He let Linna stare at it for a minute longer before closing his arm with a click and pulling it back inside his heavy cloak.

“That’s amazing. I had no idea something like that could be done.”

“It can’t. I was fortunate enough to know a very powerful Vision. They saved me,” Ethan said.

Linna’s eyes widened. She shifted herself closer to the fire as a gust of freezing wind howled past their encampment.

“You know more than one Vision? Are you also-”

“No,” Ethan cut in, laughing. “Just a swordsman with some extra metal.”

Linna looked slightly disappointed, but she let the topic drop. After a short silence, she jerked her chin in the direction of the packs at the far side of the camp.

“So, if you don’t mind the question, what’s the loot for? I can’t believe a Vision couldn’t find a safer method of employment,” she said.

A grimace flickered across Ethan’s face, but it vanished almost instantly.

“That’s a longer story. Let’s suffice to say we needed a lot of money in a short amount of time, and we couldn’t let ourselves get stuck in one area for too long.”

“You’re getting chased, aren’t you?” Linna asked.

Ethan’s eyebrows rose. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and shook his head with a wry grin.

“You are much too perceptive. Trust me when I say that you don’t want to know more about this matter. I suggest you try to get some rest. We still have a long walk ahead of us tomorrow, and you’ll be burdened with the weight of your sins and gold,” Ethan winked.

Linna rolled her eyes, but it was clear that the swordsman was done talking. She curled up next to the fire and sleep took her into its arms.

Ethan shook Jasper awake before the sun rose above the mountain peaks. The gremlin’s eyes snapped open, but the look on Ethan’s face killed Jasper’s complaints before they reached his lips.

“We have company,” Ethan whispered, his eyes cold.

“Yon?” Jasper asked grimly as all vestiges of sleep vanished from his face.

“Most likely,” Ethan said with a grim nod.

Jasper leapt to his feet and wrapped his cloak around him while Ethan woke the young woman up.

“Linna,” Ethan said as he grabbed her shoulder. “Get up. We have unwelcome friends visiting.”

Linna blinked blearily, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as she sat up.

“I’m sorry?”

“We’re under attack,” Jasper said briskly. “And not by humans. Make yourself small. Ethan will take care of this.”

Linna’s confusion vanished as a grotesque scream tore through the mountain valley. She paled and pushed herself against the wall of the small cave. Jasper kicked snow from beyond the cave across the fire before rushing back and hiding against the wall beside Linna.

“Why aren’t you helping Ethan?” Linna hissed.

“Nothing I can do,” Jasper whispered back. “The ugly bastards are called Vodrun. My Vision abilities don’t work on them. Twisted perversions of nature. Now stay still and be quiet. They’re strong but incredibly stupid. Ethan should be able to take care of them before they notice us.”

Ethan drew two swords out from under his cloak and strode out to the middle of the plateau. His weapons shimmered in the glowing moonlight like two silver icicles. Several tense moments passed. Ethan stood completely still, his back to Jasper and Linna and his head tilted slightly as he listened intently.

The snow at the far end of the plateau suddenly erupted into the air as a thick black claw appeared at the edge of the cliff. With a victorious howl, a large dark form hauled itself upwards and onto the plateau. It was canine in shape, but far larger than any wolf could have been. Disproportionate muscles writhed and rippled under its skin with every jerky unnatural movement it made.

Two sickly yellow eyes fastened on Ethan and the creature’s maw opened, revealing several rows of massive, stained teeth. A violent howl tore out of its mouth, spraying saliva that bubbled against the fresh snow on the ground.

The Vodrun blurred into motion. It reached Ethan in seconds and lunged for his neck. The swordsman’s weapons flashed in the moonlight and the screech of claws on metal tore through the silent air.

Both man and beast were forced back several steps. The creature let out a guttural howl and launched itself back through the air toward the swordsman. Ethan danced out of the way gracefully, his sword flickering out to bite at the monster’s unprotected hide.

The Vodrun managed to turn itself midair, bringing its hind claws to bear against Ethan’s strike. Metal struck against claw again, but Ethan twisted his second sword at the last minute, scoring it across the bottom of the Vodrun’s chest. The creature stumbled as it hit the snow and Ethan pounced on it, plunging his twin swords down toward its head.

Before he could strike the finishing blow, a dark blur shot through the air toward the swordsman. Ethan hurled himself to the ground as a large black spike buried itself in the ground where he had been standing. Ethan rolled back to his feet, but the opportunity was gone.

The downed Vodrun clambered back to its feet with a hissing bark that could have been a laugh as it moved to stand beside the new creature that had appeared at the edge of the cliff. Unlike the first Vodrun, the newcomer had a long scorpionlike tail that emerged from the center of its back.

“This is unfortunate. I don’t suppose Yon would settle for talking this out over breakfast? I’m suddenly hungry,” Ethan said.

The Vodrun bared their teeth and took a synchronized step toward the swordsman. Ethan shrugged and rolled his shoulders. He raised his swords again and shook his head in Jasper’s direction.

“Damn. A second one. Ethan can’t do this on his own,” Jasper snarled. “Change of plans. You need to run.”

“I thought your Vision powers don’t work on them?” Linna whispered.

“They don’t,” Jasper said as he pulled a small dagger from his belt and sprinted toward the Vodrun.