The wind stung my eyes and cheeks as I stood at the edge of the ravine, tugging at my sleeves, my hair, the hem of my jacket.\u00a0 There was a pounding somewhere behind my eyes, the combination of too little sleep and possibly too little of my power used.\u00a0 The wards we\u2019d set were weakening in the weather, hurt by our inability to get out to check on them as often as we\u2019d have liked.<\/p>\n
At least, I have to hope it\u2019s that and not something more sinister.<\/i>\u00a0 I shivered, watching the bare branches wave in the wind, silhouetted against the gray sky.\u00a0 It was early, too early for me to be up and out here, though the sun had already risen.\u00a0 The others would be having breakfast, getting set to start another day in the cold of the longest winter I\u2019d ever known\u2014one that was far from over.<\/p>\n
I tugged my jacket tighter and shivered again.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing out here all by yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n
I half turned toward Rory and smiled weakly.\u00a0 \u201cWhat are you doing out here?\u00a0 I figured you\u2019d be hunkered down next to a fire.\u201d<\/p>\n
He shrugged slightly.\u00a0 \u201cI come out in the cold sometimes to clear my thoughts.\u00a0 Crowded near the fires right now, anyway, and I\u2019m not in the best of moods.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause it\u2019s your birthday?\u201d<\/p>\n
One corner of his mouth twitched toward a smile.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s good to know someone remembers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was pretty sure I was the only one keeping a calendar,\u201d I said softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think all of us are keeping one on the down-low,\u201d he said, then shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cA last vestige of civilization, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
I choked back a laugh. \u201cThat and everyone\u2019s journals and the fact that we\u2019re not all fighting over the last piece of meat on any given night.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t take enough deer to run out anytime soon,\u201d Rory said, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.\u00a0 \u201cSo I really don\u2019t think there\u2019s much reason for us to be fighting over things, is there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d guess not,\u201d I said, my gaze drifting back to the trees.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt still doesn\u2019t feel right, does it?\u201d he murmured.\u00a0 \u201cThe ravines.\u00a0 Everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe wards are weakening as quickly as we can strengthen them,\u201d I said.\u00a0 \u201cWe need to think of something.\u00a0 Something will make them stronger, make them last.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHave you talked to Phelan?\u201d\u00a0 Rory asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I said softly.\u00a0 \u201cThough I think I\u2019m going to see what Thordin\u2019s thinking, and Neve.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not Phelan?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he\u2019ll want to come out here and see,\u201d I said with a wry smile.\u00a0 \u201cAnd he needs to be in bed right now and as far away from the perimeters of camp as we can keep him.\u00a0 We\u2019re still afraid he\u2019s going to try to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rory snorted and shook his head slightly.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s not physically capable of it right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d I agreed.\u00a0 \u201cBut that doesn\u2019t mean he wouldn\u2019t try.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen let him.\u201d<\/p>\n
I arched a brow at him and he shot me a wicked grin.<\/p>\n
\u201cTrust me.\u201d\u00a0 He squeezed my shoulder.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m going to walk the rim.\u00a0 I shouldn\u2019t be long.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded and watched him go, his boots crunching in the snow.<\/p>\n
Why would he suggest letting Phelan try to leave?\u00a0 What purpose would that serve?<\/i><\/p>\n
I frowned, hugging my arms against my chest.\u00a0 \u201cMaybe,\u201d I murmured to myself, \u201cI ought to find out.\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned and jogged after Rory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The wind stung my eyes and cheeks as I stood at the edge of the ravine, tugging at my sleeves, my hair, the hem of my jacket.\u00a0 There was a pounding somewhere behind my eyes, the combination of too little … Continue reading