That fear felt different this time somehow\u2014a surprise.\u00a0 Matt had thought after so much time, after so many threats faced and handled, that he\u2019d learned every kind of fear that he could feel.\u00a0 Yet somehow, this felt different.\u00a0 There had been other times when the stakes felt much higher than they did now, but this felt like that and more.<\/p>\n
But why?<\/em><\/p>\n Hecate\u2019s shoulder leaned into his as his fingers flexed around hers again.\u00a0 He exhaled slowly, gaze fixed on Thordin\u2014on his friend\u2019s face, then his hands.\u00a0 If there was frost, he\u2019d reached too far, was reaching too far, and there would be a threat of losing him to the storm.<\/p>\n It had come close to happening before and was an experience none of them were keen to repeat.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat if he doesn\u2019t come back?\u201d Matt whispered, giving voice to the words that had suddenly bubbled up from that dark well of fear.<\/p>\n \u201cHe will,\u201d Hecate said, and the certainty in her voice was enough to silence that fear, at least this time.\u00a0 \u201cIf there\u2019s one thing that holds true about him, he\u2019ll let you pull him back.\u00a0 He learned that lesson and has remembered it well.\u201d<\/p>\n Matt didn\u2019t ask.\u00a0 He thought he knew what she was talking about, but he didn\u2019t want to hear the confirmation.\u00a0 He knew the old story\u2014knew the truth<\/em> of the old story.\u00a0 If that was what she was referencing, it made sense.\u00a0 Given everything he knew about his friend, it made sense.<\/p>\n And if it wasn\u2019t that, if it was about a battle on the ice in his<\/em> lifetime, well\u2014then it made even more<\/em> sense.<\/p>\n There was no sign of frost on Thordin\u2019s fingertips, though, even as the air around him seemed to crackle gently.\u00a0 Matt held his breath.\u00a0 The static electricity was nothing new, but it suggested exactly how powerful the storm might be, if it was gathering around Thordin even standing there, leaned against the windowsill.<\/p>\n Next to him, Hecate swallowed.<\/p>\n \u201cBig,\u201d she whispered.\u00a0 \u201cVery big.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd powerful,\u201d Matt whispered back, gaze fixed on Thordin\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n \u201cThis may be more than we bargained for.\u201d\u00a0 Her fingers flexed.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe we shouldn\u2019t have\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Matt shook his head, silent, still watching.<\/p>\n No frost.<\/p>\n The air crackled.\u00a0 Thunder boomed nearby, setting their cups rattling.\u00a0 Rain lashed at the windows, driven by a wind that was beginning to pick up.<\/p>\n If it was a normal storm, it was going to be one of the worst they\u2019d faced all summer.<\/p>\n A glimmer caught his eye.\u00a0 Rime started to gather along Thordin\u2019s fingernails.\u00a0 Matt was out of his seat in a second, crossing the room, his own magic a simmer beneath his skin\u2014already reaching.\u00a0 \u201cThordin\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n His friend gasped, reeling backward, stumbling back into Matt\u2019s startled arms.\u00a0 For a few seconds, Thordin\u2019s eyes rolled wildly, blindly, as if seeking both himself and who was with him, his hands scrabbling for purchase on Matt\u2019s arms.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014I was deep and high,\u201d Thordin gasped.\u00a0 \u201cI could feel something.\u00a0 It\u2019s not\u2014something\u2019s feeding it.\u00a0 Someone.\u00a0 Something.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t tell what.\u00a0 It\u2019s too far.\u00a0 This storm is huge and it\u2019s growing.\u00a0 It hasn\u2019t stopped growing and something is feeding it.\u201d<\/p>\n Hecate was at their side, then, helping Thordin straighten and steady even as the taller man leaned on Matt.\u00a0 \u201cBut you couldn\u2019t tell what or who?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d he breathed, reaching to scrub at his eyes.\u00a0 \u201cNo, it was too far away.\u00a0 It could be\u2014it could be anyone.\u00a0 Known or unknown.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr anything<\/em>,\u201d Matt murmured.<\/p>\n Thordin met his gaze and nodded slowly.\u00a0 \u201cAye.\u00a0 Anything.\u201d<\/p>\n The three looked at each other for a few seconds before Hecate shook her head.\u00a0 \u201cCome on.\u00a0 Sit down.\u00a0 You said it was far.\u201d<\/p>\n Thordin nodded again, fumbling into the chair they led him to.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u00a0 Miles and miles.\u00a0 West, I think, and south.\u00a0 Definitely south.\u201d<\/p>\n Hecate took a breath, looking at Matt, then Thordin, then back to Matt again.\u00a0 \u201cIt might not be directed at us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt might not be,\u201d Matt said.\u00a0 \u201cBut we can\u2019t pretend that it\u2019s not, can we?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Thordin said.\u00a0 \u201cWe can\u2019t and we shouldn\u2019t.\u00a0 But whoever it is\u2014they\u2019re strong and they\u2019re trying to keep what they can do hidden.\u00a0 What they\u2019re doing is subtle.\u00a0 They might not know how much they can do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr they know exactly how much they can do,\u201d Hecate said, sinking slowly back into her seat.\u00a0 \u201cAnd they\u2019re being careful.\u201d<\/p>\n Thordin nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI couldn\u2019t tell.\u00a0 Not without\u2014not without risking too much.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all right,\u201d Matt murmured.\u00a0 \u201cIf they\u2019re far, we still have time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut how much?\u201d\u00a0 Thordin asked.\u00a0 \u201cAssuming that this is something targeted and aimed here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Matt said.\u00a0 \u201cNone of us can, yet.\u00a0 Sounds like we\u2019re going to have to be careful with this, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd batten down the hatches,\u201d Hecate said, her gaze on the window and the wind-lashed rain.\u00a0 \u201cThis is barely the beginning, isn\u2019t it?\u00a0 Tip of the iceberg.\u201d<\/p>\n Swallowing hard, Thordin reached for his abandoned mug.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u00a0 The worst is still coming.\u00a0 Still out over the lake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen we have time,\u201d Hecate said.<\/p>\n \u201cTime,\u201d Matt echoed.\u00a0 He headed for where his old raincoat, patched in places, showing its age, hung by the front door.\u00a0 \u201cGoing to go check in on the Hunt and tell them to button up.\u00a0 And the sentries.\u00a0 You two stay here\u2014I\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMatt.\u201d<\/p>\n He paused at her voice, turning even as he shrugged into the coat.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be careful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVery careful,\u201d Hecate said, her gaze direct.\u00a0 \u201cBe very, very careful.\u201d<\/p>\n The words balanced on the very tip of his tongue, but he didn\u2019t ask the question.\u00a0 He just nodded.\u00a0 \u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n He pulled up his hood and stepped out into the storm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" That fear felt different this time somehow\u2014a surprise.\u00a0 Matt had thought after so much time, after so many threats faced and handled, that he\u2019d learned every kind of fear that he could feel.\u00a0 Yet somehow, this felt different.\u00a0 There had … Continue reading