The Hunt: A Custodes Noctis Book (15 page)

“Yeah, I’m sure that’s what it was, Brat. I can read the language, I needed it for my Ph.D.”

“Yeah, I know. My accent sucks. I told my professor that he was mispronouncing the word for sacrifice. And he said—um, never mind what he said—let’s just say I ended up in front of the department chair.” He chuckled.

“Of course you did.” Galen frowned when he saw the fog cloud his brother’s eyes again. “Hey.”

“I’m here.” Rob smiled. “It’s harder than I thought, staying focused.”

“Bells?”

“And a song. I hear the horses, too.”

“I understand,” Galen said quietly. “Rob…” He stopped what he was about to say as the waiter approached the table with their food.

The man put the pizza down and glanced at Rob. Almost as if it had moved on its own, his hand rose and touched the odd burn mark on Rob’s forehead. “How did you escape?” he said softly. He dropped his hand and turned to leave, Galen grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

“What do you mean?” Galen kept his voice conversational, even though there was no way the man could escape his grasp.

“Please let me go,” the man said, trying to pull away.

“Sit down.” Galen pulled him down to a chair.

“I can’t,” he said, casting a wild glance around the empty restaurant. “If they see me, I’m dead.”

“If who sees you?” Rob asked.

“The servants.”

“Servants?”

“Yes, how did you escape them?” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “Once they took Chris, he never escaped.”

“When did he die?” Galen asked.

“Seven years ago.”

“You’re lying,” Rob said, frowning at him.

“No, I’m not!”

“Yes, you are.” Rob leaned forward. “About something.”

“No.” The man was shaking his head, staring at the table. Without warning, he grabbed Rob’s left arm. “Oh my god!”

“Let him go,” Galen growled.

“You’re
Custodes Noctis
!” A hesitant smile lit his face. “Not vassals? Actual
Custodes Noctis?
”

“Yes. I’m Galen Emrys, that’s my brother Rob.”

“I’m Jeff Owain.” The smiled broadened.

“Tell us about Chris. Was he your brother?” Galen picked up a piece of pizza and put it on a plate for Rob, shoving it in front of him.

“Cousin, but more like a brother.” Jeff looked away. “Seven years ago, they took him. I found him the next day out at the bog.”

“We’ve been there.”

“He was dead, but…”

“But?”

“I don’t think he was dead.”

“What do you mean?” Galen asked, glancing at Rob. His brother was picking at the pizza, staring at the table.

“This’ll sound crazy.” Jeff laughed bitterly. “Well, maybe not to you.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve seen him.”

“Seen him?” Galen frowned, Rob was methodically tearing the pizza to bits.

“The first time was right after it happened. I went out there one night. I guess I was planning to leave a stone or something for a memorial, you know. I honor the traditions.” He paused for a moment. “I heard horses, they caught me there and dragged me to the edge of the water.”

“The horses?” Galen said. Rob finished with the piece of pizza and started shredding a napkin.

“No, the
each uisge
. Then riders came, you know. One of them got off his horse, he had a curved knife in his hand. The
each uisge
held me,” Jeff said, rubbing his wrist. Galen noticed faint scars on both wrists. “And when he got to me, I swear—no, I know. It was Chris. He whispered ‘run’ to me, then his face changed, he said something to the
each uisge
and they let me go, and I ran. I went back once or twice after that, I thought I saw him watching. I don’t know. He was Chris and he wasn’t, if you know what I mean?”

Galen thought of the man who’d slit Rob’s throat, who’d stood before him with his face shifting. “I do know. Was he buried?”

“Yes, at the King’s Chapel.”

“King’s Chapel?” Galen asked. Rob had found another napkin and was tearing it apart.

“It’s at the other end of town.”

“The Romanesque one?”

“That’s it. I’ll get you the address. I’ll help however I can. The Owain family once served the
Custodes Noctis,
and I will. Would you like some coffee? On the house. The pizza is too.”

“Thanks.” Galen smiled as Jeff went to get the pot. “Good pizza,” he said to Rob. His brother was shredding another piece of the pizza. He didn’t look up, just stayed focused on the act of destruction he was accomplishing. Jeff brought the coffee back, along with a pile of napkins which he dropped in front of Galen with a smile.

Galen took another bite of pizza. Rob was shredding his way through the new pile of napkins. Three napkins later, Rob picked up his fork. Something buzzed through their connection, but Galen wasn’t fast enough to stop Rob from driving the fork into his left hand, the tines piercing the flesh between the thumb and forefinger.

“Rob!” Galen was out of his chair, pulling the fork from his brother’s hand.
 
“What’s going on?” he said, pressing one of the last whole napkins down on the wound on Rob’s hand.

“Galen?” Rob sounded confused. He looked down at his hand, where the blood was already saturating the napkin, then up at Galen. “What happened?”

“Hold still.” Galen laid his hand over Rob’s and focused the healing into the wound. A cold fog blocked the light for a moment before Galen could push his way past it. “Jeff?”

“Yeah?” he answered as he came out from the back and walked towards their table, stopping in his tracks when he saw the bloody napkins. “Do you need the first aid kit?”

“No, I got it,” Galen said with a smile.

“What happened?” Jeff asked.

“The napkins got boring.”

“Did I do that?” Rob looked from his hand to Galen.

“You did.”

“Great.” Rob flexed his hand.

“Sorry I wasn’t fast enough to stop you. What happened?”

“I was listening.” Rob frowned. “An old song of the Hunt. I could hear them, the song was about the blood, the sacrifice.” His voice was dreamy, a soft smile on his face.

“They demanded blood?”

“They asked for it,” Rob corrected him.

“Let’s go. Jeff, can you pack up the pizza?” Galen said.

“Sure, let me get a box.”

“Thanks.” Galen stood and pulled Rob to his feet. “I’m going to get the address of the chapel. No forks while my back’s turned.”

“Yeah.” Rob stepped away from the table and looked out the windows.

“Is he okay?” Jeff asked.

Galen shrugged. “Where’s the chapel?”

“Which way did you come into town?”

“From the south.”

“Okay, flip a U and turn right at the stop light, go up one block and turn left. It’s down six blocks.” He smiled. “If you need any help, anything, even just free pizza delivery, let me know.”

“Thanks, Jeff, we will.” Galen took the box from him and headed towards the door. If the
feorhbealu
called other creatures there, they’d need all the help they could get. “Rob?”

“I’m here.” Rob opened the door. “How did you know about the church? We couldn’t see anything when we came into town.”

“I remember it from when we were here seven years ago. Bobby gave me a lecture on Romanesque architecture in general and the preferences of the Victorians.” Galen grinned. “Dad started in too, I felt like I was in an art history lecture.”

“Fun.”

“I did get even later, I found…” Galen trailed off, remembering finding the herbs and lecturing his father and uncle on what they were and what they were used for.

“Galen?”

“Sorry, Brat. I found plants that were used in magic—some very rare, they shouldn’t have been out here at all. They were growing in a faerie ring.”

“Used in the ritual?”

“Maybe at one time. They wouldn’t need them if the new member dies when they join.”

“But when
Custodes Noctis
used to join as King and Champion, they didn’t die, they passed into the Between World, soul and body. Stephen said some Keepers returned to the Hunt several times. Once the rituals are performed, the Keepers retain the ability to move between planes.”

“But?”

“What?” Rob said, opening the door to the Jeep and getting in.

“There’s more, I can hear it in your voice.” Galen put the pizza on the back seat, got in and turned the engine on. He cautiously pulled out and made a U turn, unable to see into the fog, he was waiting for something to run into him as he turned. “Rob?” He could sense the uncertainty in Rob, the fear. He’d sensed worry and even fear from his brother before, but the uncertainty was so rare he glanced at his brother. “You’re worried.”

“I am. I was so sure, Galen, when I talked with Stephen. I thought you could escape them, that we’d be able to take control of the Hunt.”

“And now?”

“I don’t know. The call is stronger than I thought it would be.”

“You’re already losing yourself to the king,” Galen said softly, knowing the truth before Rob spoke.

Rob stared out the windshield, the bleak look back on his face. “I am.”

The thick fog hid the buildings as they drove through town. Rob tried to stay focused, but the soft chiming of bells and the quiet song were slowly pulling him away. It worried him, the song was similar to the spell Blake had given him to make the
each uisge
see him as the fallen Keeper long enough to make that irrevocable choice. He knew it was intended to begin his transformation to the king—knowing he was already losing the fight to that call caused a ripple of fear to run along his skin.

Even so, he didn’t regret the choice. One thing he hadn’t told Galen, something Stephen
 
had explained to him, was that once a fallen Keeper joined the Hunt as king, they never escaped—even the ones who wanted to leave were trapped in the Between World. It was a punishment, after all. What was worrying Rob, and why he had willingly changed placed with his brother is that Stephen had made it clear that even if Galen joined voluntarily he would be kept there as a member of the Hunt. Even if they met the older rituals when the Keepers came and went, Galen would still be trapped. Rob was hoping that if Galen joined as king’s champion Rob could somehow keep Galen from being trapped when it was over. Rob had no idea how long he could keep that information from his brother, Galen had a sixth sense about that kind of thing, not just because of their connection—it seemed to work with everyone around him.

“I think Flash is up to something,” Galen said, breaking the silence.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know, there was something in his voice when he called.”

“Like?”

“I’m not sure, I just have a funny feeling.” Galen glanced over at him. “More than one, actually.”

“Galen…” Rob broke off, he could see something moving in the fog, light and shadow playing around a building. “There it is.”

Galen turned into a small parking lot. Rob got out as soon as they stopped.

A raven croaked from somewhere to Rob’s left, he could hear the voices of crows echoing in the soft evening light, and somewhere beneath it all, the sound of bells, of horses and singing and the baying of hounds. Movement caught his eye, he looked up at the roof just as a raven landed. It cocked its head to the side, laughing softly.

 

“Rob?” Galen said, coming up beside him.

“I’m here.” Rob led the way to the dark red door and opened it, stepping into the foyer of the chapel. It smelled of incense, the interior lit by low lights and flickering candles. The entrance was screened from the rest of the building by a set of frosted glass doors, an intricate pattern of intertwining vines etched in the panels.

“Wait.” Galen stepped in front of him and laid a hand on the door, he closed his eyes and Rob saw the quicksilver around Galen shift as he used his Gift to reach beyond the glass to sense what was there.
 
After a moment, he lifted his hand away and opened the door. Rob stepped forward and looked into chapel. He nodded to Galen to let him know it was clear, knowing his brother’s intentions without asking.

He followed Galen into the chapel, glancing around. There was a shimmering golden line on the floor that led to a raised platform at the front of the building. “Can you see that?”

“What?”

“The line on the floor?”

Galen looked down and frowned. “Yes, I can.”

“Can I help you?” a woman said, appearing from a recessed alcove on the platform.

Rob was drawn to the effigy on the platform, he brushed past Galen and stopped beside it, watching the colors play around the human figure carved from stone. It was old, it had the deep shine of something ancient, something touched by magic for long centuries. He reached out to touch it, watching as his hand moved through the swirling colors like it was passing through waters rippling with sun and shadow. His hand came into contact with the stone, it was warm, the magic flowing around it, heating it from within. There was a deep thrum of power there, the stone had been witness to myriad rituals over its vast existence. He could see some of what it had witnessed swirling over the stone—mists, horses pawing at the earth, the Hunt poised to ride, other creatures waiting and watching as the Hunt gathered. Without warning one of the
feorhbealu
was there, racing through the landscape, the Hunt turned, but the thing sensed Rob, it stopped and turned towards him, a growl rumbling through the stone, the colors moving around it altered as the thing focused on him. It held him transfixed, the touch of its darkness curling through his body. The
feorhbealu
started moving towards him, slowly becoming visible. It was far more horrifying than the thing they’d fought in the park, far more terrifying than the Old One they had faced the year before. It knew what he was becoming, and he knew it would kill him before he could take his place with the Hunt if it could.

“Rob!” Rough shaking accompanied the shout. The healing flooded him, slamming through his body like a physical blow. “Look at me!” His head was wrenched around. “Rob, focus!” Rob blinked, the dark landscape faded away and Galen swam into his line of sight.

“Here,” Rob said, taking a deep breath.

“You sure?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Who are you?” the woman asked. Rob had forgotten her. She stepped closer, looking at them.

“I’m Galen Emrys,” Galen said, moving in front of Rob. “He’s my brother, Rob.”

“Emrys?” A smile lit her face. “Welcome! Welcome!
Custodes Noctis
here! I’ve hoped sometime you’d come. I am Vivian Owain.”

“Owain? Are you related to Jeff?” Galen asked.

“He’s my nephew.” She glanced around the chapel, as if checking to see if they would be overheard. “Chris was my son. I’ve served at the chapel since he… Since he was taken.”

Rob saw the hesitation moving through her. “Voluntarily?” he whispered, matching her tone.

Vivian shook her head. “My family has served the
Custodes Noctis
before, but this is different. The ones who took my son, they do not ride to…” She stopped abruptly, her face going white.

“What’s going on?” a voice asked. Rob turned to face the speaker. She was tall, her dark hair flowing to her hips. Power surged around her, and something else. He recognized it now, having met Stephen Blake; the woman was human but the colors of the Fae moved through her as well.

Rob knew who—and what—she was. “Priestess,” he said, meeting her eyes.

“Why do you violate the Chapel, Keeper?” she hissed, anger sparking through the air.

“We come to honor those that ride.”

“Honor?”

“Yes, before we ride with them.” Rob was aware of Galen standing behind him. His brother was barely an inch taller, but it felt like he was towering over Rob, a solid, very threatening presence at his back.

“Ride with them?” she spat, moving closer to Rob, one hand outstretched.

“Stay back,” Galen said quietly.

“You cannot stop me.”

“Oh, yes, I can.” Galen stepped in front of Rob. “And I will.”

“The Hunt has accepted us, the first ritual has been met,” Rob stated.

“They accepted you?” Her demeanor changed, the anger disappearing and in its place anticipation. “
Custodes Noctis
will ride by choice?”

“As it once was.”

“As it will be, it is good, it is right, it is joy,” she said softly, raising her hand in a salute. She smiled gently and reached out, her hand brushing Rob’s arm before pulling away. He closed his eyes as
 
a small jolt of energy flowed through him. Galen’s hand was suddenly on his shoulder, supporting him as he swayed.

“Don’t touch him again,” Galen growled.

“Please wait,” she said. Rob heard her moving away, soft bells chiming as she opened a door somewhere in the chapel.

“Rob?”

“I’m okay,” he said, drawing a breath. Her touch had brought the mists back, he shook his head, trying to push them away. “Part of the ritual, I think.”

“She touches you again, and I’ll take her hands off.” From the way Galen said it, Rob knew it wasn’t a threat, he meant it and was completely capable of fulfilling the promise of action.

“I know, I don’t think she will, at least not now.”

“I don’t care
when
, Rob.”

“You offered to ride with the Hunt?” Vivian asked from beside them.

“Yes.” Rob smiled at her.

“Why?”

“To reclaim it,” Galen said gently, laying his hand on her shoulder. “We’ll ride as they were intended, to hunt the darkness that we can’t fight in this plane.”

“The legends are true?” she gasped. “Keepers once rode with the Hunt by choice?”

“They did, and we will.”

“My son, can he be reclaimed?”

“Perhaps,” Rob offered. “I promise you we will do all we can.”

“That is more than I could ever hope. Thank you.”

“We’ll free you, as well.” Galen smiled.

A door closed somewhere, the soft thump loud in the chapel. Vivian smiled and nodded before turning and walking away. The priestess returned as the older woman disappeared through the door at the side of the platform. Rob turned back to the woman, she bowed slightly as she stopped in front of them, a large glass bottle full of iridescent liquid in her hands. She held it out to Rob, Galen took it.

“To prepare you,” she said quietly. “A cup tonight, one tomorrow midday and then before the ritual tomorrow night.”

“I understand.”

“The ritual meal will await you when you return to the motel.”

“Good,” Rob said. He waited until she bowed again, then walked quickly out of the building, needing the cold air outside to help him focus. He leaned against the jeep, breathing deep, drawing the air into his lungs, letting the smell of fir trees and damp leaves fill him. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the experience of the physical world, using that to help quiet the call of the Hunt that was now thundering through his mind and throbbing in his body.

“Hey.” Galen put a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go.”

“Yeah,” Rob said, opening his eyes and smiling at his brother. “What were you doing?”

“Poking around.” Galen grinned. He opened the door and put the bottle of liquid on the floor, waiting until Rob climbed in before heading around to the driver’s side. When he turned the car on, he shoved a CD into the player, loud music blasted into the cab.

“Thanks.” Rob hadn’t needed to ask—the heavy metal music drowned out the song of the Hunt. He closed his eyes and let the complex guitar solo distract him as Galen headed back to the motel. His brother was humming along with the solo, when the lyrics began, Galen started singing. Rob smiled, his brother’s tastes in music were eclectic to say the least. Classical, various kinds of rock, even opera. He just hoped he’d be spared the “baroque complexities of early metal music” lecture for the day.

“Shit,” Galen said under his breath several songs later.

“What?” Rob opened his eyes and sat up. They were pulling into the hotel parking lot. He followed his brother’s glance and saw the black SUV parked beside their spot. “Is that…?”