{"id":946,"date":"2011-12-21T00:00:35","date_gmt":"2011-12-21T05:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=946"},"modified":"2011-12-15T10:13:01","modified_gmt":"2011-12-15T15:13:01","slug":"day-21-chapter-12-marin-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/?p=946","title":{"rendered":"Day 21 – Chapter 12 – Marin – 19"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhen you talked to her about it, you sounded like you knew what it was like on both ends of being a sibling\u2014being the one worried about and being the one worrying,\u201d I said quietly as Phelan and I headed toward where I assumed my brother would be, beyond the supply tent, working on the ductwork to lay in those trenches the other were digging.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan smiled and nodded slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s because I do,\u201d he said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cTo a certain degree, anyhow.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I have a younger sister, in some ways more precocious and troublesome than I.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Aoife.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>If there was ever a soul in the whole of the world that could get themselves into more trouble than Teague and I, it\u2019s her.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His gaze and voice became wistful.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI don\u2019t know where she is, what\u2019s become of her.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>She was one of the few that came across with us.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWell, that explains how you know about being a frightened big brother,\u201d I said quietly, putting my hands back into my pockets.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut what about scaring big brothers?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Is that firsthand, too?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He laughed weakly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cNo, not really, just the receiving end.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Teague and I, though, we managed to scare his older brother more than a couple times before\u2026\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His voice trailed away, eyes focusing distantly for a moment and he shook his head slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWell, sufficient to say I learned the lessons well.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I could hear the sounds of metal against metal, some kind of hammering and started to walk a little faster.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan\u2019s voice stopped me.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe has a druid\u2019s gift,\u201d he said, his voice soft.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMore strongly than I\u2019ve encountered in a couple hundred years.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I blinked at him over my shoulder.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut she\u2019s, like, ten years old.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He shrugged.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cShe has it.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>You can\u2019t tell me you didn\u2019t notice that she\u2019s very aware of what we used to be able to call the unseen world.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Those gifts can manifest very early, often in response to trauma.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He spread his arms.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd if this wasn\u2019t trauma, I\u2019m not exactly sure what trauma is.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWell, you\u2019ve got me there at least,\u201d I murmured.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>In the lee of one of the ruined dorms, we found Matt hammering a strip of metal flat against what looked like a makeshift anvil.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019d never seen this little set-up before; it must have been something new he\u2019d put together in the past couple days.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His face was smudged with dust and dirt and he was sweating despite the chill.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He happened to glance up at our approach and he grinned when he saw me, a smile that shrank when he got an eyeful of Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThought you were seeing to the wards with Carolyn,\u201d Matt said slowly, looking back at me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut then I saw her back here and you weren\u2019t anywhere to be found.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Who\u2019s this?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He jerked his chin toward Phelan.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan eased forward and offered Matt his hand.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cPhelan Conrad.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m a friend.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt shucked off his glove and reached for Phelan\u2019s hand, though his eyes were on me.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I smiled reassuringly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cKira sent him, but he ran late.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBy about twenty-three days,\u201d Phelan said, smiling sheepishly.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt smiled wryly as he shook Phelan\u2019s hand.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou probably need to work on that, then, don\u2019t you?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Timing is everything.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBelieve me, I\u2019m starting to realize that.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan released my brother\u2019s hand after a moment, then nodded to the tools laid across the anvil.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cArts and crafts?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He snorted.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI wish.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Working on some heating conduits so we don\u2019t all freeze to death huddled around a bonfire this winter.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>None of us are quite confident enough to try to fell some of the bigger trees to make some kind of lodge, and no one wants to spend the season in that damned tent.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He gestured toward the half-collapsed dorms.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd the buildings that\u2019re still standing aren\u2019t safe.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>As if to punctuate his words, there was the soft rumble in the distance of another building\u2014at least a section of one\u2014falling in on itself.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan winced and nodded.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cI see.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt nodded grimly and picked up his hammer.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSo we\u2019ve got to make do with what\u2019s at hand, you know?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan nodded mutely, watching as Matt went back to work.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I cleared my throat.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cMatt?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Was there something you needed from me?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He grunted.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah, it was just a question, though.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>About those things and what hurts them.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I tilted my head to one side, studying Matt as he lifted the hammer to resume his work on the sheet of metal.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat about it?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What\u2019s he been thinking about?\u00a0 <\/span>How the dutch oven crushed those things\u2019 skulls like they were eggshells?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>And the birdshot chewed them up?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>What do those\u2014<\/span><\/em><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHoly shit,\u201d I mumbled suddenly, looking at Phelan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThe iron.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The iron hurts them, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cCold iron will do bad things to just about anyone or anything that\u2019s born of or spent too much time in any of the Otherlands,\u201d he said quietly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>His expression clouded for a moment.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cStick an iron blade in me, it might not end well.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Steel, or another alloy, I might fare better, but that\u2019s because I was born across the sea, not across barriers.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I blinked at him, open-mouthed, then nodded slightly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt just stared.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWhat the hell are you talking about?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan opened his mouth to speak, but closed it and looked at me as I touched his arm.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLater,\u201d I said softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe can explain it all later, after dinner.<\/span>\u00a0 You<\/em><\/span> can explain it all.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I looked sidelong at my brother.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThe ones who are still here, do you think they can handle being…initiated, for lack of a better term?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>He frowned for a moment, then shrugged.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBetter now than later, I guess, Mar.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>We\u2019ve lost five since the fight.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Number\u2019s already down.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Maybe who we\u2019ve got left will be made of sterner stuff than the ones who ran away.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We can only hope.<\/em>\u00a0 <\/span>I nodded mutely.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThings are about to get stranger.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Matt looked at me deadpan.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBring it on.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m not sure how much worse it could get.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan smiled humorlessly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBad enough,\u201d he said quietly, \u201cthough I don\u2019t think it\u2019s anything you won\u2019t be able to handle.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIs that supposed to be comforting?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Matt asked, looking between the two of us.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan shrugged.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIt\u2019s supposed to be <\/span>true<\/span><\/em>.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019s all I have to offer.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>My brother nodded slowly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAll right.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I guess I\u2019ll have to accept that\u2014and explanations at dinner.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>He waved us off with the hand still holding the hammer.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGo on, get out of here.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019ve got some more work to get done while there\u2019s still daylight.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I pecked him on the cheek.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cGood luck.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThanks,\u201d he muttered, then got back to it.<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan smiled wryly as we walked away.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cHe\u2019s a reluctant believer, isn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah,\u201d I said softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cBut he\u2019s coming around.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Just like all the rest.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>I shrugged.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThey\u2019ll have to, if we\u2019re going to keep on surviving.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Right?\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAye,\u201d Phelan said softly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOr at the very least, accept that there is more to the world than what they can see with their eyes.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIf you can convince Thom, I think everyone else will be easy.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 At least, that\u2019s what I hope.<\/em><\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cIndeed.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Phelan grinned puckishly.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cAnd now it\u2019s <\/span>more<\/span><\/em> than high time I meet him.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>I laughed to cover the queasy feeling in my stomach.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYeah.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>Right.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>It is.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWhen you talked to her about it, you sounded like you knew what it was like on both ends of being a sibling\u2014being the one worried about and being the one worrying,\u201d I said quietly as Phelan and I … 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-946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chapter-12","category-day-21"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1EBlN-fg","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/946","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=946"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/946\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":949,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/946\/revisions\/949"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/awakenings.embklitzke.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}