The trees were thick along the river as the wind carried them further along, drifting under sail closer and closer to the lake. Aoife held the tiller as Gray kept an eye on the sails, adjusting them as needed to keep them moving forward. Both were quiet for a time, Gray\u2019s expression suggesting that his thoughts were elsewhere even as he tended the sails. Aoife watched him, lips thinning.<\/p>\n
What are you sensing out there, Gray? What danger do you feel coming?<\/em> There was a heaviness to the world, one that left her slightly uncomfortable, though not enough to make her say something about it.<\/p>\n Part of her reason for keeping her mouth shut about it, though, was the thought that it was perhaps just all in her head, something born of worry and paranoia, not a child of reality.<\/p>\n I hope it\u2019s just a figment of my imagination.<\/em><\/p>\n A whistle split the air, jerking her from her thoughts and startling Gray from his. \u201cWhat was that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSentries, maybe?\u201d Gray turned his gaze to the shore, to the old trees, a mix of pines and bare-branched deciduous trees. \u201cSomeone keeping watch for intruders?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBloody hell, if they think we\u2019re intruders\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d better hope that your brother shows up and fast.\u201d<\/p>\n Aoife sucked in a sharp breath. \u201cAssuming this is the right place.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou said we were close.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did,\u201d she admitted, fingers tightening on the tiller. \u201cI also said I can\u2019t tell exactly where we need to be, though. That was based on Teca\u2019s scrying and she\u2019s not here, is she?\u201d<\/p>\n Gray winced.<\/p>\n Another whistle echoed through the trees, followed by another, then a third.<\/p>\n \u201cWhoever\u2019s up there knows we\u2019re here,\u201d Gray said with a grimace. \u201cI\u2019d kill for a working engine right about now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, so we can run?\u201d<\/p>\n Gray smiled weakly. \u201cIf we have to.\u201d<\/p>\n Aoife shivered. \u201cLet\u2019s hope we don\u2019t have to.\u201d She took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a gamble, but it\u2019s also a chance you have to take.<\/em><\/p>\n She raised her voice. \u201cTell Phelan O\u2019Credne that Aoife\u2019s come to find him!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The trees were thick along the river as the wind carried them further along, drifting under sail closer and closer to the lake. Aoife held the tiller as Gray kept an eye on the sails, adjusting them as needed to … Continue reading