Aoife peeked out from under the tarp they\u2019d battened down, warily eyeing their surroundings. The way their boat bobbed suggested that it had broken free of its mooring at the river\u2019s edge and probably drifted downriver during the storm. Gray snored softly beside her, sprawled on the deck of the tiny sailboat they\u2019d mostly paddled along rivers and through half-frozen lakes to get his far.<\/p>\n
The storm that had caused them to stop and tether themselves to a likely tree root near the edge of the river had passed. Aoife could hear birds somewhere nearby, a welcome sound if she\u2019d ever heard one. There hadn\u2019t been any birds in months, not since winter had sunk its claws into the world. Maybe it was finally her season\u2014maybe spring had finally come.<\/p>\n
She moved the tarp and crawled out. It smelled like rain and the river and the melting snow and the sky was clear, full of stars above even as dawn nibbled at the edge of the horizon. She tugged her jacket a little closer around her body and exhaled, watching her breath steam in the starlight.<\/p>\n
If not for the modern boat and the clothing, it might have been a thousand or more years ago, long ago and far away.<\/p>\n
Gray stirred behind her, resting his hand against the small of her back. \u201cWe\u2019re adrift,\u201d he mumbled, voice thick with sleep.<\/p>\n
Aoife nodded. \u201cYeah. I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve too far from where we were, though. Go back to sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust hope there\u2019s not any rapids or anything like we had to portage back there.\u201d Gray groaned and stretched, then quieted. \u201cI don\u2019t think my back\u2019s ever going to forgive me for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aoife smiled at him. \u201cYour back is never going to forgive you for sleeping in that position, either.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso true.\u201d He lifted their shared blanket. \u201cCome back. It looks clear, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah.\u201d She exhaled. \u201cAnd we\u2019re close. When the sun rises, we should put the sails up. Try our luck.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sure of anything anymore,\u201d Aoife said as she tucked herself against him. \u201cBut what else do we have?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA valid point.\u201d Gray kissed her temple and wrapped the blanket around them both. \u201cI hope you\u2019re right. I\u2019d like to meet your brother.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou say that now,\u201d Aoife said with a wry smile. \u201cWe\u2019ll see if you say it again after you meet him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat bad?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gray chuckled softly. Aoife rested her head against his chest and closed her eyes.<\/p>\n
It would<\/em> be good to see Phelan again\u2014and soon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Aoife peeked out from under the tarp they\u2019d battened down, warily eyeing their surroundings. The way their boat bobbed suggested that it had broken free of its mooring at the river\u2019s edge and probably drifted downriver during the storm. Gray … Continue reading