The Legacy: A Custodes Noctis Book Read Free Page A

it?” Rhiannon said, settling down to business.
    “There are four main paths,” Galen said. “Two from up here, two from below. If one of us comes from below we might be able to cut off whatever it is.” He looked through the shifting shadows towards the gardens, full of empty branches. “I’ll head down there.”
    “Be careful,” Rhiannon said.
    “Always.” Galen walked silently down the path, sticking to the shadows, instincts honed in his youth serving him well. His senses were alert to every sound, shift of light and scent. He paused for a moment, something had moved off the trail to his left. A fat raccoon crossed the path in front of him, stopping to look at him for a moment before moving on.
    Galen reached the lower paths to the gardens, glancing up the hill, he saw Rhiannon moving, ghostlike, down the hill. He was getting ready to move when someone screamed. Galen ran towards the sound, towards the back of the gardens where the leafless bushes were thick, obscuring his view. It was there, whatever it was, dragging a woman through the rosebushes. A shrill whistle let him know Rhiannon was behind him and to his right, the barking cough was Greg up and to his left.
    Not a werewolf. Galen slowed down, drawing the falcata. “Let her go,” he said quietly. The thing turned black eyes in graying flesh towards him. It hissed at him. He smiled. “Okay, time to play, then,” he said, excitement buzzing through his hand . He caught sight of Rhiannon out of the corner of his eye and nodded slightly as she moved up behind the thing. Galen took a step forward, swinging the blade in front of him.
    It let go of the woman and stood, looking at Galen for a moment. It reached a bony hand towards him. “Keeper,” it hissed.
    “Not anymore,” Galen said.
    “Yes, you are Keeper. Always Keeper.” It took a step towards him and paused. It sniffed the air, breath rasping into its lungs. Without warning it dove for him, knocking him off balance. Galen recovered, dancing away and brought the falcata up in an arcing swing. It launched itself at him again, one gray hand closing over Galen’s wrist. It let out a harsh sigh. “You’re that Keeper?” Galen ignored it and sliced down, cutting the arm off at its wrist, the hand still clinging to his arm. He shook it off with a grimace. It came for him again, diving, the one claw-shaped hand outstretched towards his throat. It laughed, the odd dead voice full of glee. “Good,” it hissed. “ That Keeper, here. The time is coming. The echoes build.”
    “No.” Rage boiled out of Galen mixing with the exhilaration of the moment. He lashed out with the sword. The thing ducked, the blade swung through empty air. Galen shifted his balance, preparing for another swing. It came at him again, a knife in its remaining hand.He dodged the blade as it stabbed towards his abdomen. The movement unbalanced him enough for the body-blow of the thing to carry him down to the ground. “Shit!”he said, pushing himself out of the way as it brought its blade down towards his throat.
    “Galen!” Rhiannon hit the thing, carrying it away from Galen. She didn’t move out from under it fast enough, he saw the blade sink into her flesh. She cried out, shoving it off of her. Galen saw a crossbow bolt shoot out the back of the thing. It screamed and stood, clawing at its back. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Greg grappling with another one of the creatures. Well, if you can call turning it into hash grappling. Galen pushed up off the ground and launched at the creature in the same movement. He caught it that time, neatly severing the head from the neck. It dropped to the ground and after a huge convulsion lay still.
    Galen ran to Rhiannon. She was trying to push herself up, one hand covering the bloody wound high on her shoulder. He pushed her hand away to get a better look at the wound. Black tendrils had already moved out from the wound. “Hold still,” he told her firmly. She stopped