{"id":1023,"date":"2012-01-16T00:00:42","date_gmt":"2012-01-16T05:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1023"},"modified":"2012-02-14T11:40:22","modified_gmt":"2012-02-14T16:40:22","slug":"autumn-chapter-2-02","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1023","title":{"rendered":"Autumn – Chapter 2 – 02"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Ter\u00e9zia stared at Wat for a second.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He simply shrugged and nodded to Kess.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe did.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Put the mirror away and get out here.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>With that, he turned and stepped out of the room.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Ter\u00e9zia glanced at Kess, who simply shrugged.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCome on.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She ducked out as well, following in Wat\u2019s wake.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Ter\u00e9zia cursed softly under her breath and hurried to follow, wrapping the mirror quickly and leaving it where it lay.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The scene that greeted her beyond the door wasn\u2019t quite what she might have expected.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A girl sat calmly on one of the benches next to the lodge\u2019s double-doors, quietly removing her boots like they all did when they came inside, so they could spare themselves the agony of scrubbing the wooden planks every day.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her hair was long, curly, the color of roasted chestnuts and appeared remarkably clean except for a few leaves and twigs caught among the curls.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She was dressed in skinny jeans, hiking boots, and a windbreaker.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The backpack in Gray\u2019s hand must have belonged to her\u2014it was a large pack, a backpacker\u2019s pack,<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>complete with bedroll and tent strapped to it top and bottom.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The girl seemed too clean, though, to have been out backpacking in the mountains all this time since the breaking of the world.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Ter\u00e9zia\u2019s gaze flicked to Gray.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He inclined his head slightly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 All right,<\/em><\/span> Ter\u00e9zia thought.<\/span>\u00a0 I\u2019ll wait.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The girl finished with her boots and stood up, starting to unzip her windbreaker.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her gaze lifted and her eyes met Ter\u00e9zia\u2019s.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Ter\u00e9zia took an involuntary step back, blinking rapidly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Those eyes.\u00a0 <\/span>How can her eyes be so damned old?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She looks like she\u2019s not much older than Elton\u2019s kids.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>A teenager.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The girl smiled, ducking her head slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHello,\u201d she said softly, her voice like bells\u2014hand bells, church bells, all the tones and currents were there in one soft word.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Ter\u00e9zia\u2019s heart began to beat a little faster.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>There was <\/span>power<\/span><\/em> in the girl.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Ter\u00e9zia <\/span><\/em>glanced at Gray again, caught his grim smile.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He could feel it, too, probably more strongly than she did.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her gaze slid back toward the newcomer.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The girl was looking at them all again, mostly at Kess, Ter\u00e9zia, and Wat, since the others were still out and about, still doing this and that in the area\u2014firewood, water, scouting, hunting.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They\u2019d all be back before the sun went down, but that was still hours away.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Ter\u00e9zia\u2019s heart missed a beat.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>If this girl meant to hurt them, it\u2019d be a long while before the others realized it.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The thought shocked her, sent shivers through her.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019m getting too damned paranoid<\/em><\/span>, she thought, barely stopping herself from shaking her head.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI was glad to find you,\u201d the girl continued.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThough it took a little looking.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Still, I never would have found you here if I hadn\u2019t sensed the scrying.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There was some\u2026backlash, wasn\u2019t there?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Did they harm you?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I could sense it, then the thread snapped.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Probably a wise idea, if a will-worker has that kind of ability at this distance.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Her accent was strange, Ter\u00e9zia noted, though her English was flawless.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She swallowed a little.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She sensed me scrying.\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m not even sure I could sense me scrying.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Should she even be able to do that if she wasn\u2019t my target in the first place?<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>She\u2019d been simply seeking, though, casting a wide net.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It was entirely possible that was how the woman had caught wind of it.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Another shiver worked its way down Ter\u00e9zia\u2019s spine.<\/span>\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure I like this.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kess glanced at Ter\u00e9zia and made a sour face.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her expression smoothed out as she stepped toward the girl and offered her hand.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m Kestrel.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Call me Kess, everyone does.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A faint smile tugged at the corner of the girl\u2019s mouth.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cA mouthful of vowels, I\u2019m afraid.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Aoife O\u2019Credne\u2014Eva works just as well.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It can be difficult to get the true name right.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She took Kess\u2019s hand and shook it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWell met, Kess.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s my honor and pleasure.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Eva inclined her head toward Gray and Wat.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYour gentlemen friends have been fairly closed-mouthed about this whole affair, which struck me as a bit odd, but I suppose I shouldn\u2019t judge.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Paranoid?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Gray showed the slightest bit of discomfort, shifting his weight from one foot to the other and shooting a quick, warning look toward Ter\u00e9zia.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He was nervous, too.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Glad I\u2019m not the only one.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Wat just smiled his usual charming smile and shrugged, stepping forward and taking his hands out of his pockets.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI can get a little nervous and tongue-tied when I see a pretty girl.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Call me Wat.\u201d
\n<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Eva smirked as he took her hand and kissed her knuckles.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s short for something, I assume?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He nodded, still smiling.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYes, and perhaps before the night is out you\u2019ll be blessed to know what it\u2019s short for.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMore like cursed,\u201d Ter\u00e9zia muttered, sighing and shaking her head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She didn\u2019t offer her hand, but she gave Eva a nod.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTeca Ramsay.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I was the one doing the scrying you sensed.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Eva nodded slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI thought so.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It had a woman\u2019s touch, though don\u2019t ask me how I can tell.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There\u2019s a certain kind of finesse a woman\u2019s working seems to have versus a man\u2019s.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her smile came brief, fleeting, but genuine and without an ounce of teasing or condescension.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cScrying seems to be a more feminine talent sometimes, anyhow.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I can count on one hand how many men I\u2019ve known that have even the slightest talent for it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Ter\u00e9zia looked past the girl to Gray, who shrugged almost imperceptibly, a brief flicker of confusion showing in his eyes.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Eva glanced up over her shoulder at him, then looked back to Ter\u00e9zia and smiled again, briefly this time.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou don\u2019t trust me.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Ter\u00e9zia shook her head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo,\u201d she admitted.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Eva shrugged.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s all right. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>I suppose you don\u2019t have to, just listen and take what I say to heart at least enough to think about it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s been a long road that\u2019s taken us all to this point.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019d hate to see everything come apart now simply because I come off as a little weird.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kess frowned.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s that supposed to mean?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Eva smiled a self-deprecating smile and gestured to the fire.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLet\u2019s sit down and have a cuppa and I\u2019ll explain to you as I can the road that\u2019s brought me here.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>All I ask is that you at least pretend to believe me before you throw me out or tie me up because you think I\u2019m crazy.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBecause by the time I\u2019m done, you probably will.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0 Ter\u00e9zia stared at Wat for a second. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He simply shrugged and nodded to Kess.\u00a0 \u201cWe did.\u00a0 Put the mirror away and get out here.\u201d\u00a0 With that, he turned and stepped out of the room.\u00a0 Ter\u00e9zia glanced at … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,35,40,14,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autumn","category-book-2","category-chapter-2","category-story","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-gv","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1023","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1023"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1023\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1082,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1023\/revisions\/1082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1023"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}