{"id":1460,"date":"2012-10-08T00:00:42","date_gmt":"2012-10-08T04:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1460"},"modified":"2012-10-07T23:15:34","modified_gmt":"2012-10-08T03:15:34","slug":"winter-chapter-23-02","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1460","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 23 – 02"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom and I parted company when we got deeper into the main body of camp.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He split off to head up toward where Matt and Phelan were working at the forge while I headed toward the cookfire, confident that I would find Kellin there\u2014or at least, I would find someone who knew where Kellin had gone to there.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>As it was, I found her there, sitting with Angie and Tala, both of them teaching the girl how to knit.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It looked like they were working on some sort of blanket to me as I walked up and unceremoniously piled another log on the guttering fire.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kellin glanced up from her work with a brow arched slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDone already?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe let me bail out,\u201d I said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou and I have dispensation to skip learning sword skills\u2014for now, anyway\u2014because we\u2019ve got to worry about the wards and we\u2019re both capable of defending ourselves without blades.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI know how to use a sword already,\u201d Kellin said with a perfectly straight face.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThe pointy end goes in the other guy.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Tala started to laugh.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Angie\u2019s face scrunched in an expression that was part frown, part confusion.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIs that all you need to know about using a sword?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I thought more than just the tip was sharp.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I thought it was like a big knife, but with <\/span>two<\/span><\/em> edges instead of one.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s true,\u201d I told her.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut it\u2019s a little more complicated than that.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSo it\u2019s more than just the pointy end going into the bad guy?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I smiled at her addition to Kellin\u2019s previous statement and nodded. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cYeah.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>A little more than that.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI thought so,\u201d she said, then bent her head to study the square of dark blue yarn that she\u2019d managed to knit.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It was knobby and a little messy, but it was still far better than anything I\u2019d ever been able to accomplish.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I glanced at Kellin.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCan these two ladies spare you so we can get some work done?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI think so,\u201d Kellin said, turning her gaze toward Tala, who shrugged.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI think we\u2019ve got things under control.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Where\u2019d Thom go?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cUp to the forge to check on Matt and Phelan.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I offered Kellin a hand up and she grasped mine, letting me pull her upright in one smooth motion.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019re working on some swords, though I\u2019m not sure if they\u2019re trying to work steel or just temper some iron.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kellin shook her head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m not sure it\u2019s going to matter all that much.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I hope it doesn\u2019t.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It won\u2019t if we do these wards right.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She headed for her shed and I trailed along in her wake, hands shoved deep into the pockets of my jacket.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019d worn it out into the field by the well for practice because otherwise, the wind would have cut right through me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Even sunny autumn days this close to the lake were cold.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m hoping,\u201d I said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m hoping that we\u2019ll luck out and the wards we set are going to keep Cariocecus and his <\/span>camazotzi<\/span><\/em> goon squad out of our hair.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe can only hope,\u201d Kellin said as she ducked inside and dug around for her kit of chalk and herbs.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She turned toward me for a brief moment, her face ghostly in the half-light cast through the open door.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou know, maybe you shouldn\u2019t have opted out of sword practice.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I raised a brow at her even as my stomach gave a sick little lurch.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhy\u2019s that?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She shook her head as she turned away again, rummaging around some more.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt just seemed like he was really gunning for you and Thom when he made that threat that day.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tell me about it<\/em><\/span>, I thought bitterly to myself, lips thinning.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I shook my head a little, though her back was to me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ve been thinking about that, too,\u201d I admitted.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut why would he warn us?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFair play?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Kellin suggested, then gave a triumphant <\/span>ah-ha!<\/span><\/em> sound as she found her kit.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m not really sure, to be honest, she said as she turned back to me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut that comes to mind.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFair play,\u201d I repeated.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat, you don\u2019t think any of our enemies have a sense of that?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAs a general rule?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>No.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Kellin shrugged as she joined me outside again and began to lead the way toward the walls.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou might be right.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Of course, the flip side of the coin is that he warned you because he wants a challenge, or maybe just because he wanted to see how you would react.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Get a gauge of what you\u2019re made of and all that good shit.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m not sure why he wants to take us down at all.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWell, we\u2019re squatting on a nexus.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There\u2019s that.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Kellin tucked her kit and her hands into the pockets of her pullover sweater.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah, but then there\u2019s no reason for him to threaten <\/span>just<\/span><\/em> Thom and I.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019d be threatening all of us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMm.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You\u2019re right.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her brows knit.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know, Mar.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well, <\/em><\/span>I thought.<\/span>\u00a0 We\u2019d better figure it out, because it\u2019s definitely a matter of life and death.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe think it is, at least,\u201d I muttered under my breath, earning a sharp look from her.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat do we think is something?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I shook my head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cA matter of life and death.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>All of this.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>My lips thinned.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s just a question of how many lives and how many endings.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019ll figure it out.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We always do.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah,\u201d she said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cUsually right before it\u2019s too late.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thom and I parted company when we got deeper into the main body of camp.\u00a0 He split off to head up toward where Matt and Phelan were working at the forge while I headed toward the cookfire, confident that … 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-1460","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-ny","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1460","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=1460"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1460\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1461,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1460\/revisions\/1461"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}