The Hunt: A Custodes Noctis Book (31 page)

When the first
feorhbealu
appeared on the fields Rob was sure his heart had stopped. There was no way to describe what was gathering there. He’d thought the things they fought in the park were bad, but they were nothing compared to what was now facing them. Terror made flesh, the sound issuing from gaping maws made the trees tremble in fear, the dark trunks vibrating with the noise. The night creatures that had been flitting above the Hunt were keening in distress and from where the Fae were gathered an odd howl of fear echoed, the
each uisge
and other four-legged Fae crying their horror into the night.

“Rob?” Galen’s hand was warm on his shoulder.

“Not good,” Rob whispered, looking at Galen. The soft shine of Galen’s power swirled through the mists surrounding him, a bright light shimmered on his chest, covering the dark scar the Old One had left.

“No it’s not, is it? And I’m not seeing what you are.” Galen took a breath to say something else, Rob felt the wash of regret, but Galen stopped and grinned. “Ready?”

“Of course not,” Rob said, returning the grin. He glanced back over the group gathered behind him. The horses were prancing in anticipation, excitement flowing around them in bright colors as they danced, waiting for the charge. He could see their longing to fight, it had been too long since this had happened, too long since they’d done what they were bred to do. Rob felt the king stirring as well. Rob turned his head to look towards his brother. “Good luck, Galen,”

“You, too, Rob.”

“In living we serve,” Rob said, the words of the formal
Custodes Noctis
farewell falling easily from his lips

“In dying we serve,” Galen answered.

 
Meeting Galen’s eyes Rob nodded and lifted his sword. Silence fell over their small army as they waited for the order. The
each uisge,
and other Fae creatures Rob didn’t recognize fell in beside the horses, preparing to be part of that first charge across the fields. The
feorhbealu
knew what was coming, they were motionless, staring across the field, growling in a continuous sound that reverberated through Rob’s chest. The horses began to move, slow steps as they ranged out in battle formation. Rob glanced over the line, Galen and Flash were on his right, Guy on his left and the other riders on each side, the
each uisge
and other four-legged Fae at the end of the line. The human-like Fae, led by Stephen, were behind the Hunt. Rob watched as the riders drew their swords, waiting for the order. He took a deep breath.
“Here we go,”
he said silently to Galen, his brother nodded with a tight smile.

Rob lowered his sword.

The riders shouted, the horses charged, their great hooves tearing the ground as they gained speed. The king nudged Rob, and he let a little of the king’s awareness creep into him, knowing he would need help in this battle. He felt the hum of his connection with Galen grow, giving him the strength to force the king to serve, but not overtake his consciousness.

 
A growling shriek filled the air around them and the
feorhbealu
and those that served them came crashing over the fields, the sound unlike anything Rob had even heard. Bone grating over bone, flesh torn apart, those were the images the sound brought to mind. With it came a stench, the smell of death, rotten, filthy, filling the air with its presence. One of the horses broke away, tearing across the fields as the rider shouted his loyalty to the
feorhbealu
. He was cut down, his body ripped apart with one blow of a horrifically clawed hand.

The next moment the Hunt slammed into the
feorhbealu
and their ranks. It was like hitting a wall, the horses stopped as the riders fought the creatures that were tearing through them. Rob drove his sword into the thing in front of him—cold blasted up the blade, but the creature fell back, howling in pain as another came forward. It lashed out with a long arm, the talons on the end slicing through the air inches from Rob’s neck, it was a feint and the other hand caught Rob in the temple. He managed to keep from falling, slumping forwards against his horse’s neck, he was stunned and the thing closed in for the kill.

Galen shouted wordlessly, and the next instant his blade cut through the creature, its arm dropping to the ground as it shrieked at them. He pulled in front of Rob, slicing at the creature with his Keepers’ sword. Rob could see the power in the blade as it blended with Galen’s own immense power and the bright light cut through the thing. It screamed again and Galen cleaved its head from its shoulders. It blasted apart in a dark gush of foul smelling slime.

“Rob?” Galen shouted.

“I’m okay,” Rob said.

“Look out!” Galen called, swinging his sword as he reined.

Rob ducked as Galen’s blade moved past him, then drove forward with his own weapon. Galen countered, cutting into a creature that was trying to come up on their right. Rob followed the blow with his own. The bond hummed and they moved out together, slice, feint, cut, thrust, working seamlessly as they fought. Was it wrong to feel happy in this moment? Rob thought it might be, but he was, fighting with Galen as they were meant to, Keepers together. As it was, as it should be.

He could hear scattered gunfire behind him and occasionally a scream of pain or rage. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the others as they fought, the swirling mists of the Hunt, the bright maelstrom of the Fae. In the distance he could just catch the others who fought with them as they faced the creatures that would consume the fallen and feast on the world as the
feorhbealu
took control. A rider shouted, Rob realized it was Guy. He pulled his focus away from the thing he and Galen had just killed to look towards Guy.
 

The riders had broken through the ranks in front of the
feorhbealu
and now the Hunt was in front of their ancient enemy. A collective noise moved through the creatures, the terrifying growl mingled with amusement. The
feorhbealu
were confident they’d win the day, and after a pause, a roar issued from their throats as they plunged forward into the Hunt.

Rob managed to duck the first swing the lead
feorhbealu
leveled at him. Galen yelled and moved in to take the backhand blow. Urging his horse forward, Rob blocked the thing as it closed in on his brother, thrusting his blade into it. Agony burned up the sword, Rob nearly dropped the weapon, but held on as Galen cut down on it from behind. The
feorhbealu
 
roared its defiance, seemingly unaffected by their combined attack. It pulled back for an instant and grew larger, claws slowly extending from
 
a man-sized hand. It leaned forward and looked into Rob’s eyes. He felt himself falling into the terror held in those black orbs, hell suddenly before him. He couldn’t move, the king was held prisoner as well. Death was coming, and he had no choice but to let it come.

“No!” Galen shouted as the
feorhbealu
swung at Rob. The blow connected with Galen instead, knocking him from his horse.

“Galen!” Rob turned his mount and raced to where Galen lay under the churning hooves of the Hunt and the clawed feet of the
feorhbealu
. Guy was beside Rob, fighting off a creature that was closing on Galen, its dark teeth bared, black drool covering the ground as it moved. “Galen!” Rob called again, this time there was an answer, a blur of confusion buzzing through the bond. Galen staggered to his feet and raise a bloodied hand. Rob reached down and swung his brother onto the horse in front of him with a sure movement, the knowledge of the king making the maneuver as easy as if Rob had been doing it his whole life.

A scream came from behind Rob, he turned to see what was happening. The
feorhbealu
were cutting a swath through the Hunt and the Fae, leaving bodies in their path, decimating the small army. Guy was fighting something to Rob’s left and Stephen was standing over a fallen
each uisge
trying to keep one of the foul creatures serving the
feorhbealu
from consuming the body.

A wave of reflected pain filled Rob as Galen dropped his head against his shoulder. His brother was wounded, unable for the moment to focus the healing. Rob wrapped an arm around Galen to keep him steady and looked over the now ragged line of the Hunt. Galen’s horse stopped beside him and nudged Rob’s mount with its nose. Rob knew what he had to do, he didn’t know what would happen when he shouted the order, but there was no choice. They were losing the battle.

“Fall back!” he shouted. The
feorhbealu
hooted in triumph. “Fall back!” Rob called again and waited until the Hunt and Fae were moving back across the field before falling in behind them.

The sounds of the battle were muted as they raced back across the fields. Galen tried to focus the healing into himself, but it was slow to respond and he was mostly unaware when Rob pulled his horse to a stop and hands pulled Galen from the saddle. He was laid on the ground, the wet earth smelling of decay, the cold seeping through his clothing. A hand touched his forehead, the warmth of the bond letting the light flow, enabling Galen to focus the healing and drive away the dark pain the
feorhbealu
claws had caused. The wound pulsed in time with the scar the Old One had left in him, the dark point in his heart recognized the touch of the
feorhbealu
and tried to move out through his body to join it. Galen shoved it down, aware of a white heat on his chest. He opened his eyes. Rob and Parry were kneeling beside him; Guy, Flash and Bobby standing behind them.

“The
feorhbealu
?” Galen asked, looking from Rob to his father.

“Waiting, they stopped about halfway across the field,” Rob said, offering him a hand and pulling him into a sitting position. “Stephen is watching.”

“They stopped?”

“They did.”

“Waiting for us to regroup so they can wipe us out in one blow,” Guy said quietly. “It’s easier to wait for us to come back.”

“Help me up.” Galen frowned at Flash as Rob pulled him up. “You okay?”

“Fuck yeah.” Flash grinned. “I’m a freaking hero.”

“He is,” Guy said, clapping Flash on the shoulder. “He stopped one of the
feorhbealu’s
army, saved one of the Hunt.” A fleeting worry passed through Guy’s eyes, Galen wondered if the rider had been what was left of Guy’s brother.

“I kicked its slimy ass, and that’s a fact, although that weird voice in my head is driving me nuts.”

“Voice?” Galen asked, letting Rob steady him.

“Yeah, he keeps saying ‘it is good, it is right, it is joy’ while I’m trying to whack something. Fucker wants to take over or some shit.”

“Don’t let him,” Rob said softly, the king flitting through his eyes and shifting across his face.

“No,” Flash agreed. “Galen? Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Galen said, taking a deep breath. “How many did we lose?”

“Not as many as we will,” Guy said grimly.

“We’re going to lose everyone,” Blake said, joining them. “The Fae lost five already, and I know that’s not many compared to your numbers, but for us it’s devastating. The
feorhbealu
have gained power since I last faced them.” He ran a hand over his face and leaned wearily against his blade. “Some of them have left.”

“The Fae?” Galen asked.

“Yes, they’re willing to take the chance that the
feorhbealu
will spare them when this is over. It’s better than facing certain death.”

“Oh, no, you don’t!” Rhiannon’s voice rang out over the clearing. There was a pause then a muffled gunshot. “That’s better,” she snarled in triumph.

“What’s going on?” Rob asked, looking at Galen.

“I suspect the Fae weren’t the only ones trying to leave,” Galen said with a chuckle. “Rhiannon was probably discouraging them.” He saw her walking out of the dark ring of trees towards them, a feral smile on her face. “You’re not supposed to shoot the good guys,” Galen called to her.

“I’ll shoot anyone who tries to leave the field.” She tucked her gun in the shoulder holster she wore, and looked him over with an appraising eye. “Mike’s helping as many as he can. Anyone here need a medic?”

“We’re okay for now. What do we do?” Galen said, glancing over the group gathered there.

“Heroic last charge would be my guess,” Blake said smugly.

“That’s not helping,” Flash snapped.

“You have a better idea, idiot?”

“Giving up isn’t an idea,” Flash said.

Galen sighed, it wasn’t a great idea, but it was more than likely the truth. The
feorhbealu
were going to slaughter them on the next attack. He could hear the soft moans of the wounded and the bell-like jingle of the horses bridles as the animals waited for their next move. In the distance, he could hear the ocean and the howl of a siren, the sounds comforting and solid.

“Galen!” Rob shouted and grabbed his arm.

“What the…” Galen never got a chance to finish, a clawed hand closed over his shoulder and he was being dragged away. Shots rang out and he saw Rob, Guy and Flash swing onto their horses as the others raced on foot towards him. Rhiannon stopped when she reached the edge of the fields, but the others kept coming. Galen struggled to free himself from the creature’s grasp. Rob and Guy trapped the creature between them and Galen closed his eyes, focusing the healing into his shoulder, letting it seep outwards towards the creature. It howled in pain and Galen heard the movement of Rob’s sword. The thing dropped him, he hit the ground and rolled away from it as its shriek echoed around him. Hoof beats were coming up behind him, a gentle nudge let Galen know his horse was there. He grabbed hold of the pommel and swung himself onto it in a flying mount. Rob and Guy were beside him an instant later and they galloped back towards where the others waited.

When he stopped his horse, Galen swung down a little unsteady. He leaned against the animal and it rested its large head on his shoulder, snuffling in his hair. Rob dismounted and came over, running his eyes over Galen, an anxious frown on his face. “What was that about?” Rob said.

“I don’t know.”

“It was after you, Galen.”

“No, I was just the closest to the field.”

“No, it was after you,” Blake said as he joined them, breathing heavily from his run across the field.

“No,” Galen insisted, shaking his head. “Why would it be after me and not the king?”

“I don’t know,” Guy said, frowning.

Rob was looking at him with the unfocused eyes of the Sight. “What’s that?”

“What’s what?” Galen looked down.

“That,” Rob said, reaching out to grab the chain Galen was wearing, he lifted the small charm up. “It’s the amulet.”

“Yeah.” Galen shrugged. “I grabbed it before we left home.”

“The amulet one they tried to find in the shop, then the thing tried to take from your room?” Rob went on.

“I told you, Rob, it’s just something we made as kids, it…” Galen didn’t know how to explain, he’d picked it up more as a token than anything. He’d been sure he was going to be lost to the Hunt, and he was hoping to carry some small memory of his brother with him.

“By every god,” Guy breathed. “Is that…? Stephen?”

Blake was staring at him, his eyes fixed on the small disk. “I think it might be. Where did you get it?”

“We made it,” Galen repeated.

“You made it?” Blake looked over at Guy and they both shook their heads.

“What?” Galen growled, growing tired of their stares.

“And he thinks he doesn’t have power?” Blake asked Rob, his eyebrows up.

“No,” Rob said, his voice barely a whisper. “Nothing like that.”

“Rob? What’re you talking about?” Galen said carefully.

“How did you stop that thing that grabbed you a minute ago?” Blake was still staring at him.

“I didn’t, Rob and Guy did.”

“No.” Guy shook his head. “It was already weakened when we got to it.”

“Someone talk straight or I’m going to start whacking,” Flash said.

“The amulet,” Blake said, gesturing towards Galen’s necklace.

“Yeah?” Flash stepped closer, his shoulders tense. “What about it.”

“You wouldn’t understand,” the Fae said dismissively.

“What’s your problem?” Flash took another step towards Blake.

“Flash!” Galen grabbed his friend and pulled him back. “Stand over there, you can brawl later.” He focused on Blake. “You can talk now.”

“Back when Robert and I first rode with the Hunt,” Guy said quietly with a glance at Blake. “There were stories of a charm that could aid in the struggle against the dark, that might just be enough to end the threat of the things that had worked with the
feorhbealu
forever. We—Robert and I—planned to look for it when we returned from our last ride with the Hunt. That was when we discovered the
feorhbealu
were not actually gone and one of our own was in league with them. We ended up losing ourselves, becoming prisoners of the Hunt.”

“Why didn’t someone just make the stupid thing if it was so important?” Rob asked.

“Not just anyone can, the one we sought was ancient, supposedly created by the First Emrys himself.”

“No, I never made something like that,” Emrys said quietly. “I didn’t know of these creatures or the threat they posed when I died.”

“There’s never been one made as far as I know,” Blake said. “The legends are true, if one existed it would turn the tide of battle, but no one has ever managed to make one before.”

“And even if we had been able to make it, we would still need someone to channel the power, and not just anyone can do that, either,” Guy said.

“It’s just something we made when we were children,” Galen said, not expecting anyone to actually hear him.

“I told you before, Galen, this is not what we made. You’ve added so much to it. Like my knife and your garden and the store,” Rob insisted.

“No.”

“They were after this, they had to be!” Rob said earnestly. “It’s glowing so much brighter now,
 
and it’s warm.”

“No.”

Rob sighed, his frustration washing over Galen. “I have to show you don’t I?” Without waiting for Galen to answer, Rob put a hand on his arm and Galen felt a jolt as his brother allowed him to see with the Sight.

Galen gasped as he looked over the group, the soft metallic blue of the Keepers, a violent maelstrom where Blake stood, and Flash with mists churning through his presence. A light shimmered at the edge of his vision, he looked down to where Rob held the small charm. Bright sapphire light flowed around his brother’s hand, Galen had caught a glimpse of Rob’s unique “signature” once before, but what pulled his attention away from everything was the glowing disk in his brother’s grasp. Light flowed around it, a silver-gold river swirling through it, the bright light moving outwards, touching the mists in Rob and Flash and pushing them away. Galen lifted his eyes, following the small rays from the amulet as they rose upwards, chasing the dark gathered over the fields away, brushing against the edges of the great wound in the Veil and gently tugging the slash back together. Galen stood motionless for several heartbeats, then looked down into his brother’s eyes. Rob let his hand fall away and the connection altered to let Galen see the world as it usually was again.

“Seeing the world like that—I’m not sure how you keep from falling over, Brat,” he said with a chuckle.

“I do sometimes,” Rob answered with a smile.