“Okay,” Nelson said weakly, taking in the horror that had unfolded in their peaceful meadow.
A dozencolossallumbering bodies were gathering around Nox, all with rotted, drooping flesh and dead, black eyes. They were around nine-feet tall and had hands the size of tires.
“Fomorians?4!” Merlin spat before Nelson could ask. He had his staff and a dagger in his other hand and was scowling as he searched the tree line. “Dùbhghlas?5 has raised an army of infernal Fomorians.”
Clancy was shaking his head in disgust. “I would be impressed if he hadn’t used his talents for something this…abhorrent.”
“Indeed,” Merlin said, his tone full of disdain. “Dùbhghlas may very well be the most powerful warlock of any age. But to commit necromancy and to raise Fomorians is an entirely new realm of evil. A more damned and foul creature has neverexisted, yet even they deserve to rest in peace. This is the darkest, dirtiest work I’ve ever seen.”
“Agreed.” Ingrid said and tossed her chin at the clearing. The Fomorians moved at a comedically slow speed but were closing in on Nox who was calmly waiting in the middle. “Should we do something or continue this dry-ass discussion about the ethics of necromancy?” she asked, making Clancy smile.
“After you, my darling,” he said with a sweeping bow.
She blew him a kiss, then took off running with the girls on her heels. They started at a sprint before Ingrid gave a high-pitched scream and the three of them turned into blurs, rocketing towards the Fomorians.
Nox had confirmed that Ingrid and the twins were valkyrie?6 but Nelson was still stunned to see them in action. The secrecy around their families, even amongst each other, had annoyed Nelson before. Now, he was glad that Clancy and Ingrid were able to have something close to a normal life with their girls. That wouldn’t have been possible if either of them had been discovered.
“You really did marry up, Darrach?7,” Merlin said, giving Clancy an affectionate nudge just as one of the undead giants staggered back, clutching its head as if it had been hit with a projectile. Two more stumbled and struggled as they were hit with lightning-fast attacks, unable to see where they were coming from. “Shall we?”
“Wouldn’t want to miss out on all the fun,” Clancy said and they took off at a jog but sped up when one of the Fomorians grabbed Nox by the arm, swinging him into the air.
It attempted to throw Nox but was hit with a barrage of swift strikes from Ingrid and one of the girls, allowing Nox to get free. He jumped on the giant’s back and grabbed the top of its head and Nelson watched in amazement and horror as light spilled from the giant’s eyes and mouth before it burst into flames. Noxleaped off and was immediately knocked to the ground and dog piled by four more Fomorians.
“Help Nox!” Nelson yelled, pointing as he ran. He ducked and dodged when one of the beasts lunged at him, jumping out of reach and almost crashing into Clancy. They rushed into the melee together and were reaching for the nearest limb when they heard Nox roar and were blinded by a blast of bright light. The four Fomorians were hurled into the air, aflame and screaming as their flesh and faces burned.
Merlin was on them, beating them with his kyanite staff and stabbing with his dagger. There was a gurgling bellow as a Fomorian dropped to his knees, clutching his stomach as dark, tar-like blood gushed from between his fingers. If Nelson had blinked, he wouldn’t have seen one of the girls—possibly Freya—rip out its throat before tearing its head right off of its shoulders. The other twin, Sigrid, had a Fomorian pinned and was bashing its face against a rock.
Taking her cue, Nelson picked up a large rock and whipped it at the head of the nearest giant as hard as he could. It connected, causing the beast to teeter for a moment, before it turned and charged at Nelson. Unarmed and non magickal, Nelson had no choice but to put up his fists and brace for impact. He dug in with his feet but was hit with a gust of wind that sent him flying far outside of the brawl.
“Damn it, Nox!” Nelson yelled and ran but skidded to a halt when Nox was thrown, crashing into the open arms of another Fomorian. “No!” Nelson felt like the life was being crushed out of him as Nox was squeezed around the middle and his neck was twisted by an enormous fist.
Merlin appeared from behind the giant and had taken a handful of something from a pouch at his waist. He gave the Formorian a hard whack with his staff, then held up his palm and blew a cloud of green dust at it when it turned around. Themonster dropped Nox and shrieked in terror as it clawed and slapped at its own face. It flopped onto its back, gouging one of its eyes out, and was quickly pounced upon by Ingrid.
“Fuck!” Nelson muttered as he went to help Nox but was once again blown back out of the fight. “Stop doing that!”
No.
Nelson heard and felt Nox’s will and was furious until Nox was tackled and hit with several brutal punches.
“Someone help Nox!” Nelson urged and Clancy raced in but was swept off of his feet and pulled into a headlock. A loud, birdlike cry echoed across the clearing as Ingrid dove at the giant holding Clancy but she only succeeded in knocking them to the ground. They tumbled and Clancy was turning purple as the Fomorian fended off her blows with one hand.
Suddenly, Nox broke free and held up his palm. It was bleeding and blood dripped down Nox’s chin as he produced a flame from his fingertips and ignited it. He shouted something in Gaelic, then tried to avoid an oncoming attack but was rushed by three Fomorians who wasted no time pummeling and stomping on Nox.
Merlin was on them but spun around and pointed his staff at the sky when it turned pitch black and the night was filled with the cries of birds. Thousands of crows swooped into the clearing, their blood-chilling screams drowning out the startled shouts of the Fomorians. Glowing red eyes darted past and circled Nelson, leaving him untouched as the giants were pummeled, pecked, and ripped to sticky shreds. Nelson covered his eyes, already haunted by the sight of gleaming, bloody talons and beaks.
The tearing and shrieking didn’t last long. Nelson wasgratefulwhen he heard the sound of wings flapping and they faded. He opened his eyes and looked around, quickly finding Nox and doing a headcount. Everyone was there and alive. All was quiet as they took stock of the scene around them.
“S’everyone alright?” Nox slurred, looking battered and woozy before he crumpled and dropped to the ground.
“Nox!” Nelson ran to him, hissing and groaning as he carefully gathered Nox in his arms. So much of him was covered in bloody gashes and raw, ragged scratches and Nelson could feel waves of pain radiating from Nox. He stifled his grunts and tried to smile, but Nox wasbroken.His right arm was limp as if it had come out of its socket and the left leg of his jeans was ripped and the tibia was protruding from his shin.
“I’ll be fine. I still have my locket, Nelson.” Nox opened his hand. The chain was a tangled clump and the wooden clasp that had held the halves of the heart together had broken but Nox had managed to hold onto it. “I was right: it’s magick and it worked.”
Nelson’s throat was tight as he took Nox’s hand and the locket in his, holding them carefully. “I’ll fix it as soon as we get you taken care of.”
Merlin had his staff aimed at the woods when he joined them. “We must move him now. That might have been the first wave of the attack. Dùbhghlas could be waiting and may strike again if he realizes that Nox has been gravely wounded.”
Nelson’s head swung as he searched around them. “Fuck. He needs time to recover. We won’t be able to defend him if there are more of those Fomorians or worse,” he noted and Clancy and Ingrid looked equally concerned as they lowered next to Nox.
