The Crow King's Wife

by Melissa Myers

  “I am a god’s bastard.” She whispered to herself and even now hours after Fortune had explained everything it still seemed unreal. Cora had tried to convince her that she was the salvation of Delvay and that becoming Undrae had been a blessing rather than a curse. A blessed curse as Fortune put it. Supposedly she could use her powers to reawaken lost heroes of Delvay, and even Neph had seemed to believe the rubbish.

  Closing her eyes she tried to fight back the hunger and wondered if any of them realized how difficult it was to control her ‘blessed curse’. If just one of them knew how hard she had to fight to keep from draining everything around her then maybe they would realize how stupid their plan was.

  There was no way she could manage something as delicate as draining certain weaves of magic right now. She was too ravenous, and she didn’t even know why. The only thing that had changed about her feeding habits was who created the mage stones. When she had used the stones created by Seth her curse had faded to a point that she could almost forget it existed. The stones Neph created did nothing but stem her cravings for a breath and her body was failing as well though she had taken pains to hide it. If anyone could see how her ribs were jutting or how the armor Seth had crafted for her hung from her wasting frame they might understand, but she was too ashamed to let them see that. The fleeting gift of humanity that Seth had granted her was fading, and in another few weeks she would be a monster again in appetite as well as appearance.

  A soft scuff from the hall drew her from her musings and Zoelyn glanced toward the door with dread. Neph had retired hours ago, and aside from Grim and Syrah the house was empty. The only explanation for the sound was that Grim had awoken and Syrah had come to tell her. With a sigh Zoelyn walked slowly toward the door. In her current frame of mind she couldn’t think of a single thing she dreaded more than speaking with Grim. Explaining what had happened with Shade was going to be painful for them both, and she still hadn’t determined how to lie to him about it. In truth she didn’t want to lie to Grim. The secret Shade had given her was like a suffocating cloud and she knew if she could just share the burden with someone else the guilt might fade a bit, but Shade had practically begged her to keep silent, and so she had no choice but to lie for now at least.

  Silently she pulled the door open and her eyes settled on the tiny form standing in the shadows of the hall. Apparently Syrah had decided she was asleep and had been leaving when the door opened. “Is he awake then?” Zoelyn asked as she stepped into the hall and started toward the girl. Her steps slowed as she grew closer and the shadows faded enough for her to actually see the girl. This child’s hair was blond, not dark like Syrah’s. “Are you lost?” Zoelyn asked hesitantly and silently prayed this actually was a Delvay child that had wandered into the wrong house, even though in her heart she knew it wasn’t.

  The child turned slowly to face her and its movements were too fluid for a living creature. She wasn’t moving her feet to turn Zoelyn realized with growing alarm. The child wasn’t even touching the floor. Swallowing hard Zoelyn stared at the too pale flesh and bright blue eyes and felt a cold chill wash over her entire body.

  “You can’t ignore him.” The girl’s rasping voice echoed through the hall as she took a step toward Zoelyn. The smell of rot filled the hall and Zoelyn staggered back in revulsion. “There are wards against demons lining your walls. How wrong of you after all he has done for you. You can’t keep me out though, and I won’t let you ignore him.” The child pressed as she continued to approach.

  “I didn’t place any wards. I don’t even know what wards you are talking about.” Zoelyn stammered as she took another step back toward her room. She knew this part of the story, and she knew the child would attack. She had to get back inside her room before the child reached her. She knew her curse wouldn’t drain the dead, Seth had taught her that much on her first trip into the Darklands. “Please tell him to stop this, please. I don’t want to live this story.” Zoelyn begged as she bumped against the wooden frame of her bedroom door and fumbled at the door handle behind her without taking her eyes from the dead child.

  “There is only one way to stop this and you know it. This is an old story. How far will you let it progress before you face the inevitable. You cannot ignore the Crow King.” The child hissed as the door gave behind her.

  Zoelyn stumbled backward into the room and barely managed to close the door before the child reached her. The wood rattled against the child’s assault and Zoelyn took a hasty step back and swallowed heavily. She could feel fear building inside her and threatening to overwhelm her reason. Stumbling back further she caught hold of a chair and braced herself as she forced her breathing back to normal and tried to rein her emotions in. Her eyes were locked on the door and she couldn’t seem to pull her gaze from the rattling wooden frame. How long could something as simple as a wooden door hold the dead at bay? She had locked it when it closed, but how could a lock stop a spirit?

  “You can’t ignore him. Will you let your people suffer for your stubbornness?” The child taunted from behind the frame and her assault on the door increased.

  Zoelyn took another step back until she was pressed against the cold stone wall. A breeze from the window stirred her hair and she pried her eyes from the shuddering door to gaze out at the moonlit night. There was only one way to end this. She had to face Seth, and if Neph had truly placed wards against demons on their home there was only one way to do it.

  Shakily she moved to the window and carefully pulled herself up into the sill. Letting out a nervous breath she stared down over the edge to the ground that seemed too far away to even contemplate climbing down. The door rattled on its frame once more and Zoelyn glanced at it just long enough to decide death by falling was preferable to being ripped apart by an angry child. At least the fall would be a quick death she reasoned as she carefully lowered her legs out the window.

  It took a long moment for her to find enough purchase to lower herself down and she silently cursed Neph when she finally managed to. “If you hadn’t put up stupid wards I wouldn’t be doing this.” She hissed to the darkness as she lowered herself toward the ground with agonizing slowness. Each slip of her fingers sent her heart racing and the sheer relief she felt once solid ground was under her feet again was enough to bring laughter bubbling to her lips.

  “Oh by the Aspects I am never doing that again.” She whispered as she gazed around the empty outer city. It wouldn’t do to summon him here. There was too much chance that one of the guards might spot her, and she already drew enough suspicious looks in the dining hall to risk anyone seeing her conversing with demons under the moonlight. No one knew who she truly was and she was considered an outsider in the city. She knew the only reason the people of Delvay tolerated her was Neph’s favor.

  Silently Zoelyn turned toward the outer gates not daring to look back at the city. She was too afraid she might glimpse the child’s pale face gazing at her from her window, or worse see the child pursuing her into the darkened forest. Her pace increased as that image filled her mind and she had to force herself to not run. The ground beyond the city was treacherous and she only a fool would run there after dark. There was too much chance of a serious fall that could cripple or even kill her depending on where she was along the path.

  The forest around her thickened as she drew farther from the city and her frantic pace slowed to a stumbling crawl as the moonlit night faded to shadows. Biting her lip Zoelyn fumbled on and focused herself completely on the path rather than the noises around her. She knew it was likely the creatures of the forest rattling the brush in the pitch black forest, but she couldn’t help imagining the dead child pacing her every step like a hound following a scent.

  “You didn’t have to take the story so literal. Are you actually heading for a grove to speak with me?” Seth’s voice rose from the shadows behind her and she barely managed to contain her scream as she whirled on him with wide eyes.

  “Damn it!” Zoelyn snapped and slapped him h
ard on the chest. “My heart was nearly in my throat already and you sneak up behind me without warning. What in the name of the Aspects is wrong with you?” She demanded as she punched him in the arm for good measure.

  Seth took a step back and smiled widely at her. “Afraid of little bitty ghosts but willing to slap the Crow King.” He observed with far too much amusement in his voice.

  “The little bitty ghost wanted to rip me limb from limb, and if you wanted me dead I’d be buried by now.” Zoelyn hissed irritably.

  “She wouldn’t have hurt you.” Seth corrected with an infuriating smile. “She was just trying to get your attention, and apparently she did her job well.”

  “That she did.” Zoelyn agreed sourly. “How dare you place me in Karalea’s role? Why would you force this story on me?” she demanded and had to resist the urge to hit him again when his smile widened.

  “There are wards on your keep and you never go outside. I can’t dream walk to you, and I needed to speak with you. I don’t see that I had many other choices beyond the path I chose, but I do feel inclined to point out that had you simply taken Finn’s hand in Rivana we wouldn’t be having this discussion right now.” Seth returned lightly.

  Zoelyn’s glare faded a fraction and she shuffled her foot on the rock strewn ground as she considered his words. He had a valid point as much as she hated to admit it. If he had wanted to speak with her she had given him very few options, but then that had been the whole point of coming to Delvay, and Seth had foiled it easily. “I don’t see what there is to speak about.” She muttered after a long moment.

  “Why you are avoiding me for one.” Seth said calmly as he leaned back against a tree. His gold eyes met hers and held her gaze with such intensity that she couldn’t look away. “I know you don’t truly want to avoid me. Your dream told me that much.” He added softly and she felt a faint blush creep onto her cheeks at the memory.

  “I can’t control my dreams any more than I can control my heart, but I can force myself to use logic despite them. You used me Seth. You entranced me in an attempt to escape the Darklands.” Zoelyn tried to keep her voice neutral, but her misery bled through despite her best effort. “I trusted you.” She added in a hoarse voice.

  “And I have been guarding you since the moment you left the Darklands. I appeared in Rivana when Hemlock came for you. What more do I need to do to earn forgiveness Zoey?” Seth returned with a hint of desperation though it was obvious that he was trying to keep his voice calm.

  “How do I know that you showed up to save me and not simply for the chance to kill Hemlock? I know how much you hate him, and how much you would give to have vengeance on him. Isn’t that the reason you used me in the first place?” Zoelyn shot back and shook her head at him. “I can’t trust anything you do now.”

  “Then give me a test to prove myself.” Seth demanded as he took a step closer to her. “Name something I can do to win your trust back. I won’t let this go Zoey. I will stalk you unmercifully until you realize I am sincere.” He looked ready to say more but paused and glanced toward the path with narrowed eyes. “Damn it.” He snarled and took a hesitant step back from her. His hand fumbled in his cloak and she thought he was drawing his dagger but his produced a leather bag instead. Still staring down the path he pushed the bag toward her quickly. “Take these. You will need them and I won’t have time to explain why.” He hissed as Grim’s form appeared on the path.

  “Mendotha drevna Sethian Avanti.” Grim growled the words as his hand cut through the night air in a violent slashing motion toward the demon. With a snarl of frustration Seth vanished from the forest leaving Zoelyn gaping in disbelief at where he had been standing.

  “What did you do?” Zoelyn demanded as she whirled on Grim.

  “I could ask you the same.” Grim snapped as he stalked closer to her. “I’ve lost three days to sleep and when I do wake up it’s with the taste of your fear as thick as bile in my mouth.”

  Zoelyn blanched and took a hasty step back as she shook her head. “What did you do to Seth?” She clarified weakly.

  “I banished him back to where he belongs.” Grim explained in a voice that was far too calm for the expression lighting his face. “I thought perhaps I would give you the truth that he seems inclined to keep hidden before you partake of his gift.” He added as he motioned toward the leather bag in his hand. “Or do you already know what that is and you simply don’t care?”

  “They are mage stones.” Zoelyn said without hesitation and tugged the bag open so Grim could look inside. “For some reason the ones Seth makes are more powerful than the ones Neph can give me. I suppose because he is older than Neph.”

  A look of relief flickered in Grim’s eyes and he nodded slowly. “So you don’t know then.” He observed in a calmer voice and most of the anger seemed to drain from his face. “It isn’t the fact that he is more powerful than Neph, Zoey. Those aren’t true mage stones. Those stones contain life force. Someone died for every stone in that bag. Given that the entire world is at war right now I’m sure it’s fairly easy for Seth to gather those stones, but what happens in times of peace?”

  Zoelyn stared down at the bag in revulsion and slowly sank to the ground as she contemplated how many lives she held in the tiny leather bag. At least a dozen people had died to provide the bounty she held, possibly more, and despite what Grim was saying there was still a voice inside her screaming for her to absorb one immediately.

  “The older you get the more you will require.” Grim continued with a sigh as he sat down facing her and crossed his legs under him. “It is the nature of the Undrae and the reason they were never allowed to exist long. Part of me hoped you would die in Rivana, and as terrible as that sounds, I would have mourned the loss of a dear friend but it would have saved us both from facing the inevitable.”

  “And that would be?” Zoelyn pressed numbly. She could guess what he was going to say, but she wanted to hear him actual voice it.

  “The moment when you can no longer control your curse and you are a danger to everyone around you. I doubt Seth will be able to kill enough to sustain you once the world is at peace.” Grim answered in a voice that seemed far too rational for what he was saying.

  “How do you know that moment will come?” Zoelyn asked in a shaking voice.

  “By watching how you already struggle to contain your powers.” Grim replied quietly.

  “So you would rather just kill me now then? Is that why you banished Seth so it would be easier? ” Zoelyn demanded.

  “I banished Seth because he is a demon and has no place in this world. It seemed the more rational action than the one my sword was hoping for. Ryvenken has several grievances against Seth and would have greatly preferred that I end his existence. I chose the more merciful course instead.” Grim explained with a weary sigh before shaking his head at her. “And no Zoey I am not here to kill you. I’m here to warn you of what you will become. For now you have yourself under control and as long as you can maintain that control I am content to allow you to live in honor of the friendship between us no matter how strained it is at this point.”

  “How noble of you.” she muttered sourly as she turned her away from him to gaze into the darkened forest. She didn’t want him to see the revulsion on her face, or the hunger in her eyes.

  “I am scarcely ever what would be considered noble and we both know that.” Grim corrected her calmly as he rose to his feet. “I am leaving Delvay tonight Zoey. You have cost me too much time already and for both our sakes I will pray I’m not too late already. I came here to warn you and nothing more. As long as you are in control we are at peace, but the moment I see you slip I will put you down. It is the only mercy I can offer and death at my hands will be far gentler than what others would do to one of your kind.”

  “If you try to kill me Seth will stop you.” Zoelyn snapped though she couldn’t say why she spoke the words. Grim wasn’t trying to threaten her. He was warning her to never let her guard slip and she
knew he was offering a kindness in his own way. He could have just as easily kept his silence and waited for her to grow careless without bothering to speak with her at all.

  “And when Seth appears before me next Ryvenken will greet him personally.” Grim returned with a sad smile. “If I thought for a moment that Neph intentionally created you as you are I would kill him tonight, but I think it was an unfortunate mistake in his desperation to bring his sister back. I am trying to respect the love that he must feel for you to go to such drastic measures, but it is difficult for me knowing you will suffer for his sins. I will pray for you Zoey and I hope you can maintain control of yourself for years to come, but consider what I have said tonight and ask yourself how many should be forced to give up their lives so that you can continue to exist. For now it is the slaying of foes, but once the world is at peace it will be murder. How long can you live with that knowledge and truly be happy?”

  Zoelyn watched in silence as Grim turned back toward the city then stared numbly down at the pile of death in her lap. Each stone represented someone Seth had killed to sate her and despite that knowledge she couldn’t keep herself from pulling a stone from the bag and clenching it tightly in her hand. Warmth flooded through her as ecstasy and disgust warred in her mind. She knew deep in her heart she couldn’t live with the knowledge of murder for long, but she couldn’t resist the temptation the stones held either. Anything to silence the ever present hunger was a blessing, and for now at least she had enough stones to sate her curse if she conserved them. Perhaps given enough time she could find another way to sate the hunger, but for now she chose to simply consider Seth’s gift as the spoils of war.

  Chapter 17

  Sanctuary

  The air around him hummed with the familiar voices and smells of his city, yet Shade couldn’t bring himself to bother with any of it. The faint yells of vendors hawking their wares drifted up to his perch on the second floor balcony of what had once been the Copper Penny Inn, but they were so far from his thoughts that he couldn’t even focus on what they were selling.