15. Owen

Owen

Sometime in the night, Brom burst into Owen and Colt's room, waking them so suddenly, they both jumped and gasped.

"What the fuck, Brom?" Colt started, getting out of bed.

"There are monsters outside," Brom said quickly. "Hurry up."

"Shit."

Owen and Colt pulled on their clothes and boots, then they met Brom and Elian in the main room of the inn.

"They've been sniffing around for about ten minutes," Elian told them. "I had to sneak inside when I was out taking a piss."

As Owen peered outside, his body went rigid. Several scampering shapes moved back and forth; animals with long snouts and fluffy black and white fur that resembled a wolf. These were the same creatures Owen had fought in the Vale, when he'd found Colt being attacked.

"They're coming closer to the inn," Brom said.

Just as he said it, one of the beasts jumped up at the window and broke the glass, causing Owen to jump back. Clove came forward and snarled, ready to pounce on the beast if it came through.

Colt readied an arrow and shot the creature through the eye. It fell out of sight from the window and was replaced by another. The creature's white snout pushed through the hole, staining its white fur with fresh blood as it opened its jaw and snarled.

Owen put out his hand and grabbed hold of it with his mind. He could feel the beast in his hand. He put his rage into his Essence, squeezing until he could feel the creature's heart beating so fast, it burst. Blood splattered the window, and Owen let out a breath. Now two more beasts clawed and snarled at the glass.

His eyes widened in horror at what he'd done, as he'd told himself he wouldn't resort to using his Essence in such inhumane ways.

Elian stepped forward with his Core and sent them both flying back. Then Clove attacked, sinking her teeth into one of their necks. One by one, they picked off the beasts before they could get inside. But the more they attacked, the more determined and aggressive the beasts became.

"How many of these things are there?" Brom snapped, preparing for a close-range attack.

When the wood of the door splintered, Colt and Brom flew to it and pressed against it, trying to keep it closed.

"It won't hold long," Colt strained.

"There are too many of them out there," Elian said, glancing at Owen, eyes wide. "They'll be in here within seconds."

Another window broke, and Owen turned to it, bracing himself for the ambush. His heart beat wildly as the sounds of beasts surrounded him. He looked back at the front door. Something about these particular beasts was different. Their energy wasn't dark, and the deeper Owen opened up to them, the more he found their hearts beating with a steady rhythm, with something light and airy.

That's when he realized what these creatures were. Before, he had been too frantic to place a name on them, but when he went through the pages of Creatures of the North in his mind, he found an answer.

"Owen?" Elian said, his voice rushed.

"All of you get behind me," Owen said.

"If we leave, they'll break through!" Colt shouted.

"They'll break through anyway. Get behind me. When they come, don't attack. I'll handle it."

"The door—" Brom started.

"Will be fine. Get behind me."

As if understanding, Clove darted over to stand next to Elian, as if aiding him. Then Colt and Brom ripped away from the door and rushed behind Owen.

Brom barely made it within their circle when the door shattered open. The beasts clawed their way inside; dozens surrounded them, standing and snapping their jaws, but none of them attacked. The whites of their eyes were no more than a film, as if they were blind.

Owen felt Colt's hand tight on his arm, holding him between himself and Brom. Colt held his knife firmly but didn't attack. If what Owen planned didn't work, they would be slaughtered in seconds by the sheer volume of beasts swarming them.

Owen dropped his arms, facing his palms outward, and purple fire surrounded them in a circle, creating a barrier. One by one, the creatures calmed, going from growling and snarling to yelping, and then silence. There were about twenty of them now sitting on their haunches, all looking at him, panting easily.

His companions looked around warily, too shocked to believe what had just happened.

All of the beasts sat now, some of them whining, looking like obedient dogs awaiting their owner's order. They were unsettling to look at, but their black and white coats looked furry and warm, making them look like cuddly dogs up close.

"What just happened?" Colt asked.

Owen glanced at him. "Cryn are best when they are led by an owner, but gaining that ownership requires a certain level of power."

"Cryn?" Elian narrowed his eyes. "Is that a name you just made up?"

"No, I've read about them. As long as they accept me as their owner, they won't harm us."

"And what'll make them not accept you?" Brom asked.

"Someone else with Essence may be able to claim ownership over them." Owen glanced down at one of them and held his hand out past the ring of fire, and the beast licked his palm. Laughing in relief, Owen smoothed his fingers along its white snout. When he opened his mind to seek its energy, he found a strange disconnect. The animal no longer wanted to kill him, but wanted to obey.

Clove came forward and sniffed one of them before she whimpered and dropped her head, as if submitting to the cryn.

"Do you all want to try and pet them?" Owen asked.

His companions all muttered disapproval and stepped back, but Owen took Colt's arm. His lover tensed, but when Owen lowered his arm and guided him to pet the animal, Colt let out a breath of relief.

"It's like petting Clove," Colt said, laughing nervously.

"How… exactly did you do this?" Elian asked.

Owen eased his fire, and it left a smoking charred circle around them. "When they saw my fire, they knew I had the power to command them. And when I let down my guard, they let down theirs in respect. "

"Respect?" Colt asked. "What, you all understand each other or something?"

"I don't know. It was as if they just knew we wouldn't hurt them." Owen scratched behind one's ear. "Almost as if we could speak."

Colt's eyebrows popped up in surprise, then he smiled warmly. Owen bit his lip, loving those moments when Colt looked at him with such adoration.

One of the beasts whined, then the animal got up and left the inn, and the others followed, one by one, until all of them were outside again. "They'll stay with us and protect us on our way to the fort."

"We should go now, then," Brom said. "It's nearly dawn."

Agreeing, they all packed up their things and left the inn. The cryn followed alongside them, chasing off beasts that lingered too close. By dawn's break, they found the main road to Fort Arrowcrest.

"The fort is ten miles away," Colt said, brushing away vines that had crawled over a sign at the edge of the road.

Elian led them on. "We should be able to cover that distance by nightfall."

Hope filled Owen when he saw the dim orange lights of torches as they lined the path to the fort. From this distance, Owen could see the archers standing watch atop the stone wall, armed and looking curiously at them . The cryn began to venture off now, leaving Owen and his party behind. Owen thanked each one as they scampered into the forest. The last cryn turned and stared at Owen, as if in understanding, before disappearing through the trees.

As they approached the fort, a tall, broad-shouldered man called down to them from the top of the wall. About five men aimed arrows at them.

"State your name and business," the man said.

Elian stepped forward several yards, gesturing to his companions to stay back, though Clove trotted up beside him.

"I am Elian Darrow," he started, raising his hands to show no harm. "My companions and I are seeking refuge."

Someone laughed, and another man shook his head.

"Get lost!" the man yelled.

But when Elian held up his glowing blue Core, the men glanced at each other in surprise. Owen held his breath. He looked up at the man on the wall as he seemed to hesitate, then he spoke with someone else before someone on the ground level shouted, "Open the gate! By the gods, open it!"

When the portcullis was raised, Owen sighed in relief. Finally, a safe haven where no one could chase them, torture them, or fight them. At least, he hoped.

A short man with blond hair and blue eyes emerged from the gate and approached Elian. They stared at each other for a long moment, long enough that Owen glanced at each of his companions, wondering if they needed to prepare for a fight. Then, suddenly, the two men embraced.

This must be Elian's brother, Harlan.

The shorter man hugged the Wielder so tightly, Elian seemed taken aback. Then the man pulled away, a look of shock on his face as he asked, "What happened to you?"

"Oh, just your older brother traveling across Vanhelm and getting his ass kicked. Nothing serious." When the other man laughed, Owen's eyebrows popped up. Who knew Elian had a sense of humor?

Elian's brother grabbed his shoulder. "Good to see you, El." Then his eyes widened as he looked down and asked, "What the fuck happened to your hand?"

"It's a long story. For now, my comrades and I need aid." Elian stepped back to allow his brother to see the rest of his traveling companions.

Harlan looked over at Owen, Colt, and Brom, who all stood like dirty rogues, and then noticed Clove as well, who sat with her tongue out beside Elian. He smiled and said, "We'll get them something to eat and find a room for you all to rest."

Harlan led them into the fort, where curious stares followed them from the other soldiers; some of them even looked relieved. Owen couldn't help but wonder why. There weren't many men stationed here, from the looks of it, and it looked like a portion of the wall had suffered some sort of impact that had sent it crumbling. More men defended that side of the wall than anywhere else.

Harlan took them to an office that held a worn out table and two chairs, and a few bookcases full of ledgers. He set a bowl of water down for Clove, who lapped it up. "I'm very surprised to see you here, El."

Elian put his hand out. "I will explain everything, but for now, we need to talk about what's happened."

His brother looked from Elian to Owen, Colt, and Brom. "Does it have to do with them?"

"Yes."

"We're right here," Brom said. "We can speak for ourselves."

"Rightly so." Elian gestured them forward, and Owen stepped up to Harlan. The man had a kind face, and when Owen caught the scent of vanilla from him, he relaxed.

What is it with this family and sweet scents?

Taking a breath, Owen explained that the Gate to the Unseen Vale had been opened, and that Rem and his Hunters had been involved. It was straightforward, with many details left out. He was too tired to explain the whole tale, and by the end of it, Harlan was looking seriously at Elian.

"You knew about the Hunters?" he asked, eyes wide. "We've caught a few out this way in the past month and sent them to Luthien to be imprisoned. I knew about a specific group being seen around Whiteberry River. That must have been Rem. Luthien dispatched a unit of soldiers weeks ago to find them."

"The soldiers at the graveyard post were slaughtered," Elian told him. "I have reason to believe it was Rem and his Hunters."

The look on Harlan's face was one of pure shock. "How…"

"Rem has only wrought havoc," Brom said. "He forced Owen to open the Gate, and when it did, the monsters came out. We barely made it out of Vanhelm alive. If it hadn't been for Owen, we would've died."

Owen clenched his teeth, then he muttered, "And the Wielder too."

Elian glanced at him, but Owen kept his eyes on Harlan, awaiting his response.

"The Gate is open." Harlan ran a hand through his hair, then squared his eyes on Owen. "Are you sure?"

"You're welcome to go and see for yourself," Colt said. "If you felt the quake all the way up here—which, judging by the appearance of your damaged west wall outside, you have—then we'll have you know the Gate opening made that happen. "

Harlan shook his head. "If my brother is vouching for an Astran—a Shadowborn at that—that's enough to sway me to believe how real this all is." He sighed and turned to the desk, shuffling through letters. "I received word from Luthien a few days ago that they dispatched a unit to head towards the Gate. We were told to be on high alert for any outsiders."

As Elian scanned over one of the letters, Owen glanced back at Colt, who picked up a wooden bear from the bookcase and inspected it.

"We need to send word to Luthien," Elian said.

Owen snapped to attention and came forward. "Our agreement…"

Elian looked up at him, then shifted his eyes to Harlan. "We won't mention Owen or his companions, but we must make the Legion aware of the Gate opening and the entities pouring through."

Harlan nodded. "We'll send a messenger as soon as possible."