\u201cGo wake them,\u201d J.T. rumbled. \u201cThen catch up with us. Do it quick.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo doubt,\u201d Rory muttered. \u201cYou want the lantern?\u201d<\/p>\n
J.T. shook his head. \u201cDon\u2019t need it. They will.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight.\u201d Rory clapped him on the shoulder, then turned and headed to wake Sif and Phelan. J.T. watched the lantern\u2019s light disappear as Rory ducked around a corner. He sucked in a deep, quiet breath and closed his eyes for a moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cBe careful,\u201d<\/em> Constance\u2019s voice whispered in his mind.<\/p>\n \u201cStep lightly,\u201d<\/em> Eriu said from his elbow. His eyes blinked open and he looked down, meeting her large, luminescent eyes in the darkness. \u201cThey\u2019re dangerous, though you might be able to get through to them. They\u2019ll recognize your gift and theirs.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n J.T. sucked in a breath, fighting off the urge to shiver at her words. \u201cDo you really think we\u2019ve got a shot?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUncle rode with them for a time. My mother managed to negotiate. If that was possible for them, it must be possible for you.\u201d <\/em> Her ghostly fingers brushed his. \u201cBe careful. All of you, be careful.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d he murmured, giving her a weak smile in the darkness. She bit her lip and nodded once, then stepped back, fading away into nothing.<\/p>\n J.T. steeled himself and kept walking.<\/p>\n The chill bit into him as he stepped out into the night. A flash in the distance beyond the walls left him momentarily dazzled. He swore under his breath and started to run now that he was on open ground. His feet slid out from underneath him for a moment and he stumbled, picking himself up again and running full-tilt toward the watchtower.<\/p>\n He could see Leinth ahead of him, her dark cloak a smudge against the snow. She stood near one of the supports, staring at him in the darkness. Her whispered words came to him on the wind.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d he said aloud, wincing at the volume of his voice. It seemed too loud and too quiet all at once.<\/p>\n \u201cJay, is that you?\u201d Thom called from the tower.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s me,\u201d J.T. called back. He glanced at Leinth as he scrambled to the ladder, started scaling it. \u201cAre you coming?\u201d he asked her.<\/p>\n \u201cNot yet,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Then she turned and walked slowly, oh so slowly, toward the gates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cGo wake them,\u201d J.T. rumbled. \u201cThen catch up with us. Do it quick.\u201d \u201cNo doubt,\u201d Rory muttered. \u201cYou want the lantern?\u201d J.T. shook his head. \u201cDon\u2019t need it. They will.\u201d \u201cRight.\u201d Rory clapped him on the shoulder, then turned and … Continue reading