Chapter 9 #2
“Sure,” Nelson said as he stepped over a mound of mushrooms growing on a fallen trunk.
Tighe gasped. “Coral tooth! We should take these for our lunch. I saw some sunchokes not too far from here and I’m sure we can find plenty of ramps.”
Nelson started to object but Tighe already had his backpack unzipped.
“Sounds great,” Nox said and gestured for Nelson to relax. “He’s in good hands now and we’ll be home in no time,” he added quietly.
“Can I help?” Silas asked, lowering next to Tighe.
“I’ve got this!” He used an ancient-looking blade with a worn wooden handle to prune the fluffy white clusters, then tucked them in a cloth bag.
“Thanks for waiting,” he said to Nelson, earning a faint nod before they resumed their journey.
Tighe gave Silas a nudge. “Was Nox talking about you when he said I was in good hands?” he asked but Silas shook his head.
“There’s no telling but I’m just a normal guy, not a demigod or a witch.
I’m an investigator for the National Park Services.
I’ve worked a few murders and found some missing hikers and dogs.
Busted a handful of people for smuggling weapons and drugs but they catch serial killers and stop evil cults. ”
Tighe stared at Nox in awe. “Evil cults?” he whispered.
“Hey.” Nox pointed at Silas. “Saving hikers and dogs and busting smugglers is just as important. We might have stopped the cult but we didn’t save everyone,” he added sadly, his eyes clouding as he sniffled.
“Dogs have the souls of children and have evolved with the sole purpose of loving and protecting us. You’re saving a lot more than an animal’s life when you return a dog to its human or a family. ”
“That’s so true,” Tighe said and gave Silas another nudge, beaming at him. “I had a shepherd mix named Baird. He was the best friend I’ve ever had, aside from my brother, Eoin.”
Silas sighed sadly. “I’m so sorry.”
“Why?” Tighe asked. “I got to go on amazing adventures with him, for almost ten years. And I know he’s still right here with me in spirit and that we’ll be together again one day.”
“It’s true,” Nox said, smiling over his shoulder at them. “All dogs go on to glory.”
“We believe that as well,” Tighe answered and hurried to catch up with Nox. “You mentioned werewolves and shapeshifting. Have you seen it?”
“I have…” Nox said hesitantly. “Only a few times on this side of the veil but I’ve seen the twins as massive hellhounds and Everly as a deceptively deadly hare on the other side.”
“There’s a veil and dogs go on to glory,” Silas murmured to himself, wondering if he should take notes.
“Probably,” Nox said with a teasing grin. “You won’t believe yourself later or you’ll tell yourself you imagined it.”
Silas shook his head at him. “Stop reading my mind. I don’t like it.”
“Duly noted.” Nox offered Silas a salute. “I’m still getting the hang of this god thing and I cross the line now and then,” he admitted and narrowed his eyes at Tighe. “I also know that you have a question. Do you want to ask it out loud or would you like it if I answered so only you can hear?”
“Me?” Tighe asked and swallowed hard when Nox nodded. “I didn’t want to fight and hunt like the rest of my pack. I can,” he stated, his lips pulling tight. “But I don’t like what happens to me when I get angry and lose control.”
“That’s why you left them, isn’t it?” Nox said gently.
“Aye. I mean, yes.” Tighe blushed and ducked his head. “I’ve learned to talk more like hikers. The way I used to talk scared them for some reason.”
Nox groaned. “That’s such a shame! I bet there are academics and researchers who would kill to hear such an obscure, primitive dialect. I would.”
“He’s being hyperbolic,” Nelson interrupted. “No one’s going to kill anyone. Academia isn’t that brutal.”
“I understand,” Tighe said with a shy smile. “Outsiders often say things they don’t mean. I can try but it’s been a long time.”
Silas gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “How long has it been since you left them?”
“I’m not sure when I left or exactly what year it is right now,” Tighe admitted.
“How is that possible?” Nelson asked and Tighe shrugged.
“I’ve never left the Trail, except to go deeper into the mountains.
I read books—novels and poetry, mostly—but I’ve never watched television or used a computer.
I talked on a telephone to someone’s mother once after I helped some hikers, and I’ve been in a few of the rangers’ stations and welcome centers, but that’s as close as I’ve been to your world. ”
“That would explain why I couldn’t find you,” Nelson said. “You don’t exist anywhere except one newspaper article and a few hikers’ statements.”
“Ask me the question you really want to ask,” Nox told Tighe. “You don’t just get angry or lose control, you go into a frenzy and become incandescent with rage. You want to know if there’s a wolf in you and if there’s a way to control it.”
“Is there?” Tighe asked, his tone urgent. “I’ve been afraid of that frenzy since I was a boy.”
“I understand that too,” Nox said with a heavy sigh, signaling for them to keep moving.
“We’re making good time. I can’t explain the frenzy or if it’s because there’s a wolf in you.
Yet.” He held up a finger, confident as he marched behind Nelson.
“But your frenzy reminds me of Viking berserkers. They were warriors who would go into a hallucinogenic or self-induced hysteria during battle and kill indiscriminately. There were legendary Ossory wolves and Ossors who were said to go into similar rage trances and slaughter their enemies but that was way back in the Iron and Middle Ages.”
“Mark my words: that’s why Hugh Dùbhghlas wants you,” Nelson said tightly. “And that’s why we need to get you to Georgetown as soon as possible. I can’t protect you from a mystical threat but the townhouse is warded with good magick, thanks to Nox and Merlin. Dùbhghlas can’t go near it.”
Tighe seemed like he was coming around to the idea. “How long will it take us to get there?”
“Let me see…” Nelson checked his watch and the trail map. “It’s about another half hour to the welcome center, then about five-and-a-half hours to Georgetown. We should get in around…nine or ten tonight.”
“That isn’t so bad,” Tighe said and smiled bravely at Silas, then at Nox. “And you think you can help me control the frenzy?”
“I do, but isn’t this fascinating? You could be the closest thing to a true Werewolf of Ossory since the 1st or 2nd century,” Nox said, looking around excitedly.
Silas shook his head. “No, it’s concerning. Taking Tighe away from the Trail could be shocking or even traumatic,” he worried and Nox made a sympathetic sound.
“I’m one step ahead of you and I’m doing what I can to monitor his aura and reduce his stress but we might hit a snag in the parking lot if he’s never been inside a car.”
Tighe stopped, frozen and instantly pale. “We’re going in a car?”
“It’s okay! It’s perfectly safe and nothing will harm you,” Nox insisted soothingly but his charm or spell hadn’t done enough, unfortunately.
Thankfully, Silas was standing close by and caught Tighe when he fainted. “I was afraid of this,” he said, gathering Tighe in his arms and lifting him. “He’s already so confused and he said he’s never left the Trail.”
“Need help?” Nelson went to grab a limb but Silas shook his head, carefully adjusting and putting an arm under Tighe’s neck and behind his knees.
“I’ve got him and it’s not too much farther. Just lead the way.”
They resumed their hike but Silas barely paid attention to where he was walking, hypnotized as he stared down at Tighe.
He was even more beautifully wild and his spirit was even purer and gentler than Silas had dreamed.
Every feature was precious and Silas was determined to keep Tighe safe at all costs.
“I hate doing this to him,” Silas grumbled when they eased Tighe into the backseat of Nelson’s Continental and climbed inside. He got them buckled but held Tighe, cradling his head and covering his ears when Nelson started the engine.
“We can’t protect him out here,” Nox sighed, grimacing when Tighe started to come around. “These mountains are formidable enough at night, filled with plenty of spiritual mischief without a warlock haunting its shadows.”
Nelson cleared his throat, nodding at the mountain behind them. “Or men with muscles and tactical gear. I have a feeling we got here just in time but let’s not push our luck.”
“If you say so,” Silas said begrudgingly.
He didn’t doubt Nox and he agreed with Nelson.
Silas would feel better once they got to the townhouse too, but he hated that Tighe had to be traumatized in the process.
“Just do whatever you can to help him feel better. He’s going to be scared shitless when he wakes up if this is the first time he’s been in a car. ”