the fourth tier; heroes of the line book 4

7/28/2019 The Fourth Tier; Heroes of the Line Book 4

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The Fourth Tier:

Heroes of the Line Book 4

By: J.A. Carlton

All rights reserved.

Copyright 2013 by Jill A. Carlton

No part of this book may be reproduced in whole or in part,

or stored in a electrical system, or transmitted in any form or by any

means,

electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,

without written permission.


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NOW...

A chill burrowed through Nick, drawing his awarenessup from the depths of his exhausted sleep. Every millimeter

of his body ached, his mind hurt and his heart felt lifeless in

his chest despite its consistent beat. He rolled toward the

empty spot his little brother should have occupied and

scanned the area, his blood freezing to stabbing shards of

ice at what he saw deep in the mid-night darkness.

What the hell? He thought then quickly shuteverything down, his emotions, his curiosity, his

uncertainty, everything or anything Frank could possibly

sense.

His dark adapted gaze flew over the area once more,

the pyres were burning low, little more than embers now,

and soon to be nothing but ash where there had once been

the bodies of possible friends if not simply allies. Theothers were sleeping, snores and murmurs were sounds of

comfort, and the songs of nocturnal insects lent cover to the

teen as he rolled onto his stomach, glancing over his

shoulder at those who remained, the ones that were ill

equipped at best, to fight the coming war. Theyre all

going to die. He turned his eyes once more to Frank, the

youngest Emersons little body trying to hide the fact thathe was within arms reach of one of the most cruel and

deadly schades theyd ever encountered, Ne Min.

Stop... he thought, visualizing the timescape of this

realm and holding it and all its inhabitants still almost

effortlessly. He leaped to his feet, raced across the black

expanse separating him from Frank, and with his comatose

guardian, Ryans Maglite in hand, took cover under theJurassic sized leaves of a shrub within feet of the pair.


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What did you do to him? He wondered glaring hard at

Ne Min. He was not just the Masters right hand, but also

the one whod captured and held Frank hostage whilewearing the skin of a human Mage hed murdered, but he

was also the one whod been behind every torment and

torture Nick had endured for the entire month hed been

captive in the schade stronghold.

Settled in and keeping a tight rein on every aspect of his

mental state, Nick released the timescape from his hold,

allowing all life as he was able to sense it, to resumemoving forward.

Why are you here? Frank whispered urgently,

casting a glance back toward the faint glow of the dying

pyre, his ability to see anything but that glow an unrealized

hope.

My king, Ne Min inclined his bald, pale head, hiswhite opaque eyes somehow seeming to latch onto the

littlest Emersons, My Master, Heru Tur, has sent many of

my kind into the realm of man, they will seek out those born

of the Heroes and they will kill them all, down to the last

until none but you remain.

The schade bowed its head, its gaze moving from the

outlines laying near the pyre back to Franks.Nicky? Frank breathed.

If you do notassume your rightful place he will not be

spared.

And if I do?

The schade bowed its head, Few things are certain.

If you cantgive me your word then youre not giving

me any kind of real incentive for leading a movementagainst Khazeer or any of the others. Frank crossed his

arms over his chest, his mouth set in a fine line that Nick


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knew far too well. In fact, the sight of that tell-tale

trademark of stubborn determination brought a smile to the

elder Emerson and allowed him to take a slightly deeperbreath. Maybe, just maybe, Frank had a better handle on

the schades agenda than he thought. It wouldnt be the

first time the youngest Emerson had used some of the

tremendous insights hed gleaned from all the minds hed

sampled through the last four years. Maybe Nick didnt

need to be so fearful that his little brother would or could

be manipulated so easily after all.The only way to ensure continued existence for all of

Danus children, for Oemirs kin, as well as the world of

man, is through unity under one leader my king. Tur would

haveyou as that leader! As you were meant to be! The soulof Oemir was meant to unite our people, not to divide

them!

The littlest Emerson shook his head while his lips wereworried between his teeth. His eyes narrowed and his heart

beat hard in his chest, sweat trickled down his back, itching

over the stitches that held the talon holes from that half-

avian monstrosity the Pirini, closed. His body ached and

deep in the back of his throat a faintly metallic taste reared

up again, he was exhausted and teetering on the precipice

of illness once more. It was time for the anti-toxin Ne Minhad brought him, and been dosing him with in order to

drive back the poison from the carrion eating fowl.

Whatever else the sinister schade had done, hed probably

saved Franks life, and though it was most certainly done

to further its mastersplans, Frank was still grateful.

Its Turs fault this all happened anyway! Hes the one

that brought down the curse when he tried to kill

Conchobar and take over two whole worlds! Hes the one

that made this mess! You tell him if he wants it done hes


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going to have to surrender, fix our people and send the

vestiges back! Frank hissed, his hand slipping from his

pocket, holding his mini Maglite toward Ne Min, but notturning it on just yet.

What has been done, cannot be undone my king.

Then were done, Frank shook his head and

motioned into the woods, go back to your master, tell him

to stay out of our way or he wont like what happens.

Vanwah Feya, you must consider the lives of your

people, we can exist in peace... you can live, love, grow oldand never know war, or the pain of untimely death

Frank twisted the light on, its beam sweeping to the

side, just close enough to cause the schade to turn its eyes

in disbelief to him, though it did not back up, it did look

toward the more comfortable shadows it was so

accustomed to, But you cant promise me Nicky will live or

know any of that, Until you can offer somethingworthwhile, stay away or next time I see you, I will kill

you.

No! Jesus Frank! You cant give em an opening!

Whats the matter with you?!Nicks eyes popped open, his

gasp catching so hard in his throat he could barely breathe.

The rotten taste of a splitting and sinister timeline touchedthe back of his tongue as he rolled quickly to all fours,

grasped Wees gun and pedaled against the soft ash, racing

toward the tree line where, true to the vision hed just had,

Frank stood, currently with his hands on his hips, staring

and whispering urgently to the schade in the shadows.

GET DOWN! He ordered into his little brothers

mind, startling the youngest Emerson so that he wheeledaround, his mouth dropping in a wide O of surprise just

before he threw himself to the ground on his belly.


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A bare heartbeat later, the thunderous cracking of half a

dozen bullets shattered the night as Nick raced into the

trees, hoping hed hit the schade.Nicky no! Frank called rising to his feet to give chase

once his brother had passed. Nick dont, its not what it

looks like! he called casting a glance over his shoulder at

the suddenly wide awake group of allies searching the area

near the pyre.

In the dark Frank couldnt see anywhere near as well as

his big brother could, and so he gasped once he bounced offthe older boys back, then wrapped his arms around him,

Nicky stop.

The eldest of the junior Emersons turned grabbing

Frank by the shirtfront, his face twisted with anger and

suspicion, What the hell Frank! I mean what the HELL!?

he demanded, youre talking to that bastard like hes your

goddamned best friend! Didnt you get enough of him thelast few days! What the hells the matter with you!? he

half screamed, shaking the little one as his own fear

threatened to overtake him.

Nick stop, Frank grunted, grasping his hands,

please.

In the distance the others, those that were able, were

fanning out toward the tree line, calling for the boys, thetimbre of worry unmistakable.

What the hell kind of deal were you making!? he

hollered barely able to contain the fearful fury roiling

inside.

Lou Stewart, one of their newest allies, and a

descendant of the famed Celtic King Conchobar was the

first to reach the boys. Tucking his gun into the back of hispants he made the mistake of grabbing Nick and turning

him away from Frank.


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Every torment from the last few days burst forth from

the fourteen year old leaving his nine year old little brother,

as well as the son of a king staring in wonder as in the blinkof an eye the teen seemed to pop in height until he was

taller than Lou himself though he was still reed-thin.

The abrupt change in his bodys size tore through the

stitches down the right side of Nicks back, the slice was

borne of a schade wearing another human whod tried to

open him up for consumption by its vestige guardian.

Blood poured down the young mans back but he didntfeel it. In fact the only thing he felt was an uncontrollable

compulsion to swing a hammer fist at the blond haired man

whod dared interfere with him and Frank.

The first punch came as a surprise, knocking Lou back

several steps even as Nick stalked forward, all signs of

civility gone, replaced with something utterly savage that

none of them had ever seen before.You! he growled through clenched teeth, grasping

Lou by the shirtfront with one hand while the other

slammed forward with another lightning fast and rock-hard

jab.

Lous head snapped back, a line of blood slipped from

the corner of his mouth, and though surprise and a flicker

of fear moved through his bright green eyes, his handscame up and the struggle began.

From the moment theyd met Lou had the feeling he

and Nick were going to come to blows. Hed just never

anticipated that the teen could change his age or physical

stature. From what he understood, the boys new ability

was a byproduct of magiks the ancient Druid Cathbad had

performed to save his life. Hed opened the floodgates ofthe Emerson blood line all the way back to the beginnings

of his first incarnation, leaving all the gifts of all the lines


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of Oemir and his descendants available to the child. As

Nicks fist crashed once more into his jaw, making his eyes

goggle in his skull and his ears start to ring, Lou realized hewas going to have to fight back.

His right arm rolled around Nicks, locking it down

while he moved behind the boy, pinning his arm to his

back, capturing him momentarily. His left hand pulled his

gun from the back of his pants and threw it toward the

others whod gathered to watch, unsure if they should try to

stop the fight or just let the overwhelmed teenager-in-a-mans-body wear himself out.

Dont do this Nick, I dont wanna hurt you, the

garage owner growled into the young mans ear.

Give it your best shot, Nick spat, turning into the hold

and falling to one knee, his free arm pulsed forward in a

battering ram of a palm strike right into Lous breastbone.

The move took him by surprise, his heart stuttered inhis chest and his breath caught as he stumbled backwards,

bent over for a quick second before he leaped forward,

feinting to throw a punch before dropping down and

sweeping the Emersons legs out from under him.

He moved quickly, leaping on top of the boy, working

hard to pin him down against his sweat-slick grip. Nick

stop! Cmon man, we cant do this, not now, not here! Weneed to work together.

Nicky please! Frank called from beside their uncle

Wee, We gotta work as a team.

Nicks gaze flicked from one face to another, taking

them all in while Lou held him down.

Wee held Frank tight in his embrace, his face crinkled

and lips gone he was chewing them so hard. Harry, his andFranks best friend stood wide eyed, sweating and

swallowing hard, but something in his expression


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understanding Nicks need. Iilirya, the future Queen of all

Sidhe, and the woman his first ancestor was supposed to

marry, stood calm, her face blank though deep in her eyesNick could sense storms of uncertainty. She cant read me,

or see my path, he realized surprised by the revelation.

Wellyn and Mickey, two new allies stood watching, the

Sidhe warrior curious and, very like Harry, somehow

understanding the boys need, while Mickeys open

appreciation of violence and seeming blood-lust made

Nicks belly quiver.Over there, separated from the others just a little, was

Shepard MacGregor, brother to Lizzie Daykin, the fallen

hunter whose skin the schade had been wearing when it

tried to gut Nick just yesterday; he sat on his knees, his

head bowed, forlorn and almost felled by the loss of his

nephew Tommy. Nick recalled a vision from another line,

Shep and Tommy had saved his life when hed gone after avestige and itd somehow managed to punch out thousands

of needle-points of his person from that plane of existence.

Frank was mute then, Pigg got to him, used him up, I

couldnt save him Then all the way in the back, obscured

by shadows, shoulders and silhouettes stood Dylan, quiet,

his gaze hard and steely on the boy, measuring him but why

or for what, Nick didnt care. Dylan was nothing to him, itwas time he stopped pretending there was hope of anything

else.

Finishing his perusal of their friends, family and allies

Nicks gaze returned to Lous, a rage fueled glow starting

deep in the back of his eyes his lips peeled away from his

teeth and his hands slipped from the garage owners grip

then fell to his upper arms, every ounce of energy he couldno longer contain moving through his arms, down to his

fingers, searing the mans shirt until smoke rose and the


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heat penetrated into his arms, driving him in horrified

confusion off the young man and backward, swatting at his

bubbling flesh and clothing.Nick no, Frank hissed racing forward to help Lou

crush the embers out of existence.

What the hell? Wee gasped looking to Harry who he

was sure had to know something. But the old man shook

his head, his lips bowing down and his eyes narrowing with

uncertainty, hed never seen anything like that before.

Vanwah Feya, Ilirya raised a hand toward him but didnot move as the young man moved his hands, seeming to

draw the energy down his arms, toward his fingertips.

Around his fingers the air began to tremble and waver,

reminding them all of heat-shimmer in the desert. It moved

and coalesced in a ball, Nicks expression twisted with fear

and uncertainty as he looked once more among those who

were now irrefutably different from whatever it was hedjust revealed himself to be.

No he breathed, his eyes turning back to where the

schade had stood, another bout of almost uncontainable

rage gave the energy the impetus he needed to expel it

before it could do him or anyone else any more harm.

Sorry man, he muttered to Lou who stood watching him,

grimacing as Wellyn poured water from his canteen overthe hand shaped wounds making them hiss steam into the

cool night air.

Push it out Nick, like you did before, Frank urged

quietly, taking Wee and Harry by complete surprise.

Neither of them knew there were fingerprints borne of fear

on the wooden frame at the foot of Nicks bed.

He did it before, when he got home, he got scared andhad to push it out, he burned the bed, Frank explained to

no one and everyone as Nick turned, raised his leg up as if


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he was going to throw a baseball and instead pitched a

roiling ball of energy into the spot Ne Min had stood only

moments ago.Flora burst into flame then quickly turned to ash as all

eyes watched, then turned to the young man, each of them

shining with so many unspeakable questions and feelings,

chief among them, fear.

Nothing can be the same now, he knew. His head fell

forward, chin to his chest as he shuffled through the ashen

remnants of the Aine Haud toward the inert body of hisother uncle who lay between worlds, unsure if life or death

was going to have its way with him. Hed saved Wees life

when Cathbads mound was destroyed, his body suffering

grievous wounds in the process as his insides had been torn

and flushed outside by the sheer force of the destruction.

There werent many things that Ryan couldnt or hadnt

survived, mainly thanks to a deal hed cut decades ago witha very powerful demon. No one knew about it for sure

except Wee, and now Nick through some insight from one

of the other lines running through him, possibly knowledge

his own father had held. But he didnt care. Demons

werent their burden, schades and vestiges were what the

Emerson boys had been born into this world to battle, and

like Ryan, Nick could no longer pretend he was likeeveryone else, he could no longer hide the fact that he and

his brother were both, indeed, something very different,

and probably something very different from human.

Cant let that happen again, Ill hurt someone, gotta

shut it down, cut it off. How do I stop feeling? Just stop. His

thoughts whirled as he returned to their camp site, slid into

his bedroll and laid his head down on his arm, closing hiseyes and giving in to exhaustion while back at the tree line


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the others simply stared, none of them knowing what to

think.

What the hell was that Frank? What happened? Wee

asked kneeling before the little one who stood trembling

and fearful, his head shaking back and forth in disbelief.

Nick was good at fighting but Frank never wouldve

thought hed turn on a friend. Harry, Wee shot over his

shoulder, angling his chin back toward the older boy.

Yep. With a nod Harry shuffled back toward thecamp, when it came to the youngest Emersons it was Harry

who they trusted most. Hed spent over 18 years trying to

restore them to a history the first Nick, the one hed been

best friends with, hoped would open the way to change

their destiny. Hed dedicated over eighteen years of his life

to repeating the same six to twelve months, watching over

Nick and Frank as children before the time came to revealthe truth of their histories and fate of two worlds hinging on

a single soul thatd been split between two brothers; that

had been four years ago. For four years theyd been moving

through temporal territory hed always hoped to bring them

to, but whose consequences none of them could fathom.

While Frank filled the others in on the events of the last

few days as theyd passed in their home realm, startingwith Ne Min showing up, Harry eased himself down onto

the ground, crossing his legs with a great deal of effort that

darkened the chocolate of his complexion.

Been a rough couple weeks kiddo.

Nicks summer sky blue eyes popped open as he eased

onto his back, his arms behind his head, his gaze on the

countless stars dotting the sky.Dont suppose the last few days have made it any

easier, or what Cathbad did either.


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Im starting to think our original timeline wasnt so

bad after all. I mean hell, I learned how to walk again, how

to fight, all Id have to do is stop that motherfucker gettinhis hands on Frank n tearin him apart, god knows,

knowing what I do now, I sure as hell could kill that son of

a bitch easier than takin a breath.

A chill shot up Harrys spine, memories flew

backwards by decades, to the first Nick, the one that started

it all, it was thatNick who was talking, he knew the feel of

him any place or time! And talking with him now was justas easy as it always had been.

I know you could, but thats not whats supposed to

be. We both know it, else why would you have set me on

this path huh?

Sorry about that. You wasted a lot of years.

Wasnt a waste man, it was the right thing, you know

that.Nick hummed but didnt say anything else. Silence

stretched between them till Harry sighed, Whatd you do

to Lou? And howd you blow that bush up?

In the waning light of the pyre Nicks shrug cast a

mutant shadow on the ground leaving Harry to wonder why

the schades didnt try to reach through them to bring the

boy back to their fortress, or worse, just kill him where helay.

Kids got a lot of pent up shit.

Trust me, I know.

Its his power, part of it anyway.

Dont you mean your power?

Nick shrugged again, I guess, I mean we are both the

sameperson right?


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Yes and no, at least to my understanding. Hes smarter

than you ever were, Harry grinned giving the twenty-

something man a gentle shove.No shit! he chuckled, I coulda been that smart if

Wee and Ryand been around back in our time.

Maybe. Talk tme Nick, what happened over the last

week?

Nick sat up leaving a large dark wet splotch in the

bedroll then wiggled out of the too-tight t-shirt, Ripped

my stitches, you up for some sewing? then turned to showhis best friend the oozing slash between his shoulder blade

and spine.

Jesus, Harry sighed pushing himself to all fours to

grab his knapsack, what happened?

Nick settled himself on his stomach, his chin on his

forearms as Harry swabbed the area as clean as he could.

If I sewyou up this age and size, youre gonna haftastay this way til youre healed, can you do that?

Nick nodded, Ill try.

I got a feeling all that personal time jumping youre

doing just cant be good for a body, Harry sighed,

squinting against the setting moon to thread the needle,

So, whatd you find out back home? he asked piercing

the first flap of skin.Theyre taking over hunters on our side. Its a foothold

situation, they cut em open, a vestige drops its seedlings

into the body and they snarf down everything, leaves just

the meatsuit behind for the schade to wear. In the meantime

the seedlings grow into a full fledged vestige. The bastard

wearing Lizzy almost got me, if it wasnt for Jack and

you.Me?

The you from this time.


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Ahhh Jesus, you got the now-me involved in this

shit?

I didnt have much of a choice, cops caught mewailing the tar out of Lous buddy Silas, he got meat-

suited, they tased my ass which left Ne Min, hes the one

that was wearing Silas, to grab Frankie. I almost lost it

man.

I bet. So you called this lines me and got some help.

Yep, youre in the home realm, working with Jack

Masters, I hope you know how to take care of yourself, Idont trust that fuck as far as I can throw him.

Harry grinned and half grimaced running a fresh stitch

through a new piece of skin, You got a potty mouth man.

Learned from the best.

Soft footfalls moved gingerly through the powdery ash.

Am I interrupting? Mickey asked settling herself

down beside Nick, her hand trembling as she reached out tohim, tempted beyond measure by the sight of his body, it

was everything she remembered, even if those memories

were from a timeline she had never really lived.

Whatd Frank tell em? Nick asked shifting his gaze

from Harry to the girl he was relieved to see. At least

somethings right in this friggin line!

The truth, it wants to cut a deal, theyve given up ongetting you to join the branches of kin together and have

told Frank that he can do it. Turs willing to let him take the

reins if itll stop the war between us and the branches.

Were not at war with the sidhe, were at war with the

schades, and no offense to Frank but I hope to hell hes not

falling for it, theyll use him like a fuckin puppet! Ram

their shadows up his ass till hes so screwed he wouldntknow the truth if it vamped the life out of him!


16/21

I know, she nodded, her hand falling to his shoulder,

tracing the graze left by the bullet Jack had fired at him

yesterday.He raised an eyebrow, watching her finger move over

his skin, tentative, exploratory, exactly the same way shed

looked at Nick while he led the others into the woods to

bring Lous love, Rose, back to safety. And now she was

dead. Nick couldnt help but wonder if he needed to carry

thatburden as well. After all, if hed been just a little more

careful then maybe they wouldnt have gotten separated,and if they hadnt gotten separated then Harry, Lou, Rose,

Dylan, Wellyn and Ayeles wouldnt have had to go up

against the vestige attacking the Aine Haud without some

help. He couldve helped, he couldve held it, given them a

chance to get the others to safety. His glance flicked to

Ryan, a shearing pain of loss tearing through his chest. He

only knew the man because of the boy part of him, butbecause of the fourteen year old Nick that belonged in this

world, he loved the man almost like a father. Then there

was her, she wasnt his Mickey, but who cares? She wants

me, I can feel it. The kids shut down so its not like hes

gonna care his gaze flicked then to one of the taller

silhouettes near the tree line, Ilirya, I dont even know her,

and shes way the fuck out of my league. The kid couldntcare less about either one of em are you done yet

Harry? I got a itch to scratch, he glanced at Mickeys full

young lips, he watched as she nibbled the inside of the

lower one and he drew a deep breath, remembering the feel

of her mouth on his, well, honestly on any part of him.

You done yet? he asked thickly, glad he was laying

on his stomach.


17/21

Almost. Harry grunted tying another knot before

slipping the needle through again to make the final stitch,

Shes not yours Nicky.Yes I am. Mickey practically panted, her finger

moving up the lean muscles of his neck and over his

shoulder to his back.

You listen to me girl, that boy is fourteen years old no

matter how old he looks or which one of ems speaking

through him! You may think you know Nick but you dont

know shit and if you think you can do what I can smellyoure about to do without hurting him then youre nothing

but a deluded, self serving little skank! Harry growled,

barely able to contain his anger.Nicky wouldnt want this!

Hes not ready for it and so help me if you use him to get

your own goose offIll never trust you far as I can throw

ya! He vowed.

Nick twisted his head toward Harry, a cockeyed smileon his lips the older man knew far too well, Easy there

tiger, if I didnt know better

You damn well DO know better!

Dude, its just sex, just cause youre not gettin any

doesnt mean I gotta pass up a little r&r.

Its not up to you to decide! Its not your time, its not

your body and its not your world Nick, you wanna getyour rocks off, get permission from the kid whos

SUPPOSED to be here! Either that or go spank the fuckin

monkey cause that boy dont need you and your uber-

jacked libido violating him!

That was the word that wiped the smirk off Nicks face

and brought his brain out of his pants and back to the

reality of the situation.Never were one to mince words. I guess I am kinda

dead though.


18/21

A week later I was still finding bits of you in my

laundry ass hole! Try pulling one of your fucking teeth out

of a shirt pocket when you didnt remember getting peltedwith it.

Nick gave a sheepish shrug then looked deep into

Mickeys eyes, He wont be easy to reach, if you can

reach him at all. She nodded holding back the glaze that

wanted to become tears then looked between the men

chewing her lips before she rose up to move to the far side

of the pyre, giving the old friends a little time and space.With Mickey out of earshot, Nick sat up, facing Harry

and swiping the old mans flask from his jacket pocket,

Niiick there was a hint of warning in his voice but no

real bite, after all, it wasnt the first time hed seen his

friend, in either form, take a drink, and he was pretty sure it

wouldnt be the last. is Nicky still in there? Can you

sense him, or any of the others?Hes here, watching, taking it all in and shutting

himself down. Its all he can do. Nick shook his head

frowning, I dont blame him.

What do you mean shutting himself down?

Everything, his fear, love his emotions, hes

building walls. He has to protect himself Harry, or else hes

never going to be able to do what he has to, or risk what hehas to, what he and Frank have to. He cocked his head to

the side, as if he was listening to or for something just on

the edge of hearing, He heard Frank say something about

moving against Khazeer and the other sidhe leaders. There

are sidhe not too far from here, through the woods he

pursed his lips, Bedowen. A name Tropus, hes afraid

theyll try to kill him and Frank. Khazeer is close too, in theheart of the desert. He feels more comfortable heading that

way.


19/21

Movement near the tree line, now far behind the others

who had taken their time returning, watching and listening

from a distance, caught his eye; dark upon dark movingwith stealth.

His hand fell to the gun hed fired at Ne Min and in the

blink of an eye he was on his feet. His other hand, with its

two snub fingers slipped into Nicks pack, those fingers

curling around the grip of Oemirs sword. Racing in a

crouch almost directly at the group, no one was sure

exactly what to do or what was happening until Nick brokehard to the left, seeming to flow in a liquid shadow crouch

over the open expanse and into the darkened edge of the

Bedowen lands.

The sound of metal chimed through the night, silencing

the insects and gathering the heroes into a tight band, each

with their hand on some sort of weapon; elder warriors

flanked the littlest Emerson as they raced toward where hisbig brother had gone.

Movement slithered to his left, he fired instinctively

and knew something had been hit. From the right a second

dark ensconced form peeled out of the shadows toward

him, a glimmer of sword arcing high in the air before it

angled downward, pointing into him.His arm flew up, blocking the descending blade, sweat

rolling off him in sheets, threatening his grip as the warrior

bore down on him, towering over him, its face hidden in

black folds of a cloak, Think youre a fucking ringwraith

or something? he grunted then grinned taking a precious

moment to slide the gun into the waistband of his jeans

before gripping the front of the warriors cloak, and withhis right arm high, still holding his attackers sword arm at

bay, thrust it just a little higher while pulling down with his


20/21

left and falling backwards, planting his feet into the beings

belly and throwing him into the distance. It gave him a

moment to recover as he rolled, regaining his feet andpanting while his nearly perfect vision scanned the

shadows.

He heard the others creeping forward, Watch your

backs! Theres two of em that Ive seen! he warned.

Ilirya, Wellyn, guard Frank at all costs! he commanded

into their minds.

Flora jiggled, rustling with the hurried passage ofsomething fairly large, damn those cloaks! Another voice,

far more calm and with a flavor of something ancient

whispered into his consciousness, Semets warriors, I can

smell the living dark on them. Tur would have had him send

them, or perhaps the darkness itself did. And then it was

quiet again, even though suddenly Nick wanted nothing

more than to call it forward, to sit the owner of that voicedown and ask it every question he could think of.

That was the voice that knew everything hed need to

know, and everything he didnt so far. It was the voice of

first son of Danu, and deep inside he knew it wouldnt

speak again until the time was right.Thats not fair! Nick

ground his teeth, turning quickly as something moved

behind him, then something else seemed to brush by hisside. A flash racing out of the dark brought his sword up

before he knew what he was doing, the arrow was batted

away, the head having been severed from the shaft.

Damnit! he grumbled then ordered, Light this place

up! peering into the darkness, another arrow rocketing

past him on the left. Once more his sword came up,

knocking the missile from its path,You will be blinded! It was Ilirya.


21/21

So will they! he shouted as the forest burst to

excruciating brightness, the split second of tolerable

illumination highlighting the surrounding area, makingevery incongruous object stand out in sharp negative relief.

A hard, cold grin stretched his mouth as he gripped his

gun and fired at the black cloaked warrior barely a dozen

yards in front of them, camouflaged by a woody giant that

wouldve made the redwoods feel inadequate.

The explosion of sound, hot on the heels of the

explosion of light, took everyone by surprise, serving toknock them off balance as one more shaft flew through the

space between them, this one finding its mark with a wet

thunk before tearing its way out the back side of his body.

the fourth tier; heroes of the line book 4

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