The Crow King's Wife Read online

  She must be very young Remedy realized as he studied Faramir’s captive closer. She was Elder Blood he was sure of it, but he couldn’t decide what house she must be from, or why someone as old as Myth would require her to do the spellcasting. From what he had seen of Myth in the past few days the woman should be able to manage any casting herself.

  “It will be so difficult to make it in the world beyond without your beauty. You could of course hide your disfigurements with magic, but that could be dispelled. You could have it healed too of course, but then healers ask questions about such wounds and what would you say? That you were a prisoner of war perhaps, but then they would want details that you wouldn’t have, wouldn’t they?” Faramir continued as she spun the dagger in a slow circle on the table.

  “What do you want to know?” Azashy gasped her eyes riveted on the dagger. Her expression was equal parts fear and self-loathing.

  “I want to know all sorts of things, but for now we will suffice with just a few minor details. Sovaesh is no longer a viable blade at my disposal, and Hemlock has his own agenda, but we will get to that. Tell me who is a knife that I can trust to send against my enemies?” Faramir settled back into her chair without bothering to move the dagger out of Azashy’s reach. Apparently she saw no threat in her prisoner at all.

  Azashy mumbled a few words under her breath and her eyes grew distant. Her head lolled to one side for several breaths before her lips began to move again. “Niamh of the Nightblades, heartless and nearly as skilled as the Master she serves.” Her voice was distant and seemed to echo as if composed of several voices rather than just her own.

  “How well guarded is Elijah Arovan?” Faramir asked without pausing to consider the answer she had been given on her first question.

  “He is surrounded by those that are loyal and love him. Troyelle is at his beckon call with swords ready to defend as well as the Blackwolf who always remains nearby his side. To reach Elijah you must defeat the Stormlord as well as the High Lord of Glis.” Azashy answered without hesitation in the same eerie voice.

  “What is the next step that Jala Merrodin will take?” Faramir pressed once more without pause.

  “She will bind the Blights to her side as allies and take that power from your hands.” Azashy’s voice was growing strained and her eyes were rolling back in her head as she spoke.

  “How?” Faramir demanded. If she noticed the woman’s discomfort she showed no signs and seemed intent on gathering as much information as she possibly could.

  “An envoy has carried her message of peace and has been given a task in response. When his task is complete the Blights will be hers.” Azashy’s voice was hoarse and she appeared to be trembling. Remedy watched in silence as a bead of sweat trickled down the woman’s face. He wasn’t sure what magic she was using for her information, but it wasn’t scrying and it seemed too precise to be divination.

  “Who is her envoy? What task?” Faramir growled and leaned forward on the table once more her eyes intent on Azashy.

  “Shade…Morcaillo…he…must…” Azashy’s voice faltered with each word and she gave a shudder as she sagged forward in her chair. Her breathing was labored and she was shaking. Slowly a choking laugh began to rise from her and she shakily lifted her head to meet Myth’s gaze. “I’m afraid you will have to wait for that information Myth. You have pushed me too far today. Were conditions different I could offer you more, but you are too intent on keeping me weakened so you must deal with the consequences.” Her voice was a bare whisper, but it was filled with bitter amusement.

  “Worthless bitch.” Faramir growled as she rose from her chair and snatched the dagger from the table. With another glare at Azashy she stormed across the room toward the hidden panel.

  “Irony that it is your son that will undo you.” Azashy gasped as the panel slid open.

  “No one will undo me Azashy. This world will burn and I will be free of this prison. I promise you that.” Faramir hissed as she disappeared through the tunnel.

  Remedy watched her go, but remained where he was as the panel slid shut behind her. It was possible that the wall wouldn’t open for anyone aside from Myth, but he was curious about Azashy. She was obviously an unwilling ally, and it was possible that very thing made her the only one in the palace he could trust to help him. It would require watching her though, and learning more of her before he trusted her enough to reveal himself. He just had to pray he had the time to spare for it. Things in the world beyond were falling far faster than he liked, and he wasn’t sure there was still time to save anything.

  Chapter 4

  Merro

  “Are you sure you want to sell her?” Valor asked quietly as he leaned against the paddock gate and watched the bay mare within. He was dressed simply today in light linen trousers and a thin work shirt. A stranger approaching would never guess he was the second most powerful person in Merro by the way he looked. A stem of grass hung out of one corner of his mouth, and his attention seemed entirely devoted to the mare, as if nothing beyond the stable yard was a concern of his.

  Zoelyn shifted beside him and lowered her chin to rest on the rail of the fence. She didn’t really want to sell the mare, but the horse would have a good home with Valor and she knew it. He was Arovan, and Arovan prized their horses. If she had any hope of making it to Delvay she would need the money, and she could no longer stand to remain in Merro. “I know you will care for her well Valor.” She sighed and nodded with obvious hesitation. “So yes she is for sale if you want her.”

  Valor glanced down at her with a questioning look in his dark blue eyes and nodded in return. “I’d be a fool to turn aside the chance to buy her. She is obviously from good lines even if I don’t know her pedigree. I’d like to know what you want the money for though. We provide your room and board as well as clothes. If there is something else that you require just say the word and it will be given without you having to sell the one thing you can truly call your own.” His voice was gentle and her chest tightened in response

  They had all been so kind to her, and the thought of leaving some of them was as painful as a fresh wound, but this wasn’t her place. Her home was in Delvay and with every memory that returned she became more certain that she should be there rather than in Merro. And Seth isn’t in Delvay. A small voice inside her whispered as her eyes rose to scan the surrounding sky for any sign of black feathers. It wasn’t that she hated Seth, but the memory of him was painful. She had trusted him fully and considered him a friend, and he had turned on her. The anger he had shown the last time she had seen him had been terrifying, and she had no desire to be near him again.

  “I need the money for travel.” Zoelyn answered quietly. She hadn’t told anyone aside from Dray of her plans to leave yet, and she knew the Blight had kept her secret. By Valor’s expression it was the last thing he had expected her to say, but he covered his shocked expression quickly. “I’m going to Delvay.” She added and swallowed heavily as her throat tightened. There was no way she could say goodbye to Jala or Valor without tears and she knew it.

  Valor nodded and his gaze moved past her to rest on Jala who was still busy trying to get the portal stones perfect. It was obvious he was wondering if Jala knew and simply hadn’t told him yet.

  Zoelyn followed his gaze and watched Jala for several moments before staring down at the ground. “I meant to tell you both before now, but you are both always so busy. I don’t think Jala ever truly rests. Every time I try to find time to speak with her she is busy at three or more tasks and contemplating another.”

  “She can’t rest, and neither can I. When we stop we have time to think, and neither of us can bear that. She dwells on her regrets, and I dwell on guilt. So we push ourselves to exhaustion and pray that one day our hearts will mend and we can find peace.” Valor said softly as he turned to watch the mare once more. “I’m not Finn and I never will be. I know she loves me, I have no doubts of that, but it’s something that takes time. Jala never had a chance
to grieve, and she still isn’t allowing herself too. I wish I could help her with it, but I can’t. I’m the bastard that failed to save him and fell in love with his Widow while doing so.”

  “And the fact that he isn’t truly dead doesn’t help at all.” Zoelyn concluded quietly and let out a long breath.

  Valor shook his head slowly and smiled sadly. “Not in the least bit, though I’m glad he is. Hindsight is perfect Zoelyn and given a chance to go back and do things differently I’m quite sure Jala would be living a simple life in Firym and Merro would still be in ruins. She has a lot on her shoulders and keeps reaching for more. I think she is afraid if she focuses herself on just Merro she will run out of things to keep herself busy with, and then she will have to face what she is trying to forget.” He chewed on the grass stem for a moment then pushed off the rail and rubbed his face. “And this isn’t getting us anywhere and it’s not something I want to dwell on.” He announced with a forced smile. “So back to business, if you truly want to sell her I’ll give you a hundred gold for her. Horses are selling high now, and she is better than most so she is worth it. Too many of the herds were lost in Arovan, so her colts will make the investment worthwhile. Will that suffice for travel money?”

  Zoelyn blinked at him in shock and nodded slowly with a dumbfounded expression. “I was expecting perhaps twenty gold.” She admitted quietly. A hundred gold would be enough for her to book passage on a spell hawk if she could find one for hire soon. She had been expecting to have to take a ship out of Brannaford ports.

  “Common plow horses are selling for twenty gold right now. Too many horses were killed during the fighting, and prices have sky rocketed on everything. Grain is high, hay is nearly impossible to find in most lands, and anything with four legs and a working body is bringing top coin.” Valor informed her with a shrug then paused as something behind her caught his attention. “But maybe this should wait until we see what this is about.” He murmured as a slight smile crept onto his face.

  Zoelyn turned slowly to stare in the direction he was looking and caught the barest glimpse of metal against sunlight in the horizon. “Is that a Spell hawk?” she asked stupidly, though it was obvious it had to be. Nothing else would be in the sky and made of metal.

  “Not just any Spell Hawk, I think that is The Shade. It’s well past time for him to return, Jala was beginning to fear the worst.” Valor said cheerfully as he patted her on the shoulder and smiled. “If you play your cards right you might be able to get a free ride to Delvay without having to sell your mare.”

  “But I can’t take her with me to Delvay, Valor. She wouldn’t do well that high in the mountains and it’s possible the Snow Cats would see her as dinner.” Zoelyn protested as he started to head for the sky port. With an exasperated sigh she hurried after him.

  “Too true so you should leave her here with me for the time being and allow me to raise a colt or two from her in return for board. She would still be yours, and I would have fresh stock with good lines. It would be beneficial to us both.” Valor called over his shoulder as his pace quickened. Jala had noticed the approaching ship too, and it was clear that Valor wanted to reach the port at the same time Jala did to ensure he didn’t miss anything.

  They reached the edge of the port as the Spell hawk touched down and even Zoelyn noticed how rough the landing was. Valor moved silently to stand beside Jala with a worried expression on his face.

  “Are we certain that is Shade flying? I saw sparks when he touched down. Shade never lands that roughly.” Valor said quietly as Jala started to move toward the Spell Hawk’s door.

  “Who else would it be?” Jala asked with a shrug.

  “Someone that doesn’t bloody well know how to fly well.” Valor suggested dryly.

  “It’s Shade, and others.” Dray spoke up quietly and Zoelyn felt him move closer to her, almost within touch, but not quite. Even though her control of her powers had improved drastically she still took care that no one got too close to her, and Dray knew the boundaries well.

  Valor glanced over his shoulder toward the main house and then back to Jala. “Would you mind telling Wisp to keep Legacy inside with her until we know who else is on that ship?” he asked quietly and his hand dropped to his belt for a sword that wasn’t there.

  “You were playing stable hand all morning love. That doesn’t require a weapon.” Jala reminded him and smiled faintly. “I sent her the message and she has agreed that he won’t even look out a window until we tell her things are well.”

  The ship door slid open as she finished speaking and all three of them fell silent as they watched a large man step down and then half drag Shade from the ship behind him.

  “Shade!” Jala cried in alarm. She started to rush toward him, but Valor caught her wrist and gave her a shake of his head.

  “Grim.” Zoelyn gasped as the larger man turned and she got a clear look at his face. He was thinner than she remembered, but she had no doubt it was him. He was wearing the uniform of a High Marshall of Arovan, and his expression matched his nickname well.

  He turned and looked at her, but there was no sign of recognition on his face until he found Valor beside her. “He passed out right after landing. Do you have someplace we can put him to rest?” Caleb asked Valor without bothering with so much as a greeting.

  “Grim.” Valor echoed Zoelyn with equal disbelief in his tone and Jala stepped forward with a quick nod only to pause once more as a goblin clambered from the ship and wrapped its arms around Shade’s leg.

  “His pet.” Caleb explained with a sigh and shifted Shade in his arms to an easier position. “Look he isn’t in a good way, and I’m going to assume you are the High Lady Merrodin.” He continued as his eyes settled on Jala. “He was coming here for healing from you, and I’d appreciate it if you perhaps start on that soon.”

  “What happened to him?” Jala demanded and Caleb’s expression darkened a bit.

  “You sent him blindly into a Blight hive to negotiate peace for you and you are confused why he comes back injured?” Caleb asked in an incredulous voice.

  “But it’s Shade.” Jala objected as she moved toward Shade once more with obvious concern on her face. “Shade can dance through rain drops without getting wet.” She continued, but her voice faltered when she noticed his missing eye.

  “It was a torrential rain and he was soaked to the skin. Can you help him?” Caleb pressed with annoyance clear in his voice.

  “Those are old wounds. They are already healed. I can repair whatever is damaged recently, but the only way to fix his eye would be to…” Jala’s voice trailed off and she blanched at what she was about to say.

  “Get a clean bed, a sterile knife, and keep him unconscious long enough to make it a fresh wound.” Caleb finished for her with a sharp nod. “Fine Lady Merrodin. You see to the first two and I’ll see to the last. If I make it a fresh wound can you truly return his eye? He says you can, but that is a difficult matter to heal.” Caleb spoke calmly as if they were discussing the weather rather than carving flesh from someone’s eye socket.

  “I can.” Jala agreed hesitantly as she stared at Caleb for a moment and then turned to look at Valor with a questioning expression.

  “His name is Caleb Faulklin. I will vouch for him. He was the High Marshall of Amdany for several years and I’ve known him for longer than that.” Zoelyn said before Valor could so much as open his mouth.

  Caleb turned and looked at her with confusion and it was obvious he didn’t recognize her at all. Zoelyn supposed that was fair though. When she had known him she had been so thin she seemed to be starving, and dressed in rags with hair the color of snow. Much had changed since those days. She smiled sadly at him and bowed her head in respect.

  “I thought you had died at Amdany and you have no idea how relieved I am to see you alive. It means Arovan still has hope.” Zoelyn said softly and bowed her head more deeply. “I am so sorry about Nel. I loved her like a sister.” She continued.

  “Z
oey?” Caleb gasped and his eyes went wide. His grip on Shade slackened in his shock and he had to scramble to keep from dropping him. “By the bloody Aspects Zoey what happened to you and why are you here?” Caleb demanded as he moved quickly toward her dragging Shade beside him. All thoughts of healing and Jala were apparently forgotten for the moment.

  “So I take it you two know each other.” Jala observed dryly.

  “His wife Evanell trained under Dominic. She was living in the village when I arrived there, but she hadn’t yet married Grim. I got to know Grim rather well while he was trying to talk her into marriage.” Zoelyn explained as the tears that had been threatening to spill earlier now filled her eyes. “There were so few people in that village that treated me well that I treasure each one of them that did, and Grim and Nel always treated me kindly while they were there.” Zoey continued and then paused and shook her head at Caleb with sigh. “I haven’t seen you in years and when I do everything is hell.”

  “Everything is pure hell.” Caleb agreed as he stopped just short of her and stared down at her in utter bewilderment. “I can’t believe how much you have changed!” he shook his head again and then seemed to remember Shade. “Bloody hell. Let me see to Shade and then we talk.” His gaze moved to Valor and he sighed again. “We need to talk too I’m afraid. I have a lot of explaining to do, and a very large favor to ask of you.”

  Valor nodded dumbly in response and then seemed to remember Caleb had no idea where he was going. “Uh yes, I’m sure we do, and as for a favor, well I’m sure that won’t be a problem. Let’s see to Shade first though.” He mumbled and waved a hand toward the main house. He stared at the goblin for several breaths and then looked to Jala before striding quickly after Caleb.

  * * *

  Zoelyn stood in absolute silence braced against the bedroom wall as Caleb calmly produced a black dagger from his belt and cleaned it as thoroughly as he could with hot water and clean towels. Jala stood just behind him with a look of pure trepidation on her face and she was paler than normal.