Page 51 of Midnight Sun
They saddle the horses and follow the path into the mountains to a fork where a narrow trail branches off along the coastline.
“Are you sure thedraugurcame this way?” Jamie asks.
“There’s a burial mound near the little church overlooking the fjord. It can only have come from there. Though if we had Snjór with us, he could follow the trail.”
“Why didn’t you bring him?”
Finn smiles. Jamie looks gorgeous in the red sunlight appearing through the clouds, every inch the warrior Finn fantasized about as a boy. He can’t believe he found him.
“I had to chase after a certain someone, and a dog can only run so far. I couldn’t be slowed down.”
“Oh.” Jamie looks a little chagrined. “Sorry, i-it’s kind of hot arguing with you. I like to push you, because you don’t budge, and I like–” Jamie trails off, a slight flush creeping over his cheeks.
“You like it when I push back,” Finn continues for him.
“Yeah. Quite a lot.” Jamie sends him a boyish grin. If there weren’t a rotting corpse in his bedroom, Finn would drag him right back to the lodge and show him how much he likes to push back.
Jamie looks up as light footsteps approach them. His hand falls to the hilt of the sword. Finn lays his hand on top of Jamie’s. “No need for that.”
Two slender figures jump down from the mountainside and in front of the horses. They’re wearing the traditional armor of their people and are carrying spears.
“Thorfinn!” Bryndis yells as she recognizes him, and Birkir smiles at them. “There’s adraugurrisen from his grave. We followed his trail from the mound.”
“It’s headed right to your homestead,” Birkir adds.
“The mound dweller is dealt with. James killed it,” Finn answers in English, so that Jamie can understand their conversation. He has to suppress a grin at the curious glances the young elves send Jamie.
Jamie makes a dismissive gesture. “I just distracted it long enough so you could cut its head off.”
“That’s not how I remember it,” Finn chuckles, but turns his attention to Bryndis and Birkir again. “Did you see someone else up there? The person who summoned thedraugur?”
“There was someone hiding in the Christian temple as we went by,” Bryndis says.
“Do you have a feud with a sorcerer over your lover?” Birkir asks mirthfully.
Finn feels himself blushing, trying to come up with an appropriate answer.
“He does,” Jamie answers for him.
“Ha, lover!” Bryndis snorts at her twin. “Can’t you see they’re courting? He’s a good catch, Troll-Burster.”
“Enough of the disrespect, you nosy children,” Finn chides, even as Jamie chuckles next to him. “Do you want to accompany us, or is your mother waiting for you at home?"
Bryndis and Birkir exchange a quick look. Despite their warlike bearing, they’re still teenagers.
“We’ll come with you,” Bryndis decides and sets off down the path.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t inform mother that thedrauguris dealt with?” Birkir asks.
“Don’t be a coward, brother.”
“I’m not a coward. Besides, it wasn’t me Finn had to pull out of the river,” Birkir shoots back.
Finn chuckles. “Are you coming?”
The twins glare at each other, but fall into a swift jog so Jamie and Finn have to spur their horses to keep up with them.
When they reach the small, white church sitting atop the cliffs, Finn is immediately reminded of the dream he had in London just before he met Jamie for the first time. It seems like ages ago. The midnight sun paints the church’s walls an eerie red, just like Finn remembers, and the oaken doors stand wide open. The rough wind blowing in from the sea carries with it a foul smell that surely comes from the open burial mound. They’ll have to take a look at it later, but right now, something about the church is calling to Finn.