Excerpt: Tempus Fugitive

Furious, Sophia forced herself not to hurl the phone at the wall. “You swore,” she growled, “you promised me no innocents would-“

“You didn’t see the lad, but trust me, he was anything but innocent,” he replied, forcefully jocular. “And anyway; eggs and omelettes, my girlie – can’t have the one, without-.”

She shouldered her pack, and started back up the stairs. “Where is he?”

“Oh no, you’re not going off on a rescue mission when we’ve-“

“Then tell me where he is!” she hissed, so she wouldn’t scream. For a long moment, her earbud was silent. “I don’t much want to scent-track that woman all over Edinburgh, but I’m not morally opposed to it or anything. And at this hour of night there’s not much traffic to confuse her trail...”

“He’s safe until high tide.” The words sounded like they’d been pressed out through clenched teeth. “Which isn’t for hours yet. And, he’s not worth you breaking stride and haring off to do what his mum is already about! You’re needed where you’re at, girlin, and you know it. There’s nobody else who stands a chance at getting all the way to the Fenris – nobody we can trust, and we both know it. You didn’t seriously think I’d risk our bargain tonight, did you?”

She had, of course, but in light of Oengus’ confession, Sophia was forced to admit just how much of that belief had been founded in a deep and sincere wish not to have to carry through with her end of their plan. She gave a sigh, and opened her pack for the electric torch within. “I swear, if either of them die because of this…”

“You’ll have my bollocks on a plate, I know.” His obnoxiously cheery tone returned, a sure sign he was unnerved. Which was good. She’d learned over the years that knocking the spriggan off his stride every once in awhile was the only way to be sure where she stood with him. And right now, she stood at the crux of a set of very slim chances. And she was probably behind schedule, as well.

“Coming up on ten, Pet,” Oengus prompted, as though reading her mind.

She zipped the pack, and switched the torch on. “I don’t want to do this.” Not that it would make a difference, saying it.

His voice in reply was level and grave. “Sophie girl, I know. But you can do it. You know that-"

Suddenly she did not want to hear the reasons again. "I know," she snapped, then took a deep, shaking breath. "I know. Nobody can stop this but me."

"And you know it must be stopped." She didn’t reply. What was there to say?