“Tell it as they tell it in Glis. I won’t find offense. Don’t change the story to flatter me.” Seth pressed and the bard stiffened further.
“Is there a reason you are tormenting my storyteller?” Finn asked with amusement.
“You wanted to know my plans for Zoelyn.” Seth reminded him. “He is about to tell you.”
The spirit visibly flinched at his words, but cleared his throat once more and squared his shoulders. “In the southern hills near the river lands just past the Bramblewood a village once stood. It was a dwelling of people so closely knit that neighbors were as brothers and every pain or joy felt by one was felt by all. Amongst these folks was a girl by the name of Karalea. She was the pride of her village for more than just her beauty. It was her gentle nature and kindness that folk spoke of when they described her. She was a hunter’s daughter and so she knew the land as no other did. She was not the sort to laze about while others worked and often she was out gathering and foraging the wilds to help maintain not just her family, but her village as well. She would be out from dawn until dusk on her wanderings and so it was that one day as she was foraging she came across a crow that was wounded. To her eyes it was a poor creature that was suffering and so by her gentle nature she sought to ease its pain. Any other who encountered this creature might have believed the simplest mercy would be death for the bird was gravely wounded with a cut that scored from its breast to far past its wing. Death was not the answer for one as kind as Karalea though and so she carried the creature back home with her and cleansed the wound with clean water before binding it with strips of cloth from one of the few dresses she owned.” The bard paused and his gaze flicked to Seth once more. There was a faint glint of accusation there and for a moment Seth wondered if the storyteller actually believed the tale he was spinning.
“Continue.” Finn prompted. The book he had picked up was lying forgotten in his lap and he was watching the bard with interest. He glanced at Seth and raised an eyebrow. “I’ve never heard this tale. I had no idea you spent your spare time luring peasant girls into pampering you.”
Seth snorted with amusement and waved a hand at the bard. “You heard your master. Continue.” He ordered quietly.
The bard took another deep breath and bowed his head slightly to Finn before his rich voice rose once more. “For days she cared for the creature and often carried it with her on her wanderings never realizing what she truly held. To her the crow was a creature of the forest, an innocent animal that had been wounded cruelly, but in truth it was far more than a crow. It was in fact the Crow King himself that Karalea devoted so much kindness to and had she simply killed the creature when it was weakened the world would have been a brighter place, and perhaps that small village would still stand today. That was not her nature however and over time the creature healed until it once again had the strength for flight. Her heart lifted to see it survive such a grievous wound and with a loving hand she released it back into the wild. For days all was peaceful and her life returned to normal. Then in the still of night the first dream came to her and in her sleep she saw truly what she had saved. The Crow King himself spoke to her and tried to lure her to him with sweet words, but Karalea refused his charm. She was no fool and she knew the danger of the Crow King. He was a creature of hell with the blackest of souls and no matter how sweetly he spoke she knew it was lies. For many nights he plagued her dreams with temptations until the folk of the village began to see the haunted look in her eyes. They begged her to tell them her troubles, but she was not the sort to burden others with her pain and so she kept her silence until the tempting dreams turned to nightmares. As his sweet words shifted to threats she went first to her mother and told her all. In ignorance her mother bade her be silent and hold strong. She didn’t want her daughter to suffer, but she was foolish enough to believe the Crow King could only haunt dreams and that he had no strength over the pure of heart.”
Finn held up a hand to still the bard and the spirit fell silent at once. Turning in his seat he regarded Seth for a moment. “Didn’t you dreamwalk to Zoey a few days ago?” he asked cautiously.
Seth smiled at the memory and nodded his head. “I did and it was sweeter than I could have hoped. She was already dreaming about me when I stepped into her thoughts and while it wasn’t exactly an accurate image of me it was still a flattering one.”
Nodding slowly Finn watched him with a dubious look on his face and then nodded to the bard once more. “Continue, and do exactly as Seth told you. Tell it in the Glis fashion and as honestly as you can remember. I have a feeling there is more to this story than I am going to want to hear.”
The bard’s expression never shifted as he bowed his head to Finn, but Seth didn’t miss the dark glance the spirit gave him before continuing. “With the nightmares and threats came the crows in flocks such as the folk had never before seen. They gathered about the village devouring every bit of food they could find from the gardens and surrounding forests. The air was constantly alive with their calls even in the dead of night. For days they lingered and tormented the peaceful village with their noise and thieving nature. Karalea felt pangs at seeing her friends and family suffer the nuisance, but kept her silence as her mother had bid her and worked all the harder at her gathering to provide the village with what the birds had stolen. Her silence and refusal infuriated the Crow King and he realized that his minions were not enough to frighten her. Karalea was strong of heart and spirit and he knew by watching her endure his minor torments so stoically that it would take more to break her will, and so the nightmares faded away and the flocks of crows left. For a time she believed he had given up, and for the first time in weeks she slept in peace. It wasn’t until the next night that she knew the truth. In the dark hours of early morning there was a noise outside her door. Thinking it was her mother or father she rose to see what had brought them from their beds so early. The air beyond her room was chill and it was not one of her beloved parents waiting for her. The creature was hideous with the marks of the grave still upon it. Once perhaps it had been human, but no trace of humanity remained in the glowing eyes it set upon her. In terror she stumbled back into her room and braced herself against the door as the nightmare beyond slammed its strength into the rough wooden planks. For what seemed like hours it clawed at the door snarling and growling as it hissed threats in a low guttural voice. Only with the Crow King would she be safe it warned her, but through her sobs and cries of terror she held it back and refused the newest threat. It fled with the first light of dawn and Karalea sagged in exhaustion. Only by sheer force of will did she manage to drag herself to her parent’s door. She expected to find them dead, for the had not responded to the noise of the night, but to her vast relief they lay sleeping and with only a gentle nudge she roused them. Through tears she told her father everything and watched as his face darkened with anger and then paled in fear as her story unfolded. His reaction was as different from her mother’s as night is from day and within but an hour of hearing her troubles he had gathered the entire village to his home. He told them all of the Crow King’s torments toward his daughter. Another place might have turned Karalea away and banished her from their village, but that was not the sort of place she dwelled. Instead the folk rose in righteous outrage and vowed to protect her and see her safe until help could be summoned even if they must petition the High Lord himself.”
“Seth I don’t like where this is going.” Finn warned in a low voice. He had shifted in his chair and the book was once more on the table. Apparently the Lord of Death had lost all interest in his research for the time being.
Seth smiled and remained silent simply waving his hand for the bard to continue. It was a dark story, he knew that, but it was a story Zoey would know given how long she had lived in Glis. Once she realized what he was doing she would know what to do, and as clever as she was it wouldn’t take her long to piece together his plan.
The Spirit hesitated his gaze flicking between Seth and back to Fi
nn until he was waved to continue by Finn as well. His voice faltered at first and then regained the rich tones he had no doubt been famous for in life. “At first guards were placed in an attempt to protect her from the spirits that came to torment her, but after several brave men suffered dearly for their service she was moved to the temple. When even the holy ground failed to keep the torments at bay Karalea began to rest under the protective light of the sun and remained awake and terrified during the long lonely hours of the night. As the troubles continued first one messenger then another was sent to the capital to beseech help, but no answer came, and not a soul that was sent returned. The days progressed and her suffering increased as did the pain of her village. The game that had always been bountiful in the forests fled and for many days the hunters returned to their family with empty hands. Then one by one the hunters began to disappear as well. Karalea’s heart swelled to breaking as each life was lost for she knew it was because of her that they suffered. She vowed to her people that she would surrender herself to the Crow King if he would end their torment, but her village loved her so that they refused her brave offer. As the guilt grew in her she insisted it was the only way and so to protect her they began to lock her inside the temple and prayed every night that salvation would come before all was lost. It wasn’t until her own father was lost on one of his hunts that Karalea truly lost all hope and knew that if she didn’t act the entire village would fall to ruin. Already her people were starving. For with the theft from the crows and the lack of meat from the hunters there was nothing left to them. So it was that in the dark of a moonless night that she climbed to the rafters of the small stone church. She knew that they had locked the doors and the windows fast below, but they had not considered the small window near the roof. As quiet as a mouse she crept through the window and down to the narrow porch below it. She could hear the fearful whispers of the men who guarded her below, but she was the daughter of a hunter and so knew how to move as silent as a shadow. Without light to guide her she made her way into the deep forest to a glade that she knew from her wanderings and there she called upon the Crow King. He came without pause to claim the prize he had worked so dearly for and so it was that Karalea was never again seen by those she loved so dearly and the Crow King won his wife. The village that she had sacrificed herself to protect faded with her for no one that dwelled there could remain without thinking of the beautiful sweet girl that had been stolen from amongst them and the torments they had endured on her behalf. To this day that land lays barren, and to this day the people of Glis are wary of all creatures they do not know as their own, especially crows.”
Finn stared at the bard for a long moment and then turned slowly to regard Seth. “So you plan to romance her by sending her nightmares, dead people, and cursing her home?” he asked in an incredulous voice. Shaking his head slowly he stared at Seth then rubbed his face quickly. “Tell me that isn’t a true story. By the look on his face I think it might be.” Finn added and waved a hand toward the bard who stood glowering.
“Karalea lived in Glis some time ago. The sleepless nights and haunted look came from a tryst she was having with what she thought was a wandering hunter. The lad was handsome and Karalea was naïve. The dead that haunted her were sent by a mage and most of them were illusions. The crows were summoned and the game was scarce because her lover had a large group with him that was preying upon the same forest for their own comforts. The story she gave about the Crow King was rubbish to hide what she truly did in the moonlit hours, and when she disappeared it wasn’t because I kidnapped her. It was because she had finally run off with the slaver that had been seducing her for months. The hunters that disappeared were victims of the same group and all of them eventually found themselves in Nerathane as slaves. The men I’m sure died from the labor, but Karalea still lives there. She had enough Elder Blood in her veins to lead a long life and has existed as a courtesan for years.” Seth explained calmly. He leaned back in his chair and grinned at the Bard who was watching him with doubt.
“What about Zoey? Why don’t you just go to her in person? Why would you put her through torment when you could simply go see her and apologize?” Finn pressed with a note of frustration clear in his voice.
“I can’t go to her in person right now. She is with Ryvenken so it isn’t safe. I should have before, but as you remember I was busy sulking and angry with Jala. Now it’s too late. So either I wait for Ryvenken to leave or I convince her to come to me. The latter is the faster. I have a feeling he will linger around her for a while. He knows what she truly is now and he will want to keep an eye on her because of it.” Seth sighed and tried to ignore the confusion on Finn’s face. He would have to explain more and he knew it, but decided to hold his tongue until Finn forced him to speak. He gave a meaningful glance to the spirit that lingered beside them and silently prayed Finn would send the bard away before he forced him to speak. What he was going to share wasn’t something he wanted to become common knowledge.
Finn sat silent and seemed to be considering his words carefully. He waved the bard away from them as he looked up and settled his dark green eyes on Seth once more. “I’ve never seen you show hesitation over confronting anyone before. Even Hemlock doesn’t seem to scare you.” He observed quietly.
“I didn’t say I was scared, I said it wasn’t safe, and so I’m showing caution.” Seth corrected a bit too sharply. To even suggest he was feeding Lutheron was an insult, though he didn’t think Finn realized that.
“I don’t know the name Ryvenken, but you have never shown hesitation around Shade or Dray so I’m assuming you are referring to Caleb Faulklin, but I have a very hard time believing he is at threat to you. Granted he is formidable, but Seth you are terrifying when you fight.” Finn spoke slowly and Seth could see the confusion still present in his gaze.
“Ryvenken the Keeper is not a person it is a thing. It is a sword to be precise and quite possibly the most powerful weapon within the Barrier. Caleb carries it. He plundered it from one of the fallen Veyetta cities and it has accepted him and bonded with him. Don’t judge him by his age or by his family, he is more than that now. Ryvenken was crafted for one of the Divine, and one of the most dangerous Divine at that. It holds memory and power and it grants those gifts to whoever it bonds with. At the same time it drains power and memory from those that wield it until they are one. Every time Caleb uses that sword he gives more of himself to it and it becomes more of him. Who he was will eventually fade into the blade and his body will be a shell for the combined memories of the sword. As much as he has already used it in battle I would venture to guess that very little of his original mind remains and his power has grown to nearly match yours. Ryvenken knows me, I have faced that blade in battle before and I know what it is capable of. I don’t care if a three year old child holds it. If they are bonded I am cautious, and Caleb Faulklin was formidable before the bonding.” Seth kept his voice low as he spoke but laced every word with sincerity. He didn’t want Finn to ignore the warning in his words.
“So you think following the story is the better path. I can’t say I’m convinced it is. It sounds cruel to me and I don’t think Zoey will react well to anything that was done to Karalea.” Finn said with a sigh.
“Caleb Faulklin is a fully anointed priest of Lutheron.” Seth informed him quietly and watched as Finn’s expression shifted from hesitation to concern. “Zoey will recognize the story before I ever reach the nightmares. I have faith in her. It is possible she may be stubborn, but she will come to me before she allows others to suffer as the villagers did in the story. She has to come to me. It’s the only way I can save her. I didn’t tell her the secrets of how to sustain herself, and I won’t. She needs me to provide for her or she will corrupt herself in the gathering. The key to Undrae survival is Life energy Finn, and I can’t let her kill for herself. It would darken her soul every time she had to kill to survive and I’m not sure she would even do it. I think she would rather starve herself or worse tha
n kill someone to gather life energy.”
Finn had paled at his words, and he wasn’t sure if it was the mention of Lutheron or the explanation about Undrae. Grudgingly he nodded and let out a long slow breath. “Do what you must then, but be careful. If Caleb is everything you describe than I have a feeling he is our enemy. I don’t know why Lutheron hates me, but he certainly appears to, and I’m sure that will extend toward those that serve me as well.”
“It doesn’t matter if Lutheron hates me. Ryvenken does. I’ve killed two of its former masters and it never forgets. If I show myself before him, Caleb will attack.” Seth replied quietly. With a faint smile he leaned forward to the table and plucked a book from the stack. With a casual glance he examined the worn leather cover then glanced back toward the bard. “Summon your storyteller back and let’s devote the next few hours to your research. I’d rather my mind be in a brighter place before I go face Jala. If we work swiftly maybe you can have something impressive built when I bring Legacy back to visit you.”
Chapter 10
Delvay
“If I never see another Spell Hawk it will be too soon.” Dray grumbled as the ship finally landed. He looked much paler than normal and it took him several moments before he seemed to trust that the ship was going to remain still. With a heavy breath he unclenched his hands from his arm rests and glowered at Shade.
Zoelyn smiled faintly at the reaction and rose unsteadily from her seat. Neither Shade nor Grim were unnerved by the flight, but she shared Dray’s opinion fully. The storm had been bad enough with wind buffeting the ship like a sparrow, but Shade had seemed intent on testing his skills at every moment. She hadn’t even realized a Spell Hawk could move so swiftly, but it had barely taken them four hours to reach Delvay. Four gut-clenching-terror-filled hours of flying through canyons, trees, and skimming across the ocean so close she was certain that the waves were brushing the bottom of the ship.
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