Page 2 of The Night Vision
Neither had seen their mother since leaving her to join the Ossors. They had no way of knowing if she was still alive because once you left with the pack, you never came back. You either remained until you died or you “retired” to one of the otherOssor communities to father more Ossors. Returning to your mother’s clan was generally prohibited to prevent inbreeding.
“Aye, I’ll let her know but ye can let that go now, Tighe. We aren’t kids anymore and I can hold me own, thanks to all ye’ve taught me,” he added with a snort, then sobered. “Will ye be alright without me?”
“Me?” Tighe gave him a playful shove and pretended to be braver than he really was. There was nothing in the forest to be afraid of, but Tighe had never spent a day without Eoin. Their mother had placed a fussy newborn in Tighe’s lap and made him swear he’d never let his brother out of his sight. It had never felt like a chore, more like a gift, and Tighe worried he was leaving half of himself behind. “Ye know I can take care of meself.”
“I know,” Eoin laughed softly and cupped the back of Tighe’s head. “But?—”
Whatever he was going to say and the rest of their farewell was cut short by shouts, howls, and cackles as bodies crashed into the forest, surrounding them. Eoin tried to push him toward the clearing but Tighe held onto his arm, refusing to abandon his brother.
“There he is, the miserable welp!” Fearghal pointed at Tighe, sneering as the others jeered.
“Let ‘im be,” Eoin called back, daring Fearghal or anyone else to challenge him.
Fearghal laughed as he advanced on them. “Ye canna stand up fer yer sister forever, Eoin. Yer shamin’ yerself and the lass,” he said with a sad click of his teeth. There was a burst of laughter and cat calls.
Eoin chuckled, shaking his head. “Sounds like yer gettin’ lonely, Fearghal. Canna tell the difference between a lass and a lad. Too much of a fecken langer to get a hand or manage on yer own?” he asked with a suggestive wiggle of his brows, causing another chorus of laughter and making Fearghal scowl.
“This isn’t about that, it’s about respect and knowing yer place. It’s time Tighe learned who his betters are,” he said and Tighe sneered but Eoin stepped between them, his eyes wild with anger.
“He already knows. That’s why he refuses to kneel and carry shite for a lazy clod.”
“Watch yer mouth!” Fearghal warned Eoin before giving his chest a hard shove.
Eoin slapped his hand away. “Watch yerself, shite fer brains.”
“To Hell with both of ye, then!” Fearghal fumed and swung but Eoin ducked. There was a loud grunt as Fearghal took a hard blow to the ribs, then stumbled back.
“Let’s go, then!” Eoin had his fists up and was ready when Fearghal ran at him.
“Stop!” Tighe shouted and attempted to separate them, but his arms were grabbed and he was dragged back as Eoin faced the pack’s captain.
They came together in a flurry of punches and muffled swears and everyone stood back as they grappled. Fearghal was slightly larger than Eoin but they were both evenly matched and it wasn’t long before their faces and fists were battered and bloody. The fight went on for several minutes and Fearghal was able to drive Eoin into a nearby tree, shattering the bark, but neither relented. Then, Eoin gave Fearghal’s chest a push while hooking a foot around his ankle. Fearghal was sent flying and landed on his ass. He scrambled back, avoiding Eoin’s kicks and stomps until he found a large rock and grabbed it as he scrambled back to his feet.
There were loud boos and shouts of shame as Fearghal raised the rock, defying one of the Ossors’ greatest taboos. They used weapons made of bones, antlers, and teeth for hunting animals because there was glory in that. They faced each other with their fists—or their feet and occasionally their teeth—but they neverraised a weapon of any kind against their brothers. To attack a brother with a weapon was equated to hunting, reducing him to an animalandcheating.
But Fearghal ignored them, his face twisted with jealousy and embarrassment. It was obvious to Tighe that Fearghal resented Eoin and saw him as a threat. Everyone liked Eoin and the elders listened when he spoke. And they were obviously well-matched in size and skill.
“Put it down!” Tighe ordered, twisting and pulling despite the large hands locked around his arms. “Somebody stop him!” he cried but no one moved as Fearghal charged at Eoin, the rock raised in his fist.
Fearghal swung and Eoin dodged, the rock grazing his scalp. He looped his arm around Fearghal’s, spinning him as Eoin swiped the rock from his grasp. The rock was raised again but this time, it didn’t miss and there was a loudcrunch!when it came down on Fearghal’s skull. His eyes rolled and he staggered back, then fell in a limp heap. A small puddle of blood quickly formed from the crack in Fearghal’s scalp. The fight ended and nothing was said as Tighe was released and Fearghal’s body was lifted and carried back to camp.
“Ye should go,” Eoin told Tighe, nodding at the clearing. “I’ll explain to the elders that this was for the best,” he said, then pulled Tighe into another tight hug.
“I’ll miss ye.”
“Me too.” Eoin held onto Tighe and whispered that they were always together, that nothing could ever separate them.
“Ye’ll be alright?” Tighe asked, earning a wry snort from Eoin.
“They won’ be surprised and what can they say?” he replied and Tighe smiled.
“They will say that yer the new captain,” he predicted but his smile faded. “I know ye can protect yerself but who can ye trust now? Not one of them would risk his neck for ye.”
Eoin smiled, his eyes shining with tears. “Not one of them,” he agreed. “But I’ll never forget it and I’ll look out for meself, first. Do the same, ye hear me?”
“I hear ye. I always will,” Tighe said, then gave his brother one last hug before turning for the Trail.
Chapter One
