you guys would be heading out,\u201d he said as he gave Marin a leg up into the saddle.<\/p>\n \u201cGood instincts,\u201d Phelan said as he settled into his saddle, wrapping the reins around one hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI like to think so. What am I telling Jac?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe truth,\u201d Phelan said. \u201cI rode out with Marin and Sif to keep Thordin from getting himself killed.\u201d<\/p>\n Davon blinked, staring at them for a moment, then smiled wryly. \u201cRight, well, I\u2019ll tell her to have her kit ready.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood idea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you bloody well coming?\u201d Sif snapped, already beyond the doors to their makeshift stable, her mount pawing restlessly at the snow.<\/p>\n Phelan waved Marin onward and leaned down toward Davon. \u201cTell her I\u2019m intending to come back in one piece, but something tells me someone else won\u2019t. She\u2019ll need the green box under the bed. Tell her that.\u201d<\/p>\n Davon nodded slowly. \u201cShould I raise the alarm around here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. If it\u2019s what we think it is, it won\u2019t be able to reach us up here.\u201d<\/p>\n The other man\u2019s brow furrowed. \u201cWhat do you think it is?\u201d<\/p>\n Phelan exhaled through his teeth, glancing over his shoulder. Sif and Marin had ridden out; he\u2019d have to hurry to catch up. \u201cJudging from Sif\u2019s reaction and the incredibly vague description from Vasily, I\u2019m pretty sure it\u2019s a lindworm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCross a sea serpent with a dragon and you might get close.\u201d Phelan smiled weakly. \u201cAnd unless I\u2019ve missed my guess on this one, Thordin killed its daddy and it\u2019s going to take a few bites out of him to say thank you\u2014right before it goes back to eating whatever gets in its way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat sounds pleasant.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d Phelan smiled weakly. \u201cTell Jac one more thing for me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell her I love her.\u201d<\/p>\n With that, Phelan spurred his horse into motion, riding at a gallop in Sif and Marin\u2019s wake.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cYou\u2019re going the wrong way for horses,\u201d Phelan said mildly, fighting back a grin. Despite the gravity of the situation, he couldn\u2019t stop the expression from blossoming. It was just too much like old times. \u201cBl\u00f8dning drittsekk,\u201d Sif spat, glaring … Continue reading