{"id":1379,"date":"2012-08-24T00:00:04","date_gmt":"2012-08-24T04:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1379"},"modified":"2012-08-23T20:46:56","modified_gmt":"2012-08-24T00:46:56","slug":"winter-chapter-19-04","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1379","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 19 – 04"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A magic sword?\u00a0 <\/span>A bloody <\/span><\/em>magic<\/span> sword?<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Goosebumps rose along his limbs, not born of any draft driven into their shelter by the storm, but by what she\u2019d just said.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cA magic sword,\u201d he repeated, mouth almost too dry to speak the words.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve winced, withdrawing slightly even as she grasped his forearms, fingertips digging painfully.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m sorry.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I shouldn\u2019t have said that.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her voice was a bare, desperately frightened whisper.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNow you\u2019ll be too afraid to touch the damned thing and that\u2019s not right.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It <\/span>chose<\/span><\/em> you.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Now I know we\u2019re both crazy.\u00a0 <\/span>A sword can choose someone?<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>He tried not to shiver.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The worst of it was that he believed her.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I believe in a bloody magic sword that my girlfriend gave to me.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201c<\/span>D\u00e9ithe agus arrachtaigh<\/span><\/em>, Cam.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Say something.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat does that make you, the lady of the lake?\u201d he croaked.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She went whiter than the snow falling outside and jerked back, turning away.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His stomach dropped.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What the hell did I say?<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNeve\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A shrieking cackle echoed in the distance.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His heart leapt into his throat as Neve gave a startled gasp. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>His fingers closed around her arm.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Dirae<\/span><\/em>?\u201d he asked in a whisper.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI need my bow,\u201d Neve said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIn case they find us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You\u2019ll never be able to draw it in your state.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron swallowed his protests, scrambling for their packs and the weapons resting among them.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIs there any chance that they won\u2019t?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The wind rattled the lean-tos and he saw Neve swallow in the firelight.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He pressed her bow into her hand.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo,\u201d she whispered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s much chance that they won\u2019t.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>But we can hope the weather will be our ally.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She slid her hand into his and squeezed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd failing that, we have to hope there aren\u2019t that many.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We have to hope.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The next cackle-shriek was closer.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cStay behind me, whatever happens,\u201d Cameron breathed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhatever happens.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey won\u2019t find us,\u201d she said, but her words lacked conviction.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She <\/span>wanted<\/span><\/em> to believe them, but she couldn\u2019t.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I want to believe they won\u2019t either.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The way his skin began to crawl, his hackles rising, told him they probably weren\u2019t going to be that lucky.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The next shriek sounded like it must have been only a few feet away.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron started to get up.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve grabbed his arm.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t,\u201d she said, her voice almost too soft to hear over the wind and the fire.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWait.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>His heart quickened.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Something scraped against the ground outside.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He squeezed his eyes shut.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The blade\u2019s hilt was warm and heavy in his palm.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It felt <\/span>right<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s its name?\u201d he asked in Neve\u2019s ear.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She looked up at him, swallowed once, then said, \u201cCaliburn.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He kissed her once, then threw himself out into the snow.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Four pairs of red eyes glared back at him through the driving snow.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Four.\u00a0 <\/span>I can take four.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He threw himself at the first and realized that it wasn\u2019t what he thought it was.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The creature was slightly bigger than he was, black-winged and ugly, its chest broad and black and well-muscled, covered in a fine fur.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Snow caught in that very fine fur, melting slowly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It let out a soft, whistling hiss as it sidestepped his strike, extending one arm and one wing as if to grab him on the way past.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Caliburn tore into the leathery part of its wing as Cameron ducked low and then rolled to escape the grasping of two-inch claws.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He ripped it free, sending a spray of red-black blood spattering across the snow.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNot <\/span>dirae<\/span><\/em>!\u201d he shouted to Neve as he rolled up to one knee.<\/span>\u00a0 Though whether that\u2019s a good or a bad thing, I\u2019m not quite sure.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The creatures, almost as one, turned toward him and began to close.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron lunged toward the nearest.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The blade bit deep into the creature\u2019s belly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>It screamed so loudly that the sound left his head ringing.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Pain seared hot across his shoulders.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He yanked the blade back and clear of the creature\u2019s belly, whirling toward the second creature, the one that had just ripped open his shirt\u2014and the flesh of his back.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>As he threw himself at the second creature, the one with a bleeding wing, all he could hear was the ringing in his head and the pounding of his heart.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What the hell are they?<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>One grabbed for him and he danced back and out of the way, almost tripping over the creature he\u2019d stabbed in the belly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>An arrow flashed past him, burying itself in a third creature\u2019s eye.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Neve stood at the corner of the lean-to, her lips white, body trembling even as she held the bow steady, implacably notching another arrow.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Just stay behind me.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron wrapped both hands around the blade\u2019s hilt and swung it with all his strength at the first creature.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It hit with a wet <\/span>thock<\/span><\/em>, sinking into its flesh at least four inches.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He hauled back again, working the blade free as the creature sprouted an arrow in its breastbone.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201c\u2014hind you!\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He turned in time to jerk back half a step.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Claws that would have taken his spine instead scraped against his collarbone.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He stumbled back, one hand spasming.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The blade almost fell from suddenly nerveless fingers, but he dipped just in time, catching it before it hit the ground.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Both hands curled around the wire-bound sharkskin of the hilt.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He twisted, coming up as hard and fast as he could, swinging with all his might.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A clawed fist grasped the blade and held it for a brief moment.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The creature snarled an oath and for the barest of moments, Cameron thought he saw a human face buried deep in the shadows of a hood.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Then the creature released the blade and vanished in a profusion of black smoke.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He realized he was short of breath a moment later and stumbled back, glancing down to see red spreading across his chest and blooming along his side.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He turned toward Neve.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her face was as pale as the driving snow.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Then he fell face-first into the cold whiteness beneath his feet.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A magic sword?\u00a0 A bloody magic sword? \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Goosebumps rose along his limbs, not born of any draft driven into their shelter by the storm, but by what she\u2019d just said. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cA magic sword,\u201d he repeated, mouth almost … 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":[35,58,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-19","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-mf","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1379","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=1379"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1379\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1380,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1379\/revisions\/1380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1379"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1379"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1379"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}