“He knew, I think, when you blocked Dad’s healing. You shouldn’t have been able to do that.” Rob nudged Galen with his shoulder. “The problem was the saga, the translation was corrupted.”
“No.” Galen shook his head. “What do you mean? About the saga?”
“Finally heard that?” Rob chuckled.
“What?”
“I said it twice.” Rob smiled at him.
“But what do you mean? I thought it was pretty clear. ‘The Saga of Emrys’, it tells of the birth of the Keepers, then the Legacy, how the first of the Emrys line imprisoned the thing and how a pair of future Keepers will let It free and It will walk to rule again. After a time of darkness another pair will banish It forever.”
“Right. Only the translation’s wrong,” Rob said, excitement sparkling in his eyes and flowing off of him in waves.
“How can it be wrong?” Galen shook his head. “You’d think if it was wrong, someone would’ve noticed.”
“You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But I think it was so accepted as truth, no one wanted to question it.”
“But you did?” Galen asked skeptically.
“I told you about my studies, the sagas of Northern Europe? I’m writing my thesis on the Emrys Saga, so I’ve been following it through the source material, all the way back to the first time it was written down.”
“And?” Galen couldn’t help smiling at Rob’s enthusiasm.
“I found an error, in the text about the future Keepers who release the thing and then the pair that banish It. It’s always been assumed that it was two different sets of Keepers, the word used in the original saga is related to a variant of an older tongue that…” Rob trailed off with a sheepish grin. “You probably don’t need to know all that. What I’m trying to say is the word in its original form didn’t mean two different sets of Keepers, it meant the same two at different times.”
“No, Rob, no. It clearly states that after the first pair dies, the other arise to banish It.” Galen saw his brother open his mouth to reply, but plowed on. “And the second pair, Rob, they’re different. They have…”
“Powers not seen since the first Keepers? Not used in millennia. Yeah, I know. I think Uncle Bobby was…”
“No, it clearly states…”
“That the first pair dies?” Rob was grinning at him. “I know that.”
“Then how?”
“We both have, Galen. Well, it’s on a technicality, but we both have.”
“I don’t think the accident and your heart stopping for thirty-nine seconds really counts as dying, Rob.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about,” Rob said, the smile gone from his face.
“Rob? I’d have known.”
“No, you wouldn’t, Galen.” Rob laid a hand on Galen’s arm. “You were wrong, you know,” he said gently.
Galen’s heart was pounding. “How?”
“The bond was too strong.”
“Rob?” Tears were suddenly pooling in his eyes as his heart labored against a tight band of pain.
“It’s how it’s always been, Galen, for Custodes Noctis, from the first Emrys to all the other families, until today.”
Galen was shaking his head, trying to swallow around the lump in his throat. “Rob?” he repeated.
“I always knew it would happen. I’d seen it when I was about six. It why I knew we’d never be Keepers together. I was ready, that’s why…” Rob paused. “I managed to hold on long enough to help you. I had a hold of your hand so tight it hurt. Then there was this flash of pain and nothing but this shimmering black lake and a song. I remember being sad when I left the lake, when Dad brought me back. There was this emptiness, this silence, where you’d been before, so I knew you were dead.” He smiled. “I’m glad I was wrong.”
“But if you knew I was dead, Rob, why are you here? How could we have been the pair? How could we…?”
“I summoned you,” Rob said with a shrug.
“What?”
“The early Keepers, according to the sagas, could raise an army of former Keepers of their line. I found a text that had the spell. That’s why the block shattered when you saw me. I’d summoned you, and you couldn’t block me anymore.”
“What? What kind of magic were you playing with, Rob?”
“I summoned you. I don’t have quite the power to…” He stopped and looked at Galen. “The spell calls the Keeper back. The line from the formal farewell? ‘Until you are called to serve again’? They meant that literally. So I called you back. Once the spell was finished—well, I was sure I’d done it wrong. You hadn’t appeared. That’s when my friend called and said I needed to come here. He knew about the spell, he helped, but I’m sure the summoning broke the block, you had to be ‘visible’ to me.”
“He helped? What?”
“I had the text of the spell, but that was all. It was missing some of the information I needed to complete the spell. So I called him. He helped me control the Sight, remember? And he knows about the vision. He thought we could find the answer in the past. All we had to do was access it. So, he guided me.”
“Guided you? How?” Galen frowned.
“The way shamans always do, a combination of things.” Rob stopped for a minute.
“Do you have any idea how dangerous…?”
Rob shrugged. “Had to be done.”
“Rob, people go insane…the drugs…”
“It’s over, Galen, scolding me about it now won’t stop me.” He laughed softly, then sobered. “But we found the answer there, in the past. He’d written it down, but I didn’t need that. It was part of me. So, I went home and waited for the right time. And I summoned you.”
Galen sighed and looked at his brother. “No, Rob, it can’t be us. The Keepers who banish It, they’re different.”
“And you think we aren’t? That’s what Bobby realized, Galen.”
“What?”
“My Sight is different than other Keepers. I talked to Uncle Bobby about it, and I talked to another Keeper. That’s why I went to the witch and shaman. I can ‘see’ like other Keepers with the Gift, but I can also ‘see’ other things, including visions of the future and the past.” Rob paused. “In the past, so the sagas say, both brothers could heal. The elder had the Gift to use on everyone, the younger had a lesser Gift, mostly designed for his brother, but it does work on other people, although only for little things. And as you know, I can heal a little.”
“So, you’re special, Rob.”
“Galen,” his brother sighed with exasperation. “I have been trying to tell you…”
“No.”
“You have power, Galen, real power. Not like anyone else I’ve ever seen. Not Dad, not other Keepers. You used the healing as a weapon. That was once part of the Gift, but deemed too dangerous and so it was suppressed. You have visions, you can ‘see’ a little, even though you deny it. I told you, this shop has the funny shine of real magic, Galen. You. Not Dad, not grandfather, you.”
Rob shook him. “Do you think just anyone could make a spell to control that thing? Do you honestly think just anyone can block an experienced healer? And do you think Dad was the one who blocked our bond? He couldn’t Galen, it was you. All along, it was you.” Rob looked at him, meeting his eyes. “And think about it, we performed the Ritual of Swords.”
“Yeah?” Galen looked at Rob, trying to absorb what this brother was saying.
“Without the Elder Keepers, Galen.”
“Yeah?” Galen said again. “We did, oh gods, I hadn’t…”
“Do you know the last time that happened? That a pair of Keepers performed the Ritual without the others there to guide the release? To help channel the power?”
“Rob, it can’t be…”
“The First Emrys, Galen. That was the last time.”
“No.”
“Do you think by saying that you can change all this, Galen? I told you, we already are the Keepers of the Legacy. This is all part of the Legacy. It began ten
years ago, it ends now.”
“Rob…” Galen stopped. “No, it can’t be, I’ve spent how long denying it?”
“It’s true,’ Rob smiled. “Bobby knew, I think.”
“Dad did, too,” Galen said with sudden certainty. “He tried to tell me the night he died.”
“It wasn’t time yet.”
“It is now?”
“Yes.”
“We can’t let It become, Rob.”
“We have to, it’s the only way to banish It.”
“But Rob, I saw…” Galen tried to convince his brother.
“I know, I’ve seen it too. It has to happen so we can banish it.”
“So what do we do?”
Rob smiled. “I was thinking we could start by raising an army.”
Chapter Eighteen
The bell in the shop rang as someone came in, Galen heard Flash’s deep voice answering questions. He leaned against the wall, looking at Rob in disbelief. “You’re going to raise an army?”
“No,” Rob answered.
“But you just said…”
“You’re going to raise the army, Galen. I can help, but you’re the one who has to do it.”
“No.” Galen shook his head.
Rob put his hand on Galen’s shoulder and gave him a little shake. “Yes, Galen, you are.”
“Rob, I can’t.”
“You can, do we have to start this conversation again?” Rob smiled.
Galen smiled at his brother. “What?” he asked as Flash stuck his head through the doorway.
“Do you have monk’s hood?”
“Yeah, it’s behind the counter, labeled Wolf’s Bane, Aconitum Napellus.” Galen started to push himself up. “Maybe I should help.”
“Maybe you should sit your ass back down,” Flash said with a frown. “I can help. And I know all the ones with the skull and crossbones are poison.” He disappeared back into the shop.
“He likes playing in the shop.” Galen grinned at Rob.
“He was enthusiastic when I asked if he’d watch it while we talked. Galen, we need to be ready. This is happening tonight.”
“Give me a minute, Rob. I’ve spent the last ten years trying to avoid the Legacy.”
“I know.” Rob stood and offered Galen his hand. Galen let Rob haul him to his feet, then followed him out into the shop. “We need a few things for the ritual.” Rob wandered behind the counter and started collecting things. Flash finished ringing up the customer, escorted her to the door and came back to stand beside Galen as he watched Rob.
“What’s he doing?” Flash asked.
“Apparently he’s planning on starting an apocalypse,” Galen said with an uncertain chuckle.
“What?” Flash gasped. “Galen, can I talk to you?” He tugged on Galen’s arm.
Rob turned and smiled. “Why don’t you get some coffee? I’ll watch the shop till you get back.”
Flash nearly ran towards the door, and, after a quick smile at Rob, Galen followed. Flash yanked the door open and pulled Galen outside. “He’s doing what?”
“I was a little glib, Flash.”
“I told you about the reading, Galen. End of the world stuff, and you were right in the middle of it.” Flash looked back at the shop. Rob was standing behind the counter watching them. “Is he okay? I mean, he’s your brother and all, but Galen is he okay?”
“I thought… He’s okay, Flash.”
“How can you be sure?”
Galen smiled. “How the hell do you think?”
“Because he’s your brother? Not good enough.” Flash looked at him. “Galen, you haven’t seem him for how long? And he shows up on the anniversary of your Dad’s death? How can you trust him?”
“I can, and not just because he’s my brother, it goes with the Gift.” Galen paused for a minute, a sliver of doubt creeping into his brain. What if I’m wrong? What if It’s doing something to Rob and I can’t…
“What?”
“What what?”
“You were thinking about something, Galen. I saw it.” Flash shook his arm. “What’s going on?”
“I wish I could explain, Flash. It would take too long. Later, okay? Rob and I need to perform a ritual…”
“Magic? In the shape you’re in? Galen…” Flash frowned. “I remember...”
“It won’t be like that, Rob’s here to back me up,” Galen said softly, the incident Flash mentioned suddenly playing in his head. “Rob’s here. It won’t be like that.” He wondered if he was trying to convince his friend or himself.
“Shit, it nearly killed you.”
“I know. It won’t be like that.” Galen sighed. “There was something wrong with that spell, Flash. It was like it was broken, not working right and it exploded.
“So it’s not a spell like that one?”
“No.” Not at all, it’s much bigger and, oh, hasn’t been done in probably a thousand years.
“That bad?” Flash put his hand on Galen’s shoulder. “Galen…” Flash said softly. Galen could sense his friend’s concern flowing out from the hand resting on his shoulder. “Tell me.”
“I can’t tell you everything, not right now.” Galen paused as Flash sighed. “There really isn’t time. But it has to do with why Dad’s dead. Why I told you I had to stay dead to Rob all those years ago.”
“Why you have a big wet spot on your chest?” Flash touched the spot, his fingers came away covered in blood and black ooze. He looked at his hand in horror. “What the fuck? Are you going to die? Galen?” He shook his head. “I’m not leaving. Not while you do the ritual, not for awhile. Get used to it. Until I’m sure that you’re okay, that the brother’s not wrong.”
“Rob’s not wrong,” Galen snapped.
“How can you be sure?”
“Because I am. Gods damn it, Flash.” Galen grabbed his friend’s arm and pulled him back towards the shop. He slammed the door open. Rob looked at him with surprise.
“Galen?” Rob asked, walking around the counter.
“Come here,” Galen snapped.
“Galen?”
Rob walked over, a frown on his face. “What is it?”
“Flash is worried,” Galen said angrily, looking at Rob. He could feel concern and confusion radiating from his brother.
“Galen…” Flash said.
“Shut up.” Galen took a deep breath and laid his hand against his brother’s chest, over his heart. Galen reached out, let the light flow. Rob looked at him for a minute then closed his eyes. Galen let his eyes close as well. He could feel the thing where it rested in Rob’s heart, pulsing as the connection grew. The voice was whispering to him, Galen ignored it. He could feel his brother’s sense of purpose, of certainty that what they were doing, what was happening, was right. “I’m sorry, Rob,” he said silently through the connection.
“It’s okay, Galen. I understand. I wondered how long you’d wait. You always were a little suspicious.”
“I don’t doubt you, Rob.”
“You need to know what It’s done to me. You need to know if I am influenced by It. I took It into me after the Ritual of Swords. You have to know. I understand,” Rob said gently. Galen sighed. He felt the answering sigh echo in his brother.
“My Emrys Keepers!” the thing suddenly shouted. Agony twisted in Galen’s chest. He heard Rob moan. “Yes, yes, yes. This is better than I hoped, better than I could wish for. Power!” It shrieked. The vision started.
“No,” Galen said audibly, his voice sounded odd.
Rob was tied to the stone altar, a crowd had gathered, frenzied chanting rang through the air, ecstatic, nearly orgasmic in tone. Galen stood beside the altar, blood covering his hand. Blood was flowing over his brother’s body as the darkness rose above them. A sound, like the flapping of giant leathery wings filled the air. The crowd’s chanting increased a pitch. Galen raised bloody hands and plunged them down… “No,” he heard his voice again. Rob looked at him, a gentle, sardonic smile on his face.
“It’s o
kay, Galen,” his brother’s voice echoed in his head. “Let me…”
The vision abruptly changed. The darkness was screaming in fear, the sound of Its wings beating frantically in the air. There was a shout, a challenge to battle, Galen recognized his voice as having given the shout. He raised his sword, the army behind him charged. The darkness, the beings suddenly gathered around It, shouting a challenge in reply.
“We’ll defeat it,” Rob said softly. “We’ll defeat all of them.”
Galen had heard the words, not in his head, but audibly. He opened his eyes. “Rob? Are you okay?” Galen could feel the pain as the thing twisted in his brother’s chest, mimicking the twisting agony in his own. They were on the floor, Galen’s knees ached from where he had collapsed on them.
“What the fuck was that?” Flash demanded from beside him. Galen looked at his friend. Flash had his hand on Galen’s back, a terrified expression on his face. “What did I just see?”
“What?”
“I think he got dragged in when he touched you, when we fell.” Rob patted Galen’s hand where it rested on his chest.
“Galen?” Flash whispered. “What the hell’s happening? What was that thing?” Flash blinked.
“It’s an Old One,” Rob offered.
“What?” Galen and Flash spoke together, Galen whispering a denial, Flash chuckling a little.
“An Old One. A dark force, like a demigod. It ruled on earth, wreaked havoc, created chaos, fed on humanity…”
“So it’s bad?” Flash said, looking at Rob.
“Worse than bad, Flash.” Galen looked at his friend. “It’s the end of the world stuff the reading was about.”
“When I said end of the world, or when she did, I guess I thought…uh…I don’t know, it was metaphorical or something. I didn’t think it meant the actual end of the world!”
Galen chuckled at Flash’s offended tone. “It’s the actual end of the world.” He frowned at Rob. “Did you guide that vision?”
“Yeah,” Rob smiled. “I told you that I lived and worked with a shaman. Guiding visions is one of the things they do best. He taught me…I can also…”
“What?” Flash said, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Can you influence people?”
The Legacy: A Custodes Noctis Book Page 24
