The Crow King's Wife Page 13

  “Why would Kali want Morcaillo blood? I haven’t seen anything too impressive from Shade yet. He is a fairly good Spell Hawk pilot, but I know quite a few that can claim that.” Neph objected after a long moment. He had turned the information over in his mind and failed to find the least bit of interest in it, but Fortune seemed to think it was quite important.

  Fortune stared at him for several breaths and then smiled widely. “By the Aspects I think you are quite possibly the last person to learn this. It used to be a very well-kept secret, but Shade has let the information blurt out several times. Neph, the Morcaillo are Changelings.”

  Neph stared at him with a slack jaw as the ramifications of what he had just heard sank home fully. Kali was deadly enough with her creations, but when you added in the potential of her creations being able to turn into anything or mimic anyone, it became an entirely different level of deadly.

  “The next bit I think you have already gotten a hint of. There is more to it than what you have seen however.” Fortune paused and summoned and illusion of the map table with the focal point on Oblivion. He waved a hand toward the image and smiled at Neph. “You noticed that the living have returned to Oblivion. The part you were unable to see is that every last person that Zachary and Jala have returned from the grave is a trained soldier. They didn’t bring back a single soul that couldn’t fight. Oblivion is preparing for an attack on someone and I’m not sure who yet. I would be willing to concede that they might be there for defense if Oblivion had anything left to defend.” Fortune’s voice rose a bit as he spoke, and his eyes were locked on the illusion he had summoned. This last bit of information seemed to hold his interest more than anything else he had spoken of so far.

  “Zachary might have brought them back to support Arovan.” Neph suggested with a weak shrug.

  Fortune nodded slowly but didn’t look convinced in the slightest. “Jala might do something of that nature, but I don’t think Zachary Dark would.” He objected.

  “It’s possible that he would for the Firym or Faydwer though. Those two lands were staunch allies of Veir before the fall.” Cora offered quietly.

  Fortune sighed and dismissed the illusion with a frown. “This would have been Tyber’s call not Zachary, but no one has seen Tyber since the fall of Veir. I couldn’t even guess what the High Lord of Oblivion is about. There is simply no way of knowing with the information we have so far. We will simply have to wait for them to show a card. For now it is good to know, but not something we can do much with.”

  “It’s a waiting game as Fortune says.” Cora agreed then smiled faintly and looked at her son with a meaningful expression. “We are almost to the end of our talk for now, but the next few things are going to make you want to act rashly. You cannot Neph, you are desperately needed here and you have to consider that fully before anything else.” She paused and waited for him to nod his agreement though he wasn’t sure he actually wanted to agree. “Rivasa is holding captives in several of their cities. Most are children, and some are Delvay. They likely intend to use them as slaves or breeders if their blood is strong enough.”

  Neph’s expression darkened with her words and despite his agreement to not act rashly his mind was already flooding with possible ways to retrieve his people. Most were slim hopes, but a few of the fragmented plans had potential. He could feel both of their eyes upon him and decided it was best to remain silent for the time being. It wouldn’t do for either of them to believe he was going to blatantly ignore their advice and Cora was right, now was the time for rational thought. Knowing that his people were in the hands of the Rivasans wasn’t making it easy to think rationally however. The entire world knew stories and rumors about the Rivasan slave farms, and none of them were pleasant.

  “Which brings us to the last bit of information I’m going to tell you today and it is the reason I want you to hold off on your plan of attack. You have visitors coming to Delvay Neph, and one of them happens to be the Black Bastard. He has declared Kevala’drin against Rivasa and it seems to me that it would be easier for you to kill two birds with one stone in this case. He wants them dead and so do you, so help him kill them and keep your hands clean in the process.” Fortune kept his voice low as if there was a possibility that they might be over heard despite the fact that the entire house was empty.

  “So use Caleb as a tool then?” Neph asked without much enthusiasm. There were few people he liked or respected and while Caleb wasn’t a friend, he had earned Neph’s respect.

  “No.” Fortune said flatly with a mildly irritated expression. “The Avanti use people as tools. What I’m suggesting is more of helping a friend. Caleb intends to die in Rivasa. You can prevent that if you assist him in his vengeance and you won’t have to leave your city to do so. He is strong enough to function as a conduit for your magic, as long as you don’t use the Forbidden sort he won’t suffer from it.”

  “I don’t even know how to begin using someone as a conduit. It isn’t something I’ve ever attempted.” Neph objected with a heavy sigh. The thought of using anyone in the fashion Fortune was suggesting seemed a coward’s approach to him. It was as much as saying he was too frightened to go to Rivasa himself.

  “Neph, you killed the dragon Nerath single-handedly during the last stand in Arovan. You are terrifying to most and many would rather agree than face an argument with you. You have powerful allies from several different lands, and you have more training in intrigue and politics than any other Delvay alive can claim. Your people need you. No one can replace you or even come close to replacing you. You are as important to the future of Sanctuary as Jala is.” Cora said quietly, but her voice was laced with conviction. She truly believed the words she was speaking and it showed in her voice as well as her expression.

  “So I should just tell Caleb that my life is more valuable than his and he should shoulder all of the risk then.” Neph grumbled as he sank back in his chair.

  “No Neph, you should tell him that you are going to help him get his daughter back despite the fact that your responsibilities in Delvay may require the power you will be loaning him.” Fortune corrected gently.

  Neph looked up sharply and locked eyes on Fortune. “His daughter is there?”

  Fortune nodded and glanced at Cora before speaking. “She is six and she has been a captive since Amdany fell. She is pure Elder Blood, and already showing potential in magic. I believe you knew her mother Evanell Khalia.”

  Neph nodded as the memory of the slender dark haired Fae surfaced in his mind. He had never spoken directly to Evanell at the Academy, but he had seen her several times. She had been the sort that was difficult to miss in a crowd and even harder to forget. Evanell had possessed an otherworldly beauty and a serene grace that left most men begging for her company. Neph had never begged, but he had to admit he had taken every opportunity to watch her when she was around him. “She took healing and Alchemy classes at the Academy, neither were interests of mine so I wasn’t in her company much.” Neph mumbled as he considered how the Rivasan’s would treat a child of those lines. There was no doubt that Evanell’s daughter would have inherited her mother’s beauty, and with her genetics the child would become a breeder if she wasn’t rescued.

  “I see by your expression that you know what future the child has if her Father fails.” Fortune said softly. His expression was grim as he leaned back from the table. He muttered something under his breath and two large leather sacks appeared before him.

  From what Neph could tell they appeared to be grain sacks, and by the looks of them they were as full as they could be without bursting. They only held his attention for a moment however, and then his mind was focused once more upon the Rivasan captives. “I fail to see how my understanding of her danger should temper my desire to go to Rivasa. If my own people are captive there as well it’s more reason for me to go fight beside him rather than hide in the city while he attempts suicide in a very colorful way. Why exactly is he attempting suicide if his daughter still liv
es?”

  “He didn’t know she still lived when he declared Kevala’drin.” Cora answered sadly.

  “Neph, listen closely. I have secrets that will save Delvay, but I will not share them with any beyond you and your sister. I’m waiting for her to arrive before I speak on that particular topic, and if you depart for Rivasa there is no guarantee you will return to hear my words.” Fortune paused and shoved the bags toward Neph. “These will give Caleb the edge he needs and it’s more help than he is expecting. Those combined with your gift of magic should be enough to see him through alive without risking your life. If you die, Delvay dies. It is as simple as that. No one else can hold the city, and I won’t help the rest of them.” Fortune’s voice held an edge that seemed very out of character from what Neph had seen of the man so far, and for the few moments he spoke Neph could see the Delvay blood the Fortune claimed to have.

  “What are those?” Neph asked as he prodded at one of the bags.

  “Seeds.” Fortune answered simply and smiled faintly. “And the Black Bastard will know exactly what to do with them.” He rose from his chair and gazed down at Neph with the smile still playing faintly across his lips. “In the end I cannot order you to remain behind nor would I. This is something you must put serious thought into Neph and decide for yourself. Consider this when you are thinking on it though. The only one left that can lead aside from you is KayDelvayon, and she was too weak to stand up to her brother. Zyi can’t shoulder this burden. Everyone believes she is dead and if they knew she is Undrae now they would kill her for it. The hardest part of being a leader is knowing when you have to stand aside and let others take the risks. Jala Merrodin still hasn’t learned that lesson, and there is a very good chance it will mean her death. Caleb Faulklin and Shade Morcaillo are up to the task of dealing with Rivasa. The only question remaining is can you set your pride aside long enough to realize that, or are you going to follow Jala down the path of destruction?”

  “Jala isn’t on a path of destruction. She knows better than anyone else what she is capable of.” Neph grumbled. Valor had already proven how important it was to keep faith in Jala, and Neph wasn’t about to think otherwise on the matter again. He had already been proven wrong on it, and he didn’t need to learn a lesson twice.

  “And that is why she has fallen twice already.” Fortune said dryly and shook his head slowly at Neph. “Think on it Neph, set all emotions and pride aside and think with logic.” He suggested in a kinder voice. Fortune straightened his suit jacket and brushed a bit of dirt from his sleeve before looking toward Cora with a raised eyebrow.

  Neph glanced toward his mother as she rose from her chair as well. His gaze trailed over her face and the sadness in her eyes and his expression softened. She had risked her heart for a chance to see him, and in return for that he had essentially spit in her face with his attitude. There was no way he could let her leave without attempting to set things right between them. If not for her visit, he might have never learned the truth about what had happened to her. He cleared his throat quietly to catch her attention and held her gaze for a long moment before speaking. “My greatest fault may very well be my pride. It blinds me to many things, and I often assume I know exactly what is going on. I was young when you disappeared, and I should have realized when you arrived today that the circumstances were special. The mother I remember wouldn’t have abandoned her children, and you have my apologies for accusing you of that. I’m sorry I treated you so poorly when you arrived, but it has become my nature to treat everyone poorly I think.”

  Cora stared at him for a long moment and then her eyes grew glassy once more. “Neph.” She spoke his name with such reverence that Neph felt even worse for the way he had treated her.

  He rose from his chair slowly and walked toward her feeling more awkward than he had in ages. “I remember you and how you loved us, and I’m so sorry for what happened. Had I known, I would have killed Ren myself. You have no idea how much Zyi and I missed you.” He said quietly as he hugged her lightly. He couldn’t think of anyone else he had hugged in the last decade beyond Jala, but it seemed like the right thing to do. Her arms wrapped around his chest tightly and she returned the hug with far more enthusiasm than he had expected.

  “That was well done.” Fortune said with approval clear in his voice.

  Neph looked up slowly and met Fortune’s eyes and the faint smile that had been on his face faded. “You however I have no apology for. I respect you as an Aspect, and I am grateful for the information you have shared today, but it in no way erases the fact that had you been more responsible I would be hugging my mother not her spirit. I won’t assume I know what truly happened between the two of you, but from the facts I see it comes down to this. You bedded a married woman and she died because of it. We have a long way to go before we are on good terms and even further before I will consider you my father.”

  “Spoken like a true Delvay.” Fortune said with approval still lacing his words. “It’s good to have a goal in life. I suppose mine will be to make proper amends to you and your sister, though I dare say Zyi will be much easier to find forgiveness with.” He added with a faint chuckle as he held his hand out to Cora. She unlaced her arms from Neph’s chest with faint tears still tracing down her face and moved to his side silently. The sadness was gone from her eyes, replaced with a look of such vast relief that Neph almost smiled again himself.

  “Thank you Neph.” Cora spoke quietly and smiled at him. It was something he hadn’t thought to ever see again. It was the smile she reserved for only her children, an expression that was so filled with devotion and love that words were not needed. She wrapped her arms tighter around Fortune and rested her head against his shoulder with a look of contentment on her face.

  “Forgiveness is such a powerful thing. It is the essence of love in so many ways.” Fortune said softly and cradled Cora close to him. “I am far from perfect Neph. What little I told you of my life should have proven that for you. I did make a mistake, but you and I aren’t seeing the same one. You believe my love for your mother was wrong, I believe letting RenDelvayon live was. We may never see eye to eye on the matter, and if that is the case so be it. I was irresponsible, and I do regret what happened because of it more than you will ever know. Learn from my mistakes and prove you are more responsible and rational than I am Neph.” Fortune said quietly as the two of them faded from the room.

  “That shouldn’t be hard.” Neph muttered as he gazed down at the sacks once more and let out a heavy sigh. There was far too much for him to think about, but his mind kept circling back to the same thing…Rivasa. The idea of letting Caleb and Shade go into Rivasa without him still wasn’t sitting well in his mind, but he would force himself to give it more thought. Frowning Neph glanced up at the ceiling and glared. “You didn’t tell me how to use someone as a conduit you ass.” He grumbled. The knowledge was likely in one of his books and there was a chance that he would find it before Caleb arrived. He didn’t have the patience to even start the search with his mind as scattered as it was currently though.

  His gaze moved from the bags on the table to the painting of his mother on the wall and he slowly crossed the room. He hesitated a long moment before lifting the painting from the wall. The stone beneath was smooth, but after running his fingers over the wall he found the grooves of a hidden compartment. It took him several more minutes to find the release mechanism. With a faint rumble a small piece of the wall slid back revealing a narrow shelf, and Neph stared in silence at the heavy metal urn within. “When I see Sovaesh next I’m going to thank him for killing you Ren.” Neph muttered and hoped by some twist of the fates that RenDelvayon’s spirit was still tethered enough to these rooms that he could somehow hear the words. “My only regret about your death is that Sovaesh had the honor of killing you. That gift should have been mine.” Neph added softly as he lifted the urn from its hiding place and stared down at his mother’s ashes. She deserved a better burial than what Ren had given her, and i
t was something he could do while still thinking on the other matters that he had to consider. Tucking the urn carefully under his arm he started for the door and then hesitated. His gaze returned to the urn and he slowly turned back to the table. Carefully he sat the urn down and slid back into his chair once more. It needed to be done, but it could wait for Zyi. Cora had been taken from both of them, and it was only fitting that they both had the chance to pay their respects.

  Chapter 6

  The Darklands

  Whispers rose from every corner of the throne room like a swarm of angry bees. It was quite possibly the most irritating sound he had ever endured Finn decided as he stared at the creatures he had summoned. Every one of them served him in some fashion, from the demons to the lowliest spirits. Most were watching him as he sat silent on this throne, but he saw several glancing curiously toward Exodus who was seated primly at a table beside a shroud covered body. The more attentive of his servants had long since stopped caring about Exodus however and were gazing upwards. It was unusual to not hear the steady swoosh of wings from above, but the air was silent tonight. They were no doubt wondering where Kaverax was. Yasny was with them in the throne room, but there was no sign of her mate and Finn knew it had quite a few of them troubled. The dragons above the citadel were as much a part of the Darklands as the Divine of Death. They had been here since the beginning, and now one was gone.