Page 196 of Salt Between the Wolves

"There is a settlement called Red Creek."

Before the words had fully left his mouth, Soren was already moving toward the door, and Garrick rose immediately to follow him. Behind them, Hakon remained seated, whether out of wisdom or cowardice, and at the moment Soren found himself caring very little which it was.

The journey took less than an hour, though the storm finally caught them halfway there. Rain swept across the hills in cold sheets, and the road turned to mud beneath the horses' hooves. No one complained or spoke during the ride, and the heavy silence suited the mood far better than conversation would have.

Red Creek emerged beneath the rain shortly before dusk. It was a small settlement consisting of little more than a handful of homes, a mill, and a bridge crossing a narrow river. There was nothing strategically important about the place, which somehow made the attack feel even worse.

The bodies had already been moved beneath a wooden shelter by the time they arrived.

There were four of them, all Ironfang warriors, and one still looked painfully young.

Rain hammered against the roof overhead while Soren stared down at the dead. For a long moment he said nothing.

One of the surviving guards stood nearby with his arm bound tightly in cloth. His face was pale, and he looked both exhausted and frightened. The fear was not directed at the attackers.

It was directed at Soren.

That, Soren reflected grimly, was another recent development.

"Tell me."

The man nodded immediately.

"There were twelve of them."

"Twelve?"

"Maybe more."

"Mercenaries?"

The guard hesitated before shaking his head.

"No."

Soren lifted his gaze.

"No?"

The man swallowed hard.

"We recognized some of them."

The rain suddenly seemed louder.

"From where?"

The answer came reluctantly.

"Black Ridge."

Silence settled over the shelter, heavy and absolute, until Garrick finally cursed under his breath.

The guard continued.

"There were others too. Not locals. But some were."

Soren looked back toward the bodies as the pressure behind his eyes returned, stronger and hotter than before. The mark burned beneath his skin while rain continued to hammer against the roof overhead.