{"id":1537,"date":"2012-12-12T00:00:41","date_gmt":"2012-12-12T05:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1537"},"modified":"2012-12-11T21:03:17","modified_gmt":"2012-12-12T02:03:17","slug":"winter-chapter-27-03","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=1537","title":{"rendered":"Winter – Chapter 27 – 03"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBloody hell,\u201d J.T. swore softly and shoved himself to his feet.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He crossed the narrow space between he and Jacqueline and shook her shoulder roughly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cJac.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Jac!<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Wake up.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>The blonde healer startled awake after a bare moment, blinking sleepily up at the larger man.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s wr\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019re blowing the whistles at the watchtower.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I need you to stay awake and keep watch over her so we can figure out exactly what\u2019s wrong,\u201d he said, snagging Phelan by the sleeve.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cC\u2019mon, Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I need you with me.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019m half burned out already,\u201d Phelan warned as he stood up.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t expect miracles.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe never do, but you always seem to deliver them anyway.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. shook his head, feeling a pang of regret as he watched Phelan lean in to smooth his cousin\u2019s hair one more time and kiss her lightly on the forehead one more time.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Then the once-druid straightened.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAll right,\u201d Phelan said. \u201cLet\u2019s get on with this.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDo you need your staff?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. asked as they ducked out into the makeshift corridor.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf I need my staff, we\u2019re already in more shit than I\u2019d be able to handle tonight,\u201d Phelan said grimly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut I could use something sharp if we\u2019ve got spares.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI think we\u2019ll be able to find something,\u201d J.T. said with a slight nod.<\/span>\u00a0 Probably someone\u2019s spare, or one of Matt\u2019s prototypes. Christ on crutches, I hope they\u2019re as solid as he\u2019s saying they are. The last thing we need is someone\u2019s sword shattering the minute it hits bone.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan clapped him on the shoulder and together they began to jog toward the outside world. <\/span><\/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>\u201c\u2014and we packed up and hit the road again.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron said, gaze flicking toward the kettle hung over the fire.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHow long until the coffee\u2019s ready?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI can start it right now,\u201d Marin said, starting to get up.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She froze in mid-motion at the sound of a whistle from the lookout\u2019s post.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShit,\u201d Greg said, gazing through the darkness in that direction, though he couldn\u2019t see anything from where they were sitting.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCan\u2019t we catch a goddamned break?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cApparently not,\u201d Thom said, getting up.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGreg, we\u2019re going to need the armory again.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSuch as it is,\u201d Greg said as he rose.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019ll grab you guys your gear.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Two minutes.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron\u2019s expression tightened.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDoes this happen a lot?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSeems to come in waves,\u201d Marin said as she broke into a jog, headed back toward the sprawl of sheds.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cProbably have one more attack before we get to breathe again.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ll bring your sword, Thom.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He nodded and glanced at Cameron.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCome on, we\u2019ll see what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>They were halfway to the watchtower when Phelan and J.T. caught up with them.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron looked directly at J.T.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhy aren\u2019t you with Neve?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>There was a hint of fearful demand in his voice.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cRelax, I left Jac with her,\u201d J.T. said, shifting his shoulders slightly to resettle the claymore slung across his back.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSomething tells me that you guys are going to need me more on the front line than she\u2019s going to.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron gave him a suspicious look.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan clapped the former pilot on the shoulder.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTrust him,\u201d Phelan said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe want him with us right about now if this isn\u2019t some kind of false alarm.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou know that it\u2019s not,\u201d Thom growled.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI hope that it is,\u201d Phelan corrected, \u201cbut I do suspect that it\u2019s not.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cRory!<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What\u2019re you seeing?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cRed eyes in the darkness!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Rory called back.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPaul wants to know if you want him to fire a warning shot at a pair of them.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron grimaced.<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span>\u201cNothing good has red eyes.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTypically not,\u201d Phelan agreed.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGreg and Matt are waking some of the others,\u201d Marin said as she jogged up, her staff in one hand and carrying Thom\u2019s sword in its scabbard in the other.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She handed it to him, brows knitting as he belted it on.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat do we have?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSomething with red eyes,\u201d Thom reported.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat already doesn\u2019t like us,\u201d J.T. added.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom looked at him askance in the night\u2019s dim and J.T. shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cConstance told me.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI thought they couldn\u2019t help us anymore,\u201d Marin said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI seem to recall you saying that.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cApparently, that wasn\u2019t <\/span>entirely<\/span><\/em> true, now was it?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. grimaced and shook his head.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe kind of insinuated that whatever\u2019s out there has a particular measure of malevolence to it.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cToward us, or in general?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom asked as he moved forward, toward the gap in the walls for a better look at whatever was lurking beyond.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>J.T. frowned.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cToward us, definitely.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Cameron eased up next to Thom, squinting into the darkness.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan came up on the other side.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Dirae<\/span><\/em>,\u201d he spat.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWards must be keeping them back.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thom looked askance at Phelan even as Cameron cursed.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Dirae<\/span><\/em>?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI\u2019d hoped that we lost them,\u201d Cameron muttered.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI should have known better.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan glanced at Cameron.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI would ask why they were chasing you, but it would be a stupid question.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat the hell are they?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thom asked.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDangerous,\u201d Phelan said, his tone not quite light enough to be construed as flippant.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cProbably the last thing we needed tonight short of Cariocecus showing up and causing trouble.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>An arrow split the air between them, vibrating the night as it flew true.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Beyond the walls, something gave a vaguely feminine scream.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Thordin emerged into the dim light cast by the moon, his expression grim.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf they can\u2019t cross the wards, we cut them down before they can,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPut the fear of the gods into them and maybe they\u2019ll go away.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cDo you really think that\u2019s going to happen?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan asked dryly, eying his old friend.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Thordin shrugged and smiled grimly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShort of whoever\u2019s holding their leash calling them off?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>No.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>But we can sure as hell try.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cBloody hell,\u201d J.T. swore softly and shoved himself to his feet.\u00a0 He crossed the narrow space between he and Jacqueline and shook her shoulder roughly.\u00a0 \u201cJac.\u00a0 Jac!\u00a0 Wake up.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The blonde healer startled awake after a bare moment, … 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":[35,66,14,52,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-2","category-chapter-27","category-story","category-winter","category-year-one"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-oN","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1537","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=1537"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1537\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1539,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1537\/revisions\/1539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}