{"id":1169,"date":"2012-04-06T00:00:42","date_gmt":"2012-04-06T04:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1169"},"modified":"2012-04-06T14:55:54","modified_gmt":"2012-04-06T18:55:54","slug":"autumn-chapter-6-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1169","title":{"rendered":"Autumn – Chapter 6 – 11"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI wondered how long it would take you to get the upper hand,\u201d Phelan said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat did you have to promise him?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What was left of your soul?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She <\/span>tsked<\/span><\/em>.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSo high and mighty, Wandering One.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You\u2019re no saint.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You act like you\u2019ve got a soul left to barter with yourself.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her feet touched the ground and she prowled toward him like some kind of great cat.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDid you want a parley, <\/span>kutevat saari<\/span><\/em>, or are you just trying to vex me further?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her eyes flashed as she looked beyond him, eyes lighting on me before her gaze slid to Matt and then on to J.T.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou came to parley,\u201d she purred, lips twisting into a cruel smile, \u201cand I know why.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>My stomach did a full somersault inside my belly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t like the sound of this.\u00a0 <\/span>Not at all, not one iota.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>I squeezed my staff, the wood oddly warm under my cold fingers.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A muscle in Phelan\u2019s jaw twitched.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThis is between you and I, Vammatar, and no one else.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Send your army back to where it came from and my friends will stand down.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. tensed up beside me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I held a hand out toward him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Settle, Jay.\u00a0 <\/span>Settle.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Let him play this the way he needs to play this.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>For now, anyway.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She was watching <\/span>us<\/span><\/em>, not Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt seems they may have other plans.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Of course, mine might, too.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Vammatar flashed a predator\u2019s smile.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t think I can make that deal, especially for a dirty little trickster like you.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Do they know how many people have died for you, for your precious little causes?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYes,\u201d I said, unable to stay silent as she mocked him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The words welled up from somewhere I couldn\u2019t identify, mine but not.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I took a slow step forward.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>My heart started to pound.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd we don\u2019t give a damn because we\u2019re not them and we\u2019re not going to die today.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>From my lips to the gods\u2019 ears and I <\/span>know<\/span><\/em> they\u2019re out there listening and waiting to see how this all plays out.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan shot me a look of pure terror as I stopped just shy of the ward line.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I met his gaze with a calm, measured look that I hoped told him I knew what I was doing\u2014even though I didn\u2019t.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Where are the words coming from?\u00a0 <\/span>How do I know what to say?<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Vammatar stared at me, smirking a little, knowing smirk.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI can smell your fear, Seer.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Lying does you no good.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>There\u2019s that Seer term again.\u00a0 <\/span>I hate that everyone seems to know that about me from just looking.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>I swallowed, lifting my chin to meet her gaze head-on.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPosturing doesn\u2019t do you any good, either, outsider.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan offered you a choice.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Take it or leave it, but know that there are consequences to either choice.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The corner of her mouth twitched as she looked back toward Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe has fire, that one.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You and yours don\u2019t deserve that kind of spawn, O\u2019Credne.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Her arm moved, almost faster than I could blink.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Something darkly bright sprang from her fingers, turning end over end, spinning too fast to really perceive.<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Phelan dodged in front of me, then fell, a knife protruding from his eye\u2014a knife meant for <\/em><\/span>me<\/span>.\u00a0 <\/span>I cried out and moved, only to be swarmed by the Greys.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cKnife!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I yelled, hitting the dirt.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan twisted toward the sound of my voice and cried out as the knife that Vammatar threw bit into the flesh of his shoulder.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>As he dropped to one knee, I lifted my heard to meet Vammatar\u2019s gaze.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She looked shocked, almost shaken.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>It was almost as if she was wondering how I\u2019d known.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I wasn\u2019t supposed to know what she was doing before she did it.\u00a0 <\/span>That wasn\u2019t supposed to happen.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It wasn\u2019t in how she foresaw this going.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I grinned at her and shouted, \u201cFire at will, fire at will!\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The sound of gunfire echoed across the field, through the ravines.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Vammatar screamed.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The Greys stood frozen for a brief moment as they watched birdshot chew through Vammatar\u2019s fine cloak and the leather armor beneath.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I scrambled across the line and grabbed Phelan by the arm.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He tried to throw me back.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo!\u201d he shouted over the gunfire.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s <\/span>my<\/span><\/em> fight!\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe made it ours!\u201d I yelled back, latching on again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cEither take her out or fall back across the line!\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Something flashed through his eyes before he set his jaw and darted back to the safety of the ward-lines with me.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cRemind me when this is over to make you a gods-be-damned <\/span>spear<\/span><\/em>,\u201d he muttered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He reached up and yanked Vammatar\u2019s knife out of his shoulder.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He winced heartily and I cursed, reaching for the wound.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat the hell did you do that for?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLet it bleed,\u201d he growled as he sniffed at the blade, then cast it aside.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s not poisoned. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>I\u2019ll live.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He took me by the hand and pulled me to my feet as he straightened up again.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The Greys were starting to move.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I began to turn away, but he held me firm, facing him.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLook at me, Marin.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPhelan, we <\/span>don\u2019t<\/span><\/em> have time for this,\u201d I snapped.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His fingers dug into my arm.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>His eyes snared mine.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat you did was stupid and dangerous and pretty fucking heroic and I\u2019m impressed but don\u2019t let me ever see you pulling shit like that again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Unless we take her down now, she\u2019s going to be gunning for you for the rest of your life.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThen I guess we know what we have to do.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>His eyes hardened, but for a brief moment I thought they misted over slightly\u2014but only for a moment.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah,\u201d he said, almost hoarsely.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe do.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He spun away, howling a battle cry that sent shivers through me from its strange familiarity, and ran straight at Vammatar.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI wondered how long it would take you to get the upper hand,\u201d Phelan said.\u00a0 \u201cWhat did you have to promise him?\u00a0 What was left of your soul?\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She tsked.\u00a0 \u201cSo high and mighty, Wandering One.\u00a0 You\u2019re no … 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-1169","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-iR","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1169","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=1169"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1171,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1169\/revisions\/1171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}