The Crow King's Wife

by Melissa Myers

  “To protect you.” Zoelyn said softly from her seat in the corner of the room. She was the only one in the room that was dressed casually, and she hadn’t bothered to speak until now. “He committed matricide in Rivana to save Grim. He knew he would answer for his crimes. He cut ties with us so we wouldn’t share his punishment.” She added as she curled further back into the cushioned chair and looked away from them all.

  Neph watched her for a long moment and tried to push away the regret that was clouding his mind. He should have paid closer attention to Zoelyn. He knew he should have listened to the subtle hints she had tried to give him over the past week. Instead he had pushed her away and clung to his anger and now she was more distant than she had been since the day he had met her in Merro.

  “It’s not something we can afford to consider right now no matter how much it distresses us. We have a council meeting to attend in less than two hours and we need to have our minds set fully upon that. Neph have you chosen an entourage to accompany you?” Jala’s voice broke through the silence once more and he took her advice and pushed the guilty thoughts from his mind before shaking his head in answer.

  “I’m going alone. I have no way to transport Zoelyn on such short notice and she has informed me that she would prefer to stay in Delvay and train. My Aunt will watch over the city while I’m away, and aside from those two I can’t think of anyone in my city that is suited to the task.” Neph explained with a trace of disgust in his voice. Even the Blight had brought chosen people to accompany her to the meeting, but when he considered his own people he couldn’t think of a single one that wouldn’t either embarrass him or start a war.

  “I plan to watch the council on scry while I train.” Zoelyn offered quietly and shrugged as the attention of the room turned to her. “While I won’t be there in person I will know what is going on. If I feel Neph needs advice later I will be informed and able to offer an educated opinion.” She clarified but didn’t return the smile Neph offered in response to her words.

  “That sounds reasonable.” Jala agreed hesitantly before turning her attention back to Neph. “Are you certain you won’t at least take a guard or two?” she asked with a slight frown.

  “I don’t need guards and you know it.” Neph snapped as he rose from his chair and straightened the stiff jacket he wore. He missed his worn leather armor almost as much as he missed Shade’s pointless banter and the lack of them both was making him more irritable than he cared to admit. Zoelyn’s disapproval wasn’t helping his mood either he realized glumly as he noticed her sullen glare in his direction. “We might as well get this farce over with. Where is Valor?” he asked with grumble of annoyance.

  “I wish you were in a better frame of mind for diplomacy.” Jala sighed then motioned to the door. “He is with Legacy exploring your city. My son seems fascinated with your lack of sky. He can’t seem to grasp the concept that your city is built in a cave and just keeps staring up at the ceiling and pointing.” She explained with a faint smile.

  “Neph is rarely ever in a good frame of mind for diplomacy. He knows the concept of the skill and has been trained to understand it, but overall he seems to view it as a pointless waste of his time.” Madren observed as he rose from the table. Gracefully he crossed to the door and pulled it open for the two women with a slight bow.

  “Thank you Madren.” Jala intoned sweetly before stepping into the shadowed hall with Onvalla on her heels.

  Madren gave Neph a questioning look as he straightened but Neph shook his head and motioned for him to go on. “Give me a moment to speak with Zoey. I’ll be there by the time you track down, Valor.”

  “As you will. Good day to you Lady Zoelyn.” Madren returned with another slight bow in Zoelyn’s direction before disappearing out the door to trail after Jala.

  Neph waited for the door to close and listened to the footsteps receding down his hallway. Satisfied that they were all past the point of hearing his words he turned to Zoelyn. “Something about today feels wrong.” He began quietly. “Watch the scry closely and if things seem to be falling apart seal the city or flee. Use your best judgment to determine what is best for the city. I will leave instructions with Kay to follow you orders.”

  “What about you?” Zoelyn asked in a concerned voice, and for the first time in days her expression toward him softened.

  “I will be with Jala and the rest so I should be fine. I am not sure about leaving Delvay though. It’s possible that the Rivasans will use my absence to attack.” Neph explained with a frown and wondered for the hundredth time that morning if being officially acknowledged as the High Lord of Delvay was worth putting his city at risk.

  “I think the Rivasans are feeling a bit cautious right now. They lost an entire city to two men after all. They have to wonder what sort of power we are holding right now.” Zoelyn pointed out calmly as she slowly unfolded herself and rose from her chair. Silently she crossed the room and stopped just in front of him to look him over with a critical eye. She clucked her tongue in mild disapproval and straightened his jacket a bit. “Be careful, Neph. I’ve had a lot of my mind this week, and I know I’ve been distant, but don’t think for a second that I don’t care about you. Do what you have to do today and I will watch over the city until you return. Just make sure you return.” Her finger jabbed him in the chest firmly with her last words.

  “I can’t think of a single other place on Sanctuary that would tolerate my presence for more than a day. I’ll return to Delvay don’t worry on that account.” Neph assured her with a smile. On impulse he pulled her to him in a light embrace. She stiffened in his arms and he released her quickly trying to convince himself that it was her concern with her curse that made her pull back and not her anger at his treatment of Shade.

  “Be careful, Neph.” Zoelyn repeated quietly as she stepped further from him and retreated back to her chair.

  “See that you do the same.” Neph replied a bit more stiffly than he had intended then turned for the door. He wasn’t in the frame of mind to fix things between them and he knew it, besides he had a thousand other things to focus on at the present. There would be time after the council to repair the damage between him and Zoelyn, and once the council was over he would be able to focus his full attention on her without distractions.

  * * *

  Zoelyn watched the door close and waited patiently for the tell-tale hum of magic in the room. Within moments of Neph’s departure she felt the first flicker of Divine power and turned her gaze to regard her mother. Her brow creased slightly as she realized Cora was alone. She had expected Fortune to be with her and his absence disturbed her.

  “Just me today I’m afraid.” Cora announced in way of greeting then held up a small bag as she crossed to the table. “But I have brought plenty of puzzles to keep you entertained in the absence of the others.” She added with a bright smile.

  “Oh joy.” Zoelyn replied dismally and rose from her chair once more. “Why isn’t Fortune here?” she asked and tried to keep the disappointment from her words. She didn’t want her mother to think she didn’t appreciate both of their company, but Fortune had a way of lightening her mood no matter how depressed she was. She had been looking forward to passing the day with the both of them in Neph’s absence.

  “Other matters to attend today.” Cora replied too casually as she upended the bag and began sorting through the various trinkets that clattered noisily across the polished tabletop.

  “Here try this one first. You should enjoy it.” Cora offered as she pushed a tiny metal box toward Zoelyn.

  Absently Zoelyn picked up the box and turned it slowly over in her gloved hands barely focusing on the hundreds of tiny runes that covered its surface. Even without removing her gloves she could feel the magic rippling off of the tiny thing. Her eyes moved back to Cora and she watched in silence as her mother sorted through the puzzles and lined them up before her. Fortune had designed the items with different weaves of magic in an attempt to help her learn how t
o siphon off individual spells without destroying every weave on an item. He believed that if she could master his puzzles she could awaken the heroes, though she herself had her doubts.

  There was a vast difference in draining magic from a toy and draining it from living creatures. Had it been a simple commoner they wanted her to wake she would have been hesitant, but they expected her to use her abilities on legendary warriors that had been in stasis for well over a thousand years. If she failed and harmed one of them there was no replacing what she destroyed. Neph believed the heroes would be the salvation of Delvay, and if he was correct that meant the entire weight of her homeland was resting on her ability to control her curse.

  “You have that look on your face again.” Cora said gently and Zoelyn could hear the smile in her mother’s voice.

  Glancing up Zoelyn found the woman watching her and felt her own expression soften in response. “What look would that be?” she asked in amusement.

  “The I no wanna face.” Cora clarified with a grin. Reaching across the table she took Zoelyn’s hand and gave it a soft squeeze. “You can do this love. I know this is a lot of weight to put on your shoulders, but you are Delvay to the core. You may not care for shedding blood but that doesn’t mean you aren’t a fighter. Have faith in yourself.” Her voice was so encouraging that Zoelyn felt her shoulders relax in response.

  Leaning back in her seat she turned the box absently in her hands and eyed the long line of puzzles before her. “He usually only sends three a day.” Zoelyn observed quietly. There were at least ten on the table and the bag by her mother looked as though it might have more inside.

  “He wanted you to have plenty of practice to keep you entertained while your brother is away.” Cora returned, but her smile seemed a bit forced and Zoelyn could hear an edge to her voice that hadn’t been there before.

  “He wanted me to be distracted you mean.” Zoelyn corrected gently and raised an eyebrow at her mother. “From what I wonder?”

  “Such a suspicious mind.” Cora chided but the teasing seemed just as forced as her smile had been.

  “Are you going to open a scry of the council?” Zoelyn asked sweetly never taking her gaze from her mother.

  “Of course.” Cora answered and shook her head slightly. “I didn’t think you would want one so soon. The council isn’t due to start for over an hour yet.”

  “None the less I’d rather not miss out on anything that is said just in case.” Zoelyn returned in the same sweet tones. She could see her mother’s unease growing, but she was doing a remarkable job of trying to hide it.

  With a slight nod Cora brought her hands before her and spread her fingers. She mumbled under her breath and the air above the table shifted subtly. For a long moment it looked like nothing more than heated air resting inches above the wood, and then it solidified into colors that slowly coalesced to form the figures of the council seated in the massive hall of the Palace in Sanctuary.

  Zoelyn’s eyes scanned hungrily over the assembled High Lords and lingered on Neph’s drawn face. His mouth was a tight line and he was staring pointedly at the empty chairs across the room from him. She saw him glance toward Jala who was seated several feet away under the banner of House Merrodin and his expression darkened. Her gaze moved back to the empty chairs and she studied the banner above the seats. “Morcaillo.” She whispered as she recognized the blue and silver banner with the twining snakes. Her attention moved past the sigil to sweep over the rest of the room and her unease grew as she noticed the empty spaces below the banners of Rivasa and Nerathane as well.

  “It’s early yet.” Cora offered in a hesitant voice.

  Frowning Zoelyn leaned toward the scry. She could see unease written clearly on the faces of several of the assembled High Lords, but not all of them seemed to be fixated on the empty chairs. Lord Arovan in particular had his gaze focused on the silent row of figures seated just behind the Empress’s dais. Zoelyn’s eyes narrowed as she studied the priestly robes. “Death, Love, Fortune, Elusion, and Healing. What a very odd assembly of priests.” She observed dryly as she noticed the Priest of Fortune tapping his leg. There was a definite rhythm to the motion of his fingers and she could almost hear the song in her head as she lifted her gaze to meet Cora’s face once more. “Why is my father masquerading as a priest of his own order?” she asked sternly. Cora shifted uncomfortably and Zoelyn’s expression darkened. “More importantly why is Finn seated there as well? Those are warrior’s boots peeking out from under the Priest of Death’s robes and I recognize them all too well.”

  “What is coming must happen, Zoelyn. I told Fortune we should warn you, but he forbade it. Finn has commanded absolute silence on this matter.” Cora explained with heavy sigh that was laced with frustration.

  “What is coming Mother?” Zoelyn demanded, but a soft rap at the door interrupted before Cora could answer. With a glare that warned her mother the discussion was not over Zoelyn rose from her seat. Anger warred with concern in her mind as she crossed to the door and pulled it open.

  Syrah stood in the hall beyond with pursed lips and worry filling her grey eyes. The child had made a rough attempt at making herself presentable. Her long dark hair pulled back in a crooked braid with strands poking out in several places and her clothes were clean ones even if they didn’t match. Every inch of the child screamed of neglect in her father’s absence and Zoelyn silently scolded herself for not making sure Syrah had better care. Shifting nervously from foot to foot Syrah stared up at her and swallowed heavily.

  All anger faded from Zoelyn as she considered the child’s expression and realized how she must have looked as she pulled the door open. “I’m sorry, Syrah. I must have looked like quite the ogre when you first saw me. I was having a disagreement with my mother, Sweety. It wasn’t your knock that was making me glower.” She explained gently as she dropped to a knee to tie the child’s boot lace.

  “I didn’t mean to disturb you.” Syrah offered in apology and shifted once more before meeting Zoelyn’s eyes. “I heard them say you would be watching the council today before they left the Great Hall.” She admitted softly. “Lord Valor seemed confused by your absence and Lady Jala said you couldn’t come, but you would be watching.” The girl’s voice was filled with nervousness and Zoelyn silently wondered how much Grim had warned her of the Undrae to create so much unease in his daughter.

  “I will be.” Zoelyn agreed keeping her voice as gentle as possible. She didn’t want Syrah to fear her. She wouldn’t hurt any child no matter what kind of monster Grim seemed to believe she was.

  Syrah’s eyes lit with hope and she swallowed nervously once more. “Can I watch with you please? I think my Daddy might be there and I just want to see him. I want to know he is ok.” The words poured from Syrah and her nerves seemed to evaporate in her desperation.

  “Oh Syrah.” Zoelyn murmured as she carefully took the child’s hands and noticed how the girl didn’t flinch away from her touch. Even with the gloves on Syrah would have likely pulled away if Grim had explained the nature of Undrae to her. So all of the fear was for her Father’s safety then, Zoelyn realized and her heart went out to the child. Syrah had just lost her mother and brother while her entire home burned around her, and now her father was gone as well. She was alone in a strange city and she was trying desperately to hide her fear so she wouldn’t disappoint her father on his return.

  “I just want to see him.” Syrah repeated in a broken voice and tried to turn her face away before Zoelyn could see the beginning of tears in her eyes. “It’s been three days since he left and he didn’t even say good-bye.” She added hoarsely.

  “You are welcome to watch with me all day, Syrah, but I don’t think you will see your Father on the scry. I don’t think he will be at the council, Sweety. He doesn’t want the High Lords to know he still lives and he went looking for Shade. Shade is an outlaw in Sanctuary. If he shows up at the council they will throw him in prison.” Zoelyn explained as she stood and pulled the girl
gently into the room behind her. Her gaze rose to meet her mother’s as she pushed the door shut behind her and her eyes narrowed in warning. “I’m not sure what the scry of the Council will be like, but I hope for both our sakes everything turns out well.” She tried to keep the edge from her voice to spare Syrah, but she could tell Cora heard her anger clearly by the chagrined look on her face.

  With a bright smile Cora motioned the child forward. “I’m sure everything will be just fine.” She assured them both and motioned again for Syrah to approach. “Did you fix your hair yourself, Darling? Come here and let me straighten it a bit for you. You can see the scry from my knee and I will make sure you look like the perfect young lady I’m sure you are, just in case your Father arrives today.”

  At first Syrah seemed hesitant, but the thought of her father returning seemed to spur the child. Moving swiftly she dropped Zoelyn’s hands and scampered toward Cora completely oblivious to the dark glare of warning Zoelyn was giving her mother.

  “False hope is worse than lying.” Zoelyn whispered as she reclaimed her seat at the table and lifted the puzzle box once more. She wasn’t the least bit interested in practicing her skills at the moment, but it would give her something to do to keep her hands from clenching into fists.

  Chapter 19

  Sanctuary

  The cold had seeped all the way through his joints and Shade was certain once they finally did step from the Shadow realm he would be blind the moment he confronted sunlight again. His gaze lingered on the blurred outlines of prisoners milling aimlessly in their cells and he resisted the urge to count them as he turned and paced across the hall.

  He knew exactly how many people were in the cell before him. He knew exactly how many people were in all of the cells that filled the massive prison. Grim had insisted that they explore the place thoroughly and for two days they had been doing little else. He knew the exact distance of each hall, how thick the walls were, and where Charm was being held. What he didn’t know was why they were still waiting.