A King's Ransom

by Lia Black

Veyl's unwillingness might have meant little to Aegeus' questionable morality, but the threat to his own life and that of his boy's was fostering a feeling of immense injustice.

  "How well do you know the prince? You wouldn't be his mother, would you?" Aegeus asked the little elf woman who stood protectively next to the young man.

  "Don't be silly, Master!" Finn chided him, "how could a prince have a slave for a mother?"

  "I am not his mother," the elf confirmed but refused to say any more.

  Aegeus looked between the woman and the prince. There was surely a resemblance there, but perhaps it was only the elven features. Elves all looked somewhat alike to him, anyway.

  He turned back to his work. "That is a pity. It would have been easier to bind him to a blood relation that is from his mother's side." Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Finn looking at the prince. What was that? Longing? Admiration? He gritted his teeth, trying not to focus on it.

  The last failed attempt at making a containment crystal had burnt his fingers. If he wasn't careful, he could take a few off. How many? Two? Which fingers might be damaged the worst? Thumb and forefinger…does the thumb count as a finger? How many bones would that be?

  Aegeus began to ponder the sum parts to each hand, down to the cellular level. He found a few previously unnoticed cuts and measured them with his eyes, then subtracted the loss of blood from his system and cells from his skin. Soon, his world had collapsed to ten fingers and two palms and it wasn't until he heard Finn's voice that he remembered what he was doing.

  "Master Aegeus, you were out somewhere again." Finn was touching his arm and looking up at him with his sweet, little boy's smile. Perhaps he might look at the prince as an object of beauty, but Aegeus hoped he would always be in the boy's heart as his father. Children grew up and left their parents but they never loved them any less, did they?

  "Thank you, Finn," Aegeus sighed. His mind wasn't capable of this right now. He needed some time alone—to think.

  "You may escort the prince back to his chambers. I have no further need of him." He'd gotten some of what he'd wanted—a little measurement of the Prince's aura—enough to measure the level of his magick. Although much of it was latent, it was there, and it would be just Aegeus' bad luck for it to awaken to him in the middle of the procedure.

  But Aegeus had not come to be a powerful mage by leaving things to chance, and he most certainly had not earned his renown by accepting threats from arrogant nobles. Unfortunately, Finn's presence compromised any hexes Aegeus could lay on the king's lands. He wouldn't risk losing the boy his heart called son to a plague or some other magickal wasting.

  The guards had to lift Veyl off of the stool because of the way they'd wrapped the chains around him. Fools. The heavy metal links were going to leave bruises.

  Briefly he made eye-contact with the prince again and lost himself in those amber orbs.

  Aegeus had no idea what the prince's lover was like, but he must be—or have been—quite handsome. There was no telling where the man was now. Perhaps the bear had eaten him after their escape, and he really was dead. If not, then perhaps he'd decided that a prince was not worth his trouble.

  It was a pity that the king would have his eye set on women to give him some heirs. He'd probably cut those beautiful golden tresses and muck up that lovely figure with wine and too much food. But Aegeus had no doubt that it would be the king's rotten soul that would rob Veyl of his beauty more than anything else he might do to the body.

  He blinked as Veyl turned away, momentarily confused by his own thoughts.

  "Finn, why don't you go outside and play." Aegeus murmured. Alone. Yes, just a few minutes alone to recompose himself was all he needed.

  CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

  The Scout

  Rain. Slogging, cold, horrible, nasty, gray rain. It had started early this morning and by the afternoon, there wasn't one part of Kaidos' body that hadn't been soaked through. He shivered under his cloak, glancing down at the enormous golden bear as Barlan shook the rain from his thick coat like a dog.

  "We'll have to get permission from the Northern Wind Court to cross through their territory," Engel said quietly as they moved through a thicket.

  "Elves?" Kaidos asked, frowning. The tree branches seemed to be bending lower to smack him in the head and he brushed them away with his hand.

  "Yes," Barlan answered. "We're getting closer—I can feel the weight of the air…heavy with enchantment."

  Kaidos mused that he was no longer finding the notion of a talking bear so odd. Barlan lifted his snout and sniffed the air.

  "Is it much farther?" Kaidos heard himself nearly whining.

  "Yes. It's very much farther," Engel grumbled. "Five days if we're lucky."

  "We should find shelter soon," Barlan's deep voice rumbled from beside Kaidos' horse.

  Engel sighed, "I agree, but it seems like these damnable trees refuse to part."

  "We're getting close then--" Barlan barely got the words out when bolt from a crossbow whizzed by, just over Kaidos' head. The bolt stuck in a tree, bearing a small strip of sinew cord near the tip, knotted to a black feather.

  Engel held up his hand, but the group had already stopped without needing any signal from him. The air was eerily still and a light mist hung low in the forest. Only the occasional bird or impatient snort of one of the horses disturbed the silence. Kaidos' eyes scanned the branches of the trees, searching for any indication of movement. He saw no more than a rustle of leaves but then suddenly there he was--blocking their path.

  He was not very tall, yet his thin body and long limbs made him seem so. His leather clothing was dyed in shades of dark green and black. An oiled hood hung over his face, dripping water, and in his hand was an intricately carved crossbow. He began to speak to them in low, silvery tones in a language Kaidos had never heard before.

  "Damn." Engel hissed through his teeth, "I hadn't considered they might not know our language."

  Barlan began to answer the elf in what Kaidos could only assume was a bear's version of the same language.

  The heavy silence settled once more after the last words from Barlan's jaws.

  "Er…" Kaidos started, but never got any further because the elf moved swiftly in front of Barlan. His crossbow dangled from his hand, held at an angle that resembled defense rather than threat. He said more words to the bear, and Barlan bounced his big head up down before responding.

  Engel was fidgeting on his horse, but keeping his hand away from his sword for now. After several minutes of conversation, the elf raised his head towards Kaidos.

  "Why do you travel these woods, preshcali?" he said in heavily-accented Commonspeak.

  Engel cleared his throat, "We seek only passage so that we might reach the border to get to Parthus. We anticipate an audience with the archduke there."

  "And what is the reason for this audience?" The elf's attention did not waver from Kaidos.

  Kaidos spoke up, tired of the formalities, "We come in the name of peace from the crown prince of Dandre."

  There was a long pause before the elf spoke again. "We have no allegiance with Dandre. The king has stolen many of our people. How is it that his son offers peace?"

  Engel spoke then, offering Kaidos a little frown. "Sir, the prince carries the blood of your people, and is a steadfast and loyal young man. He would make amends to right the wrongs perpetrated by his father, but he cannot do so without help. I bid you, please allow us passage."

  Again, the elf was silent for a moment. He looked at Barlan for another still passage of time before he apparently came to a decision.

  "Hand over your weapons. You will follow me."

  Engel opened his mouth to protest but a huff from Barlan quieted him. He frowned but unbuckled his sword belt, tossing it forward to the ground.

  "Yours too, thief," the elf said, looking up at Kaidos once more.

  Kaidos grumbled but took off his girdle of throwing knives hiding beneath his shirt.

&nb
sp; The elf scooped the weapons up, turning on his heel, and began to walk though the forest. They followed reluctantly behind.

  "What were you two talking about?" Kaidos asked Barlan through gritted teeth.

  "I told him that you come in peace and request safe passage. He was surprised that he'd encountered my kind, especially with humans, so he's apt to offer trust."

  "Hm," Kaidos quirked his mouth, "so you're not just partial to Wanderers, huh?"

  Barlan chuffed in what Kaidos learned was his bearish form of laugh, "I remain loyal to Wanderers by choice, my friend. However, as a forest elf, his magick could compel parts of me to do his bidding."

  "Parts? I don't suppose those parts are the less dangerous ones like your ears…" Kaidos felt apprehension flare up his spine.

  "Parts like the animal instinct. Although I would not want to hurt you as a man, the bear would see you as a threat. I do not believe you have cause to worry. It is because of me that he trusts you at all."

  "Because he can turn you against us."

  "For a while, yes," Barlan agreed.

  "Barlan, you're not doing a lot for my level of comfort here," Kaidos muttered, then brightened at a humorous thought crossing his mind, "Can he compel you to do tricks?"

  Barlan snorted. "Don't push your luck, Wanderer. Questions like that can compel me to forget how much I was starting to like you."

  They followed the elf for some time as they moved single-file through the narrow trees and low hanging branches. Although Kaidos could see no indication of a path or trail-markers, the elf was confident of his direction. Kaidos tried to look for landmarks in case they had to come back this way, but everything appeared to be shifting around them. He scowled.

  "Enchantment," Engel said from behind him. "This is why armies who might try to take elven lands fail. Elves have control of their environments—they can manipulate nature at will."

  "I'm starting to think the shorter route wasn't the best idea," Kaidos grumbled. But he could see no way around the issue: if they wanted to get to Parthus, they either had to find a ship and sail for weeks around the coast then back-track for a hundred miles, or they would have to make nice with the forest-folk.

  Finally, the trees opened up to a good-sized clearing. Kaidos could see a large fire-pit in the center, but no indication of shelter anywhere.

  "Up," Barlan said as Kaidos brought his horse beside him.

  Kaidos raised his head, scanning the tree tops until he saw a wooden structure seated in the branches. Because of the coverage of the leaves and the way the trees grew around it, it was barely discernible, and had Kaidos not been looking for it specifically, he might have missed it all together.

  He and Engel dismounted.

  The elf turned to acknowledge them once more. "I am called Crow. I will represent you at the High Court of the Northern Wind. The queen will decide if your tale rings true, preshcali. Tonight you will rest in my home."

  "Thank you." Kaidos offered a respectful nod. He was bone-weary and soaked through and his companions were no better. There was trepidation, but also relief as the one called Crow took hold of their horses and led them to shelter beneath the trees.

  *~*~*

  Crow led them up a nearly invisible set of stairs made of tree-limbs to his home high above the forest floor. It was a round hut made of wood and thick vines. The shutters on the outside were composed of woven grass and twigs of sweet-pine. Inside, the place was but one large room that was roughly twenty-feet in diameter. Deerskin hung as curtains, over four windows all opposite one-another.

  Barlan had shifted back to his human form and it struck Kaidos just how enormous he was—especially in comparison to their elven host. He had to turn his body and duck in order to enter the home, and even then the top of his head was in danger of hitting the beams across the ceiling. Kaidos figured Barlan was a good seven-feet tall if he was an inch, and the top of Crow's head only reached to about his nipple.

  Barlan was, of course, naked now and Kaidos couldn't help but feel intimidated by the size of the man's genitals. He seemed to be part horse as well. Kaidos met Engel's uncomfortable gaze and could read a similar discomfort on the guard captain's face. Even Crow seemed to be making an effort not to spend very much time looking in Barlan's direction. The only one who didn't seem to be affected by Barlan's nudity was Barlan himself.

  Inside, it was delightfully warm and dry. In the center of the room was a recessed pit lined with stone where a fire burned brightly with an iron cooking rack pushed to one side. In the southeast corner was a hammock that served as a bed, and a few low chests scattered around. On the opposite end were a series of small cupboards and shelves, some of which held containers and dried herbs.

  On the wall closest to the entry was a small altar with a disk formed from many varieties of wood and carved full of symbols, standing in a polished quartz base. In comparison to the rest of the cottage, which was very spartan, the altar was decorated with twisted wreaths of dried flowers and berries, and offerings of stags' horns and sparkling rocks. Crow went immediately to the altar upon entry and knelt. Still wearing the hood, he covered his face with his hands before uttering some soft words and bowing—pressing his forehead to the floor.

  Kaidos assumed that Crow was offering recognition to his gods, but it appeared more like servitude and shame. They exchanged brief introductions of themselves with their host after he had risen to recognize them once more.

  "Take off your clothing and hang it near the fire." As Crow spoke he pulled back his hood and Kaidos was surprised to hear a quick intake of breath from Barlan.

  Kaidos had to admit, the elf was an appealing creature--perhaps more of an adult than he'd originally thought—and easily distinguishable from a human. The cheekbones were wider and set high, the jaw sharp, and the chin came to more of a point. Crow's skin was a deeper shade of gold than Veyl's, more olive-toned, and his wild hair, the color of oak leaves in the fall, was cut in many jagged layers above his shoulders. His eyes were large and angular, so dark that they appeared flooded with black--barely an indication of iris save for a tiny sliver of white at either corner, with eyelids that were slightly recessed. He had nicely formed lips, the top one slightly fuller than the bottom, which it seemed he worried at frequently, as indicated by the deep color and mottling of darker red teeth-marks.

  The elf made a face at Barlan's reaction but shook off his close-fitting jacket, wearing now only a short vest and his black oilskin pants. While nowhere near as lovely as Veyl, Crow was pretty. Kaidos could see how such a man might get a reaction from nearly anyone open-minded enough to recognize it.

  Crow went to a simple chest and tossed Kaidos and Engel a tunic to get into when they'd finished shedding their clothes. Casting a glance at Barlan that had a blush hitting his cheeks, he reached into the chest and tossed him a blanket. Kaidos couldn't wait to get undressed and into something dry—even if it was only a tunic.

  "Have you eaten?" Crow asked the group in general, but his eyes settled on Engel as they joined him near the fire.

  "Not in some time, no," Engel answered.

  "I will make enough for us all then."

  CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

  The Crow's Nest

  They shared a stew made from venison and root vegetables and the long day's journey began to catch up with them. Kaidos yawned, then fidgeted uncomfortably. His bandages had gotten wet and irritated his raw flesh. He had to get them off before the moisture encouraged an infection. Aware of Engel watching him, Kaidos gave a little shrug.

  "Crow," Engel said, "we do not wish to take advantage of your hospitality, but our companion is injured…"

  "Injured," Crow repeated. He stared into the fire for several moments then rose quickly to his feet and went to one of the cupboards. He pulled out a squat clay jar and popped off the cork, then took some herbs from another shelf and crushed them inside with his fingers. When he raised it to his face, it reminded Kaidos of what Veyl had done with the healing ointment afte
r his brothers had showed up and he and Lirin had fought. It was then he realized that Veyl had not been smelling it, but blowing into it.

  The thought made him miss Veyl even more and he winced, remembering the look on Veyl's face as the guards had separated them. When he realized that he'd drawn the attention of the group, Kaidos cleared his throat and apologized.

  "Sorry." He met Engel's gaze, but the man's expression was unreadable before he looked away.

  "Let me take off the bandages," Barlan rumbled softly as he came to sit down behind Kaidos. Kaidos shrugged the tunic off of his shoulders, letting it fall like skirting around his hips. He drew a sharp breath in through his teeth as the movement sent renewed pain to the area.

  Crow stood over them, still shirtless. He was hairless, like Veyl, but unlike Veyl he seemed to be made of only lean, hard muscle and sharp bone. Crow was watching Barlan over Kaidos' shoulder and his pectoral muscles contracted briefly, as though a thought had caused them to move reflexively. Although Kaidos could not see him, he assumed the big man must have lifted his head to look at Crow because the elf quickly lowered his gaze.

  Although Barlan was careful, when he pulled off the bandages, they tugged at Kaidos' raw skin, pulling against the scabbing where it hadn't been soaked through.

  "Sorry," Barlan mumbled. "Looks bad." He got up to dispose of the blood and fluid-stained bandages outside and Crow took his place.

  "This will help," he assured Kaidos.

  The scent was the same as the ointment Veyl had made, right down to the wine, and Kaidos chuckled softly. "I've had this before."

  "You have?" Crow's voice remained a monotone, so it was difficult to gauge his level of surprise.

  "Yeah. Veyl made it when I, uh, got injured."

  "When was this, Vailinn?" Engel frowned.

  "Early," Kaidos said and could see Engel seething.

  "How would this person of which you speak know of this remedy?" Crow asked. His hands began to spread on the ointment carefully. Kaidos could feel that while his gestures were certain, they were no where near the level of intimacy that Veyl had used even before they'd become lovers.