{"id":868,"date":"2011-11-23T00:00:19","date_gmt":"2011-11-23T05:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=868"},"modified":"2011-11-24T18:37:05","modified_gmt":"2011-11-24T23:37:05","slug":"day-21-chapter-12-marin-07","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=868","title":{"rendered":"Day 21 – Chapter 12 – Marin – 07"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRiders!\u00a0 Riders incoming, southwest.\u201d<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My head came up at the sound of Jack\u2019s shout.\u00a0 He had the patrol watch that hour.\u00a0 My heartbeat quickened.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Someone blew their whistle, calling everyone either to the walls or to cover.\u00a0 I skidded a little on the gravel as I dropped what I was doing and took off for the walls.\u00a0 Jacqueline rushed past me, hustling Angie toward cover.\u00a0 Thom was shouting somewhere nearby, though he wasn\u2019t angry, nor panicked\u2014simply in control of the situation.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That meant it was just men, something he knew, something he understood.\u00a0 I breathed a sigh of relief.<\/em>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Then I started moving faster, with more urgency.\u00a0 This wasn\u2019t something the wards would stop.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cStop.\u00a0 Just stop.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cStop what, Mar?\u00a0 We hadn\u2019t started yet.\u201d\u00a0 Carolyn looked concerned for a moment, then simply frowned.\u00a0 \u201cNever mind,\u201d she said softly.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I dug my knuckles into my temples for a moment.\u00a0 That was twice<\/em>.\u00a0 I was on my knees next to the ward, but I didn\u2019t remember kneeling down.\u00a0 I\u2019d told J.T. to start talking, but he hadn\u2019t had a chance yet?
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What was going on?
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Goddamn.\u00a0 Why now?\u00a0 They\u2019re getting worse.<\/em>\u00a0 I forced myself to exhale and take another deep breath.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWe need to take care of these wards,\u201d Rory growled.\u00a0 \u201cBefore whatever hit us tries again.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to tangle with Angie\u2019s Shadow Man a second time.\u00a0 If I do, it\u2019s going to be too soon.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I winced, nodding.\u00a0 J.T. and Carolyn exchanged a long, silent look before J.T. took a deep breath.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He started to talk as I dismantled the ward in front of my knees.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cShotguns seemed to do a lot of damage to them.\u00a0 I asked Paul and Matt what we\u2019d loaded them with, and they said there was some iron in the shot.\u00a0 Carolyn was hitting them with cast-iron stuff and it was really effective, but I think you saw some of that.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I grunted, nodding.\u00a0 \u201cI did.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Carolyn elbow J.T., who oofed and glared at her momentarily.\u00a0 Breath hissed out of him quietly and he seemed to deflate.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAll right, all right,\u201d he muttered, then sighed, watching me for a few seconds as I dragged a stick across the spot where the ward had been to level out the ground.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t start to talk until I started to rebuild the ward.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIt talked to me,\u201d he muttered.\u00a0 \u201cThe Shadow Man.\u00a0 He talked to me, called me Spiritweaver, said that the Old Soul and I already belonged to it.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rory went rigid and I glanced at him.\u00a0 Carolyn winced sympathetically.\u00a0 For a moment, J.T. looked confused, then his eyes widened slightly.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou\u2019re the Old Soul?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rory nodded.\u00a0 \u201cAnd it talked to me, too.\u00a0 Said there was another, but it didn\u2019t mention you.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s more,\u201d J.T. said, almost in a rush.\u00a0 \u201cIt talked to Thom, too.\u201d\u00a0 He winced as soon as he\u2019d said it, as if he\u2019d just spilled a secret he was supposed to keep.\u00a0 I stopped piling rocks and just stared at him.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It talked to Thom?\u00a0 What did it say?<\/em>\u00a0 My mouth tasted like ashes.\u00a0 J.T.\u2019s eyes met mine and he winced again.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhat is<\/em> a Spiritweaver, anyway?\u201d\u00a0 Carolyn asked.\u00a0 I waved a hand.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNever mind that.\u201d\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t sure, anyway.\u00a0 \u201cWhat did it say to Thom?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 J.T. hesitated long enough that I was afraid that it was something terrible\u2014not just something terrible, but something terrible that he and Thom were going to keep from me.\u00a0 That was something I wasn\u2019t sure I could take.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mercifully, I didn\u2019t have to.\u00a0 J.T. just sighed and said, \u201cHe said it offered him his life.\u00a0 When he said no, it offered him your<\/em> life.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A chill shot through me and I busied myself with the ward for a moment, trying not to think.\u00a0 When I spoke, my voice was shaky.\u00a0 \u201cBut he said no.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHe said you\u2019d hate him if he\u2019d said yes, and he couldn\u2019t live with that.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHe would have been right,\u201d Carolyn said softly, putting her hand on J.T.\u2019s arm.\u00a0 \u201cWe won\u2019t tell him that you told us.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThanks,\u201d J.T. murmured, watching me as I reset the physical components of the ward.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cEnergy dump now,\u201d I said, trying to force my voice to be steady as I laid my hands over the stones and herbs that comprised the ward.\u00a0 I even felt a trickle of energy come from J.T.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t feel like the first one did by the time we were done, but it was strong enough to hold.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHopefully we taught it a lesson it won\u2019t soon forget,\u201d Carolyn said softly.\u00a0 \u201cIf it\u2019s not actually dead.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s not dead,\u201d J.T. said grimly.\u00a0 Rory nodded in silent agreement.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I shivered again and said nothing for a few long moments before I stood up.\u00a0 \u201cWell,\u201d I said as I straightened.\u00a0 \u201cAll the more reason for us to get these set and watch them.\u00a0 Do you think your little friends can keep an eye on things, Carolyn?\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She hesitated for a moment, tilting her head to the side as if listening, then slowly nodded.\u00a0 \u201cYeah, I think so.\u00a0 Sounds like they can, anyway.\u00a0 It\u2019s not going to prove anything to anyone who doesn\u2019t believe in any of it, though.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rory snorted humorlessly.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re not worried about proof for them.\u00a0 This is about the rest of us.\u201d
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I nodded in silent agreement and started walking toward the next ward.<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0First<\/a>\u00a0\u2022\u00a0Previous<\/a>\u00a0\u2022 Next<\/a> \u2022\u00a0Latest<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cRiders!\u00a0 Riders incoming, southwest.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My head came up at the sound of Jack\u2019s shout.\u00a0 He had the patrol watch that hour.\u00a0 My heartbeat quickened. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Someone blew their whistle, calling everyone either to the walls or to cover.\u00a0 … 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":[31,32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-12","category-day-21"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-e0","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/868","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=868"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/868\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":876,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/868\/revisions\/876"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=868"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=868"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=868"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}