The Crow King's Wife

by Melissa Myers

  A smile formed on her lips as the sigil of Delvayon loomed before them carved deeply into the walls of the city itself. Two more turns down the wide stone hall and she would be standing before the door to her home. Her heart fluttered a bit at the thought and she closed her eyes for a moment trusting her memories to keep her from bumping into the walls as she walked.

  “Are you ok?” Dray’s voice broke the silence with a whisper that was barely audible and she nodded silently in response. “You haven’t spoken a word since we entered the city.” He pressed.

  “It’s like walking through a dream.” Zoelyn said after a long moment. “I know it all, and yet it isn’t me that knows it.” She kept her voice low and there was hesitation to her words. It wasn’t really a good explanation for what she was feeling, but it was the best she could manage without speaking the truth where Madren might over hear. He seemed like a nice person, but she didn’t know him, and she had a hard enough time trusting people she did know.

  Madren’s steps had slowed as they drew closer to the door to House Delvay. The High lord rubbed the back of his neck and then glanced to Shade. “I’m not sure what kind of mood he will be in. He has been distracted for days. I believe Zoelyn’s presence will improve his mood drastically, but I can’t promise that.”

  Zoelyn blinked in surprise and stared at the man. She had been concerned about him discovering who she truly was, but with what he had just said it was obvious he already knew. A twinge rose in her chest as she realized there was only one way he could know. “Neph told you?” her voice was soft but carried easily through the quiet hall.

  Madren nodded once and gave her a faint smile. “There are only a few that he can trust his secrets with, but I believe I am the only one in the city that knows this particular secret.”

  She nodded slowly and watched him with new found interest as he turned back to the door and slowly pushed it open. Neph liked people even less than she did, and if he found this man trustworthy it would likely be in her interest to learn more of him. The world was filled with enemies. It was allies that were in short supply.

  “Neph, are you busy? Shade has arrived and he brought Zoelyn.” Madren called in a cautious voice. He peeked around the edge of the door, but seemed unwilling to actually enter the house without Neph’s permission.

  “Damn Madren are you still scared of him?” Shade sighed as he brushed past Madren and pushed the door open fully. “Neph! I am short on time and we need to talk.” He called in a louder voice as he disappeared inside the room.

  Zoelyn hung back as Grim followed Shade in and glanced at Madren who was still eyeing the door skeptically. “What has he been distracted with?” She asked calmly.

  Madren started to reply but fell silent as a flurry of movement sounded from within the room and the door crashed shut in front of them with a resounding boom. Muffled curses echoed through the wooden door and Madren shoved his weight against it in a frantic effort to get inside. “Damn it!” He hissed through clenched teeth.

  With growing alarm Zoelyn added her weight to the door and pushed her way into the room before Madren had a chance to move past her. Shade had been the obstruction holding the door closed she realized as she watched him stagger toward one of the walls. He seemed dazed and his jaw was hanging at an unnatural angle. Her gaze flashed quickly to the other side of the room in time to see Grim drawing his fist back. Neph was pinned against the wall, but judging by the bruise forming on Grim’s face he was giving as good as he was getting.

  “No!” Zoelyn’s voice rose to nearly a scream as she sprinted across the room and launched herself at Grim’s upraised arm. He was already beginning the swing as she threw herself on him and her weight pulled his arm downward to crash into the stone wall rather than her brother’s face. Squirming frantically Zoelyn wrapped herself more tightly about his arm and braced both feet on Neph trying to force the two men apart. Snarls rose from the ground below her as the goblin launched itself onto Neph’s leg. Apparently it had decided that her actions were an invitation to join the fight. “Dray! Help me!” she bellowed as she tried to nudge the goblin back with one foot while still bracing Neph far enough away to keep him from striking Grim.

  “What in the bloody hell is going on?” Madren demanded with the air of command in his voice once more. His words did no good though, both men were obviously too angry for simple conversation to satisfy them.

  Dray had managed to get a firm hold on the goblin and was trying to pull it back, but it was taking all of his attention and she could feel the muscles of Grim’s arm tensing once more. She wouldn’t be able to hold him back and she knew it. She had one of his arms pinioned, but he was more than capable of throwing a solid punch with either arm.

  There was a scuff of movement behind her, but she couldn’t spare her attention to see who it was coming to help. She doubted either Shade or Madren had the physical strength to break up the fight completely, but maybe with their help the men could at least be restrained. A hand moved gently past her to rest on Grim and she felt the muscles in his arm go slack at the touch. With a squeak she realized she was falling as Grim collapsed, but strong arms caught her before she could hit the floor. Neither Grim nor Neph were so fortunate however. Both had fallen boneless to the cold stone floor. Neph had the benefit of sliding down the wall, but Grim had hit hard. In a daze she stared up at Shade’s face and her eyes widened at the look of cold fury lighting his features. She had never seen him angry before and the sight was more terrifying than Neph’s temper had ever been.

  He didn’t spare a glance for her as he gently sat her on her feet behind him and knelt before the two men. Calmly he turned both of their limp heads to face him and stared down at their dumbfounded faces. “I am so bloody sick of watching my friends attempt to kill each other and finally I’ve reached the end of my patience. I don’t have time for this kind of idiocy.” Shade began in a low voice with tightly restrained anger lacing each word. “You both consider me a pussy because I don’t participate in your male dominance crap. Well guess what? You are both lying helpless on your backs and as far as male dominance goes, you are both my bitches. I could kill you with the flick of a finger.” He traced a clawed finger across both of their throats to emphasis his words. “I’m not a complete ass though, and as much as I would like to simplify my life by doing so it’s because I’m pissed and I’m rational enough to realize that.” He pulled his hands back from them and leaned back on his heels. With a heavy sigh he rubbed his face and flexed his jaw as if testing it to see if it was fully healed. “I’m not sure exactly why you greeted me with a right hook Neph, but if you ever strike me again without warning you will wake up with the words Shade’s Bitch carved into your forehead. As for you Grim, while I do appreciate your support I can handle my friends. This is the third time today that you have torn into one of them, although the first two times it was only verbal assault. Where my enemies are concerned I am grateful for your support, but leave my god damn friends alone.” Shade’s last words came out as more of a snarl and he took another moment to rein his anger in. Letting out a long slow breath he pulled a hand down across his face much as a frustrated parent that was faced with a wayward toddler. “Neph may be a complete ass, but I am more than capable of handling him as you can see. I know you are frustrated and angry due to other circumstances, but if I can’t trust you, I will leave you behind.” He finished in a voice that was only a bit calmer.

  The look of subdued fury still glinted in his dark blue eyes and Zoelyn could see how much restraint it was taking for him to speak rationally. It didn’t quiet her curiosity though. The fact that Shade had brought both men down with a simple touch was beyond shocking too her.

  “What did you do to them?” Zoelyn whispered finally unable to keep silent any longer. Neither man had made any attempt to rise during Shade’s long speech and she was beginning to wonder if they would be able to. It didn’t seem possible that Shade had disabled them so thoroughly but the proof was before her eyes.<
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  Shade flexed his clawed hands once more and then rose slowly to his feet. He continued to stare down at them for a long moment and then glanced back to her. His anger had faded a bit more, but he still wasn’t smiling. “I paralyzed them. The venom should wear off soon.” He answered calmly before turning his attention back to the prone men. “This is how it’s going to be. When the venom wears off we are going to talk like rational adults and sort through whatever issue you apparently have with me Neph. You can both snarl and growl all you like but if either of you so much nudge the other in a fashion I don’t approve of I will drop you both to the stones again, and if you wake up again it will be because I spent my last bit of patience and mercy in allowing you to live. Got it?” He gazed at them both for another long moment and then slowly crossed the room ignoring the silence that followed him.

  Zoelyn gazed down at her brother for a moment then looked back to Shade who was pouring a small glass of what looked to be whiskey for himself. Dray stood just behind her still holding the goblin and both of them wore identical expressions of shock. It was clear that she wasn’t the only one amazed by Shade’s actions, even Madren seemed frozen by the events of the past few minutes.

  Shade drained the glass and poured another one before turning to look at them all with a raised eyebrow. He gave a faint sigh and sat down on the edge of the table. “I am Morcaillo.” He announced with disgust. “We don’t fight unless we know we can win, and then only when it’s to our advantage. I don’t brawl, snarl or snap at others because I don’t need to and I prefer to voice my anger or push it aside rather than act on it. There are times when even I lose my temper though and I apologize to those who had to witness it.” He bowed his head in her direction and then to Dray and Madren. “But not to those I unleashed my anger on. You both bloody well deserved it.” He added in a harsher tone as his gaze fell on Neph and Grim.

  “You bedded a Nightblade.” Neph’s voice was weak and the words were hesitant as he slowly pushed himself up against the wall. Grim was moving now too and a bit more quickly than Neph though he didn’t seem to be any steadier.

  “So I deserve to have my jaw broke?” Shade demanded in an incredulous voice.

  “You do when you weren’t wearing a bachelor’s ring. The bitch wasn’t trying to kill you Shade. She wanted a child to hand over to Kali and you obliged her with it.” Neph returned harshly. The strength was returning to his voice and he was already pushing his way further up the wall to stand.

  Silence filled the room once more and Zoelyn watched Shade down the second glass of whiskey and poured a third with a shaking hand. He had paled at Neph’s accusation, but hadn’t denied it. He swallowed heavily and rubbed his face once more before locking eyes with Neph again. “How do you know that?” he asked weakly.

  “Does it matter how I know it?” Neph growled in response.

  “So Kali has the Changeling gene to work with now.” Grim said quietly. He let out a long breath and glanced at Neph. “You could have informed him of that before you punched him. Had you mentioned it I probably wouldn’t have objected to you breaking his jaw.”

  “So kind, Grim.” Shade said dryly. His head lolled back on his shoulders and he stared up at the ceiling with frustration clearly written on his face. “So we attack Rivasa, rescue your daughter, I break into the prison save Charm, and then somehow locate Kali and steal the child if there is in fact a child.” He spoke the litany in the voice of one that knows he is damned.

  “You realize moving against Kali means moving against the entire Nightblades. She is close allies with Hemlock.” Neph growled as he pushed himself off the wall and moved to the table. With a heavy sigh he pulled several more glasses from the cabinet and dropped them onto the table before glancing up at her with a wry smile. “Welcome home Zoey.” He said quietly then poured himself a glass and dropped heavily into the chair across from Shade.

  “I’ve dealt with Hemlock before.” Shade pointed out calmly before sliding into a chair as well.

  “In conversation or in actually moving against him?” Neph asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “Conversation.” Shade admitted with a frown. He ran a hand through his auburn hair sending it into a tousled mess which only seemed to add to the look of frustration that clung to him.

  “Hemlock is a master of time magic. Even if you manage to rescue the child there is a chance he can manipulate time and counter whatever measures you took to be successful in your mission.” Grim pointed out coldly as he joined them at the table. His dark eyes flicked from Neph to Shade and then lingered on the whiskey. He seemed about to pour himself a drink but looked away after a long moment. It spoke volumes for the stress he was under. Zoelyn knew he only drank alcohol when he was at the end of his wits.

  “So even attempting it is pointless? Is that what you are saying?” Shade asked in exasperation.

  “Unless you kill Hemlock first it is.” Grim replied calmly.

  “I don’t even know who Kali or Hemlock are.” Zoelyn pointed out calmly as she joined them and motioned Dray and Madren to do likewise. “By the way you are all acting I’m assuming they are very bad.” She added lamely as she looked at each of them in turn.

  “That’s putting it mildly.” Madren sighed as he took a place beside her and rubbed the back of his neck. It seemed to be a habit when he was stressed, and by the expression on his face the skin on his neck would be raw by nightfall. “Hemlock is the leader of the largest Assassin guild on Sanctuary. He is a man with no moral grounding at all and a very sadistic nature. Kali however is the more dangerous of the two. She is chaos incarnate with a knack for life magic that makes every other life mage on Sanctuary pale in comparison. She devotes herself to the creation of new creatures and is responsible for the Bendazzi, the serpents, the goblins, as well as the Blights.” His eyes moved to Dray with his last words and he gave a mildly apologetic shrug.

  “And with the Changeling gene she can create new enemies that can hide themselves flawlessly amongst us. The Blights nearly destroyed three countries with their camouflage. Can you imagine how well they would have succeeded had they been able to mimic our leaders?” Grim added sadly.

  “Why would she want to destroy us though?” Zoelyn asked in confusion.

  “Because she is bloody well insane.” Neph grumbled.

  “She was a pariah amongst the Elder Bloods even before the prison was built. It may be some sort of revenge.” Madren offered quietly.

  “Because the magical energy from the Elder Blood is what holds the Barrier around Sanctuary and if she can manage to kill all of us off it will weaken the barrier enough for her to escape.” Shade said in a matter of fact tone. All eyes turned to regard him and he shrugged on shoulder in response. “That is my Father’s goal at any rate so I assume it’s what Kali is after as well.”

  Zoelyn leaned back in her chair and listened in silence as Madren and Shade debated his theory. If what they said was true than Seth could almost be considered a hero. Hemlock was his mortal enemy and she knew Seth would do anything he could to kill the man. Which in essence made Seth one of the good guys despite his dark reputation. The thought almost brought a smile to her lips but she caught herself at the last moment. Given the topic being discussed currently a smile was not the expression she should be wearing. Her gaze flicked between Madren and Shade and then came to rest on Grim. He was looking far more agitated than the conversation warranted and his gaze kept moving to the door. She was surprised Shade hadn’t noticed his impatience yet, but by the expression on her brother’s face Neph had.

  “Kali is a Guardian. I sincerely doubt she wants to bring down the Barrier she helped build.” Grim announced loudly in a voice that rang with annoyance. The room fell to silence at once as everyone turned to stare at him as if he had gone mad. He shifted in his seat and glanced at the door once more before letting out a resigned sigh. “I believe her general philosophy is to keep us too weak to escape by pitting us against each other and her creations. If Kali tr
uly wanted to kill us she is more than capable. She earned the start of her dark reputation by creating a symbiotic creature that dominated its host. If she were truly out for our blood why not just recreate that monstrosity and have us all as her puppets?”

  “How do you know Kali is a Guardian?” Neph asked with suspicion clear in his tone.

  “I have tea with her every week and chat with her about her life and goals for the future.” Grim returned sarcastically before looking directly at Shade with a glare. “While I understand this is an important conversation it also seems to be one that will keep for a time. Will the rest of our business today keep?”

  Shade blushed in response and shook his head quickly. “No you are right and I’m sorry we were so off track.” Shade apologized quickly. He turned in his seat to face Neph and smiled weakly. “I don’t suppose you might have recent reports from Rivana would you?”

  Neph continued to watch Grim for another long moment before slowly nodding to Shade. He cleared his throat and settled back in his chair. “Most of their soldiers have been deployed to perch on my border like vultures though a few are waiting on the borders of Goswin as well. Prendington has become a holding place for prisoners and has guards sufficient to keep the ones they hold there in check, but little more than that. It’s a bit much for the two of you, but you have managed to pull off miracles with worse odds before.”

  “And how did you know we were going to Prendington?” Grim asked in a mockingly suspicious tone. His dark eyes danced as he stared hard at Neph. Despite his earlier impatience and their need for information the temptation to goad Neph had obviously been too much for him to resist.

  Irritation lit Neph’s face at his words but to Zoelyn’s surprise Neph’s only response was to inhale sharply and glare at Grim before turning back to Shade. “There has been an increase in Spell Hawks crossing into Rivana lately and while I don’t know why they are there I will tell you that they are arriving, but not departing. The reports from my scouts say they are Morcaillo ships, but with the Firym and Oblivion ready to attack Morcath I can’t see any reason why Lord Morcaillo would send soldiers to Rivana. Still it might make getting across the borders tricky if you plan to fly there which I’m assuming you do.”