Page 39 (1/2)

And so I raised the horn, channelingYet even thening us, as I’d thought it would, but changing us Itscertain powers of each individual until they were utterly different than what they had been Only I remain untouched… I knew instantly I would never live dohat I had done The oaths I had broken to ic…

"Oathbreaker," I breathed

"Yes," she acknowledged "I’ed us I used a power beyond my control because I was like Jarl--I wanted humans to die For us to rule And I was punished for my hubris"

"But what does the creature have to do with this?" I wanted to ask her so s to do, and that so

"It will explain It wants to talk"

"That’s what I have to do? Go… talk to it?"

"Yes It’s already opening up to you, in your dreams It likes you, in its way"

"Why?" I asked, totally confused

She shrugged "Who knows? But it sees sorow clammy with fear

"What the hell do you mean, it’s chosen me?" I demanded

"It’s always been aware of you, as it slept It always thought you’d be important When it woke, it called ed in eventually, but it saw more in you than just a foot soldier"

I frowned "Go on"

"It’s alanted you But when you were attacked--which it had nothing to do with, by the way--it communed with you even more deeply Became even more certain it wanted you"

"For what? What the hell would it wantus, Jane It knohat’s going on The reason I really followed you is because it told me to, because it wants to take a side It wants to take our side, and it’s ready to choose a champion That champion is you"

I blinked at her Then I couldn’t help it

I laughed

"What the hell are you talking about?" I asked, between slightly hysterical, choked giggles "You are the champion!"

"It could never be me, babydoll," she said, sadly "I’m the cause of all this mess"

Rather selfishly, I was too focused on nize that this is absurd?" I asked,in, not least because Blondie hadn’t yet cracked a smile "I’m not a warrior! I’m a selkie! A half-selkie! I’ht, Jane," the Original intoned, her voice lower than usual, her spine straighter than she norli behind my neo-punk friend, and I shivered "And there are th of arms is only one weapon out of many, and oftentimes the first to fall"

"But why me?" I asked, my voice small and, admittedly, scared

"We do not choose our destinies," Blondie said, shrinking back down to becoently reached out to rub up and down the top of reat things, Jane"

"I still don’t understand," I repeated, trying to wrap"You were told to come to me? By the creature?"

"Yes"

"So it’s aware?"