Page 71 of The Queen and the Half-blood
“The beast and the broken arrow.” Ruari raised his voice to be heard over the howling and shrieking of the Slew. Even through the thick walls of the broch, it was an unearthly sound, full of desperation and rage. The Unforgiven were tormented, ravenous. “Danger and vulnerability.”
Seated upon the high seat, Lara’s palms grew damp. She, the five druids, her captain, warder, archivist, and husband all sat around the table, while a handful of warriors looked on from the shadows. She’d gathered her council for an emergency meeting. As often, Skaal had settled before one of the hearths. However, she wasn’t relaxed this evening. Instead, the fae hound sat up, her amber gaze watchful.
On the eve of Gateway, the bones had delivered a warning; one she shouldn’t ignore. However, it was too late to do anything about it.
“Something is different this year.” Annis was the first to speak. “The Slew have never been thisloudbefore.”
“Aye.” Cailean’s gaze lifted to the sturdy walls surrounding them. “It sounds as if they’ll actually manage to claw their way inside this year.”
No sooner had the chief-enforcer spoken than a loud ‘boom’ echoed through the broch, and its very walls shuddered.
“Shit,” Bree growled. “What was that? Has the main door been breached?”
Shouting started then, coming from the direction of the entrance hall.
Everyone surged to their feet, the rasp of drawing weapons filling the smoky air. Likewise, the warriors who’d been standing watch stepped forward, readying themselves.
Skaal rose swiftly to her feet and moved to the front of the high seat. As she did so, the fae hound’s hackles lifted on the back of her neck and shoulders.
Alar now gripped his fighting daggers. He moved close to Lara. She’d also drawn her blade.
The shouting morphed into screams, and then the doors to the hall itself flew open.
A group of terrified servants rushed inside.
Then came the sound—a low hum that vibrated across the floor and up through Lara’s feet.
A heartbeat passed before darkness surged into the hall, bringing with it a mass of writhing figures. And as she watched, transfixed, the mass separated into individual forms, each wrong in a different way. Arms that bent too many times. Faces stretched like melted candle wax. Some beat the air with leathered wings, while tattered cloaks fluttered and snapped behind others.
The humming slid into ear-splitting screeches. The sound of insatiable hunger.
Even at this distance, she could see their fingers. They were too long, ending in curved claws that caught the firelight. Their mouths hung open, but not to speak. It was as if they were tasting the air—readying themselves to tastethem.
They caught up with the slowest of the servants then, swooping down on two lads and plucking them off the ground. An instant later, the Slew carried them away, while more writhing shapes boiled into the hall.
Lara gasped a curse, watching helplessly as iron blades sliced through the empty air. The warriors might as well have been fighting smoke. One man’s broadsword clove into something massive—wings that blotted out the torchlight—but the wraith didn’t flinch. Claws found the warrior’s throat. His boots scraped against stone as he was lifted, then gone.
Ren sang from the high seat, her voice cracking. The melody wavered, but pine and ash still swirled through the air. Some of the Slew recoiled, shrieking. Others kept coming.
Lara’s knuckles clenched white around her dagger hilt. Between her and the advancing darkness stood Alar and Bree.
Silver light erupted from Cailean’s tattoos as he channeled earth magic through his blade. The pungent smell made her eyes water. For a heartbeat, the wraiths hesitated. Then they surged forward again, and Lara’s stomach dropped.
Skaal leaped into the fray, snarling. The Slew scattered as she attacked, but then reformed immediately afterward. The fae hound was snapping at shadows.
Gregor stepped into their path. His knife opened his palm in one swift cut. Blood dripped as he chanted, calling on The Five. His raspy voice was almost lost in the chaos.
Lara found herself whispering too—to the Gods, even to The Reaper.Please. Spare us!
Her protectors closed ranks around her. Annis clutched her iron sickle charm, but her hand shook. They all knew. They couldn’t hold back the flood.
A terrified wail tore through the hall as the Slew took another servant. Cailean, Roth, and the warriors were drowning in black shapes, sweat streaming as they fought the tide.
Then one broke through—a huge wraith with seaweed hair and teeth like jagged, broken blades.
Lara’s breathing caught. This Slew was different from the others. Bigger. More solid. It shoved Cailean and Roth aside as if they were bairns. Gil and Ruari stabbed at it uselessly.
Bree threw herself forward, but it smacked her across the face and sent her sprawling.
