Mina followed Jacqueline. Without giving it much thought, she switched over to ancient Norse. It would be easier and she had a feeling the conversation was going to get very loud, very fast. "To be perfectly honest, I've been seriously considering going into torpor," she said.

She knew that wouldn't elicit a good response, so she rushed on quickly. "There's a blood shortage, Jacqueline. And a horrible, unaccepting climate right now. I might have a better chance of survival if I can ride out the storm alone."