Page 32 of The Source of Storms

“The Deacons,” he coughed, spitting blood at Byrgir.

Byrgir was not phased. “You said everyone in that house. Did you know how many there were?”

“Go fuck yourself,” the man barked back.

Byrgir grabbed the man’s broken nose and twisted. I flinched as he screamed through gurgling blood.

“We knew there were two,” he sputtered, flecks of red flying from his mouth as he coughed.

“Good. Not so hard, was it? Now, if youevertry to hurt her again, I will drive this blade through your chest so hard your spine will shatter. Do you understand?”

A chill climbed my own spine at the malice in his voice. The man nodded shakily.

Byrgir lowered the sword, then swiftly gripped the man’s dominant arm, rotated it, and brought it down over his knee with brutal speed, just like breaking a stick. A sickening crack and the man’s scream pierced the quiet forest again.

“Easy now, easy. You’ll be alright. Gods, it’s like you’ve never broken a bone before,” Byrgir muttered as he rose and strode to his horse, pausing to wipe his claymore in the snow. He looked at me where I stood, staring at him, mouth agape.

“We need to move. I should’ve killed this one too.” He gestured nonchalantly at the man moaning and clutching his arm in the snow and mud. “His friends will be here soon, and I’m sure he’ll be all too eager to tell them where you’ve gone.”

“What about Eilith? We have to go back for her,” I protested.

“We can’t do that. I need to get you out of here. Eilith can handle herself.”

“But there were so many of them! And only one of her,” I said, but he was already swinging a leg over his mount.

“We can’t go back.” Byrgir repeated. “We need to get you somewhere safe.”

I finally followed him, and we galloped down the road, away from Eilith’s house.

“Who were those men?” I asked.

“Paragons. Let’s get off the road.” He slowed his horse and turned into the woods. I followed, more questions rising above the fear and confusion I felt.

“Why did you come?” I asked as I regained my composure.

“Because I’m supposed to protect people from monsters like that,” he said, his voice heavy with guilt. I did not push him for any more answers.

∞∞∞

We made our way to the village, keeping our hoods up and heads down as we snaked between houses to his home on the edge of town. The early night of winter had fallen hours ago, and throughout the town windows glowed with firelight. I was painfully aware of how cold and achy I was.

We hitched our horses at the back of Byrgir’s house and left them saddled. Byrgir moved quickly around the small cottage, hurriedly packing supplies as I had done hours before.

“Can’t we stay here tonight? Or somewhere else in town? I doubt they know where you live,” I asked hopefully. I didn’t want to go back out into the cold and dark.

“There’s nowhere safe for us here. There have been too many Paragons around for too long. And I don’t want anybody to see you and I together.” He glanced at me. “Not… like that. No offense.” I shrugged and he continued, “But they’ll be looking for us, asking around. Wouldn’t be surprised if they already are. And if people notice us bunked up at the inn, or leaving town together, they’ll talk. I want as much of a head start on them as we can get.”

“Nobody saw us here. We can hide the horses and keep the lights out. It’s just so warm, and I’m freezing.”

He sighed, then gestured toward the small kitchen. “Make some tea and something warm to eat. Eat as much as you can. It’ll help keep you warm tonight.”

I did as I was told, glad to have something to do with myself, though my hands shook as I lit the stove.

It had all happened so fast, and now I was in a house with a man I thought I knew, but who suddenly felt like a stranger. AndI couldn’t help but feel a creeping sense of betrayal. They truly were strangers, Byrgir and Eilith. They had had their own secret lives right in front of me that I knew nothing about, couldn’t be involved in, didn’t even see. Once again, everyone was in on the secret but me.

And now Eilith might be dead, her home and all her animals abandoned. I felt the creeping, oppressive weight of helplessness. Suddenly everything felt so foreign, so unfamiliar.

Byrgir entered the kitchen with a bag and scanned for things to pack. His eyes met mine, and he read my emotions on my face.

---