{"id":1507,"date":"2012-11-19T00:00:05","date_gmt":"2012-11-19T05:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1507"},"modified":"2012-11-19T06:50:15","modified_gmt":"2012-11-19T11:50:15","slug":"winter-chapter-25-07","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1507","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 25 – 07"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The horse surged forward, hooves pounding against the cold turf and half-melted snow. All Cameron could hear was his heartbeat pounding in his ears.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>All he could see was the firbolg, its eyes widening as he closed on it.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He threw himself from the saddle, using the horse\u2019s momentum to fuel his leap, Caliburn\u2019s tip aimed at the firbolg\u2019s chest.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The shining blade bit deep into the creature\u2019s breast and it roared again as it ripped arrows from its head and then grabbed for Cameron, still clutching the hilt of the sword he\u2019d been entrusted with.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCameron, <\/span>let go<\/span><\/em>!\u201d Thordin shouted from somewhere behind him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He didn\u2019t listen.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Twisting to avoid the firbolg\u2019s grasping hand, he grabbed its neck with one hand and with every ounce of his weight and leverage he could bring to bear, he shoved the blade in deeper into its breast.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Then the firbolg\u2019s hand closed around him.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fuck me.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron let go of its shoulder and got his other hand wrapped around Caliburn\u2019s hilt, gripping it as hard as he could.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>If the firbolg was going toss him, he was going to rip that sword right out with him.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nothing is going to come without a price, you big bastard.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>It yanked him sideways and sidearmed him to the left.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron felt Caliburn tear free of flesh, heard the firbolg\u2019s cry of pain and rage.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Then he hit the ground and all the air rushed out of his lungs.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The blade bounced free of his hand as his head banged against a hidden rock.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Stars danced briefly in front of his eyes and he struggled to remember how to breathe even as he fought to maintain consciousness.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thordin was shouting something at him, but he couldn\u2019t make out the words over the ringing in his ears, the roar somewhere behind his eyes.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Hang on.\u00a0 <\/span>You\u2019ve got to hang on.<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>He wasn\u2019t sure where the little voice whispering above all of it came from, but he was willing to lay decent odds on it being Neve.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>His vision began to clear just in time to see the firbolg over him, lifting one foot as if to squash him like a bug.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron lay there in the mud and snow, momentarily frozen, eyes widening as that big foot started to come down.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Time slowed, stilled.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This is it.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Flames suddenly wreathed the firbolg and it roared again, spinning back toward the gate.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron sucked in a ragged breath and rolled to his knees, scrambling through the snow to find his fallen sword.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Someone was shouting at him to get out of the way.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He wasn\u2019t sure if it was Thordin or if it was someone near the gates.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It didn\u2019t matter.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Either way, he was too damned close to the thing as the ground erupted around him once again, sending both man and blade flying.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He hit the ground and his world went black.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u2022<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u2022<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Clustered around Ter\u00e9zia\u2019s glass, they watched as it all began to unfold.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan and his group\u2019s opening salvo.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The arrival of apparent reinforcements.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>When one of them drew the shining silvered blade out of its scabbard, Aoife gave a little gasp, her fingers digging into the flesh of Ter\u00e9zia\u2019s arm.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCan you focus on that?\u201d she breathed, eyes round, huge in the dim of the room.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOn the sword?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Ter\u00e9zia swallowed hard.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI can try.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>How close?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAs close as you can,\u201d Aoife breathed, staring hard at the glass.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The other woman nodded and took a deep breath.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The image sharpened slightly and enlarged, as if it were a camera zooming in on the object.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Aoife shivered as it came into focus.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGods and monsters,\u201d she breathed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She\u2014she found him.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFound who?\u201d Wat asked from the other side of Grey.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He was with them in the room, he and Gray, Kes and Ter\u00e9zia and Aoife, the five of them clustered around the desk, around Ter\u00e9zia\u2019s scrying glass.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWho\u2019s she?\u201d Kes asked in the same voice.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMy cousin Neve,\u201d Aoife said, eyes bright as she stared at the glass.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe was the custodian of the sword.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She was supposed to find whoever was meant to carry it, and she did it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat sword?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Gray asked, frowning at the glass.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThe<\/em> sword.\u00a0 Excalibur,\u201d Aoife said breathlessly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe found the man destined for Excalibur.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The horse surged forward, hooves pounding against the cold turf and half-melted snow. All Cameron could hear was his heartbeat pounding in his ears.\u00a0 All he could see was the firbolg, its eyes widening as he closed on it. … 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":[35,64,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-25","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-oj","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1507","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=1507"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1507\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1509,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1507\/revisions\/1509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}