Elven Doom by Lindsay Buroker

Author:Lindsay Buroker [Buroker, Lindsay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Urban Fantasy
Published: 2020-05-15T16:00:00+00:00

18

The helicopter landed next to the other one on a snow-covered shelf looking up at the summit. Once the blades stopped whirring, the mountaintop grew very quiet, save for the rustles and clanks of soldiers gathering gear and putting crampons onto their boots. I was the only one not wearing a Kevlar helmet, tactical vest, and carrying a rifle, but I had traded my usual jeans and duster for layers of lightweight waterproof hiking pants, shirts, and a jacket that promised to keep me warm if it dropped below freezing. Under the shirts, I wore Nin’s magical armored vest, and Chopper had its usual spot across my back, Fezzik in the thigh holster.

With the sun beating down on me, I was already warm and would shed the jacket if we ended up trekking from here. It had to be in the sixties, so worrying about cold-climate survival tactics seemed strange, but I trusted Willard’s promise that the weather could change rapidly up here. The fresh snow was a testament to how cold it got, even in August.

“That’s where the seismic-monitoring station was,” someone said dryly, pointing to an empty spot on the shelf.

As Willard and Banderas walked over to take a look, I summoned my ally who didn’t rely only on his eyes or his ability to sense magic to hunt prey. Silver mist formed at my side, with Sindari soon following.

Clarke looked over at him, offered his cocky smile, and Sindari’s first words were: Why is that one here?

We’re on a mission with the Army. He’s in the Army.

He talks too much to be a warrior. And he has presumptuous hands.

As far as I could remember, Sindari had only met Clarke once, when we’d been helping Willard move into her new apartment. Clarke had petted Sindari, something he allowed from friends—Dimitri apparently had excellent hands—but had hissy fits about if others did it without asking.

He’s here because he can sense magical beings. Just like you. I patted Sindari on the back. We need to find out if the dark elves are up here. They would most likely be in caves formed by ice melting under the glaciers.

Why would ice melt under a glacier?

It’s a volcano, and hot gases ooze out of the ground.

Sindari lifted a paw and looked at it, as if expecting to see these oozing gases tainting his pads.

We also saw tracks as large as but different from sasquatch, I added. Only a few miles from here. How are tigers at walking on snow and ice?

Unless the snow is deep, it should not be problematic. I am a magnificent stalker from the Tangled Tundra and have hunted and downed prey in all weather conditions.

Good, because I couldn’t find booties with cleats for tigers.

Booties? No predator would wear such a thing.

Dogs wear them in poor weather. I’m sure Rocket has a set.

Sindari sniffed. Your dogs are not real predators. They chase their own tails.

I bet Rocket would have found the dark elves by now.

Sindari glared at me and then gave my foot a significant look.

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