Sif and Marin hadn\u2019t gained too much ground on him and he caught up to the women quickly despite the pace Sif had set for them. Phelan squinted at the sky as he came into line with them, frowning.<\/p>\n
\u201cEither this is going to be a short fight, or we\u2019ll be tangling with this thing after sundown,\u201d he observed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAssuming they\u2019ve found the thing,\u201d Marin said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got no way of knowing if it\u2019s that close.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s that close,\u201d Sif said. \u201cTrust in that. The damned thing is really<\/em> close.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow the hell are you so sure?\u201d Marin asked, brow furrowing. \u201cWhat the hell are we dealing with, anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA nightmare come true,\u201d Sif said. \u201cSpawn of the serpent that would swallow the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThordin killed its father,\u201d Sif continued, ignoring Marin\u2019s question. \u201cIt was a long time ago, but these things have long memories and longer lives. It doesn\u2019t matter if he died once already. The lindworm won\u2019t care. It\u2019s out for its vengeance and it won\u2019t stop until it\u2019s killed or it kills him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not going to let it kill him,\u201d Phelan said.<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Sif said, reining in her mount for a moment, dropping back to a slower pace. Phelan overshot her by a few strides before circling back. The was a wistful, pained look in her eye. \u201cHe\u2019s right to be angry with me, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou did what you had to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Sif said softly. \u201cI did what was easier<\/em> and told myself that it was hard. As much mischief and annoyance and trouble his brother was, Phelan, being with him wasn\u2019t hard. Not like losing Thordin was. Not like watching him is right now. This is so, so much worse.\u201d She sucked in a sharp breath. \u201cI can\u2019t lose him again, Phelan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou won\u2019t,\u201d Phelan promised. \u201cBut we\u2019d better hurry if we\u2019re going to be the difference they\u2019ll need to deal with this thing\u201d<\/p>\n Sif squeezed her eyes shut and nodded, kicking her horse into a gallop once more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sif and Marin hadn\u2019t gained too much ground on him and he caught up to the women quickly despite the pace Sif had set for them. Phelan squinted at the sky as he came into line with them, frowning. \u201cEither … Continue reading