The Crow King's Wife Read online

  Shade watched him carefully noting the anger that still lurked in the man’s eyes. He didn’t know Caleb as well as he knew some, but after days in the same small prison he knew the man well enough to know something was seriously wrong. “What did it cost you?” he asked softly.

  One corner of Caleb’s mouth turned up in a half smile and he raised an eyebrow at Shade. “Another man might have started off the conversation with a thank you, or babbling about what they should say at the meeting. You however look at me and ask me what it cost.” Caleb observed in a calm voice.

  “I’m already up to my balls in debt to you Caleb. I’d like to know if the debt has risen to my neck. By your expression it wasn’t an easy feat to accomplish. As for the Thank you, well that is probably how I should have started, poor manners on my part. Thank you Caleb, but I’d still like my question answered. Do I owe you another life boon for this?” Shade returned softly.

  “When you leave I go with you and we are even. I don’t care if I have to carry you out of Glis on my back. I leave when you do and there will be no debt between us. I’ve lost too much time here already.” Caleb replied. He leaned back against a pillar and his gaze rose to the shadowed rafters above them. “You were at the last stand weren’t you? The final battle in Arovan.”

  Shade blinked a moment at the abrupt change in topic and nodded silently. He frowned as he realized Caleb’s eyes still hadn’t left the rafters and he cleared his throat quietly. “I was. It was a nasty bloody brutal affair.”

  “When you were near the Arovan camps did you hear any mention of survivors from the fall of Amdany?” Caleb asked as he continued to stare above them as if the shadows themselves held the answers to his questions. “Granger returned with reports from Arovan today and he says the entire city was lost. I want to know if he is speaking the truth. Has Arovan really fallen so far?”

  Shade’s frown deepened as he tried to determine the best way to answer the question. He couldn’t read the expression on Caleb’s face, and his voice was utterly devoid of emotion. “I’m not exactly on speaking terms with many Arovan. I am Morcaillo after all. I didn’t hear any word of survivors, but then I didn’t hear much from any Arovan aside from Valor Hai’dia and Valor wasn’t exactly in his right mind at that point.”

  “Little Valor survived and Honor died. What a sick twist of irony that is.” Caleb sighed and shook his head slightly as his eyes closed. “Don’t get me wrong. Valor is one hell of a fighter, but Honor had more spine than his brother from what I remember. Valor backed down too easy and was always being pressured into stupidity.”

  “I only met Honor once in Sanctuary. I didn’t know him or Micah well, but I know Valor well and he has a spine now. You might be impressed when you see him next, I was. I hated what he was with Finn. Valor was a drunken womanizer with no mercy in his heart for anyone, but beside Jala he is like an entirely different person. I think he was lost in Finn’s shadow and it took Jala to pull him into the light.” Shade said with a heavy sigh.

  “I met Finn twice. The first time he lost, the second time I lost, and Micah forbade a third meeting.” Caleb opened his eyes once more and smiled sadly. “Now Micah is dead, Finn is dead and we are stuck in this hell hole. What I would give to have the simple problems of my youth back. If my biggest concern right now was an arrogant Firym I would feel blessed.”

  “It could be worse.” Shade offered with a faint smile of his own. “My father wants to kill me, I’m outlawed in nearly every land, and Jala sent me on a suicide mission.”

  “My family was in Amdany.” Caleb returned in a somber voice that wiped the smile instantly from Shade’s face.

  “Mother and father?” Shade asked quietly. It was a delicate topic and he didn’t really know if he should pry, but sometimes talking about a problem was the only way to help.

  “My wife and two children as well as my sister.” Caleb corrected softly. His gaze returned to the rafters once more and he took in a long slow breath as if trying to steady himself. “I would have had them safely from the city, but Micah called me back to active duty before Arovan was ever in jeopardy. I have been fighting in Glis since the beginning of this all, and haven’t been home in over a year. Then word reaches me that I don’t have a home and my two closest friends are dead and I can’t even return to Arovan to learn the truth about my family. They might have escaped, they might have died, and I have no way of knowing.”

  “I didn’t know you were married, though I should have guessed by the short hair. That’s an Arovan tradition that I tend to forget. You have my sincere condolences for your losses and I will pray that they were survivors and I simply didn’t hear of them. As I said, I’m not exactly a popular person in Arovan and they might have simply not spoken of it while I was around.” Shade spoke softly and watched Caleb with new found understanding. All of those quiet moments he had caught Caleb staring off into the darkness with such a bleak expression suddenly made sense. Shade had thought the man had been grieving for his lost friends, but now he understood the full extent of the man’s pain and his composure through it all was mind boggling.

  “The short hair is only popular in some regions and it’s not a well-known tradition.” Caleb murmured and his hand rose to his ear. “They took my earrings when I was captured. I’m not sure if they simply wanted the silver or if they thought I could somehow make use of them to escape. Perhaps they thought they held magic that would assist me, I don’t know. The Blights are not generally good with using magic or identifying it.” Caleb added with a trace of bitterness and let out a heavy sigh. His gaze turned to Shade once more. “I will do whatever it takes to get out of here. If Onvalla is unwilling to listen we will find another way, but I can’t take living in ignorance any longer and you are strong enough to escape now. Between the two of us we might be able to outwit Granger. I have to know for a certainty if they live or if they are dead.”

  “I can barely walk Caleb.” Shade objected weakly. By the sound of Caleb’s voice he didn’t think the man would listen to logic on the matter, but he had to try.

  “As I said, I will carry you out of Glis on my back if I have to. You still have your magic don’t you?” Caleb pressed firmly.

  Shade nodded, but remained silent. He recognized the look in Caleb’s eyes. It was stubborn determination. Nothing he said at this point would talk the Arovan out of escape, and in all honesty if Onvalla didn’t listen to reason then escape likely was the best option for them both. Even if they died in the attempt it was better than rotting away in their pathetic little prison.

  “Then I will do the running and you use magic to slow our pursuit. If I can make it to the Gaelyn border then not even the Blights can stop us. I know Gaelyn better than anyone alive.” Caleb said softly as his gaze turned to the locked door. “And if any of you little bastards are listening, run and tell Onvalla my plans. Maybe, just maybe it will make her more inclined to listen tomorrow.”

  Or maybe it will make them more inclined to kill us tonight. Shade mused, but kept the thoughts to himself. From what he had seen in the past few days, Caleb had enough trouble sleeping without thinking along that path.

  * * *

  The sunlight of the morning was nearly blinding after weeks in the shadowed prison. Shade blinked quickly to clear his eyes and studied his surroundings. It had been late evening and his mind had been clouded with pain when Granger had first dragged him in, but now he had a clear view of the Blight Hive and what he saw amazed him.

  To the casual eye it looked like any other village, and likely it had been just that before the Blights had invaded. Small houses dotted each side of the road, and from what he could tell his prison had once served as a barn. Trees surrounded the entire clearing and flanked the sides of the path in regular intervals. It looked too serene for Blights. Everything he had seen of the creatures before mirrored the goblins in behavior, but this place was well maintained and mirrored human behavior. Judging by what he knew of the creatures and from what he had seen in
Eldagar when he had rescued Charm from the hive there, it made no sense for them to be living in this fashion.

  The rattle of chains behind him drew his attention and he watched in silence as Caleb was led from the barn by four Blights. Two stood behind the man holding chains attached to his ankles while the two on each side of him had a firm grip on the arm chains. Shade shook his head slowly and silently noted the wary expressions on the Blight’s faces. Even with the measures they had taken against the man, Caleb still unnerved them. He made a silent note to ask the Arovan what exactly he had done to earn their respect so thoroughly, but that seemed a topic better kept in private. He doubted the Blights would appreciate that particular line of conversation.

  “Start walking Morcaillo.” One of the Blights ordered roughly and pointed toward the tree lined path. She was a stout woman with broad shoulders that were thickly corded in muscles and Shade knew without a doubt she would have been a tough fight for him when he was in his prime. In his present state he would be nothing more than a minor annoyance for her if it came to a fight.

  With a slight nod he studied the dirt path leading further into the village and silently cursed the tangled tree roots that crisscrossed it as far as he could see. Letting out a slow breath he began hobbling in the indicated direction. Within two steps his foot tangled in a root and it took everything he had to remain on his feet. Biting back several colorful words Shade steadied himself once more and began walking again, trying desperately to ignore the muffled laughter behind him. He could feel the blush on his face and knew if they could see his humiliation it would only increase their amusement. The only choice he had was to ignore it and continue on if he wanted to keep any of his dignity.

  “And you wonder why I call you monsters.” Caleb snarled behind him with genuine fury in his voice. “Remove my chains and allow me to help him. You know I’m not going to run. I set this damn meeting up, why would I run from it?”

  “Not on your bloody life bastard.” One of the Blights hissed and all sounds of amusement behind him faded away.

  Shade smiled faintly and silently thanked Caleb. Once again his voice had silenced tormentors. It seemed to be a talent the Arovan held. “I’m fine Caleb. I can do this.” Shade assured him quietly as he continued on. Though in truth he wasn’t entirely sure that he was fine, each step wrenched at the scars on his back and leg painfully. He knew the exercise was good for him. The wounds were too far healed for the movement to help much, but maybe it would grant a bit more mobility if he was lucky.

  Noise to the side of the path caught his attention and Shade watched in amazement as a Blight moved a small herd of goats past them. The simple sight of a Blight caring for animals rather than devouring them was enough to keep his attention riveted on the spectacle rather than the trail and it cost him dearly. His foot caught in another root and the muscles in his back screamed in protest as he went down hard on one knee.

  Cursing himself for a fool Shade remained frozen in place as he inventoried his newest pain. His knee was split open he could tell that without looking and the muscle in his back was torn again. Slowly he drew himself back up and stretched his back to its fullest despite the flare of pain it brought.

  This could be a blessing in disguise he realized with a faint smile. He didn’t have Tevrae in his blood anymore and it was possible that his regeneration would heal the muscles in his back to a point that walking would be easier. He would still be lame in his leg, but without the added burden of his back wound it would have to be better. It was almost worth the renewed laughter behind him, and if his suspicion about his back was correct it might be the answer to their escape. If Onvalla didn’t listen to them, he could possibly improve the condition of his leg, with a bit of self-mutilation and regeneration. The thought sickened him, but it was an option he had to keep an open mind about. If Caleb had to carry him from Glis their chances were slim, but if they could both run there was a chance that escape was possible.

  “May you all rot in the Darklands.” Caleb snarled and his words were punctuated by the snapping of chains. Within a Breath Caleb was at his side and his arm was bracing him. Broken chains dangled from his wrists and ankles and the expression on his face was positively murderous. “Bloody heartless bastards.” Caleb muttered as he ducked low enough for Shade to get an arm over his shoulder.

  Once again the laughter behind him had died and Shade glanced over his shoulder to the Blights and then back to Caleb. All four of the guards wore nervous expressions, and none of them seemed inclined to recapture Caleb. “You mean you could have broken your chains at any point and yet you are still their prisoner?” Shade whispered.

  “How far do you think I could have made it with the forest this infested with Blights with no provisions or weapons?” Caleb asked quietly as he half-carried Shade down the trail.

  “Valid point.” Shade murmured his gaze dropping once more to the ground. Twice was enough, he wasn’t about to let another tree make a fool of him.

  “Two hundred miles in case you were genuinely curious on that point. I’ve escaped three times so far, and that is likely the only reason you are alive currently. If Granger hadn’t been hunting me down, he never would have stumbled across you. That’s the reason I wasn’t in the prison the night you were brought in. Your arrival bought me extra time and I was five miles from the Arovan border before he caught me that time. That was the two hundred mile jaunt, the other two times I barely made it fifty miles. Three escapes and all three times it was Granger that caught me.” Caleb said with a smirk.

  “You sound half way fond of the man. I thought you hated all Blights.” Shade observed quietly.

  “I hate some of them for what they do. I don’t hate the race itself. Granger has been decent to me despite the trouble I’ve caused him, and I have to respect his skill. There aren’t many that can track me down when I don’t want to be found. I’m not saying he is a drinking buddy, but I don’t despise him by any means. All three times he has accepted my surrender without a fight. Had I been closer than five miles to Arovan, I might have fought him the last round, and I really can’t say which of us would have won. Granger is formidable and I was unarmed.” Caleb explained as he carefully hauled Shade over a washed out spot in the path. “Careful here the rocks are loose.” Caleb warned quietly as he lowered Shade fully back to the ground once more.

  “I miss paved roads.” Shade muttered sourly. It was humiliating to be in the state he was in, and Caleb’s presence was the only thing that made it remotely bearable. If not for the Arovan he would be crawling to Onvalla’s door and he knew it. If he had even managed to get a meeting with her in the first place, and that in itself was doubtful. He wasn’t sure what Caleb had done to secure this meeting, but the Blights had given the Arovan the opportunity to try and they barely gave him a second glance.

  “I miss more than I can bear to think about. My family and friends, my city, good hot meals, bathing, soap, by the Aspects I miss soap. Clean clothes, my weapons, and my horse.” Caleb’s voice trailed off with a sigh and he shrugged his free shoulder. “We will have some of it back soon though.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone speak so lovingly of soap before. It was almost like a yearning in your voice. You could sing love ballads that would have women weeping and all you would have to think about would be soap.” Shade teased in a pathetic attempt to pull Caleb’s mind back from the depression he could see growing in the man’s eyes.

  “I’ve been in captivity for months Shade. I have creatures living in my clothes and hair that have been thriving there so long I’ve got names for them. I do love soap and I could sing ballads for it right now. I would settle for a dunk in a watering trough if the bastards would allow it, but they seem to delight in keeping me in filth. I’m so envious of the mages that learned cleaning spells right now it’s pathetic. I will learn every spell of that nature I can once we are out of here.” Caleb replied dryly.

  “If any of your pets crawl off onto me would you
be so kind as to tell me their names so I can tell them to return to you?” Shade asked with a smirk.

  “Bitey and Itchy have already migrated and I doubt they will return. You are greener pastures than me at this point, too much competition over here and you likely smell better than I do.” Caleb returned with a completely serious expression on his face despite the bizarre nature of the conversation.

  “You could tell me the sky is purple and it was raining frogs yesterday with a straight face couldn’t you.” Shade mused with a faint smile.

  “Lizards, the frog rains don’t hit Glis until closer to winter.” Caleb replied calmly and glanced at Shade his expression still serious. “It’s an art that too many Elder Blood master. I can lie like a dog and make it sound the honest truth.”

  “Not a very knightly sentiment.” Shade replied with a snort of genuine amusement. He could see Caleb becoming the closest friend he had very easily. The man never ceased to amaze him, and someone with his talents would be a very good ally to have.

  “I never once said I was a knight Shade. You just assumed I was. Every time I’ve heard you refer to me as a knight I’ve had to repress a chuckle. I couldn’t even pass the knight exams with my magic. I don’t qualify as a knight for several reasons.” Caleb smirked and shook his head at Shade with a hint of a smile on his face.

  “But you said you were in Micah’s honor guard.” Shade objected.

  “That doesn’t make me a knight Shade. You really don’t know who I truly am, do you?” Caleb asked and his smile widened.

  “Caleb Faulklin.” Shade offered dumbly with an expression of utter confusion written clearly on his face.

  “Strangers call me Caleb. My friends called me Grim, and everyone else knows me by other titles. If we live through this I’m sure you will hear them from time to time.” Caleb returned cryptically.