“I wondered when I saw no sign of Tinklers in the courtyard. After her escape from Tordenet, they were to bring her back here.” Hall turned to stare into the fire. “They had a day’s head start on us.”
“But we cut cross-country because Rauf said it would be faster. Chances are they haven’t had time to get here yet.” At least that was what Chase hoped.
“I can have Eric send some of the men along the road. If they find anything...” Patrick shrugged. “Either way, they can get word back to us faster than if we were to simply wait.”
“Make it so,” Malcolm ordered, sounding every bit the laird of the castle.
“I’ve no wish to insult your hospitality, but I’d ask to accompany those you send. I’ve a need to speak with the Tinklers about those who traveled with them.” Hall scratched his fingers through his beard, his gaze on the fire. “If you could spare provisions and have all arranged by first light, I’d be grateful.”
“You’d be better served by having that shoulder of yers properly looked after, now that we’re here.” Christiana set her cup on the table. “A day or two of rest will do you good.”
Hall turned to acknowledge her concern, a traceof his former smile back in place. “My wound is of small consequence, my lady, but I shall allow you to properly dress it before I leave. Which I must do with all haste, if I’m to have any hope of tracking the Sword of the Ancients.”
“For what reason would you seek a weapon of that reputed power?” Syrie asked.
“Because, my lady Syrie, it is the only weapon that will serve to fell Torquil when he rides against Castle MacGahan in the spring.”
Malcolm rubbed a spot between his eyes. “So you believe he will yet bring his men to attack us. I had hoped—”
“No, Malcolm,” Syrie interrupted, bouncing to her feet to pace the room. “You don’t understand what this man is telling us. Why would you need the Sword of the Ancients to meet Torquil in battle? For that matter, by what reason do you possibly expect to find it?”
Syrie came to a stop in front of Hall, her hands rising to her hips like those of a mother accusing her child of carrying stories. Though the sight of the two of them squaring off should have been funny, the petite redhead’s challenge of his enormous friend was anything but amusing.
Chase might have attributed the tension tightening his chest to his imagination, had Christiana not slid her hand into his. One look at her and he knew she felt it, too.
“I believe there is a trail because Torquil had theSword in his possession, and now it’s gone. But not with him. I suspect one of the minstrels, the surviving minstrel, might have...” Hall paused, choosing his words carefully. “He might have liberated the weapon. Along with the Elven Scrolls of Niflheim.”
Syrie gasped, her hand flying to cover her mouth as Patrick rose and all but lunged to her side.
“Torquil had access to the dark Magic of the scrolls? That would certainly explain the drain on my powers I experienced at Tordenet. As it would explain your need to find the weapon. Our need.” She waved Patrick off and resumed pacing. “He is possessed, I assume. Have you any idea what it is we deal with?”
Hall shrugged. “An heir to Odin? Fenrir would be my best guess. Especially after seeing the condition in which he left one of the minstrels.”
That memory was all too fresh in Chase’s mind, as well.
“I would appreciate an explanation,” Malcolm said, looking to his sister. “Christiana?”
Her fingers tightened in Chase’s grip. “I canna give one to you. I have seen no hint of this in my Vision travels. But I believe it. What I saw staring out of Torquil’s eyes was not our brother.”
“Little wonder you were unable to see such as this from the Norn’s world, Mistress Christiana. Aseidas black and as ancient as the Elven scrolls hold would be beyond the power of the Norns’ accounting.”
“What is this Fenrir?” Chase looked to Hall. “You’ve mentioned that name before.”
“A monstrous wolf-creature of legend, enemy to Odin.”
“Oh my God, Malcolm.” Danielle dropped to her husband’s side, wrapping her hand around his arm. “That’s exactly what we saw in the clearing. That enormous wolf that tried to kill you in the woods. The thing that turned into your brother after I stabbed him.”
“With the stake of rowan wood,” Christiana added.
“A fork, actually,” Danielle murmured, sinking back against Malcolm.
“I’m guessing we need to find these scrolls and make sure they’re locked away somewhere, too.” Chase again looked to his friend for confirmation. “And I’m also guessing we won’t be the only ones looking for this stuff. Am I right?”
“You are correct, little brother. All the more reason why I must be off at first light.”
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Thirty-nine
