{"id":1458,"date":"2012-10-05T00:00:10","date_gmt":"2012-10-05T04:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1458"},"modified":"2012-10-08T21:45:31","modified_gmt":"2012-10-09T01:45:31","slug":"winter-chapter-23-01","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1458","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 23 – 01"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGet the tip of that damn sword up, Marin.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You\u2019re not going to stop anything from getting past your guard if you\u2019re holding it that low.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I adjusted how I was holding the kendo stick only to have Thom tap the butt of my staff against my instep.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWider stance gives you more mobility.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBloody hell,\u201d I cursed under my breath.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhy am I learning to use a goddamned sword anyway, Thom?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ve got the staff.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan\u2019s talking about teaching me to use a spear.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cEveryone\u2019s learning,\u201d Thom said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cEven Jac.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I shook my head, adjusting my stance slightly and swallowing a sigh.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJac was light years ahead of me in all this shit to begin with.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She actually <\/span>likes<\/span><\/em> it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom shrugged with his uninjured shoulder, his boots crunching on the thin crust of snow that coated the ground out near the well.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cEveryone needs to know how to use one.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cA sword.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He shot me a look so cold I shivered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYes,\u201d he said, his tone turning the blood in my veins to ice.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSwords.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Everyone.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Even if you use a staff, a spear, a bow, a gun.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Everyone needs to know how to use a blade.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You never know when you might be asked to take up one.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou saw something,\u201d I said, my tone far softer and gentler than his.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He still stiffened like I\u2019d plunged a knife into his spine.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah,\u201d he said quietly, turning away.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He stared at the sky for a few long moments, then his gaze drifted out toward the walls.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019re not ready for him to come again, Marin.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I lowered the kendo stick and came over to him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s still a few weeks before the solstice.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cA few weeks,\u201d he echoed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNot a few months.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Not a few <\/span>years<\/span><\/em>.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019re not prepared, Mar.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019s going to annihilate us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo he\u2019s not,\u201d I said, sliding my hand into his, our fingers knitting.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDo you know why?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His voice was bleak as his fingers tightened.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAll I see when I see that bastard and that day is a bloodbath.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We barely beat the <\/span>camazotzi<\/span><\/em> the first time.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You and Kellin and I almost got killed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I just don\u2019t see how we can defend ourselves against a fucking <\/span>god<\/span><\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe can\u2019t penetrate the wards without someone undermining them,\u201d I said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe have that advantage.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cVammatar found a way.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean Cariocecus will.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I smothered a frown, making a mental note to talk to Phelan about how <\/span>that<\/span><\/em> had happened.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I still wasn\u2019t quite sure if it was a weak spot in the wards or the sheer weight of the onslaught that made them buckle that day.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It wasn\u2019t exactly clear which was worse, either.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHave faith,\u201d I finally said.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI try,\u201d he replied.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSometimes it doesn\u2019t work so well.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Widen your stance a little more.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He started to step back, fingers loosening around my hand.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Even as I eased my feet another faction of an inch apart,<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I held onto his hand and lifted the kendo stick, staring at it for a moment before I looked at him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThese aren\u2019t going to be what saves us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOf course not,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYour brother\u2019s working on some actual swords.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan\u2019s helping.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Once they\u2019re done, we should have enough when we put it with the festival steel that\u2019ll take an edge.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s not what I meant.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I looked at him and blew out a quiet breath.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPhysical weapons aren\u2019t going to be what wins the day for us, Thom.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They might make a difference, but what\u2019s going to save us is in here.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I touched his forehead.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd in here.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I laid my hand over his heart, meeting his doubtful gaze head on.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOur heads and our hearts, Thom.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019re smarter than he is and this is our <\/span>home<\/span><\/em> and these are the people we care about.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe\u2019s ridiculously powerful,\u201d Thom murmured.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know how we can win against him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I don\u2019t know that Phelan knows, either.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He won\u2019t say it, but he\u2019s shaking in his boots.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOf course he is.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Even if he\u2019s not a primary target, he\u2019s a prime secondary.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I suppressed a shiver.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The threat Cariocecus had implied on my wedding day was that he was interested in taking out me, Thom, and our friends\u2014there had been no threat against Phelan directly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It had bothered me, tugged at the back of my mind since that day.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Hell, be honest, Marin.\u00a0 <\/span>He threatened you and Thom\u2014two of the last Seers in the world.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What makes us so damned dangerous?<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>At the end of the day, I really wasn\u2019t sure I wanted to find out.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I let the kendo stick drop to the snow and slid my arms around Thom.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He shivered as I drew him against me, his head dipping until his chin rested against my shoulder.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019ll win the day because there\u2019s no other choice except to win, Thom,\u201d I breathed in his ear.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf we\u2019re meant to have a future, we have to win.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know if we can kill him, Mar.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe don\u2019t have to kill him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We just have to win.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I leaned back, looking him in the eye.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd we\u2019ll find a way to do it because if we don\u2019t, Angie\u2019s not going to have a future and Tala\u2019s baby and the son we\u2019re supposed to have someday won\u2019t ever happen.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He gave a jolt as I mentioned our someday-son.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019re not–\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNot yet,\u201d I said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Though I\u2019m not entirely certain I\u2019d be very upset if I was.\u00a0 <\/span>I know we\u2019re all going to be okay somehow, and when Tala\u2019s baby comes, we\u2019ll be able to start figuring it all out.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut it\u2019s going to happen someday.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOnly if we win when the Shadow Man comes, Mar,\u201d Thom whispered.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd we\u2019re going to.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I cupped his face between my palms.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe\u2019re going to, Thom.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Our lives and the future of everyone here depend on that.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He shook his head slightly, gazing beyond me for a moment, toward the endless dark blue of a clear November sky.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWill the wards be ready?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe buried the copper before the ground started to freeze.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Kel and I are going to weave some protections into the walls starting today, <\/span>if<\/span><\/em> you\u2019ll release me from this infernal sword training.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The corner of his mouth twitched slightly toward a smile.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019d be setting a bad example if I made an exception for you.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd Kellin.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe flatly refused.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Said the staff was all she needed.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom shook his head slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou can\u2019t force that woman to do a damned thing she doesn\u2019t want to be doing.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThen if it\u2019s both of us, it\u2019s not an exception.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He shot me a questioning look coupled with a wry smile.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou have strange definitions for these things.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMaybe I do,\u201d I said, \u201cbut the point\u2014and the question\u2014stands.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Am I off the hook?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The rough parts of his fingers caught in my hair as he ran them through it gently.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOnly because you\u2019re handling other matters important to our defense and ultimate survival.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I gave him a kiss and a gentle squeeze.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWalk back with me, then?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He nodded, glancing back off into the distance again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Grab the kendo.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I stooped to pick up the fallen practice weapon and then fitted my hand into his once I\u2019d straightened.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Three and a half weeks left until the Feast of Midwinter.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Not a lot of time at all, but when the Shadow Man showed up again, we\u2019d be prepared.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>One way or another, we\u2019d have to be.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGet the tip of that damn sword up, Marin.\u00a0 You\u2019re not going to stop anything from getting past your guard if you\u2019re holding it that low.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I adjusted how I was holding the kendo stick only to have … 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":[35,62,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1458","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-23","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-nw","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1458","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=1458"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1458\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1462,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1458\/revisions\/1462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1458"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1458"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}