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A King's Ransom

Page 35

by Lia Black


  Aegeus needed the silence, solitude, and focus this space provided. It was more imperative now after finding out that the Prince was half-elf. Elves had a connection to nature. The open sky, animals, and plant-life were filled with power for them. Down here there was no access to that power; only those dark and wicked things that squirmed and rotted in the ground.

  Finn pulled on his nightshirt and climbed into Aegeus' bed, snuggling down into the blankets to fight the chill.

  "I'll be in momentarily." Aegeus said and went through the curtains to undress on the other side. He'd never let Finn see his body. He'd never let anyone see it if he could help it. He was gaunt and pale as a corpse, never gaining weight or coloring in the sunlight--when he experienced it. Beyond that were the scars. Symbols burned and carved into his flesh--first by the witch who raised him and then by his own hand over the years. His body was textured with silvery-purple patterns that made up sigils of protection, of power, of binding. These were marks that promised his soul to the dark ones when he died. A demon whose name he once knew, but had long since forgotten how to pronounce. He wasn't entirely certain of what use he could be to a demon but it was welcome to have him--just as soon as Finn grew up and could take care of himself.

  "Hurry up, Master, it's cold." Finn called from behind the curtain. His teeth chattered for emphasis.

  Aegeus slipped the long nightshirt over his head and blew out the last candle, then made his way to his bed.

  "You know that someday you'll be too old for this." Aegeus said as Finn squeezed him in an uncomfortable hug.

  "Then I don't want to grow up. I want to stay with you forever."

  Aegeus bit his lip as one of Finn's bony knees jabbed him uncomfortably in the leg. "In a few years you'll start wanting to sleep with girls." As soon as he said the words, Aegeus felt sick to his stomach. It was true. Although currently Finn showed little interest in playing with other children, once he was older and began to meet more diverse and intelligent people, Finn would spend less time with Aegeus and more time with people his own age. Examining it as a parent, Aegeus understood this. He wanted this for Finn. He wanted him to be happy, and to know what it was like to have a real family all of his own. Wanting to keep Finn by his side just to keep from being lonely was selfish. Aegeus was a selfish man in most respects, but he tried hard not to be so where Finn was concerned.

  "I wouldn't want to sleep with a girl. Girls are scared of everything," Finn mumbled, snuggling into the pillow where Aegeus' long, silver-brown hair covered it.

  "Someday you may find that endearing. Now go to sleep."

  "Yes, master Aegeus." Finn yawned and after a few minutes, he stopped fidgeting and his breathing deepened.

  Aegeus lay awake in the darkness for a long time. Finn was growing up so fast. If the boy knew that it had been his foster-father, Aegeus, who was ultimately responsible for wiping out his entire village, he would hate him.

  But Aegeus didn't want Finn to hate him, and he didn't want Finn to leave him alone. This then served as some small irony: that the only thing he could ever love in this world would ultimately turn away from him. Provided, of course, that he could get them both out of this place alive.

  As much as he loved Finn, the boy was a liability because of it. Aegeus was not the kind of mage who did the occasional parlor trick like setting something on fire across the room or giving someone a sharp zap with a bolt of conjured lightning. His magic took preparation and energy. His magic was cultivated by years of practice and study. It was not small and evanescent, it was large enough to topple entire kingdoms and last through generations.

  Aegeus allowed himself a fleeting sense of satisfaction. This king would know no further generations. Half-elves were frequently infertile, and just to be doubly sure, Aegeus had added a small toxin to the blend he'd sent to Veyl's room. It would not harm him, but it would kill those living things in his ejaculate capable of creating life. Aegeus considered it a parting gift. Even if he and Finn did not survive this, he could be assured that the king's legacy died with his remaining half-blood son.

  CHAPTER THIRTY SIX

  Queen of the Northern Wind Court

  It had been six years since Crow had been to the Tower of the Northern Wind to see the High Court Queen. The last time he'd been here was the day he was exiled from his people and his gods.

  He walked with his head low, his hood covering his face, as he was to remain invisible to his kind. In the minds of his people, he had forsaken kin and religion alike, and had died a dishonorable death as nameless.

  "State your business, scout." One of the queen's sentries stood in front of the large arched doors. They knew why he had come, he'd sent word immediately about the humans, but this was protocol, and so Crow responded appropriately.

  "I have come on behalf of the humans to petition Her Majesty, Queen Sennuwyn, for a grant of safe passage."

  "And what is the purpose of this safe passage?"

  "To travel through the forest to the bordering lands beyond. They come in the name of their new king, who carries the blood of our kindred..."

  "Our kindred?"

  Some soft chuckles came from the guards on either side and Crow's head dropped further.

  "Your kindred, for I am nameless."

  "That's more like it. Remember your place, scout."

  Crow gave a terse nod. "As it is willed. Forgive me."

  The sentry stepped to one side and pulled open one of the wide, golden doors.

  "Her Majesty will speak with you."

  Crow was escorted inside the Queen's chambers. Her consort was there, eying Crow with disdain, as if a rat had wandered into their palace.

  "Crow. It has been a long time since you have been to see me." Queen Sennuwyn's voice was the same honeyed silver tones that had stripped him of all that he was that day six years ago. It was the most beautiful and the most terrifying sound he'd ever known.

  "Majesty." Crow went down on his knees, focusing on her slender white feet and the woven threads of gold that made up her slippers. He had wept for forgiveness at these feet. He had cried and kissed them and had felt his heart and spirit shatter when they had turned and walked away. He moved his vision elsewhere, then finally closed his eyes. "Majesty, I come to ask for safe passage for the human travelers in my care."

  "And why should I grant that?" Her voice was subtly mocking, but it was to be expected. Crow had not been ignorant of the jokes at his expense when he'd asked her to see him.

  "You should do as you see fit, Majesty. I can but ask. I feel these men come with pure intentions. They represent the half-blood king, whom they believe wishes to bring peace among the territories."

  "Peace for whom? You say he is a half-blood, but the other half is human. He sends humans to do his bidding, how can that mean peace for our kind?"

  "I..." Crow had no answers other than his own feeling that Kaidos and Engel were sincere, but his words would mean nothing, so he chose to remain silent.

  The queen rose from her seat then, and approached him. Crow winced when she shoved back his hood, but his eyes remained downcast.

  "Young one, you have always been the bravest, and a rare beauty." The consort uttered a small hiss but the queen ignored him. "Would you like to come home to us? To become kin once more?"

  "You...you would give me back my name?" Crow gasped, and he felt the blood drain from his face, leaving him with a chill.

  "I would. The gods have offered you absolution in exchange for a simple show of your loyalty and love for our people by fulfilling two obligations."

  "Anything..." Crow had never believed this day would come. To be able to join his people once more, finally to have his name returned... to be forgiven for his abnormal desires...

  "Because you are unfit and unwilling to take a mate, you shall take a vow of celibacy and enter the priesthood."

  "That I can do, Majesty. And the other?"

  "Kill the humans."

  Crow felt the wind knocked out of him. "W
hat?"

  "Young one, these preshcali have enslaved many of our people and have killed our kind for generations. Humans are ruthless, acquisitive creatures who have no regard for anything but themselves. If we let them pass through they will return with an army to conquer our lands...and whose fault would it be?"

  Crow tried to swallow the lump in his throat. "Mine."

  "Indeed. And the gods would punish you for eternity with the sounds of our children screaming."

  Crow, though on his knees, swayed as nausea coursed through him.

  The queen's cool hand pressed gently beneath Crow's chin and raised his gaze to meet hers. Tears ran hot from his eyes. He'd been touched by the hand of a divine, and as he looked into her eyes it was as though he was seeing the glory of the sun for the first time. The queen was so beautiful and so gracious to ask the gods to forgive him. How could he refuse her?

  "Young one, the half-blood king has been raised his entire life by humans. He knows not of our ways, and would not understand. These humans are not your friends. We are your blood, your family, and we want you to come back to us." Her warm fingers caressed his cheek and her thumb brushed across his lower lip, coaxing it from the grip of his teeth. "Return to me in two days with their heads, and I will welcome you back to the fold."

  Crow closed his eyes as the queen bent and placed a warm kiss on his forehead. Her blessing. She was trusting in him, and had already opened the door to allow him back into the world he'd forsaken. Now all he had to do was step inside.

  *~*~*

  "Crow has been gone a while. Do you think he's all right?" Barlan asked as he paced the floor of Crow's treetop cottage.

  Kaidos was sitting with his back against the wall, watching Barlan as his body went through partial shifts he could only guess were caused by the man's anxiety. His claws would come out then retract and his bare torso would sprout a thick carpet of golden fur before it disappeared back under his skin.

  Engel was far more alarmed by it and he stood to one side of the room, his hand flexing over the hilt of his sword.

  "Did something happen?" Kaidos asked Barlan, hoping his concern would not be misjudged as blame. Fortunately, it wasn't.

  Barlan's face reddened and he glanced at Engel quickly before lowering his big head. "I—I told him he had pretty eyes. Then he said he was going to see the queen and he left."

  "You what?" Engel's eyes went wide.

  Kaidos shot him a glare, then stood up and approached Barlan cautiously. He reached out and patted the giant on the shoulder. "I'm sure he wasn't insulted. Crow has been alone for a long time, I think he just wasn't sure how to respond."

  Barlan looked miserable, despite the fact that his ears seemed to be stuck in bear form and they twitched as he frowned at the floor. Kaidos bit his tongue to keep from laughing. Laughing at an insecure bear was probably a good way to loose a limb or worse.

  "You think so?" Barlan's blue eyes sought comfort, and Kaidos did his best to project it with a smile he hoped Barlan found reassuring.

  "Yeah, I do. Did he tell you what happened? Why he was exiled?"

  Barlan's shoulders slumped and he nodded. "He said he could not mate with a female. He believes that he is ill. I do not understand it."

  "It must go against their religion," Engel said, seeming more relaxed now that Barlan was no longer pacing.

  "Or against their queen's ideals. Maybe it's just me, but doesn't it seem a little dangerous to elect a ruler on the basis of their ability to communicate with the gods?" Kaidos directed his question at Engel.

  "It's not just you." Engel came and sat down near the fire-pit, tossing on a few logs.

  "I have never understood the concept of placing faith in something one can not see or hope to control," Barlan sighed and dropped down where he was. A shudder went through the floor, but the cottage remained stable.

  Kaidos sat next to him. "I'm sure everything will be fine. Probably just a lot of ritual they have to go through…all that bowing." He waved his hand dismissively.

  "You'd better start practicing your own bowing, Vailinn—assuming we get to the archduke." Engel said with his usual frown.

  Barlan jerked his head up, his nostrils flaring, "Crow is coming back."

  "Is he alone?" Engel asked, his hand reaching for his sword.

  "Yes." Barlan nodded, getting to his feet.

  A few moments later, Crow stepped through the door and pulled off his hood with a heavy sigh.

  "Crow, " Barlan smiled at him, "I was just beginning to get worried."

  "Worried?" Crow cocked his head, looking curiously around the group.

  "Yeah," Kaidos chuckled, standing beside the big man, "Worried that he'd get lost?" He was doing his best to remain positive because Crow's features gave very little of his thoughts away.

  Barlan blushed, "No. Nothing like that."

  "I shall ride with you to the edge of our territory," Crow announced. "We shall leave as soon as you are ready."

  *~*~*

  Crow's mind was a mess. He had left the queen's chambers filled with singular purpose: appease the gods and return to his people. It had seemed such a simple task, but now, as he walked with the small group through the forest, he began to have doubts.

  Kaidos and Engel had spent the time while Crow was away chopping and stacking wood so that Crow would have plenty to burn once the cold winter set in. Barlan had repaired the lean-to Crow used to store his supplies, and picked the last of the autumn vegetables from the garden. They had done this out of appreciation for his kindness, and he thought to repay them through murder.

  It would have been easiest to compel the Dulath to attack the two humans, but that was a cowardly gesture, and Crow would not want Lucania hurt. In fact, the more he thought about it, the less he wanted to hurt any of them. Yet he'd been alone for so long.

  It had been strange today, returning to the elven settlements after his exile. Children who had not yet been born when he'd left stared openly at him until their parents forced their eyes away. People whom he had once called friends ducked their heads and turned their backs to him. So much life, and he was a ghost moving through it all. He wanted to be seen again, to know a smile or kind word. He'd gone so long without the physical sensation of another's touch. Lucania had been the only one in six long years to lay a kind hand on him…

  He'd relished that warmth. The sensation had made his heart beat faster and he'd longed for more, but as he realized it, it had frightened him. And when Lucania had said those words to him about his eyes, looking upon him with a fondness Crow had never seen in another's gaze, his body had responded with a shameful heat pooling in his belly and he had fled.

  Crow understood that to return meant he would still not receive touch. Becoming a priest meant celibacy, but it was nothing he could not handle. Perhaps someday his people might even forget that he had transgressed against their gods. Perhaps he might begin to feel almost clean.

  "Little scout, your steps are slowing. Ride on my back and rest," the golden-furred bear said to him. Lucania's smile twinkled in his sapphire eyes.

  "No—I…" Crow stammered and shifted his crossbow uncomfortably. Normally he had no trouble walking for hours through the forest as he patrolled. But the journey to the Northern Wind Court had drained him and his current state of distress only worsened his exhaustion.

  "Maybe for a little while." Crow finally conceded.

  Lucania stopped and crouched a bit so Crow could climb upon his back, then he stood up and caught up to the horses.

  Kaidos smiled down at him, "If I would have asked for a ride he would have bitten me."

  "I still might," Lucania's deep bear voice rumbled through his muscular body and he huffed out a laugh. "Crow didn't ask. I offered. You kept him out too late last night, Wanderer."

  Kaidos grinned at Crow, although his apology was genuine. "I did. Sorry."

  They rode in silence for another hour until the sky through the trees started to become tinted with violet.

&n
bsp; "Its getting dark," Engel announced as they came upon a good sized clearing, "we should stop here for the evening,"

  Crow looked around, startled to realize that he'd been dozing while riding on the big bear. The smooth rock of the powerful body beneath him had lulled him and he'd actually lain forward across the animal's back, surprised at the softness of the thick fur. He slid off of Lucania, his face heating, and went to scout out a likely fire pit while the other men unbuckled their packs and got out their bedrolls.

  As he'd been drowsing, he'd had a dream. In that dream, he'd killed everyone in their sleep but Lucania, who'd woken up as Crow pressed a knife to his throat. The dream Lucania had pleaded, but not with words meant to spare his own life. He'd said, "Don't make me leave you alone."

  "Crow?"

  Crow jumped when Lucania, back in his human appearance, approached him from behind.

  "What is it?" Crow tried to maintain the steadiness of his tone but failed; his voice trembled.

  Barlan was wearing a horse-blanket around his waist out of respect for his companions. "I... uh... about earlier...When I mentioned your eyes...I..." With his toe, Lucania kicked at a stone embedded in the dirt. "I meant it, but I didn't mean to scare you, little scout."

  "Scare me?"

  Lucania was fidgeting, his eyes looking everywhere but at Crow's face, "I know that I am not a handsome man. And sometimes..." he sighed, "...sometimes I forget myself when I see something so...precious. I didn't mean to insult you. Especially after what you'd told me. So I hope that you can forget that I said it so we might still be friends."

  "Friends?" Crow was even more incredulous than he'd been a moment ago. "You would call me friend in front of your people?"

  Lucania cocked his head, "Yes, of course. If we were more, I would call you mate."

  "You would--"

  "Pamka," Lucania swore in some strange language, stomping his foot, "There I go again, I never seem to say the right thing."

 

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