“I'm sorry, I was so focused on the physical wounds,” Galen stopped, regret pounding through his veins, suddenly understanding why Rob kept waking. With the bond muted and Galen blocking all of his own pain from their connection, he hadn't realized what was happening. He could still sense his brother, the wounds and emotions as Rob dreamed, so he hadn't even considered the idea that the bond might be gone from Rob. Galen focused all of his healing into Rob, gently restoring their connection as much as he could. The feorhbealu had taken everything from Rob and it would take a long time for his brother to heal all the way. Galen felt the soft hum of their bond strengthen, and Rob sagged against him, the tremors wracking his body beginning to lessen. “I'm here,” Galen said, out loud and through the bond.
Rob stayed with his head on Galen's shoulder for several minutes, then slowly pulled away so he could look at him. “My Sight is gone.” Rob closed his eyes, when he opened them his expression was bleak. “All of my Gift, Galen.”
“I know, the feorhbealu took it,” Galen said gently.
“No.” Rob was trembling again. “No, without that I can't serve, we can't be, oh, gods, Galen, I can't.”
“Hey, listen to me,” Galen said, gripping Rob's shoulder. “It's not gone forever, Rob.”
“It's not?” Rob sniffled, sounding young, broken.
“No, it'll just take time to heal.” Galen forced a chuckle. “Of all people, you'd think you'd know that one.”
“What do you mean?” Rob frowned at him, tears flowing over his face.
“It's in the Saga of the West Wind, quoted in the works of Trithemius.” When Rob still looked blank, Galen went on. “'The deep dark can wound/the deep dark can take/but all heals in the light of time...'”
“'All heals when faced with those that keep the night,'” Rob finished with a tremulous smile. “Are you okay?” He searched Galen's eyes.
“Yeah, my Gift is returning.”
“Healing me drained you?”
“A little, and it took some time to recover from the spell.”
“Right.” Rob looked around the room. “Can we go?”
“You just woke up,” Galen said, taking a breath. He knew why Rob was asking. “Okay, Rob, let me go get the nurse to pull the IV and sign you out—against medical advise, I expect.”
“Wouldn't be the first time,” Rob said softly.
“No, it wouldn't,” Galen agreed, gave Rob's shoulder another squeeze and headed out to talk to the staff about springing his brother.
Flash was waiting at the curb an hour later when they walked out of the hospital. He shook his head, but opened the back door for Rob to get settled. A deep croak from behind them caused both Galen and Rob to look up. One of the ravens was perched on the edge of the roof, looking down at them. It cocked its head to the side and laughed softly before spreading its wings and jumping into the sky.
“Those birds freak me out,” Flash said as he got in and started the SUV. “One of them was hanging out on my balcony railing. I gave it part of my breakfast and I swear it said thank you. Creepy.”
“We need to go to the Great Altar,” Rob said suddenly. Galen's heart clenched, he knew they had to go back, but he was hoping Rob would be a little stronger before they faced the Hunt. He had no idea what to say to divert his brother.
“Have you eaten?” Flash asked, glancing in the rear view mirror to frown at Rob. “I promised Rhiannon I'd make sure you ate. We'll have breakfast.”
“We need to go back.”
“Listen to me,” Flash growled, sounding angrier than Galen had ever heard him. “You need to eat, you both look like shit and you will eat. That restaurant is right around the corner and I called ahead. Breakfast'll be waiting.”
“I thought you said you ate breakfast,” Galen said, taken aback by his friend's fierce tone.
“And you've known me to refuse food when?” Flash chuckled.
“No!” Rob snapped. “We need to go.”
“It's okay, I understand,” Flash said with a grin. “You aren't thinking straight.”
“What?” Rob whispered.
“You're suffering from coffee withdrawal, you're way behind on your intake.”
“It's true, Brat, the coffee in your veins is probably being replaced with blood.” Galen laughed.
Rob glared at them for a moment, then relaxed with a soft laugh. “You're right.”
“Damn straight,” Flash agreed, pulling into the restaurant parking lot. “We'll need the coffee pot left on the table,” he said to the waitress as they sat down. She filled their cups and set it down before heading back to the kitchen.
“Is it time?” Rob asked, downing his first cup of coffee in three gulps and then grimacing. “Hot.”
“Time for what?” Flash said.
“To tell me what happened? I remember you saying something about breaking the worlds?”
“Oh, yeah, is it time?” Flash bounced on his chair.
“You're like a four-year-old, Flash,” Galen said, picking up his coffee. He hadn't wanted to have this conversation yet, but the look on Rob's face convinced him he should. “Yeah, I guess it's time.”
“And?” Rob refilled his cup and added an ice cube from his water glass before drinking the coffee.
“And?” Galen echoed, not sure where to start.
“Start at the beginning, Galen,” Rob warned. “I know you tend to gloss over things.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?” Rob scoffed and poured himself more coffee.
“Go slow on the coffee,” Galen said.
“Stop stalling,” Rob replied.
“I started with the spell Guy gave me, but the song took over. I knew what to do as it built, I had to hold it until the right moment, then let go.”
“Uh huh.” Rob nodded encouragingly.
“When I released it, the blast ripped across the fields and broke the worlds.”
“What do you mean?”
“It changed the physical properties of our world and the Between World. You know, the way the feorhbealu could come over the Veil and attack people here? It was the same thing, it altered reality, allowing our supporters to join us on the field with the Hunt, and it made the feorhbealu and the others in their army completely corporeal. That's why Rhiannon could shoot the one attacking you.” As he spoke, Galen's hands started sweating.
“Gods, Galen,” Rob said quietly, absently stirring another ice cube into a fresh cup of coffee. “I felt the tug through the bond, when you drew on my power, but, Gods,” he repeated.
“What?” Flash asked.
“He did break the world—worlds. Not many things can alter reality like that. The feorhbealu can but they're ancient and powerful. The Old One we faced last year couldn't just break through the Veil like that, it needed rituals and sacrifices to weaken the wall. And as far as I know, no human has ever been able to do what Galen did.”
“I'm sure you could have, Rob,” Galen said.
“Ha,” his brother laughed sardonically. “What happened then?”
“Once the lead feorhbealu was dead, the lines broke, the creatures that could escaped back over the Veil, most of the rest were hunted down by Rhiannon, Greg, Marc and his kind and the vassals Jeff and Vivian brought to the battle. Blake and the Fae helped as well, the ones who stayed,” Galen added bitterly. “They mourned the passing of the Fae last night.”
“That's what that creepy noise was!” Flash said.
“Yes.”
“Stephen left?” Rob asked.
“I don't know. He just disappeared.” Galen smiled at the waitress as she put their food on the table, waiting till she left before continuing. “Vivian and Jeff came by the hospital. They're still loyal to the Hunt and the king, but wanted us to know they are loyal Custodes Noctis vassals as well. They're planning a victory festival, and asked that we return for it.”
“Will we?” Flash said around a mouthful of bacon.
“Probably,” Galen said, watching his brother. Rob's eyes w
ere remote, focused somewhere behind Galen. He turned to see what Rob was looking at, the ravens were standing outside the restaurant. “We are waiting for our king to return.” The voice was gravely and rough, Galen realized it was the raven speaking.
“They're waiting for us,” Rob said.
“I thought the festival was later?” Flash frowned in confusion.
“The Hunt,” Rob's voice was soft, haunted. “Our brothers.”
“Hey.” Galen sighed, he'd been hoping Rob would escape. He grabbed Rob's arm and gave it a shake. “We'll go, I hear them too.”
“Hear who?” Flash demanded, following their gaze. “Shit, it's those creepy birds again. Shut up! I am not listening to any stupid birds, you hear me?”
“Flash?”
“I might hear them too.” Flash looked sheepish.
“I'm sorry,” Galen said softly.
“It's okay, Galen, I walked into it with my eyes open.” Flash grinned. “I got to play horsies.”
Rob chuckled, then started to laugh, Flash joined in and Galen couldn't help but laugh, too. There might have been a slightly hysterical edge to it, but he let the worry go long enough to finish breakfast.
The sun was disappearing behind a fog bank rolling in across the ocean, as they drove past the cranberry bog the blood-red pond was glittering in what was left of the sunlight. Galen sighed, feeling the wave of concern buzzing along the bond with Rob. His brother was worried about returning, fear of losing Galen now apparent. Flash pulled up by the path that led to the clearing and Galen felt his stomach drop.
They got out, the ravens calling from above their heads. Galen glanced at Rob, then started down the trail, the stench of the bog began to fill the air and he could hear the murmur of voices. When they reached the field, there were people gathered by the Great Altar. Guy and, to Galen's surprise, Blake. Galen sped up, Rob jogging beside him.
“What's going on?” Galen asked, but didn't need an answer when he got closer. A rider lay on the stone, Guy kneeling, holding his hand. “Your brother?” Galen asked needlessly. The resemblance to Rob was remarkable.
“Yes,” Guy said softly, grief washing off of him. “One of the feorhbealu ranks came at us when you and Rob left. He...” Guy swallowed. “Can you help, Galen?” Guy looked at him, his eyes pleading. “At least so he can have the formal farewell?”
“I don't know.” Galen knelt beside the prone form. Healing a member of the Hunt would be difficult, especially with his Gift so drained, but he knew he had to risk it. Guy and Robert were Custodes Noctis, and they had the right to his help.
“I can't help. I'm sorry,” Rob said, dropping down and resting his hand on Galen's shoulder.
Galen laid his hands on the rider. The call of the Hunt filled his mind, threatening to pull him away into the mists forever. A soft glow came through the bond with Rob—not much—but enough for Galen to push the mists away and focus the healing into the rider. He gently repaired the black wounds in his body, layering in the light to take the pain away. He was about to pull his hands away when he felt a shift. Galen concentrated, trying to sense what was causing the change, then gasped in surprise. He changed his focus, drawing away the thing that held Robert prisoner, that kept him trapped in the dark, and pulling it into himself. Galen struggled with it, forcing it into a small space near the scar on his heart, and let the healing flow into Robert, flooding him with the light.
“Stop!” Rob said, pulling Galen's hands away. “Galen, what the hell are you doing?”
“What?” He blinked at his brother, trying to focus his eyes. Pain was throbbing in his head and his hands were trembling.
“You went too far,” Rob said softly, reflected fear washing through Galen.
“It's okay, Rob.”
“Guy?” a soft voice asked.
“Robert?” Guy whispered.
“Yes,” the rider said, holding his free hand out towards Guy.
“Oh, gods,” Guy said, and pulled his brother into a hug, resting his head on Robert's shoulder. “Robert.”
“You freed him,” Blake said in awe as Rob helped Galen up. “You did what I never could, even knowing what it would cost you.” The priest stopped, and smiled at Galen. “I owe you for this.”
“There's no debt.”
“There is,” Blake said.
“Guy,” Galen said gently. “I don't know if it's enough.”
“To save his life?” Guy asked.
“Yes, the wounds the feorhbealu inflicted were serious, and my Gift is compromised.”
“I know, but my Gift is slowly returning, maybe I have enough to heal him now. If not, I can ease the passing,” Guy said, a small smile on his face.
“Better death than what I was,” Robert said quietly. “Thank you, my brother,” he said to Galen. “We serve you, my King,” he addressed that comment to Rob.
“I'm no longer king, my brother,” Rob said.
“You are, it is as it was,” Robert whispered, closing his eyes.
The sound of hoof beats filled the air. The riders slowly appeared, swirling around them like mist, ethereal, untouchable. They surrounded Rob and Galen, circling the Great Altar, the sound of their bridles ringing softly like bells, merry jingles in the bright morning light. Two riders dismounted and lifted Robert up onto one of the horses, steadying him as they waited.
“Will you come next year?” Guy asked, looking from Rob to Galen.
“We will,” Rob said. “Ride in peace my brother, watch to keep the dark at bay.” Rob spoke the words softly, it was the farewell to fellow Keepers after a battle.
“You, too. Thank you,” Guy said, embracing Rob. “We serve our king.” Guy turned to Galen. “And his champion.” He pulled Galen into a hug, the cold touch of the Hunt wisping through Galen's consciousness, but with it came a hint of the light of the healing. Guy pulled away and swung onto the horse where Robert was slumped over the animals neck. He wrapped an arm around his brother steadying him as the horse pranced.
Two black horses stepped forward, their saddles empty. Galen knew they were the horses he and Rob had ridden. The animals dipped their heads, and Galen stepped forward to caress his horse's soft nose. “We will ride together again,” he told it. The horse snuffled into his hair affectionately and laid its head over his shoulder for a moment. Tears gathered in Galen's eyes and he gently stroked the horse again before it lifted its head and moved away. Rob's horse moved back into the group as well and Galen saw Flash saying goodbye to the gray horse he'd ridden.
Guy snapped an order and the riders moved into formation. As one they drew swords from their scabbards, raising them in salute, a cry ringing out over the fields. Then with the whisper of steel on leather, they sheathed their swords and turned, disappearing into the fog, the sound of their bridles ringing in the morning air.
“They'll stay loyal,” Blake said as he turned to Galen.
“Guy and Robert will. The rest? As loyal as they ever were. They're still closer to the dark, one small push and they'll tumble over the edge,” Galen said.
“Guy will lead them,” Blake said sharply.
“Yeah.”
The Hunt: A Custodes Noctis Book Page 33