{"id":1141,"date":"2012-03-23T00:00:54","date_gmt":"2012-03-23T04:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1141"},"modified":"2012-03-22T18:00:22","modified_gmt":"2012-03-22T22:00:22","slug":"autumn-chapter-6-05","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1141","title":{"rendered":"Autumn – Chapter 6 – 05"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I went back to the ward-lines, Thom\u2019s protests still echoing in my ears.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Carolyn came with me, leaving J.T. to organize the defenses back by the fire.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She crossed her arms tightly across her chest, staring at the ravine, at the trees.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat are they telling you?\u201d I murmured softly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She shivered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat we might have enough time for Kellin to get back with Paul and Stasia and the flock.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Deadlocked down there, apparently, but getting uglier by the second.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She glanced at me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI want to tell them to stop watching and come back to where it\u2019s safe.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She meant the fairies, the tiny refugees from the shattered Shakespeare Garden that had been our allies since the day the <\/span>camazotzi<\/span><\/em> tore the garden apart.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Carolyn could see them without trying\u2014I only caught glimmers when they wanted me to see them, and most of the others could only sense their presence.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>But they talked to Carolyn, trusted Carolyn, and thanks to that relationship, they helped us and we let them share our space, our wards, and our safety.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A glimmer of green and blue on Carolyn\u2019s shoulder told me that Longfellow\u2014a young fairy who had a particular attachment to her\u2014was about, probably perching there and relaying her the information.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I watched her for a moment, frowning slightly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019re smart enough to know when things are getting too hot, Care,\u201d I said, resting my hand on her shoulder.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTrust their judgment.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She nodded, eyes still focused far away.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m going to have to,\u201d she muttered, then sighed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou didn\u2019t have to come out here with me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I would\u2019ve been fine.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I shook my head slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI could say the same thing to you.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>One way or another, we\u2019re out here together.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>My hand slipped from her shoulder as I walked to the nearest ward, a few feet away.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>My skin prickled with the energy coming off of it; it was refreshing, like jumping into a cold pool on a hot day.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Still intact.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That was good.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNothing\u2019s messed around with them since we set them again, right?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust the same as they were the day Phelan got here.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t have any explanations for it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI thought maybe we were wrong about Leah,\u201d Carolyn said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I glanced back over my shoulder at her and she smiled wryly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cUntil today, anyway.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Until I heard what she said.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her smile faded. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWhat does it mean?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s why I needed to talk to Phelan,\u201d I murmured.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI wish he\u2019d been of more help.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSounded like he was hearing voices, too.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe was.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt had a shotgun propped against his shoulder as he joined us, expression grim.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI didn\u2019t want to tell you in front of everyone.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t think he wanted to tell everyone.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I blinked at him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt shrugged slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou don\u2019t think he\u2019s crazy, Thom doesn\u2019t think he\u2019s crazy, and sometimes I don\u2019t think he\u2019s crazy, but I think that Phelan thinks the <\/span>rest<\/span><\/em> of us might not judge him sane if he doesn\u2019t at least make an effort to act like he is.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I snorted humorlessly and turned away.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat else did he tell you?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNot much,\u201d Matt said, coming to stand between Carolyn and I.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAbout the same as what you guys already know.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The shadow guy and that Vammatar chick are going toe to toe down there and he can sense them doing it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He said it echoed and he was open so he started to hear it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Rung his head like a bell.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWas that when his eyes rolled back into his skull?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Carolyn asked.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah, that was about when it happened.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom started seeing shit and Jacqueline and I just kind of sat there for a second until Thom snapped out of it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Jac couldn\u2019t carry Phelan alone and neither of us wanted to leave Thom up there by himself.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We hadn\u2019t been down by the fire for very long when you guys got back.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He glanced at me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhere did you guys put Leah?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTied up inside of the supply tent.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Drew\u2019s watching her.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019d checked on the way out to the lines.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She was still out like a light, a bruise forming where I\u2019d clocked her.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline could take a look at it later, we\u2019d decided.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I shook my head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI didn\u2019t want to believe that she\u2014or anyone else\u2014would betray us like that.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I guess I know why.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf you could let me in on why, I\u2019d appreciate it,\u201d Matt said dryly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Carolyn glanced at him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s that big of a logical leap to assume that if she was hearing their voices in her head that they\u2019d been talking to her\u2014or at least one of them was.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt frowned.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSo what does that mean for Phelan?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He could hear them, too, like they were broadcasting clear as day.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What <\/em><\/span>does<\/span> that mean?<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>I frowned a little.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf I were to venture a guess?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Could be something and could be nothing.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>If it means something, it\u2019s that we\u2019ve got an advantage.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Vammatar came after him up by the barrow.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They have some kind of history.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat kind of history?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt asked.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cA very violent one,\u201d Phelan said wearily as he joined us.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCarolyn, are they still in deadlock out there?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She nodded mutely, staring at him for a moment before she said, \u201cI thought you could hear them.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cClosed the door,\u201d Phelan said, sitting down slowly on the ground near Matt\u2019s feet.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTook more effort than I thought it would, but I shouldn\u2019t have been doing what I was doing in the first place.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He smiled humorlessly up at me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s the kind of thing I kept telling Teague not to do because it\u2019d get him killed someday.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWell,\u201d I said quietly, \u201cI suppose it hasn\u2019t yet, and it didn\u2019t kill you this time.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Whatever doesn\u2019t end us makes us stronger, right?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He grunted and nodded, looking away again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah, something like that,\u201d he muttered.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0 <\/span> \u201cVammatar could, if she wanted to.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She almost did.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s the second time that\u2019s happened.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSecond time?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt looked askance at him.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan nodded slowly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSecond time.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>And if they\u2019re still deadlocked out there, maybe I have time to tell the story.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Maybe it\u2019ll give us some insights about how to fight her\u2014and anything else that gets thrown our way.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWell, then,\u201d I said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019re all ears.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan took a deep breath, exhaled it slowly, and then began to tell us everything.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I went back to the ward-lines, Thom\u2019s protests still echoing in my ears.\u00a0 Carolyn came with me, leaving J.T. to organize the defenses back by the fire.\u00a0 She crossed her arms tightly across her chest, staring at the ravine, … 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":[38,35,44,14,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1141","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autumn","category-book-2","category-chapter-6-book-2","category-story","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-ip","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1141","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=1141"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1141\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1143,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1141\/revisions\/1143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1141"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1141"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1141"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}