The Crow King's Wife Page 6

  Onvalla glared at him for a long moment before turning back to the window. The silence in the room stretched for long moments before her shoulders slumped in resignation. “Give me your word that you will return here Caleb. I don’t know the Morcaillo enough to trust him, but I know you keep your word.” Her voice was so low the words barely carried across the room.

  “I give you my word that Morcaillo will return Onvalla, I can’t promise more than that and you know it.” Caleb replied softly.

  Onvalla nodded slowly and turned from her window. Her gaze moved across the room to rest beside a small table in what had seemed like a vacant corner. “Granger fetch the gear we took from them as well as the goblin. Our guests will be leaving today.” She ordered in a voice that was filled with trepidation. Her eyes returned once more to Caleb and her expression was somber. “I was a fool to lie to him Caleb, and I will be the first to admit it. Fear can make many people into fools though, and no matter how much I regret it I can’t take it back. I kept you prisoner here for the same reason, because I feared you, and as you say it is likely my fault they are dead because of that.”

  “If you are truly going to lead here Onvalla you can’t be governed by fear.” Caleb spoke calmly and for the first time since he had entered the room there was no anger in his voice.

  “Hatred and anger are my counselors now. Fear is an old friend that has been put aside. Make them bleed Caleb, not for any love you have for me, but to salve our mutual pain. Rivasa must fall. It was my intention to move against Rivasa myself, but I can’t with the Morcaillo still dominating my people. I have to break the hold they have over us first, and then I will finish what you start.” Onvalla’s words rang with promise and she smiled bitterly. “It’s the whole reason I fought so hard for leadership here. I never intended to attack Arovan, and I had to ensure my people didn’t either. Their bloodlust will be channeled to the ones that deserve the pain. First Rivasa, and then whatever remains of Morcaillo.”

  “Please don’t take any steps down that path until after we speak again Lady Onvalla. I understand your pain and hatred, but revenge is a one way path. You are leading your people. You have to look at the broader picture if they are going to have any future at all.” Shade said with a note of pleading in his voice. If the Blights attacked Rivasa all hell would break loose again, and the world was in too delicate of a balance to risk that.

  “I make no promises of that. I have people hunting the Morcaillo now and if they finish before you return I will move against my enemies.” Onvalla replied coldly. She let out a deep breath as her eyes locked onto his. “Now tell me where to find my son if you truly know where he is.”

  “The last time I spoke with him he was living safely with High Lady Jala Merrodin. I will warn you though she has another Blight living with her as well. If you send your people there to take your son back with force, they will be found and they will likely die. If you want to speak with the boy I would highly suggest you approach Jala directly and politely rather than attempt to trick her. She has a temper to match your own Lady Onvalla, and she holds grudges for a very long time.” Shade answered with a faint smile.

  He could feel Caleb’s eyes on him as well and he knew by the expression on the man’s face his words had held just as much interest for Caleb as they had for Onvalla. He just wasn’t certain what interest Caleb held in the boy though. It was possible he had just endangered Dray’s life with his words. There was a chance Caleb would want Dray dead to ensure Micah’s secret remained buried, but he didn’t think that was the sort of man Caleb was, and he was praying he was right on that matter.

  * * *

  “If you had a Spell Hawk in storage the entire time, may I ask why exactly we just walked three hours before you chose to use it?” Caleb asked in a weary voice.

  Shade glanced back from his ship and smiled weakly at Caleb as he pried the goblin off his leg for the fifth time. He had chosen a clearing several miles from the Blight village to unveil his ship, and no doubt Caleb was thinking it was a splendid waste of time to walk when they could have simply flown. Considering his constant wrestling match with the goblin during their walk, Shade supposed it had wasted more time than he had intended. The creature had been frantic when it had been brought to him by Granger, and it seemed to think Shade would disappear if it wasn’t clinging directly to him.

  With a sigh Shade looked around the forest and wondered how many sets of eyes Onvalla had watching them. “On the ship and I will explain.” He promised as he drew a pair of dark glasses from his coat pocket and scanned the trees around them. There was no way he was letting a Blight slip onto his ship since Onvalla hadn’t ordered one to accompany them.

  Caleb sighed and gave a quick nod before stepping onto the Spell Hawk and was already seated before Shade closed the door. The goblin scrambled to the back of the ship with wide eyes and Shade grinned before tossing it some food. With luck the creature would content itself with eating for most of the trip and he wouldn’t have to worry about flying with a goblin on his face or shoulders.

  Shade gave the ship another quick glance just to be sure he hadn’t missed anything before he moved forward and sat slowly down in the pilot seat. He took several moments to simply savor how good it felt to be in control of something again, no matter how fleeting that sensation might be. Once he was off of his ship again his life would be in chaos and he knew it. There was so much expected of him right now that it made him want to scream or hide.

  “Well?” Caleb asked as the silence in the ship grew.

  “Did you hear about the bombing of Eldagar?” Shade asked with a faint smile.

  “I did. The largest hive of Blights was wiped out there in a single day, and by rather unconventional means.” Caleb replied slowly and by his expression Shade could tell he knew what he was going to say next.

  “That was me, on this ship, and I was worried some of the Blights might remember that particular day. Considering how pissy Onvalla was about the glasses that allowed Blights to be seen I really didn’t think she needed to know exactly what I had done against her people.” Shade explained with a shrug.

  “Bloody hell. Are you sure none of them followed us here? I can’t believe Onvalla would simply let us walk out without spying on us the entire way.” Caleb asked softly as he turned in his seat to stare at the empty ship behind them.

  “None that I saw and these are the accursed glasses she was so upset over.” Shade assured him as he placed his hands over the control panel. “Now there is a shower and plenty of soap in the back room of this ship. Feel free to partake of it while I get us the hell out of here. I’m going to warn you upfront though. I’ve never flown this weakened or with one eye so the ride will be a bumpy one.”

  “As long as you don’t crash I don’t care how rough the voyage is.” Caleb returned with a sigh and rose from his chair. “Soap is too much temptation. I will return shortly.” He announced as he disappeared into the back of the ship.

  Shade smiled and focused himself on the ship pouring as much magic as he dared into it. Normally a long voyage was no issue for him, but this time out he was going to have to pace himself. For some reason his magic wasn’t as strong as it typically was, and it wasn’t returning with the speed he was accustomed to. The ship lifted gently from the clearing and he kept it as steady as he could as they slowly rose above the tree tops. The last thing he wanted to do was throw Caleb from the shower or hit another tree with his ship.

  “I have seen you looking better.” The voice came from the seat Caleb had so recently vacated and it was so shockingly familiar that Shade nearly planted the Spell Hawk directly in a very large pine tree.

  Inhaling sharply he fought to bring the ship steady again and then glanced over quickly at the passenger seat. “You are supposed to be dead.” Shade said with dismay as he stared at Finn Sovaesh in pure shock. He was dressed differently than Shade had ever seen him, in dark chain armor and a black cloak, but there was no mistaking who it was.

&n
bsp; The corners of Finn’s lips creased with his typical arrogant smile and he raised his eyebrows twice. “Funny you should mention that given what I came to speak to you about.” Finn drawled and his smile widened. “You were very close to death recently too, Shade. In fact you were right on the boundary, only a breath or two from crossing over weren’t you?”

  Shade stared at him for a long moment and then forced his eyes back onto the ship’s view screen. “How would you know that?” he asked and glanced back to the back of the ship. Had it been anyone else he would have assumed they had learned through scrying on him, but Finn Sovaesh was terrible with magic and everyone knew it. Shade’s attention flicked between the back of the ship and the passenger seat once more and he groaned inwardly. He wasn’t sure if he was praying Caleb would return or hoping he wouldn’t. He couldn’t decide if he wanted to see Finn get his ass kicked or if he wanted to hear everything Finn had to say.

  “I was dead, now I’m Death, and you were nearly dead, but I didn’t allow it. Do you know what that means Shade?” Finn replied calmly. He seemed amused by Shade’s glances toward the back of the ship and chuckled when Shade looked at him in confusion. “Well first of all it means I’m a Divine now and no matter how much Grim may hate me, he won’t be able to so much as bruise me. Second it means you owe me a life boon and I’m here to collect.”

  “Bloody buggering hell. Is there one single individual in all of Sanctuary that doesn’t want something from me?” Shade snarled as his shock gave away to anger. “Seriously? You are a god and you are making demands of me? This is the sickest joke I’ve ever bloody well heard. It’s ridiculous. Why would I ever consider doing anything for you? I hate you. You know I hate you. Why would you even ask me to do anything for you?” His voice rose with each word as his frustration grew.

  Finn sighed with exaggerated annoyance and gave Shade a withering look. “The feeling is mutual, but if not for me you wouldn’t be alive now would you? You know you were too close to death to live. You know it had to take more intervention than your pathetic regeneration to save your life. Given what you are I really would have thought you would have improved your regeneration by now. It’s rather sad actually.”

  “Really? Is now really the time to criticize the use of my birthright?” Shade growled and shook his head at Finn. He let out a long slow breath and stared at the view screen as he wrestled his emotions back under control. “I don’t have time for your favor Finn. I’m already in the middle of two other favors for people that I like more than you.” He said after a long silence. “And in case you don’t know what the hell I’m talking about, that was a pretty big insult because I really don’t like Onvalla.”

  “I know what you are talking about. I watched your little drama unfold in Glis. Your passion is so touching Shade. You know I really do think you will save the whole world.” Finn said in a voice laced with sarcasm.

  “I’m willing to bet Divine or not that I can still bruise you, and interrupting my shower is reason enough for me to try. Keep being an ass Sovaesh, test my patience further.” Caleb’s voice was low and filled with warning.

  Finn slowly turned in his seat and Shade found himself glancing back as well. Caleb stood just beyond the door of the back room still dripping wet from the shower. He wore black uniform pants and had a towel wrapped over his shoulder with no sign of a weapon on him, but he still looked ready for a fight if Finn chose to rise from his seat.

  “Now is really not the time Grim, and I don’t want you in hell any more than I do Shade. So it wouldn’t be in my best interest to kill you should you decide we should fight. Why don’t you sit down, shut up, and listen instead? I have a few things to say to you as well.” Finn pointed sharply at an empty chair as he spoke and then turned back to Shade.

  “My friends call me Grim and you are nothing I would consider a friend. I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t use the title.” Caleb snapped as he dropped into the indicated seat with an expression of annoyance on his face.

  “Shall I call you the Black Bastard then or Bloody Huntsman?” Finn growled in response.

  Shade’s eyes widened at the words and he slowly glanced back at Caleb once more. He knew those titles. Everyone in Sanctuary knew of the Black Bastard of Arovan or the Bloody Huntsman, he simply hadn’t realized Caleb Faulklin was either. He hadn’t even realized the bastard and the huntsman were the same person for that matter. It made the reputation even more infamous. If the stories about either held any truth at all Caleb Faulklin really was a psychopath as he had suggested to Onvalla.

  “You aren’t really?” Shade began quietly and his voice trailed off as he glanced from Caleb to Finn and then back to the view screen.

  “What you didn’t realize you were giving a ride to the Bloody Huntsman Shade? Didn’t you wonder when he told you his friends called him Grim? That isn’t exactly a nickname that one gives to a sweet tempered individual.” Finn said dryly.

  “This is neither here nor there. I sincerely doubt you came here to discuss my reputation.” Caleb snapped with obvious irritation.

  “Quite right, I have gotten a bit off track, back to business then.” Finn conceded with a faint nod, but his smirk was still present. It was clear that he found Shade’s current dismay entertaining. “The favor can wait a moment. I have a question for you first Shade. Do you know what Kevala’drin means?”

  “This is none of your affair Finn.” Caleb snarled and half rose from his seat.

  “The bloody hell it isn’t my affair. I rule hell, Huntsman, and where exactly do you think you will end up? I know the truth about you even if the bards of Arovan fill their lives by telling lies about you. I know what you truly are. If you continue down this path you will die and I will make you my pet when you do.” Finn roared and the power of his voice drove even Caleb back to his seat. Finn’s green eyes flashed with anger and he turned back to Shade who was once again staring at him in utter shock.

  “I have no idea what Kevala’drin means.” Shade admitted meekly. He had thought Finn was bluffing about being a Divine right up until his anger had shown. Now he was certain it was the truth. He had never seen so much raw power in anyone, not even Jala.

  “It is an old Glis term. It means the Final Reckoning. Your new found friend intends to commit suicide in a very colorful manner.” Finn explained calmly and glanced back at Caleb once more shaking his head with disgust.

  “I intend to deliver vengeance for Micah and my family.” Caleb growled.

  “And you will die for it, but I have a very compelling reason for you to change those plans.” Finn said with a sigh.

  “I sincerely doubt there is anything you can say that will change my mind.” Caleb argued stubbornly.

  “Really? Let’s try. Syrah still lives.” Finn shot back without pause.

  All color drained from Caleb’s face at the words and Shade glanced quickly between the two of them before turning his attention once more to flying. “Who is Syrah?” He asked quietly.

  “Syrah Khalia Faulklin, his daughter.” Finn answered simply his gaze still locked on Caleb. “She is being held in Rivasa at the Citadel in Prendington. I don’t know of her condition beyond the fact that she is not close to death. I wish I could say the same for Evanell or Ryven, but they were both lost in Amdany. I’m sorry for the losses you have endured Caleb, but you haven’t lost everything.” Finn’s voice had taken on a gentle quality that Shade had never heard him use before, and the expression on his face was filled with sympathy rather than his typical smirk. Swallowing heavily Finn shifted in his seat to face Caleb more directly and cleared his throat quietly. “Look, we have always been at odds, and I know this likely won’t mean much to you coming from me, but I know what it’s like to lose everything. I also know what it is like to have one thing left to grasp onto. Syrah is your lifeline here Caleb, grab on and hold tight. You have a reputation across Arovan for being a hero, and Syrah could really use a hero right now more than a martyr. For once you need to truly be what the p
eople of Arovan believe you are.” Finn paused and his expression looked almost pained for a moment. With a deep breath he leaned closer to Caleb’s chair and his expression became one of such sincerity that Shade almost doubted it was truly Finn. “You can’t throw your life away. You are needed. I don’t know if you have noticed or not, but most of the heroes are dropping like flies. I was trying to be a better person before my death, Caleb, but I failed, and I’m out of the game now for the most part. You could be what Arovan believes you are, and they need you to be that now more than ever.”

  “I can’t change my course now. I told Onvalla I would make them bleed. I can’t break my word.” Caleb muttered hoarsely. His face was still far too pale and his grey eyes had an almost vacant look as he leaned heavily back in his seat shaking his head slowly. “Syrah has been their captive since Amdany fell…” Caleb muttered weakly. His voice trailed off and he shook his head slowly.

  “Make them bleed, but do it in a fashion that you can live through, Caleb. Save Syrah and then do what you have always been so god damned talented at and help Jala save everyone else.” Finn pressed and looked back to Shade. “He is quite possibly the most stubborn man alive, and I don’t have time to persuade him. I’ll leave that in your hands. As to what I need from you… well it’s a favor for an Aspect, but you have interest in it. It seems several of her followers are being held in prison in Sanctuary and she can’t seem to get them rescued. I need you to be a hero too and save her followers.”

  “I can’t even step foot in Sanctuary. Every bloody person in that city knows I’m a wanted man.” Shade objected.

  “Then I highly suggest you change your appearance before you go. One of the prisoners goes by the name of Charm. I believe you know him, and I believe you owe him. So suck it up Shade and be a damn hero and save him.” Finn snapped in annoyance as he rose from his chair. He glanced once more at Caleb and let out a heavy sigh. “I promise you Huntsman if you are stupid enough to make that little girl an orphan I will have you serving me for eternity. You can take your Grandfather’s place amongst my demons since Jala and Valor saw fit to kill Nasurai when they visited the Darklands.” Finn whispered as his form slowly faded from the ship.