{"id":1446,"date":"2012-09-28T00:00:35","date_gmt":"2012-09-28T04:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1446"},"modified":"2012-09-27T18:30:48","modified_gmt":"2012-09-27T22:30:48","slug":"winter-chapter-22-03","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1446","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 22 – 03"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron let her sleep past dawn, past the time the storm abated.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She hadn\u2019t answered all of his questions, but he\u2019d settled for letting her fall asleep again in his arms.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Not sure she could\u2014or would\u2014answer all of them anyway.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>He smoothed her hair back from her face and gently tucked the blankets more closely around her, then tightened his boot laces and got up.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Two days had probably helped, but not as much as he\u2019d have liked.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She still had a fever.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He was starting to think it was never going to go away.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She\u2019s right, though.\u00a0 <\/span>We can\u2019t afford to stay in one spot, especially this far from any sort of civilization.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Not by ourselves.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Not until she\u2019s healed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We can\u2019t wait that long.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>He closed his eyes for a moment and exhaled noisily.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBloody hell, Cameron,\u201d he muttered to himself as he yanked on his coat and stepped out into the gray and white dawn.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou never should have left that cabin in the woods.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The snow was shin-deep in places, in others the wind had scoured it down to bare earth.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His breath steamed in the chill air as he made his way the few feet to the second lean-to and the horses.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Neve\u2019s mount nudged his shoulder as he eased under cover.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He patted its flank lightly and glanced at his own mount, who eyed him with what he could only describe as annoyance.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He shook his head and untied their leads from the branches he\u2019d secured them to.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCome on, then,\u201d he said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTime for a drink before you get fed and loaded.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>There wasn\u2019t a choice.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They\u2019d have to ride while the weather held.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 However long that is.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He closed his eyes briefly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There were still a lot of miles between them and where they were going, and a lot of water\u2014and probably worse\u2014besides.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I just have to hope there\u2019s a bridge intact or a boat we can use.\u00a0 <\/span>Just have to bloody well hope.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s all I can do.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron led the horses down to the creek and broke the thin ice over the water to let them drink.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He stared at the sky, at the clouds that were slowly clearing, leaving behind a sky streaked in pink and blue with the dawn.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t even know what I\u2019m riding toward.\u00a0 <\/span>Just a feeling.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>He glanced back toward the lean-tos, brows knitting.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd I\u2019m carrying a goddamned magic sword,\u201d he muttered under his breath.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd she\u2019s telling me there are all kinds of crazy prophecies about some kind of once and future king bullshit, and I\u2019m the one with the magic sword.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>At least I know she doesn\u2019t think I\u2019m anything more than just\u2026me.\u00a0 <\/span>I wonder what her brother saw when he looked at me.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>He blew out a quiet breath, patting one of the horses on the neck.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I wonder what everyone else will see when they look at me.\u00a0 <\/span>It doesn\u2019t matter who they are.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I just wonder what they\u2019ll see.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>After another few minutes, he turned the horses back toward camp, trying to stay quiet so Neve could catch another few minutes of rest while he fed the horses started to break camp and load up.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He gave the horses some of the grain they carried, then ducked into the shelter he\u2019d shared with Neve.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The sword lay next to their blankets, sheathed in the same leather scabbard that Neve had carried it in.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron crouched.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He picked up the blade, strapped it to his back.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He rolled his shoulders slightly until the blade felt comfortable\u2014it didn\u2019t take much.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A fucking magic sword.\u00a0 <\/span>Somehow, it feels right.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Damn it all, somehow it feels right.<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He began to gather up the packs, freezing as he heard the sounds of the mounts becoming restless.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He swallowed bile that suddenly rose in his throat and straightened slowly, silently, then eased out into daylight.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>There was another man in camp, dressed in biker boots and blue jeans under a herder\u2019s jacket and fur cap.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He stood next to one of the horses, rubbing its ears and making soft, soothing sounds.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Every muscle in Cameron\u2019s body tightened.<\/span>\u00a0 Where the hell did he come from?<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The stranger turned a brilliantly blue-eyed gaze on the former pilot and smiled a lopsided, almost lazy smile.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cA little bird told me I could find a princess of Avalon here,\u201d he said, his accent strange but his tone disarming.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI wonder if the man holding Caliburn could help me find her.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cameron let her sleep past dawn, past the time the storm abated.\u00a0 She hadn\u2019t answered all of his questions, but he\u2019d settled for letting her fall asleep again in his arms. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Not sure she could\u2014or would\u2014answer all of … 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":[35,61,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-22","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-nk","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1446","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=1446"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1446\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1449,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1446\/revisions\/1449"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}