“I am free.” The voice was no longer a grate of stone on stone, but a great shout of triumph aimed at the sky. Massive wings, black like a raven's, shining in a thousand colors, opened over their heads as the creature tore itself from its prison. The huge wings swept down, filling the canyon with gale force winds, whipping stones into the air. 'I am free,” he repeated, his voice dropping. He turned his great head towards Galen and something like a smile ghosted across its face. With a sound that rattled the cliffs around them, the creature stretched, massive wings spanning the canyon, the claws of his hands and feet glittering in the sunlight and the dark skin, broken by fissures of color, shone brightly for a moment. The Ealdféond walked towards them, claws tearing away chunks of ground as he approached.
He stopped in front of Galen and Flash, lifted his huge hand and gently cupped Rob's chin. One claw dropped down and covered Galen's hand where it rested on Rob's chest. Galen felt a jolt of power, his brother tensed and suddenly Rob was gasping in shuddering breaths. He opened his eyes and pulled himself free of their grasp. Galen stepped in front of him, half blocking him from the Ancient One. He could see Flash keeping a hand hovering close to Rob in case he fell.
“You freed me,” the Ancient One said.
“I did,” Galen snarled.
“Uh, should you talk to, uh, mountains that way?” Flash said sotto voce.
A deep chuckle boomed around them. “This is not a gift I take lightly. His heart will sustain me for long millennia.”
“Heart? What?” Flash demanded.
“He has part of my heart,” Rob said quietly.
“What the fuck? I didn't hear anything about getting part of his heart.”
“A spark, a gift, willingly given. I will not soon forget this. I owe you a debt, Robert Emrys.”
“The debt is owed to Galen,” Rob added.
“Yes.” The Ealdféond focused on him. “A great debt. I thank you,” he said solemnly, brushing Galen with a feather-light touch of a claw. Something sparked in Galen's chest. He felt the warmth of the healing burst back to life, with something else sparkling at the edges of it.
“Can you...” Galen trailed off
“No, I regret, I cannot yet repair what the feorhbealu did. There will come a time when you may need me, may need this. I will come.”
“I understand,” Galen whispered, even though disappointment hammered against his chest.
“We will meet again.” A great sigh left the Ancient One’s lungs. He gently tapped Rob's chest with the huge shining claw, then lifted his wings, and with a ground-shaking leap, rose into the sky. He hovered above them for a moment, the draft from the wings whistling through the canyon like a song, then disappeared behind a cloud.
Rob started to fall. Flash grabbed him and eased him to the ground.
“Can you help?” Dor asked worriedly.
“Good question,” Flash muttered
Galen took a deep breath, the Gift was there, strong and sure. He laid his hand on Rob's head, trying to get an idea of how much damage had been done—and if he had any hope of healing it. He guided the healing through Rob, trying to repair his heart. Once he'd done all he could manage at that time, he took as much of the pain away as he could. “Rob?”
“Hey,” Rob said, patting Galen's hand.
“Rob, thank gods.” Galen sank down beside his brother and rested his back against the Jeep.
“Scared the hell out of us.” Flash leaned on the other side. The ravens perched on Rob's legs.
“How am I?” Rob asked
“You're okay for right now,” Galen said softly. Rob's heart was still damaged, it would take time to heal it all the way.
“For right now?' Rob blinked at him.
“I'm killing you later.”
“Me too,” Flash added.
“We won't,” Dor said, glaring at Flash.
Rob chuckled. “As long as you wait a while. I have a headache.”
“You deserve a headache after that.” Galen took a deep breath. Rob tried to sit up, Galen helped him lean against the car. Rob closed his eyes for a minute. “My chest hurts.”
“I probably broke a rib doing CPR.” Galen felt drained of everything. “I tried to fix it, but I was focused on...” He stopped.
“How bad is my heart?”
“Bad? What?” Flash looked from Galen to Rob. “He's not fixed? What the fuck?”
“It will heal,” Galen sighed. “It's going to take a while.”
“The Ealdféond left something behind, I'm not sure what, but I can feel there's something different.”
“Yeah, I know, I felt it while I was healing you. I don't know what it is—he gave me a similar spark before he left.” Galen was quiet, trying to sense just what it was that was there, humming softly in his body.
“I'm sorry,” Rob said softly.
“Nothing to be sorry for, Rob.”
“You could have died.'
“You did,” Galen said, acknowledging what had happened with something that sounded almost like a sob.
“Yeah, I did,” he said, meeting Galen's eyes.
“Yeah.”
“But I'm better now,” Rob said, a slow grin spreading across his face.
Galen frowned for a moment, then felt an answering smile on his own, remembering when he'd spoken those words to his brother. He started laughing.
“What's so funny?” Flash asked.
“Nothing.”
“Oh, okay. We should...” Flash broke off. Galen looked at his friend, Flash was staring straight ahead at the smashed remains of his SUV. “My car! What the fuck! My car!”
“We didn't do it!” Dera said quickly.
“You didn't...” Flash stood up and walked over, staring down at a piece of mirror.
“Smashing it wouldn't be fun,” Dor said.
“It might be,” Dera chuckled.
“We'll get you another one, Flash,” Galen said.
“Yeah, you will. And one that's raven proof, and mountain proof and chomping proof and everything else proof. And you...” Flash pointed at Rob. “The next time some damn mountain decides to give you a call, you just hang up.”
Galen couldn't help it. He chuckled and heard Rob's answering laugh. Flash stared at them for a moment longer then joined them, dropping back onto the ground beside them, laughing until tears were running down their faces and they were gasping for air. Their laughter slowly eased, drifting off into the sky.
“Ready to head home?” Galen finally said. The sun had set, the night cool around them.
“Yeah, I think so.”
Flash stood and opened the back of the Jeep, putting their weapons in the back and shutting it, then holding the back door so the ravens could fly in and settle on the back of the seat. Galen helped his brother onto his feet and they turned for one last look at the place where the Ealdféond had rested for so long. Rob glanced at him with a soft smile. Galen smiled back, aware of a small ache in his body. He wasn't sure what it meant, but he saw Rob rubbing his chest as well. Galen sighed, helped his brother into the Jeep and then got in the backseat beside him. Flash glanced at them, then turned on the ignition and headed out of silent canyon towards home.
The End
Keep reading for an extra surprise only available for a limited time!
The Birthday
A Custodes Noctis Short, Short Story
© 2011 Muffy Morrigan
The rich scents of herbs drifted through the warm air in the Apothecary as Galen put back a jar of Elderflower and fussed with it until it was in line with the others on the shelf. Fussing was usually his brother's job, but Rob... He glanced worriedly at the ceiling. Rob was okay, he knew that, could even feel it through the very muted bond they now shared, still he worried. A soft chuckle announced the presence of Dera.
“He is doing well,” the raven said softly in his deep voice. Galen had gotten used to hearing him now, and often expected other creatures to answer him. “And admit it, they do sometimes to, don't the
y? Not as clearly as I, but they do.”
“Maybe, sometimes,” Galen chuckled. The raven fluffed his feathers at him and hopped along the counter towards him before reaching under the edge and coming up with something shiny. “Stealing from Flash again?”
“Not this time,” Dera said. “I have something for you.” He skipped closer and held up the small amulet.
“What's this?”
“Happy Birthday.”
“Thank you, I wasn't expecting...” Galen smiled.
“That I would remember the day? It has been the Emrys birth date for more than four thousand years, since before ever I was born and you think I would forget?”
“Sorry.” Galen grinned. “What is it, who'd you steal it from?”
“Me? Steal?” The raven looked offended for a moment then laughed. “Paracelsus.”
“Paracelsus? The Paracelsus?” Galen looked at the metal object a little closer. “Really?”
“He left it by the window. He didn't need it anyway.”
“And you just decided that for him?” Galen asked with a smile, the raven bobbed his head. “Of course you did, silly question.” He leaned against the counter and listened to the quiet around them. The shop had been busy that morning, but as the day wound on, people headed home to get ready for Halloween parties and trick or treating. Flash knew never to book the band on Halloween so Galen had the night off.
“He is fine, resting last we checked, close the shop, get a coffee and take a short walk.” Dera made a little noise that sounded like “murph” in his throat. “Go, we watch.”
Galen took a deep breath to protest, then changed his mind, he could “hear” the soft hum through the muted bond, his brother was resting, or doing something so his mind was at ease. Lost in research perhaps. It seemed like a lot of his time was lost in books lately, always looking for something that might restore his full Gift. Since their encounter with the Ealdféond several months before, Rob had returned to his research with renewed vigor. Not just his usual obsessive need to know, but searching through the Sagas to find a way to return the Gift to what it had been. Rob was convinced they were going to need it, the signs of something shifting in the world were becoming more and more apparent.
Galen believed the things they fought were becoming more common again. The world was shifting. Rob had a theory about that. Galen snorted, of course his brother had a theory about it, not only a theory, but hard scientific evidence, mythology and literature to back it up as well. He laughed. Rob's enthusiasm for research occasionally filled their apartment with an actual palpable warmth, and energy with a life all its own.
Closing the door of the shop behind him, Galen decided to skip the coffee and just wandered down the street, enjoying the smells of autumn. It was his favorite season, something about the way the scents mingled together and the chill on the air, it set a glowing joy singing in his heart that left him smiling happily at the children walking past in costume. On the way out, he'd grabbed a large bag of chocolate and offered pieces to the various witches, Ironmans, werewolves, princesses, several blue Avatars and one green and purple thing he wasn't sure about but it had a crown and the little girl giggled when he offered her a peanut butter cup.
In a much better frame of mind, he stopped in Gateway to India and got a chai tea to go, reveling in the scents of fennel, cardamon and ginger and headed back towards home. He went around back when he arrived, pausing in his garden he sat down on the bench and let the last of the stress slide away. He knew part of it was the effects of the garden. The magic he'd worked into the soil along with the fertilizer and seeds swirled around him wrapping him in a blanket of comfort. The earth was wet and the mints still gave off their strong smell, peppermint and lemon balm warring for the upper hand. The gray mullein towered above the mallow, some of it dying back, some patiently waiting to be harvested.
Movement caught his eyes, Dor landed on the fire escape and hopped through the window, something clasped in his talons. Galen wondered where the bird had been and hoped it had been an errand for Rob rather than a raid on Flash's new car. After losing his to a large piece of the mountain the Ealdféond had been trapped in, Galen and Rob had replaced it. For some reason only fathomable to thousand year old ravens, Flash's new car was an even better source of continual amusement. If it made Rob laugh, Galen approved.
He sighed. His brother was recovering, but it had been a close call. Some days it felt like they lived their life from one close call to another. The problem with this one was that Rob was right in his nearly bitter pronouncement that if his Gift had been functioning correctly and their bond at full force it would never have happened. Galen smiled, Rob usually followed up that little bit of bitterness with “right or wrong, it is, and we have to live with it. We'll find an answer.” Rob's moments of bitterness were not long-lasting, he continued on, without his Sight, with the muted bond and kept looking for answers.
Galen stood and stepped out of the protective curtain of the garden, feeling the soft, far-off hum of the bond in the back of his awareness. It was buzzing a little. He quickened his steps and headed into the building and up the stairs. Both ravens were laughing and he could hear his brother joining them as well. When he opened the door, silence fell like someone had hit a switch.
“Galen,” Rob said, smiling.
The ravens both barked-chirped.
“Rob?” Galen asked. “You all look...innocent.”
“Us?”
“Never!” Dera assured him, offended.
“Yeah, what?” Galen stepped to Rob, his brother looked a little pale. He laid a hand on his head and let the healing flow, feeling the warmth course through Rob's body, driving the pain away and for a moment, the bond was there. Strong, warm, comfortable. He sensed rather than heard Rob's sigh, the ravens hummed. “You've been up too long.”
“You are a pain in the ass.”
“Everyone is going to be here in about half an hour,” Galen said.
“Is Flash bringing his latest brilliant drink invention?”
“Clang? Yeah, I'm afraid so.”
“You know I might have to kill him,” Rob said with a smile. “It wouldn't be so bad if he didn't have to hit a pan every time he finished a shot.”
“But then it wouldn't be Clang.”
“Flash logic, he should teach a course, make some philosophy student's head explode.”
“I've thought that myself.” Galen laughed. “I'll be right back.”
“Me too,” Rob said and followed Galen towards the back of the apartment.
When Galen got back to the table there were two packages on the table. He set the two he had down as well. There were other presents in the pile on the couch to be exchanged at the party, but they always took a moment to exchange something special before the party. It was part of their Tradition. The gifts having a meaning the other party-goers might not understand.
Dera was pulling at the ribbon on one of the packages. “Hey! At least let me open them.” Galen grumbled
“You said I could get us coffee,” Rob added.
The raven looked unapologetic, hopped off the package and waited patiently. “I think they know what's in them.”
“I think they do,” Rob replied, setting a cup of coffee in front of Galen. “This one first.” He handed a long one to Galen.
Carefully pulling off the mylar ribbon and handing it to Dera, he opened the package and looked inside. It was a knife, the blade copper, the handle silver, and the runes of a spell covered the length of the blade.
He looked up at Rob. “Where did you...?”
“I read a description of it in the Saga of the Winter King, the Gathering Knife of the Healer. It was a little difficult to find someone to work the spell into the blade, but it is there, ready for you to make your own.”
“This one.” Galen couldn't wait and handed Rob a square package. “They actually go together, so open the top one then the bottom one.”
“Okay.” Rob pulled the ribbon with s
parkling stars off and handed it to Dor, then tore the paper off. He pulled the small harp out and looked up at Galen and without waiting ripped open the other package, gently turning the ancient book over in his hands. “The Songs of Taliesin?”
“It's only a Thirteenth Century edition. They are meant to be sung, like all the Sagas, and you always do sing. I thought you should have a harp to accompany you.”
Rob was squinting at the harp an odd unfocussed look Galen recognized as his brother trying to use the Gift of Sight. Rob looked a moment longer then up at Galen, his eyes shining. “You made it.” The smile that lit his face reminded Galen of his brother as a child, his heart light, and the laughter that rang out through their apartment was every bit as joyful as it had been. “My harp. I...”
“It's Tradition isn't it?” Galen asked. He knew it was, and knew that for his brother the Tradition would make it mean that much more. In times past, as Rob was fond of saying, the elder brother bestowed a harp on the younger brother. Symbol of his role as holder of history, adviser, bard. The harp had magical qualities as well, the longer it was used the more power it gained. At his death the harp would be destroyed and the pieces buried with him.
“You made it?”
The Summoning (Custodes Noctis) Page 8
