Unraveled Homecoming

by J. L. Shelton

  A shiver ran down Garin’s spine. The last thing he needed was for Emory to confirm that he had been the party responsible for the youth’s death. The younger Von Bos had fallen off a cliff while patrolling the estate. It was a tedious task usually assigned to the eldest—but Garin had been visiting Nova Forte at the time. Add in the fact he had permanently crippled the boy in a fit of violent rage years earlier, and Garin just knew that Emory would still be alive if it weren’t for him. The kid was one of the most kind-hearted souls he had ever known, even going so far as to truly forgive his brother for the damage to his leg. Something for which Garin would never, ever forgive himself.

  Leto’s voice interrupting his musings felt like someone had hit him with a rock. “You’re already thinking about him. All you need to do is concentrate on finding his spirit beyond the veil.”

  “And how do you presume I do that?” snarled Garin. “I had assistance the last time from those who live within the Dragon’s Heart.”

  The Draconian held his hand out, indicating a spot opposite him by the fire. “Sit, for starters.”

  Grumbling, Garin did as instructed. After crossing his legs and finding as comfortable a position as possible, he glared at Leto. “Now what?”

  “You need to relax,” said the Draconian with a sigh. “Something you just can’t seem to do when it comes to your powers. Remember, you are the one in control of them.”

  “Not helpful.”

  The corner of Leto’s mouth twitched with amusement at his student’s caustic tone, but he still managed to kindly instruct, “Use the dance of the flames to calm your mind. Focus on both the fire and the thoughts of you brother until you sense him beyond the veil.”

  An expression of doubt washed over Garin’s face. This was one of those fool’s errands; he just knew it. Still, he took a deep breath and began watching the colors of orange and gold flicker within the fire.

  The brightness eventually became distracting, so he closed his eyes. After sorting through the heartbreaking memories of Emory, the better ones began to flit through his mind. The joyous laugh of his brother after they had returned from racing through the sky together for the first time, both in eagle form. The intense focus in Emory’s aquamarine eyes as they had sparred, practicing Lord Gregory’s lessons when time allowed. The night they caught their little sister, Gertrude, trying to climb the shelves in search of a snack. Garin had ended up with a black eye and Emory’s bright red hair had been turned white by the canister of flour the fearless toddler had knocked off a high shelf.

  Garin couldn’t help but chuckle. It seemed like it was just yesterday when the three of them had been so happy together. A feeling of warmth appeared on his right shoulder, almost as if someone had laid a hand upon it. That gesture was something Emory had often done, making it seem like all he had to do was reach out, grab his brother, and pull him closer. As he was picturing doing just such a thing, the heat became a weight. Then there was a gentle squeeze that almost made Garin jump out of his skin!

  Brown eyes snapped open and were soon looking into blue ones. A youth of seventeen with bright red hair was crouching down beside him, the disfigurement in his leg gone. By all that was Holy, it had worked! Garin tried to speak, but no words were coming out of his gaping mouth.

  Emory quietly chuckled before his rich voice softly said, “Hello, brother. I’ve been waiting far too long for your Call.”

  ***

  Leto had a relieved smile on his face when he excused himself and quickly left the cave. Garin momentarily realized that this had been the reason the Draconian had insisted on positioning himself by the exit, but the unexpected consideration paled in comparison to his long-dead brother sitting down next to him. He had wished for this moment, feared it.

  His voice understandably cracked when he said, “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to save you.”

  Emory shook his head, giving him a long-suffering look. “You really need to stop blaming yourself for every bad situation that happens in this world. It’s one of the most annoying things about you sometimes.”

  Garin had to smile at his honesty. He had missed that and more about his foster brother. “I’m so glad I was able to reach you. I thought for sure it would take so much more to contact you.”

  Emory sighed, weariness appearing in those blue eyes. “If my death had truly been an accident, you would have been right.”

  Any joyful feelings Garin was beginning to have about this meeting fled in the face of the truth his brother had just uttered. Rage hit, and his question was a roar: “What!?”

  Emory didn’t flinch at his outburst, despite the fact he had been on the horrific receiving end of his brother’s anger before. Garin wanted to shake him for being too calm. When a few of his other powers were fighting to break free, Garin quickly got to his feet and paced.

  “You haven’t really learned to control that rage of yours, have you?”

  The sarcastic tone from Emory caused Garin to snort. Surprisingly, his brother’s retort helped him calm down. “I’m still working on it.”

  “Then maybe my story will help you find a more productive outlet,” said the shade as he rose from the ground. “Mainly in the form of one asshole named Esus.”

  If Garin ever saw that pointy-eared, black-haired devil of a half-brother again, death was the kindest punishment he would mete out to the elf! He grabbed the wall in front of him, intending to just clench a fist against it. Instead, a chunk came off in his hand and was smashed into smithereens!

  “Impressive,” said Emory in awe.

  Garin opted to turn and lean against the poor wall instead. While smacking the back of his head against it, and without causing any damage this time, he growled a single word, “How?”

  Emory crossed his arms over his chest. “It was nicely done on his part, I hate to admit,” he said begrudgingly. “He caught up to me as I was approaching the cliffs, saying he was searching for you. Considering those half-siblings of yours were known to show up out of the blue to drag you off to Arduenna, it seemed believable. He acted disappointed to hear you had left for Nova Forte and began to turn his steed around. If I hadn’t been bending over to inspect the harness I used to stay on my horse’s back, the magic he threw at me would’ve ended me right there and then. Instead, my steed took off like a shot, and we gave him a merry chase.”

  Garin couldn’t help the grin. Imagining Esus’ frustration at the youth’s near escape brought warm feelings of pride to his heart. “Too bad you weren’t able to keep the lead.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know,” grumbled Emory as he began to move forward. “His horse was faster, unfortunately, and he pulled his sword on me. By the way, fighting on horseback sucks! I can’t tell you how many times I thought I was going to lop the head off my own steed. Despite the craziness, I did manage to give the maniac a nice cut on his leg before he sliced through my harness. I fell to the ground as my mount kept right on going. Did my best to get up, but the last thing I remember was being hit hard in the chest by a strange black orb.”

  Until his spirit woke up on the other side, but Garin didn’t bother to add that part to his brother’s story. Instead he had a burning question, “Did the sack of shit bother to tell you why he went after you?”

  Emory’s “They wanted you distracted from Lord Gregory’s disappearance.” caused Garin’s heart to sink. The offer to help find the lost Protector might have been vehemently refused in the end, but how had anyone known about the reason behind his meeting with the king that fateful day? And if he hadn’t requested that time with his father, would his brother still be alive?

  Emory must have seen the guilt on his face because the shade came up and poked him in the chest. “And stop that! You cannot blame yourself for what all the other deranged, evil assholes do in this world!”

  Despite the wretchedness he felt, Garin couldn’t stop the chuckle. “So you’re saying I’m a deranged, evil asshole?”

  “Maybe not evil,” replied Emory with
a smirk.

  Garin’s answering grin slowly began to weaken. This camaraderie with his brother had been sorely missed. Damn it! He was beginning to understand why his birth mother had held onto her husband for so long. It was not going to be easy to let his little brother go a second time.

  Which is why bringing back the souls of those closest to us has always been forbidden. But we’ve never been good at following the rules, have we, my son?

  Garin barely felt the shock at hearing Iantha’s voice in his head before an icepick of pain hit his brain, bringing him quickly to his knees! A twinkling yet malevolent female laugh reverberated through his skull making it hard to breathe let alone think. The sharp sensation drilling into his mind began to increase in its intensity, causing a strangled cry to escape his lips!

  Emory rushed to his side and vehemently asked, “Brother, what’s wrong!?”

  Garin opened his mouth, but he couldn’t find the strength to answer. Everything around him was getting hazy. Damn it, fight through the pain. Fight this invasion. He knew he needed to remember something, but his memories kept escaping him!

  “Leto!” screamed Emory, though Garin could have sworn no one had told him the Draconian’s name.

  Iantha made a noise between a cackle and a hum before she chastised him, Foolish child for not telling me that this gift has grown so powerful within you. Maybe if you had been more honest with Metis, you would’ve learned how to fully keep me out. Instead, you have just helped confirm that you and all the other traitors are exactly where I had thought you would be. After all, you weren’t the first to try to use that ancient place as a refuge, and someone is already on the way there to see if my suspicions were correct.

  “Get out of my head!” screamed Garin as the pressure in his skull became heavy enough to bend him closer to the floor.

  “Remember what Mattie learned from Metis!” came Leto’s voice from what seemed so far away.

  Metis? They had both mentioned someone called Metis, but why? Struggling, he finally remembered the powerful gnome who lived in the Arduenna Kingdom. A grumpy but helpful soul who had protected him most of his life, and she had taught Mattie much about Soul Walking. One of the first things his wife had learned was to guard her mind against intrusion, using a mental barrier to keep people out. A lesson Metis had insisted for him as well when he was younger, but he had foolishly allowed the defense to crumble over the years from disuse!

  It’s too late for you to fix that now.

  Snarling at the smug voice of his so-called mother, he managed to hiss, “Want to bet?”

  Garin’s desperation had him grab the first power he felt confident about controlling, and he used Air magic to push her out of his head! Iantha screamed in abject rage, sounding fainter as he kept using every ounce of energy within him to force her to leave! The moment the piercing headache eased, he quickly built an earthen mound around his mind. Once finished with the mental barrier, what little strength he had left was swiftly pulled under by a wave of unconsciousness.

  Chapter 19

  The sun was starting to set, causing Mattie’s worry for Garin to increase. She had watched him leave the grounds with Leto hours ago, and neither of them had returned. He must still be upset because there had been no peep from him through their bond. And though Mattie knew she had been right for being angry at his insufferable belief he needed to keep parts of himself locked away, there was little doubt in her mind that she could have also handled the whole fiasco differently.

  A snort-like sigh left Mattie’s wolfish snout before she curled her furry form tighter into a ball. Pieces of parchment littered the other end of the large bed, remains of her fruitless attempt to review the monstrous treaty. None of the words on those pages had made a damn bit of sense in her agitated state. In the end, she had given up and turned into a wolf. This form always did give her a small bit of comfort, more so now because of Garin’s nickname for her.

  Mattie just wished he were here now so the bed wouldn’t seem so empty.

  Trying vainly to calm her emotions, her eyes roved over the room again. The couple’s packs and her sword, Crepus, were tucked in the corner next to the large dresser. A smaller cabinet and vanity sat on the opposite wall, along with two doors. One led to a closet while the other opened up into a smaller room to be used as a nursery. The only window was the long one above her head that faced north, reminding her that night was coming—with or without her husband.

  Heavy footsteps approaching the room caused Mattie’s ears to prick up, and she lifted her head in anticipation. Then she lowered it back down on the bed again and let loose a fresh sigh. The wrong man was standing at the doorway.

  “I just wanted to see if there was anything particular you wanted for dinner tonight,” said her father kindly.

  Mattie’s whine must have hit a cord within him because he swiftly came in and sat next to her. “He’ll come back,” he reassured. “You’re not the first married couple to fight like wolves and bears.”

  Mattie changed position so her return to human form wouldn’t knock him off the bed. “I remember some of the yelling matches you had with mother,” she conceded after sitting up and dangling her feet over the edge. “How in the hell did you handle the aftermath? I feel wretched for treating him that way.”

  “No one likes hurting the one they love,” he admitted. “But strong personalities sometimes won’t listen to calmer forms of reason.”

  “Thanks for reminding me that I’m a stubborn ass.”

  “Your words, not mine.”

  Mattie chewed on her bottom lip when her gaze returned to the darkening sky. A comforting arm was soon around her shoulders. “He’ll be back soon and probably eager to work things out,” said her father firmly. “If he’s the man I remember, he’s been beating himself up over your argument as well.”

  Mattie’s appreciation was interrupted by a large commotion of noise just outside the house. The front door slammed violently open right after her father had jumped to his feet. He was already halfway out the room when Bran bellowed, his words nearly stopping her heart!

  “Uncle Greg! Mattie! Come quickly; we have a problem with Garin!”

  ***

  Mattie’s father was brought up short, causing her to almost run into him. She gave him a sidelong glance, and the expression that he had just seen a ghost appeared on his face for a second before he rushed over to the others. Mattie’s eyebrow rose at the red-haired stranger who was trying to hide himself in a corner, worry scrunching up his youthful features as he watched Leto heave Garin’s unconscious form onto the kitchen table. Bran had hurried to a far cupboard, madly searching through the various home remedies stored within, and she couldn’t imagine what help he believed would be found.

  Mattie’s immediate reaction was to reach out to her husband through their bond. When she only got that sense that he was still alive, she wanted to knock the universe on its ass! How dare it do this to them a second time! She rushed over and grabbed Garin’s hand. Thank Adonai, there was still warmth in him! Her repeated failure to reach him mentally caused tears to almost blur her eyes.

  Damn it! Don’t we deserve a break!?

  Selina and Dougal had apparently entered with the others, crowding around the table until Gregory gently ordered them to give everyone room. Selina’s eyes narrowed at the young stranger, making sure she stayed as far away from him as possible. Dougal protectively stuck to her side and made no qualms about expressing how unhappy he was with the young man’s unexpected presence.

  “What happened?” growled Gregory after he made sure Garin was still breathing.

  Remorse filled Leto’s voice when he answered, “That arrogance of mine, of which you had so pointedly reminded me. His mother gained temporary access of his mind.”

  Mattie gasped. Was such a thing possible? Her father’s gaze snapped to the young man in the corner and then it returned right back to focus on the Draconian. The rumble in his voice was one of a man ready to tear the world apa
rt, “And you didn’t think to remind my son-in-law to protect himself from such an attack before you started with this obviously successful lesson!?”

  Leto’s shoulders dropped as if in defeat. “I assumed that he had learned to do so from Metis and that we had more time before Iantha would try something like this.”

  “Well, your assumptions were wrong!”

  Bran stopped his rummaging. “I take it smelling salts won’t help him then,” he called over his shoulder.

  “No,” Mattie answered while her lip grew sore from biting it. There had to be some way she could reach him.

  Use the shade to help with your Soul Walking.

  Mattie’s eyebrow rose at that whisper inside her head, surprised she could hear it over her father and Leto as they continued bickering. It had been months since she had last heard that feminine voice of wisdom, back when she was arguing with herself about marrying Garin. Though the fact it had remained silent when they had been at the Mage’s Stronghold, when she had needed help the most, nearly made Mattie balk at listening to it. Still, she knew that her internal advisor was on the right track.

  “Emory, come here please,” Mattie said, beckoning to the young stranger with her free hand. The hum of conversation abruptly stopped, all of them gazing at her with shock. Mattie looked her father in the eye and sharply said, “What? It’s pretty obvious to me who he is after listening to your argument. He looks like a seventeen-year-old version of the Baron Von Bos after all.”

  The man grumbled something about his daughter being too smart for her own good while Emory’s shade quickly made his way to Mattie’s side. Angry tears were in his blue eyes when he stared down dejectedly at his unconscious brother. The hand she laid over his own caused him to swiftly turn his head towards her, a look of determination soon hardening his features.

  No hesitation on his part either when he firmly said, “Tell me what you need me to do.”

  Mattie answered with a tone that brooked no argument. “Just hold onto me and don’t let go—no matter what.”