Yasmine Galenorn - Night's End

Oh fuck. What the hell was I going to do?

The Shadow Hunter growled, his eyes luminous black with swirling stars—the stars of the Indigo Court. I froze, mesmerized for a second, but then instinct took over, and in one swift motion, I turned to drop the child back in the crib with one hand, while with the other, I yanked out my dagger. Smoothly, I stabbed at the Shadow Hunter’s face, even as Check plunged a sword into his back, then quickly out again.

The creature yelped, snarling as it turned, and I took that moment to whip my dagger back and plunge again, this time catching him between his shoulder blades where Check had stabbed him.

Check had managed to keep hold of his sword, and now, he ducked to the side, bringing the blade up into the belly of the Shadow Hunter. The creature let out one last howl and toppled to the side, still. It was dead.

I picked up the child and looked back to Check. “We can’t take him through the fighting down there. Check the rest of the upstairs, and if it’s clear, I’ll lock myself in this room with him until you let me know everything downstairs is safe again.” I didn’t want to leave him alone—it was far too dangerous.

Check didn’t look all that happy, but he nodded. “As you wish, Your Majesty. But if something should happen—”

“That’s why you check and double-check the upstairs here. To make sure it won’t.” I nodded toward the door. “Out, and I’ll lock the door behind you.”

He glanced over at the window. “First . . .” He hustled over and shoved the armoire in front of it. The only other exit was the door, so he’d effectively sealed me in, and any rogue Shadow Hunters, out. “There. I’ll feel better now.”

And with that he left the room. I locked the door, pressing my ear to it until—a few minutes later—I heard him knock from outside. He announced himself, and I cracked the door.

“I checked the other rooms and blocked the windows as best as I could. I can’t lock the doors—they lock from the inside, so the minute I’m out that door, please latch it. I’ve done everything I can think to do. I’ll be back for you as soon as we clear the downstairs.” And then he pulled the door shut, and I locked it as he headed for the stairs.

Turning back to the child, I stared at the boy. He was still crying, though more softly, and he reached for me. “Mama . . . Want my mama.”

“So you can talk?” I had little doubt his vocabulary was still quite limited—he seemed very young—but at least he could say a few words. I picked him up and looked around. A rocking chair nearby offered a good seat, and he leaned his head against my shoulder as I rocked him. The thought of children scared me, though I knew Grieve and I would someday have them. They were so vulnerable, and they needed so much.

“What’s your name, little one? What’s your name?” I wasn’t sure if he’d understand me, but he blinked his huge blue eyes and sniffled.

“Andy. Where’s mama?” The sobs coming from him were quiet, almost eerily so, and I realized the boy was exhausted. Probably over-exhausted, if my guess was correct.

He doesn’t know. He’s too young to understand what’s going on. Ulean swept past, blowing a gentle breeze across his wet, red face.

I know. And there’s no way I can explain that his mother’s probably dead, caught in the carnage below. Chances are his father is there, too. I wonder about the girl.

I fear she was wounded, Cicely. Who knows how badly?

Do you think she’ll live?

I cannot say, but the Shadow Hunters make no differentiation between adults and children when they attack. At least the boy is unharmed.

Yes, terribly frightened but alive and well.

At that moment, he whimpered and stuck his thumb in his mouth. I gazed into his face—he looked so scared, and so alone. So I did what anybody trying to comfort a scared baby would do.

“Andy, your mother is asleep. She was tired. You should sleep, too, honey. Go to sleep.” And I began to hum, gently rocking him back and forth, until he dropped off in my arms as the fighting raged below.

Shortly after I’d slipped him back into his crib and covered him up, making sure his teddy bear was next to him, a knock sounded at the door. Pulling my dagger, I crept over to it, edging to one side as I waited.

“Your Majesty, we’ve routed them all. It’s safe to come out.”

Ulean? She had stayed with me, watching over me. Now she blustered away, but was back in seconds.

It’s Check. The fighting is over. The Shadow Hunters are dead.

I unlocked the door and stepped back, pressing my fingers to my lips. “We need to get this little guy out of here. There’s only one place I can think of where he’ll be safe, and that’s back at the Barrow.”

Lannan and Rhia joined us, along with Chatter. One look at the boy, and she raised her hand to her lips. “There’s something about him . . . I don’t know what, but he looks so familiar to me.”

As I watched her lean over him, an odd feeling swept over me. “Rhiannon, you be his foster mother. I don’t know how—I don’t know why, but I think . . . Andy’s meant to be with you.”

I wasn’t used to premonitions that didn’t deal with death or destruction, but this one felt life affirming, and when I closed my eyes and tried to project ahead, I could see a tall youth in a field of flowers. He had long, flowing golden hair and a smile like the sun, and he was standing under the glow of midday.

“It’s important you take him. More than ever, I see him as having a place in our future.” The feeling was overwhelming, and I prayed she’d listen to me.

Rhiannon lightly ran her fingers over the side of his cheek. “My son? Well then, we’d best make sure he gets home safely and is watched after. I wonder what he’ll grow up to be.” She looked at me. “We need to get him back to the Barrows. Help me?”

I motioned for Check. “Summon Fearless. Have him choose two men he trusts and ask them to take Andy back to the Barrow. Have Druise look after him, and make certain nobody else has access to him. Tell her . . . Tell her I said he’s to be treated as if he were my son.”

Check bowed, then raced out of the room. I turned to Grieve. “He’s our nephew, my love. We will keep him safe—and for some reason, it’s important he stay in Winter’s domain until this is all taken care of.”

“Our people are more ruthless than our Summerkin.” Grieve smiled, but there was an edge to his voice. “Rhiannon, your realm is far lighter than ours—no less dangerous, but more inviting to those who would plunder it. Until we destroy Myst and set our homes in order, best rely on Winter for the protection of innocents like the boy.”

Rhia shrugged. “I’m not going to argue. I know you’re right.”

Fearless returned with two guards whom I recognized. “Your Majesty, we have been through the shaman’s testing. We are safe.”

Fearless nodded. “They tell the truth. All who joined us have been tested.”

“Then take the boy and run back to the Barrow. Stop for no one, stop for nothing. Avoid all confrontations until he’s safely in Druise’s arms. Tell her I said he is to be treated as my nephew—to be watched over at all times. No one is allowed to come near him save for her, and the shamans, and anyone they trust. Keep him safe for our return. His name is Andy.”

Rhiannon gently lifted him out of the crib, and he was so tired he merely blinked for a moment, then fell back asleep. She bundled him into their care, and within a blur—a motion of speed and silence—they vanished with him.