The Night and the Land by Matt Spencer

Author:Matt Spencer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 9781629290393, Damnation Books, dark, fantasy, thriller, Matt Spencer, Brattleboro, Vermont, wilderness, tribal warrior, hidden world, otherworldly, otherdimension, mythic, mythology, archetypal, black metal, black blade, scars, drifter, runaway, rural New England, mountain ranges, bloodlust, Tir Na Nog, Americana, American Gothic, naturalistic, survivalist, action, blade, sword, combat, duel
Publisher: Damnation Books LLC
Published: 2013-09-06T00:00:00+00:00

Running Blind

One

She tried to sit up, fell back.

“I wouldn’t if I were you. You’re in pretty horrible shape.” The Crimbone’s voice was a deep gravel rasp.

Sally’s head fell to the side, vision rolling around the motel room. She guessed she’d expected to die on Main Street, but she frankly hadn’t had enough energy left to be too scared. She sure was now, though. Her head was bandaged, along with a few injuries she hadn’t noticed before. Lights dimmed and rose like someone was playing with a dial-knob lamp, and everything had a weird purplish tint. From the bed’s edge, the Crimbone regarded her curiously. His tiny pale eyes weren’t cruel, if anything thoughtful, but they definitely let you know not to fuck with him. The narrow face and pointed nose seemed unnervingly out of place, atop possibly the thickest, hardest shoulders and chest she’d ever seen. What such a sharp, assessing brain could do with all that brute strength and raw ferocity, she didn’t want to know. He was bald except for his gray goatee, and a web of scars braided half his tree-trunk neck.

“Why are you doing this?”

“What, saving your ass?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“For starters, you aren’t a threat, and I don’t think you’re with the people who are.”

“I don’t want to be with them…I hope you kill them all.” Those words tasted harsh. Hours ago, she couldn’t have been more certain of anything.

“That why you asked to bargain for your life?”

“I tried that?”

“Yeah. Did you think to lead me to them?”

“Probably. I can’t remember saying that.”

“Can you still lead me to them?”

“I might…Can’t think straight right now…Ask me later.”

“Who are they?”

“My family.”

Had he just winced? “But you are a Spirelight.”

That wouldn’t be a question, but she answered, “I don’t know.”

“Are your parents Spirelights?”

“Yeah.”

“That’d make you one, then, wouldn’t it now? It doesn’t automatically mean I’ll kill you. About that, though, you’re lucky you ran into this particular Crimbone.”

“Am I?”

He rolled his eyes. “No, I don’t plan to rape or torture you, either.”

“You’re looking for Rob?”

“If you mean Rob Coscan, then yeah.”

“Why?”

“He’s a Crimbone fledgling who’s just made his First Call. Reportedly he’s already close to his Second Call. I have reason to think he’s about to land himself deep in a world of shit in the process.”

Rob, a Crimbone…Rob, in deep shit…Sally let out a muted sob, not sure which notion was worse. She almost spoke, but she drifted in and out.

“You there?” asked the Crimbone.

“Where’s Rob?”

“I hoped you’d know. What’s your story with him?”

She shut her eyes again and made another soft sound.

“Okay, then. Well, gotta hand it to you, I didn’t see that one coming. What’s your name?”

“Sally…Sally Wildfire…”

“Wildfire? As in Syless and Ella Wildfire’s daughter?”

Her eyes snapped wide. “How’d you know?”

“I like to keep up with who’s who on both sides. Don’t blame you for wanting ’em dead.”

Her eyes closed again. “Yeah, well, you’re Crimbone.”

“I was taking that into account. If half of what I’ve heard is true, I still don’t blame you. Sally, my name’s Jesse.

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