{"id":1490,"date":"2012-11-02T00:00:43","date_gmt":"2012-11-02T04:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1490"},"modified":"2012-11-05T06:55:34","modified_gmt":"2012-11-05T11:55:34","slug":"winter-chapter-24-09","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1490","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 24 – 09"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan led Carolyn and J.T. out through the open gateway and across the mess of mud and broken asphalt, half-melting snow and ice crunching beneath their boots.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Greg caught up with them a few feet out of the gate, blinking as he saw them coming.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHow did you know?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI felt it,\u201d Phelan growled.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m guessing you did, too?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Greg nodded, changing direction and falling into step with the trio.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cStarted to a while ago.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Got worse and worse.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We can hear it now.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHear it?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan swallowed hard.<\/span>\u00a0 It\u2019s got to be close, then.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCould you see it?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust barely,\u201d Greg said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBig, green <\/span>ugly<\/span><\/em>.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s still pretty far out, but it\u2019s coming.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Faster than I thought it could move, actually.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Damn.\u00a0 <\/span>Big, green, and ugly could be any number of things, but I\u2019m afraid I know what it could be.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat did it say?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSomething about princes, bloodlines, and the Wanderer.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan winced.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIn rhyme?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. frowned.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDo you know what it is, Phelan?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m afraid I do,\u201d Phelan said, shaking his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His fingers tightened around his staff.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Bloody hell.\u00a0 <\/span>We need to get back inside the walls and hope that those wards hold.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>He broke into a jog.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGet back into camp,\u201d he barked to J.T. and Carolyn.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGet Paul with some firearms up in the watchtower.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Something heavy.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Slugs if we\u2019ve got them.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat the hell are we dealing with, Phelan?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. called after him.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFirbolg!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan called back, picking up the pace.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>If it was close enough to hear, close enough to feel as strongly as he was beginning to, they didn\u2019t have much time\u2014certainly not enough to properly prepare.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Hopefully it\u2019s only one.\u00a0 <\/span>When have we been that lucky, though?<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNever bloody ever,\u201d he muttered under his breath.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He raised his voice, calling to Thom and the small band with him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Fear fiach<\/span><\/em>!<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Pippa, Rory!<\/span>\u00a0 Dearth\u00e1ir<\/em><\/span>!<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Fall back to the wall.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt\u2019s gaze snapped toward him and he blinked, yelling back, \u201cWhat is it?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJust fall back!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan yelled, pace slowing as he grew nearer.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI think I know what it is.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He glanced off to the north and shivered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He could see a tall blob on the horizon, nothing more, not at this range, not moving the fast as he was.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He could feel it, though.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But how many are there that I can\u2019t sense?<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>He swallowed again as he joined the small knot of people near the pile of broken concrete where Thom had perched.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe need to get back inside the walls,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe get back inside, we\u2019ve maybe got a chance to take it down.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat the hell is a firbolg?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom asked, brow furrowing.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSomething big and mean and fucking old,\u201d Phelan snapped, struggling to rein in his temper.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Settle down.\u00a0 <\/span>They don\u2019t know.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They\u2019ve never run into one before.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>How could they know?<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cKind of like a troll and a giant and a man all at the same time.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Our people fought them once upon a time and just barely won.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Took almost every damned dirty trick any of us knew, too.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His knuckles had gone white against the staff.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCome on.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Cover.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Now.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A guttural sing-song echoed from the distance.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh Wandering One, I hear your cry,<\/span>
\nJust settle down and wait to die<\/em><\/span>!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201c<\/span>D\u00e9ithe agus arrachtaigh<\/span><\/em>,\u201d Phelan cursed, then yanked on Thom\u2019s arm, not caring if he hurt his friend.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLet\u2019s <\/span>go<\/span><\/em> you fools, before it\u2019s on top of us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat the hell can it do?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt asked as they started to move.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>A chunk of concrete the size of Phelan\u2019s head landed not three feet from Phillipa\u2019s leg.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She gave a little cry as she sprang clear, already starting to move faster.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan stared at it pointedly for the barest moment.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDoes that answer your question?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah,\u201d Matt said, starting to hustle back toward the walls.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah, it does.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBloody hell,\u201d Thom cursed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat else can it do?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPray you don\u2019t find out.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Rory snorted humorlessly as he started to run.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBelieve me, Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He\u2019s already praying.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan shook his head as even Thom began to run.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He cast one last look over his shoulder toward the source of the rock.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It was <\/span>laughing<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Well,<\/em><\/span> he thought grimly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Let it laugh.\u00a0 <\/span>It won\u2019t be able to do it much longer.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I guarantee it.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Phelan led Carolyn and J.T. out through the open gateway and across the mess of mud and broken asphalt, half-melting snow and ice crunching beneath their boots.\u00a0 Greg caught up with them a few feet out of the gate, … 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":[35,63,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-24","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-o2","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1490","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=1490"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1490\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1495,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1490\/revisions\/1495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}