{"id":1228,"date":"2012-05-16T00:00:48","date_gmt":"2012-05-16T04:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1228"},"modified":"2012-05-15T18:04:36","modified_gmt":"2012-05-15T22:04:36","slug":"autumn-chapter-11-02","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1228","title":{"rendered":"Autumn – Chapter 11 – 02"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou need to talk him out of it, Neve.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She closed her eyes and counted to twenty before she straightened slowly and turned toward Teague, standing behind her in the doorway.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m done taking orders from the men in our family, Teague.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>If you want to talk Cameron out of going, you have to do it yourself.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Teague flinched.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI suppose I deserved that.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYes,\u201d Neve said, watching her brother ease deeper into the spare bedroom, the one she\u2014and Cameron\u2014had been sharing.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>As far as Teague knew, she\u2019d been sleeping on the floor, leaving Cameron the bed.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He\u2019d have some kind of attack if he knew the truth.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She folded her arms across her chest.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ve spent my entire life listening to you, to Seamus, to Father.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m done.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s time for me to follow my heart.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Teague stopped and stood by the window, staring out at the bright blue autumn sky.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd your heart\u2019s telling you to go off wandering with an ex-pilot who gets attacked by <\/span>Dirae<\/span><\/em> as if he was one of us?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSomeone has to watch his back if he\u2019s going to fulfill whatever grand destiny you\u2019ve foreseen for him, <\/span>dearth\u00e1ir m\u00f3r<\/span><\/em>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She tried to suppress a wince as she saw her brother\u2019s shoulders hunch slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He leaned heavily against the windowsill and she went to him and wrapped her arms around him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She rested her cheek against his shoulder blade and sighed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s not that I don\u2019t love you, Teague.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You know that, right?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His voice was unsteady and she couldn\u2019t suppress the wince this time.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201c<\/span>D\u00e9ithe agus arrachtaigh<\/span><\/em>,\u201d she muttered under her breath.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTeague, it\u2019s not as if I\u2019m leaving you all alone here.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You have Kira.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You have your wife and the child in her belly.\u00a0 <\/span>Hasn\u2019t she told you yet?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Haven\u2019t you sensed it, you bloody oaf?<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou won\u2019t be alone, and you know full well we won\u2019t abandon you completely anyhow.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019ll be back.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWill you?\u201d he whispered, leaning his head against the glass.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Something wet hit the back of Neve\u2019s hand and she sighed.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Dearth\u00e1ir m\u00f3r<\/span><\/em>,\u201d she whispered in his ear.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ve been in a cage for too long.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Don\u2019t ask me to lock myself in one again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Not when I\u2019ve learned how to fly.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe need you, <\/span>deirfi\u00far leanbh<\/span><\/em>, Kira and I.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNot as much as Cameron does.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve squeezed him and straightened, running her fingers lightly through her brother\u2019s tangled curls.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe\u2019ll get himself killed out there if he goes alone,<\/span> dearth\u00e1ir m\u00f3r<\/span><\/em>.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There\u2019s still too much he doesn\u2019t know, doesn\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Teague closed his eyes, still braced against the windowsill.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe\u2019s like Kira\u2019s cousin.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019s not ready, but he doesn\u2019t have the luxury of not being ready yet.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He cocked his head to one side slowly, meeting her gaze.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The corner of his mouth twitched upward with a wry smile.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDo I have any hope of talking him into staying on a few more days, even a week or two?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve smiled weakly and went back to packing her meager belongings.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI doubt it, but you can try.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>His smile turned sad as he turned back to the window.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMaybe I\u2019ll save my breath for a fight I actually have a prayer of winning.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>They were both silent for a few moments except for the sound of Neve stuffing clean clothes into her knapsack.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She finally looked up to see Teague staring at her again, a little wistfulness in his gaze, in his voice.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou remind me of Mum.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She felt a sudden lump building in her throat.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She couldn\u2019t remember their mother very well\u2014she\u2019d been too young when she\u2019d died\u2014but Teague had always been close to her.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTeague.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He smiled faintly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s all right.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You just\u2026you look like her.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019s all.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The smile grew a little more wry.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd talk like her and move like her.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He crossed the floor and lifted Neve\u2019s bow, weighing the weapon in his hands.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou shoot like her, too, but don\u2019t let this be your only protection.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Let him do some of the work.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She wrapped her arms around her older brother and held him tightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI will,\u201d she whispered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI promise, I will.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd be careful.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I can\u2019t lose you, too.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Seamus was enough.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It hasn\u2019t stopped hurting after all these years, after so much time.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve\u2019s arms tightened.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Part of Teague\u2019s problem, of course, was guilt.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>If not for him, Seamus never would have been sent south, married off in his younger brother\u2019s place.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They never would have lost him.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>They\u2019d fought, of course, as siblings always did.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Seamus tried to protect his younger brother and sister from their father\u2019s temper, from his dark, cold rages.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve was the only one who had generally been spared.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Teague had gotten the rougher side of their father\u2019s tongue more than once in their lives.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019d been the rebellious one\u2014they both had been, truth be told, but Neve was too good at not getting caught.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>As they grew older, into adults, Teague and Seamus had finally seemed to find the companionship in each other that they\u2019d enjoyed as boys.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>And then Seamus had been taken from them.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDo you think he was happy with her?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve whispered.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know that he had time, <\/span>deirfi\u00far leanbh<\/span><\/em>.\u201d Teague sighed.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe will, though,\u201d Neve told him, then lifted her head and kissed his temple.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHis fate won\u2019t be ours.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOf course not,\u201d Teague murmured, the corner of his mouth twitching again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019re smart enough to choose\u2014not have our choices made for us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve smiled and squeezed him one more time.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAye,\u201d she said softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNow don\u2019t you forget that you\u2019ve said that, either.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He laughed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ve gone and screwed myself, haven\u2019t I?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOnly a little, <\/span>dearth\u00e1ir m\u00f3r<\/span><\/em>.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Just remember that you said it the next time you want to tell me or Aoife or Phelan to do something.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve turned back to her bags.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPhelan,\u201d Teague said heavily, shaking his head slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf I didn\u2019t know any better, I\u2019d say he gets himself half-killed on purpose.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe might,\u201d Neve agreed, rolling another shirt into a thin strip.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThen again, maybe he can\u2019t help it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m sure he\u2019s fine, though, Teague.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019d know if he wasn\u2019t, wouldn\u2019t we?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Teague made a quiet, noncommitmental noise in the back of his throat.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI imagine he\u2019s fine.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>For all we know, Kira\u2019s cousin got annoyed and stabbed him.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe can\u2019t be as bad as you make him sound sometimes, Teague.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Kira adores her cousin.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe does,\u201d he agreed softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd I suppose I can\u2019t blame her.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They\u2019re very close.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He smiled briefly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAs to how he might actually be in truth, I\u2019ll let you be the judge of that.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You\u2019ll eventually meet him.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve stared at him for a moment.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCameron told you that we were going west?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo,\u201d Teague said, and left it at that.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou need to talk him out of it, Neve.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She closed her eyes and counted to twenty before she straightened slowly and turned toward Teague, standing behind her in the doorway.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m done taking orders from the men … 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":[38,35,49,14,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autumn","category-book-2","category-chapter-11-book-2","category-story","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-jO","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1228","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=1228"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1229,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1228\/revisions\/1229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}