The Frozen Moon - By J.D. Swinn Page 0,37

much we can prepare for; we have no idea what we’re going to be up against, if anything. I think we’re misplacing our struggle as well, I think we’ll have a bigger problem holding onto the amulet than getting it. The Great Warlock didn’t create Alantra in order to keep Markbearers from getting the Relic, quite the opposite actually.” He was right, of course, he meant for Markbearers to be able to get to it if they so needed; Alantra was only for the inhibition of others. Certain subtleties such as this often made Nameh wonder if the Warlock had known how his followers would divide against each other.

“Alright, I don’t think there is much of a decision to make, then.” Cal still retained the light in his eyes that she so admired, though it seemed to have dimmed little. He was handling Gwen and Eve’s deaths better than she had thought he would. Clearly, it was not an easy event to deal with, but he was staying strong.

“Listen,” Nameh began, there was one more matter she had to get off her chest, and this may be her last opportunity, “this isn’t your fight. I know that you and Seth said you would come with us, but you can still go to Detroit. We don’t know how this is going to happen, or even that we’ll live to see how it does, and no one will blame you if you follow the rules of the Vine.”

“Hey, no one told us not to go after the Relic, remember?” Seth’s facetious voice broke the weighted conversation. He smiled, and the concern she had felt was brushed away. “So let’s get our axes ready and shove off!” He couldn’t possibly have known what his simple joke had done for her. As long as they had humor, none of it had to be real yet. They could go on pretending that there was someone behind them, someone who would back them up when they needed it, or even someone to mourn their deaths if they didn’t return.

“We’re coming; this is our fight now, as much as it is yours.” If only Cal could know how utterly untrue that was, how personal this battle had become so long ago. Nameh had enough talking, she wanted to leave, and she wanted to leave now. She pulled the black coat she wore closer around her body and fastened the buttons down the front. All the others did the same, catching her message that it was time to leave. They all wore dark colors, Nameh and Cal in black, Mira, Max, and Wyd in deep grays, Talar in brown, and Seth in a deep navy that contrasted brightly with his slightly lighter eyes.

Wyd stepped forward expectantly, ready to perform another transportation spell. Much to his surprise, Max put an arm out in front of him.

“Why don’t you let Nameh do it?” He flashed his ice blue eyes at her with his characteristic playful smirk. She returned his look count for count, though surprised. She hadn’t told any of the others that she was a Listener because she had no wish to convey the story of the Moon faerie war. “She is a Listener, after all.” Now he had done it, if there had been any question remaining, it was wiped clean, leaving only the truth. There was no reason to go on pretending, and the fact of the matter was that it truly wasn’t as consequential as she’d worked it up to be.

“You’re a Listener?” Talar questioned, though he did not often speak, he was apparently interested. In fact, they all seemed to be taking an interest.

“Yeah, but I’ve never done a transportation spell, I probably could, but it wouldn’t be as clean as Wyd’s.” She flawlessly deflected from the issue of her keeping this from the others with a question. “Seth, do you know what you are?” She knew his answer by the expression he gave.

“No, I haven’t figured it out yet. It’s not like I haven’t been in situations where I should have found out, but I still don’t know.” He didn’t seem too dismayed at this, more curious, though she couldn’t imagine that it was something he was pleased with.

“I don’t know yet either,” Mira interjected for Seth’s sake.

“But you’ve only just been marked.” he pointed out.

“That seems like ages ago, but it was only a few weeks.” It was true, so much had happened in that short period of time, that it felt as