{"id":1524,"date":"2012-11-30T00:00:42","date_gmt":"2012-11-30T05:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1524"},"modified":"2012-11-29T22:53:56","modified_gmt":"2012-11-30T03:53:56","slug":"winter-chapter-26-04","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1524","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 26 – 04"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThordin, please don\u2019t do this,\u201d a tiny, weak voice said from some bushes that were just barely in our line of sight.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I couldn\u2019t help but look in that direction, even as the tall, Nordic-appearing blonde before us held the bow taut, ready to fire if we so much as twitched.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>All I could see behind those bushes was the very edge of a woman\u2019s boot before my gaze snapped back to the man she\u2019d called Thordin.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I had to swallow before I could speak.<\/span>\u00a0 Steady Marin, steady.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMagic,\u201d I said, my voice remarkably even.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There wasn\u2019t much more explanation I could offer.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom\u2019s hand tightened around mine, his bodily coiled tight as if he was ready to spring, to strike\u2014or to knock me out of the way of an oncoming arrow.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hoping it won\u2019t come to that.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMagic,\u201d Thordin said, heavy-browed gaze as skeptical as I\u2019d ever seen on anyone.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThordin,\u201d the thin voice pleaded, \u201cshe\u2019s telling the truth.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Put my bow down and let them help us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>His arm relaxed, but only a fraction.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Skepticism mixed with curiosity in his voice.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHow would they work that kind of magic?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPhelan is here.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her tone seemed to indicate that he knew this already and she was simply reminding him.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWanderer doesn\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s been a long time,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s been a long time for both of you.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her voice was fading.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNow let them help us.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>They\u2019re friends.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I can feel it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The bowman relaxed slowly, still giving us a wary look.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline pushed past me immediately and headed for the voice.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I followed her, casting a quick look to Thom, who was already heading for the bowman, J.T. on <\/span>his<\/span><\/em> heels.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The woman tucked into the bushes was dark-haired and pale, with blue eyes set in dark, shadowed hollows in her elfin, delicate face.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her leg was splinted, bound tightly, and she hunched the way Thom did back when his ribs were really bothering him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She met Jacqueline\u2019s gaze, then mine.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She took a small, short breath when she met my gaze, then swallowed, fingers flexing.
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou know me,\u201d I said softly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI think so.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I wanted to know how, but I didn\u2019t ask as I knelt next to her.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI think I saw you in a dream.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She swallowed hard, looking past me as Jacqueline started giving her a quick once-over.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhere\u2019s Cameron?\u201d she asked, then squeaked in pain as Jacqueline started to manipulate her leg, her face going white as the patches of snow that lingered on the ground.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201c<\/span>D\u00e9ithe agus arrachtaigh<\/span><\/em>,\u201d she gasped, her fingers suddenly clutching mine in a vise-grip.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t touch it, please, for the love of everything you believe in, don\u2019t touch it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline blinked at her, looking pale and stricken herself.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI barely touched it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Tears were running down the stranger\u2019s face, a girl who I knew had to be connected to Phelan\u2014probably blood-kin, if I was anyone to make the guess.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Her fingers grew even tighter as she saw the recognition dawn in my eyes.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019re Teague\u2019s sister,\u201d I whispered.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>She nodded, then swallowed hard, sniffling and wiping her eyes with the edge of her sleeve.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cFind Cameron,\u201d she said to me, almost begging.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPlease, find him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I saw him\u2026but I don\u2019t know where he fell.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Please, find him.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWho are you\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline cut me off even a she rummaged around in her kit, possibly for pain medication.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIs he the one with the sword?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The girl nodded.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou saw him?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah, but I lost sight of him after the troll-thing threw him.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline pulled out a bottle of pills.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHere.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I want you to take these.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You\u2019re not allergic to anything like that, are you?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I might sleep for days, though.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The girl took the pills with a slightly shaky hand, the other still wrapped firmly around mine.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou look like you could use it,\u201d Jacqueline said, pressing a hand against the girl\u2019s forehead.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The girl hissed and Jacqueline swore softly under her breath.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBloody\u2014you\u2019re <\/span>burning up<\/span><\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI know,\u201d the girl said faintly before she swallowed the pills.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t tell them how bad it\u2019s gotten,\u201d she said, looking at the two of us.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPlease?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I exchanged a look with Jacqueline, trying to sort out who she was talking about until it struck me.<\/span>\u00a0 She doesn\u2019t want Thordin and whoever Cameron is to know how bad it is.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>I looked at Jacqueline.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe can try, but that doesn\u2019t usually work so well.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The girl offered me a watery smile and swallowed the pills that Jacqueline had given her.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She leaned into the cradle of my arms and relaxed in fractions, gaze focusing on something well beyond Jacqueline.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThe other two, they\u2019ll find him.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The one who sees the dead and the other prophet.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I shivered slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline and I exchanged a long look.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She shook her head slightly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m sure they will,\u201d she said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNow just hold still and hang on.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I think I might have something I can give you for the pain.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Don\u2019t mind a little prick.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She paused in pawing through her kit.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAre you allergic to antibiotics, too?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo,\u201d the girl murmured.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s just Teague and Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ll be okay.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOkay, good.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline looked at me again, expression bleak.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I shook my head a little.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Just do what you can, Jac.\u00a0 <\/span>If she wants to live\u2014and I think she does\u2014she will.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>All she needs is a little bit of help from you.<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Jacqueline must have read it in my eyes or something, because she nodded slightly and got to work, right out there in the field near the burning hulk of what used to be a monster.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThordin, please don\u2019t do this,\u201d a tiny, weak voice said from some bushes that were just barely in our line of sight.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t help but look in that direction, even as the tall, Nordic-appearing blonde before us held … 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":[35,65,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1524","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-26","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-oA","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1524","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=1524"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1524\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1525,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1524\/revisions\/1525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1524"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}