Page 26 of Back in the Hunt
“Fuck you!” he laughed. “I wouldn’t know how and do you think I’d risk losing him or seeing him turned into a sluagh or a banshee?”
“I didn’t,” Everly said softly, interrupting Bryn’s rant.
“What?” he asked impatiently.
Everly looked down at himself. “No one taught me and I don’t know how I did it. I didn’t turn into any of those awful things, though, and I feel almost the same. A little tired and I’m still cold, but nothing feels different.”
“Remarkable!” Merlin said and offered his arm. “Let’s get you some tea, you’re still shaking.”
“I’m coming with you,” Nox said. “I want to make sure he’s okay and see if I can figure out how he did it and why he was a hare.” He followed Everly and Merlin from the study, leaving Bryn with Arawn.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Bryn asked him, earning a tight nod from Arawn.
“This ‘Abhartach’ we’re looking for might have been a changeling like ours before he turned himself into that horror.We've been stuck on who or what could cross the veil, but ifchangelingscan do that..”
Bryn nodded, his gut aching as he looked toward the kitchen. “Why would a changeling hunt down his own kind and how did he turn himself into that monster?”
“He must have had help from a powerful witch. Even a gifted changeling would need to know very old, dark magick to transform himself.”
“That’s older magick than us,” Bryn noted. “Everly was attacked by a young man or a boy, not someone Merlin’s age with his kind of experience.”
“Interesting…” Arawn nodded and considered. “Let’s run it by Merlin and see what he thinks.”
“We should get the word out, see if anyone knows of any changelings with grudges against other changelings,” Bryn added.
Everly was happily sipping his tea while Nox and Merlin poked and prodded at him in the kitchen.
“Excellent thinking!” Merlin declared when they shared their theory and went to his carpetbag on the work table. He yanked it open and reached deep inside, making a muffled racket as he searched. “There it is!” he declared and pulled out a giant, dusty old book. “I found a passage in here about changelings having a natural aptitude for learning magick and I believe there was something about a changeling who could fly…” He went to the proper tattered ribbon marker and heaved it open on the work table. “Here we are… Just as I thought! Changelings have been known to acquire magickal skill and powers, but there’s nothing about a changeling becoming a hellhound or a vampire.”
Arawn opened the bag and gasped as he leaned to put his face into it. “There’s nothing in here,” he said, looking at Merlin.
“Because all you expect to find is nothing,” he said simply and clicked his teeth at Arawn. “You’re no slouch yourself, youngman. What is the first and most important rule of magick?” he quizzed.
“Oh… Um…” Arawn clutched his forehead. “I don’t learn things in order. Never have,” he said as he stalled.
“It’s true,” Bryn confirmed. “He learned how to deliver babies and reassemble limbs on the battlefield before he picked up a textbook. And he usually starts at the end and works his way back to the beginning,” he added, earning a dismissive eye roll from Arawn.
“The hardest and most important lessons are at the end. And if you work your way backwards, everything gets easier.”
“Your poor professors,” Merlin murmured in disbelief but Bryn shook his head.
“He’s the smartest being I know and probably the best surgeon on the planet,” he stated, making Arawn roll his eyes again.
“Not a lot of textbooks where we came from, when I started out, and I’m pretty sure I’ve had a lot more practice than every other surgeon on the planet. Although, technology and modern medicine has made it a pretty level playing field.”
“Don’t listen to him,” Bryn said to the others, cutting his eyes at Arawn. “He’s the best. What about you, Merlin? Are you the best or are there other creepy old know-it-alls out there? You all have a club?”
“Hmmm…” Merlin said, pressing his middle fingers together as they tapped against his lips. “I can’t kill you, but I can make you wish you were dead for a few evenings,” he mused and turned toward the pantry.
That got a snicker out of Nox. “Better yet: make some more of your special bedtime tea and send his ass to Mag Mell. He might come back with a better attitude after a little trip to the soul spa.”
“Send yourself, clown,” Bryn shot back. “See if you can find a real god while you’re there and ask him how to start up the soul-mobile so you can do your fucking job.” He pulled a face as he turned and jumped when he found Everly glaring up at him with his big, endless black eyes.
“We need Nox’s help and I like being here,” he said, his soft, flat voice rising angrily.
Bryn groaned as his head hung. “Fine. I’m sorry, Ev.” He pushed out a hard breath as he faced Nox. “I’m sorry,” he said tightly and Nox was beaming as he held his hand out to Bryn.
“Who’s up for letting bygones be bygones?” he asked and cheered when Bryn took it and gave it a weak shake. “I’m feelin’ the healin’. Want to hug it out?” Nox offered but Bryn shoulder-checked him on the way to the door.