The Hunt: A Custodes Noctis Book Read online

  “My king?” Galen said, bringing his mount up beside Rob. “We need to ride to where the army gathers.”

  “Army, Galen?” Rob asked sardonically. He doubted Stephen made an army, and even if Rhiannon and Greg had arrived, three were hardly better than one—even if one of them was Rhiannon.

  “Yes, Rob, the army, they're waiting at the clearing.”

  “I didn't see them,” Rob insisted.

  “No, you didn't, but they're there,” Galen said, grinning as he swung onto his horse.

  “My brothers, we ride!” Rob shouted. He heard the rustle as the riders settled onto their horses. The horn rang out and they started to move, the hounds and each uisge running before them, noses to the ground. The night creatures flitted above the Hunt, their calls echoing over the fields as they moved.

  Joy surged through Rob, anticipation coloring it as well. He laughed, his voice carrying back to the others. One of the horses caught up with him, he glanced over, Galen was beside him as they rode. “It is right, it is good, it is joy,” the king said quietly. Rob had to agree.

  The horses galloped on, one of the riders started singing. Rob recognized the words, the 'Call to War' from one of the Sagas. He'd never heard the tune, but he caught on and sang joyfully with his ancient brothers. The night creatures kept a counterpoint to the voices of the Hunt as they moved towards the bog and the Great Altar. The trees began to change, the point between the fields where the Hunt rode and the physical world was near. The wind altered, bring the scent of salt and the sweet-sick smell of the bog.

  When Rob saw what was waiting at the Great Altar his heart missed a beat. “Gods,” he whispered, reining in his horse in front of Rhiannon, Parry, Bobby and Stephen. He could see the shimmering presence of the First Emrys, and behind him the massed group of former Keepers. A group of humans stood to the right of Rhiannon and beside Stephen was a whirling maelstrom where the Fae were gathered. Behind the main group others were gathered, Rob recognized Marc Nelson and other werecreatures.

  “You'll need these,” Greg said, stepping forward and offering Rob the Emrys Swords.

  “Thank you,” Rob said gravely, taking the swords and letting the song warm him. The power buzzed through his hands, calming the pounding of his heart. “Galen?” he said softly, handing his brother one of the swords.

  “We are here to serve,” Greg said firmly. He had a large assault rifle in his hands and a machete strapped to his leg.

  Rob glanced around the group, some had blades, some guns, some both. The rainbow-hued glitter from the Fae were weapons as well, he knew that without knowing what the actually were. “You weren't kidding,” Rob said under his breath to Galen.

  “I was as surprised as you are, Brat,” Galen answered.

  “Rob, Galen, it's good to see you,” Parry said, stepping forward to rest his hand on Rob's foot.

  “You too, Dad, Uncle Bobby,” he said, nodding at each. The king bubbled through him, whispering happily as Rob looked at Stephen and the Fae. Rob took a deep breath to quiet him. “Are we ready?” Rob whispered.

  “Of course we aren't,” Galen said confidently, slapping him on the back.

  “You're making me feel better.” Rob grinned and met his brother's eyes. He felt the hum of the bond.

  “You're the calm one, Rob.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Anytime, Brat.” Galen was quiet for a moment. “So the Fae with the Hunt and the rest fight whatever comes over the Veil and the things from this world that have joined them?”

  “Can the Keepers fight with us?” Rob asked.

  “We can't breach the Between World,” the First Emrys said, walking up to join the group.

  “Okay. Will you lead the Keepers?” Rob addressed Emrys and his father.

  “Of course,” Parry assured him.

  “Stephen, you'll lead the Fae?”

  “As much as anyone can,” Stephen answered, humor twisting through the colors surrounding him.

  “Rhiannon?” Rob looked down at her, she looked tiny compared to the others gathered around her.

  “You making me a general?” She grinned her tigress grin.

  “Yes.”

  “Good,” she said, pulling her gun out of a shoulder holster.

  “Mike?” Galen turned to the physician.

  “I'm not fighting, Galen, I'm here as a medic. I don't fight. I'll patch you up as best as I can, assuming I can.”

  Rob frowned for a moment, then remembered how he and Galen must look to the doctor, their faces shifting, only partially fleshed. “Do your best. I'm not sure how the healing will work between a member of the Hunt and someone in the physical world.”

  “When you say things like that, it reminds me how insane this is,” Mike said, a sour look on his face. “Be careful,” he added quietly.

  “We will,” Galen said, reaching out to him, but stopping before his hand came into contact with Mike.

  A sound suddenly filled the air—the shriek of the Veil being torn apart. The noise sent a rush of pure terror through Rob's body, pounding through his head and filling him with the urge to flee. The king responded to the sound as well, fighting to gain control—to fight or to run, it was a toss up at that moment. On the heels of the shriek came another sound, even more terrifying than the first, a growl rumbling through the earth, making the ground tremble. Rob turned his horse in the direction of the noise.

  The tear in the Veil was bleeding a sick color across the landscape. Dark shadows gathered along the edge—Rob recognized some of them, creatures that walked the night in the physical world, coming to feast on the remains of the battle, picking at the flesh of the fallen. Other things came through the slash that cut across the night, things like they'd faced in the park, pulling light into themselves, every bit as ugly as they'd been when he'd first seen them. They were growling softly as they came, then stopped and waited for something else. A chill preceded them, icy cold flowing over the landscape—wind before a storm. It burned over Rob's cheeks and he could hear the horses shifting nervously as they sensed what was coming.

  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 comi
ng, 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.

  Chapter Twenty

  Galen

  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.”

&nb
sp;