The Journey: A Custodes Noctis Story by Morrigan Muffy

Author:Morrigan, Muffy [Morrigan, Muffy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Three Ravens
Published: 2012-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

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Ten years hadn’t changed Tacoma nearly as much as he thought it would. In California, where his foster parents had lived, communities changed almost daily with new strip malls and new housing going up all the time. As Rob followed the freeway around the long bend towards the City Center exit, the flag was still atop the Tacoma Dome, Mount Rainier was visible and the port with its massive cranes loomed in the distance. There was a new bridge over the Thea Foss Waterway, and it looked like downtown was going through a Renaissance. The Glass Museum jutted up beside the exit ramp. He debated for a moment, but rather than head straight towards Sixth Avenue where the Apothecary—the shop that had been home to the Emrys Custodes Noctis since they came to the Pacific Northwest—had once been, he took the other fork in the road. He followed Shuster Parkway and headed down the waterfront towards Point Defiance.

It was strange being back. The fact that so little had changed gave it a sense of déjà vu that was disconcerting. Even most of the restaurants were unchanged from his childhood. It was a gray day, typical of the time of year, but there were several sailboats out on the water, keeled over and racing in front of the wind. A group of Canada geese floated serenely by the fishing pier, and judging from how close the water was to the deck of the pier, it was a very high tide. Rob watched it all go by, humming along to the music on the stereo. As he paused at the light in Ruston he decided to go into the Antique Sandwich Co. and get a coffee, then walk down into Point Defiance Park.

It was a block to the park and he was happily sipping his coffee when a car came to an abrupt stop beside him. He looked over and saw sick black of malice swirling through the car. He threw the cup of hot coffee at the man opening the door and ran. Rob had always been able to run. He could cover distance quickly, without losing energy in the race. He’d worked hard on that after what had happened when he was younger, and could now run faster for a long stretch than most people could sprint. He had further honed his abilities by running laden with various weapons and practicing turning and striking with them and running again. Unfortunately, his massive Bastard sword was in the Jeep. He didn’t think it was a good idea to carry it in Ruston, and other than the small knife in his pocked he was unarmed.

So he ran.

They caught him at the entrance to the park. A different car came out of nowhere and blocked his path. He was dragged into it, fighting the entire way. One of them managed to get his arm around Rob’s throat and began to apply pressure. Knowing this wasn’t the time to fight, he went limp, letting them think the choke-hold had worked.

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