They found Phelan and Marin sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on a slab of concrete, not nearly as far from the tents as Thom had expected them to be. They were quiet, staring off into the distance, though Phelan twitched as he saw them approach, straightening slightly. Marin startled and followed his gaze.<\/p>\n
Her brows knit as she caught sight of the look on her husband\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s Matt,\u201d Thom said. Marin\u2019s eyes widened.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
Phelan put his hand on her arm. \u201cYou\u2019d know if your brother was dead, le\u00e1nnan<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Would she?<\/em> Thom swallowed hard. \u201cThere\u2019s no evidence of that,\u201d he said, voice starting to sound strangled, as if his throat didn\u2019t want to let the words out. \u201cBut he\u2019s gone. He wasn\u2019t at the forge.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe he\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHis axe was.\u201d The words came out barely audible.<\/p>\n Marin covered her mouth with her hand. She shook her head hard, eyes wide and bright with gathering tears. \u201cNo,\u201d she said, her voice muffled. \u201cNo, no.\u201d<\/p>\n Thom couldn\u2019t speak. He just wrapped his arms around his wife and lifted her, hugging her tightly to his chest. Her shoulders shook, her forehead pressed against his neck.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened?\u201d Phelan asked, his voice strange and dangerous\u2014a mingling of fear and anger with concern.<\/p>\n \u201cSeamus thinks she took him,\u201d Cameron said.<\/p>\n Phelan blinked at him slowly. Thom tightened his arms around Marin as she stiffened.<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d his wife breathed, slowly tilting her tear-stained face up to meet his gaze. \u201cWho took my brother, Thom?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Hecate,\u201d he whispered. \u201cWe think the Hecate might have taken him.\u201d<\/p>\n Marin swallowed hard. \u201cHow? Why<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe lied,\u201d Phelan said, his voice bleak. \u201cD\u00e9ithe agus arrachtaigh<\/em>, he lied. He remembered. He knew.\u201d<\/p>\n Marin twisted free of Thom\u2019s grip even as Thom\u2019s stomach dropped.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Ridden Druid,\u201d Thom said, his mouth dry. \u201cHe remembered being that. That\u2019s what you\u2019re saying.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no other explanation,\u201d Phelan said. \u201cAnd more than that, he probably still has C\u00edar\u2019s power besides. There\u2019s no reason for her to want him otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would he lie about it?\u201d Marin pressed herself back, leaning into Thom\u2019s chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held on, leaning back, each holding the other up. \u201cI don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe probably had a good reason,\u201d Thom murmured, squeezing his eyes shut. At least, I hope he did.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe reason\u2019s not important,\u201d Cameron said quietly. \u201cHow do we find him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the real question,\u201d Phelan said as he leaned down to pick up his staff. \u201cBut I\u2019ve got some ideas about that. Come on. Let\u2019s get out of this rain and get to work.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" They found Phelan and Marin sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on a slab of concrete, not nearly as far from the tents as Thom had expected them to be. They were quiet, staring off into the distance, though Phelan twitched as he saw … Continue reading