The Crow King's Wife

by Melissa Myers

  “Shade, we need to go!” Grim bellowed from the outer room.

  “Coming.” Shade replied as loudly as he could manage in his sickened state. “It’s ok Charm. I’ve got you now and I’m getting you out of here. Can you walk at all to help me or do I need to carry you?” Shade asked gently as he took the first step toward the door and realized the rogue was nothing more than dead weight in his arms.

  “Leave me.” The words were mangled so badly that it took Shade a long moment to decipher what the rogue had been trying to say. Charm’s face crumpled with shame and his head bowed as he struggled against Shade in an attempt to regain the shadowed corner he had been huddled in.

  Swallowing heavily Shade shook his head and fervently hoped he had the chance to deal with whoever had taken Charm’s tongue and destroyed his body. Whoever had tortured him had known their work well. Shade couldn’t even see a glimpse of the charismatic Fionaveir that had been his partner and had risked his life to help him escape the city. “It’s ok Charm. You have nothing to be ashamed of, and I won’t even consider leaving you.” Shade said as he pulled on his Changeling talents to strengthen himself and lifted Charm’s wasted body to carry him.

  Grim was waiting just outside the door with an impatient scowl on his face, but his expression softened the moment he saw Charm’s condition. His mouth flattened into a line and he nodded once for Shade to head for the door. “I’ll carry the woman, just concern yourself with him.”

  “Faramir did this?” Shade demanded of Lex as he forced the Fionaveir to look at Charm’s wasted form. “Faramir destroyed him like this?” his voice was hoarse as he moved closer to Lex with more rage coursing through his veins than he could ever remember feeling before.

  Eyes wide Lex nodded dumbly and took a step back from Shade as if he was afraid Charm’s injuries were contagious. “Faramir was the only one that ever questioned him.” Lex said quietly.

  “Then I’ll see that she dies slowly and painfully.” Shade hissed through clenched teeth as he fought back the burning behind his eyes that spoke of unshed tears. “No one that can do this to another living being should be allowed to live. I don’t care what crimes someone has committed they don’t deserve this.” He added in a savage whisper and shook his head fiercely as he headed for the door.

  “When the passive soul howls in rage villains cringe like babes.” Grim intoned in an almost musical voice. “Come along my passive soul we need to escape before we can plot vengeance.” He said with a heavy sigh as he shouldered gently past Shade to take point.

  “Please don’t mock me right now, Grim.” Shade pleaded weakly as he fell into step behind the larger man.

  Grim shifted Ingrid in his arms and glanced over his shoulder at Shade without a hint of amusement on his chiseled face. “I wasn’t mocking, Shade. That’s a line from a song and it seems very fitting right now. I see years of repressed fury in your eyes and I know how powerful you are. When you serve your penance on this Faramir it will be devastating.” He explained with a look of respect shining in his eyes. “I applaud, I approve, and most importantly I will guard your back while you do it. I agree with your words with every ounce of my soul. I may be coldhearted, but I have the decency to kill my prey when I hunt. Whoever did this to these two should suffer the same pain.”

  “I’ve never felt this much anger before. I want to make her suffer for this.” Shade replied in a broken voice and could barely believe the words he was uttering. Never before in his life had he wanted to inflict so much pain on anyone, no matter what they had done to him. He couldn’t forgive what had been done to Charm or Ingrid however. Such things couldn’t be forgiven, they could only be punished.

  Chapter 20

  Sanctuary

  The hall of the council chamber echoed with disgruntled murmurs and Neph could barely bite back his own sentiments on the matter. His wouldn’t be whispered however, his would be loud proclamations about what a worthless bitch their Empress had turned out to be. With a heavy sigh he glanced at Jala and leaned forward from the cushioned chair that had been provided for him. For the first time in his life Neph understood why his father had favored the uncomfortable wooden chairs. He had found in the past hour of waiting that it was impossible to look imposing when lounging in a feather stuffed velvet chair.

  Neph’s gaze wandered across the assembled High Lords once more and to his amusement he saw echoes of his own sentiments on several faces. Elijah Arovan had opted to simply stand, while his General sat behind with a scowl on his face that did little to balance the fact that he was ensconced in light blue velvet that looked more suited to a lady’s drawing room. Jala herself even seemed uncomfortable though she was doing an adequate job of hiding it. He caught a glimpse of her violet eyes as they passed over the empty council seats and turned to stare at the banners himself. Rivasa, Nerathane, and Morcaillo were all absent, but then so was the Empress so there was no one to complain to about it, yet.

  “Where are your buddies at?” Neph called across the room to Truce Avanti. He couldn’t keep silent any longer no matter how badly Jala might want him to be diplomatic.

  Of everyone in the room Truce Avanti seemed to be the only one that actually looked comfortable, though Neph knew it was a mask. He had caught the High Lord of Avanti glancing at the empty seats at least twice. Frowning Truce raised an eyebrow at Neph and summoned an expression of bored annoyance. Tilting his chin up slightly Truce leaned over toward his wife and whispered something before silently scolding his son for fidgeting in the chair behind him. Apparently deciding it would be the most diplomatic to simply ignore Neph as one would a rude child.

  “Perhaps you didn’t hear me clearly. I realize they sat you on the opposite side of the room to keep you safe so I’ll speak up. I asked where your friends are Avanti.” Neph repeated in a much louder voice that echoed off of the council walls.

  “Neph, please.” Jala said with a hint of desperation in her voice. Her attention was fully riveted on him now and her violet eyes were filled with pleading.

  “I find myself rather curious on that particular matter as well.” Arjuna Firym said in a casual voice that was only slightly louder than what was generally considered polite.

  “How about where is the Empress?” The High Lady of Seravae intoned with an apologetic glance to Jala.

  “I’m sure we will have our answers soon. I would greatly prefer that we not start this off on the wrong foot by fighting amongst one another before the council even starts.” Elijah Arovan said in a calming voice and pointedly looked to each of his peers that had spoken up.

  Neph had to resist the urge to roll his eyes when the High Lord of Arovan’s eyes landed on him. It would have been a childish gesture and he knew it, but to be chided like a child twice in a row gave him the overwhelming desire to act like one. With a snort of disgust Neph rose from his chair and paced around the small enclosed dais that had been provided for his house. The other High Lords had entourages that had accompanied them, but his space was utterly empty aside from himself, which meant he alone had the luxury of stretching without elbowing a friend in the face.

  “I wasn’t trying to make a fuss High Lord Arovan. I’m simply bored of waiting and curious who Rivasa is raping and pillaging while we sit here like good little fools.” Neph announced casually and motioned a hand toward Truce. “I assumed they sent their weakest link to dampen our suspicion on the matter.”

  “Do not presume to insult House Avanti in my presence.” Truce replied sharply and Neph laughed in response.

  “I was there at your surrender, Truce. Save it for someone that hasn’t seen you grovel before.” Neph shot back in amusement.

  “Neph!” Jala snapped with anger thick in her voice. The skirts of her long purple dress rustled noisily as she rose from her chair and glowered at him. Leaning forward she rested both hands on the railing and gave him her best Lady Bendazzi glare. “You will stop trying to pick a fight. We are here to seek peace.” She informed him coldly.

&
nbsp; “Difficult to reach any sort of compromises when we are missing several High Lords and our Empress.” Jin Han’Shy observed quietly.

  Jala’s mouth opened to reply but snapped shut as the double doors at the front of the hall opened and the Empress strolled into the room followed by Faramir and several guards in polished plate mail. Silently Jala dropped back into her chair and watched the procession as it passed by her dais.

  Symphony inclined her head with in the barest of nods to the assembled High Lords as she crossed the room in slow dignified steps. Her long dark hair was swept up and held in place by a platinum circlet that was emblazoned with the mark of the Justicars at its brow.

  Neph frowned at the sight of it and glanced to Jala, but the High Lady of Merrodin seemed entirely focused on the Empress’s bejeweled gown and Neph could see the annoyance creasing Jala’s brow. She had noticed the same thing he had about the Empress’s garb then. Unlike Jala’s own fine dress, Symphony’s was not crafted with magic, which meant each of the jewels lining her dress and glittering on her fingers had been bought.

  The only real question was where the money came from. If Neph had to hazard a guess he would say taxes from the city, but given the state of a few districts in the city spending that much money on clothing would be beyond stupid. There were people starving in some quarters, and every High Lord assembled knew it. With the war destroying so much farmland, and keeping other crops from being harvested food was costly, and flaunting jewels during such a crisis was a slap in the face to the more hard pressed lords.

  The Empress seemed perfectly oblivious to the hard stares she was getting from the High lords and ascended the stairs with a look of perfect serenity on her beautiful face. She turned slowly back to the High Lords as she gained her dais and held her hands out for silence though the room was already so quiet that a pin dropping would have rang like a bell.

  “I have been informed that certain of our High lords have been detained and will arrive shortly. I realize you all grow impatient and so I have decided to start the meeting with a few personal matters that have been brought to my attention and do not require the presence of my entire council.” Symphony’s voice rang through the room with the musical quality of the Fae, but from the expression on the High Lord of Faydwer’s face Neph guessed the Fae were not currently claiming her as one of their own.

  “May we enquire as to what has detained our fellow High Lords your Grace?” Lord Arovan asked in a voice that held more reason than Neph could have mustered if his life had depended on it.

  “It is a matter between their three lands, an alliance of terms that they were negotiating that has taken longer than intended. They will bring this matter to our attention when they arrive or so I am assured and you will have all of the details then High Lord Arovan.” Symphony replied calmly and her gold eyes moved across the room to settle firmly on Jala. “As to the other matters, High Lady Merrodin will you rise please.”

  “Of course your Grace.” Jala replied as she rose once more from her chair and bowed her head respectfully to Symphony, but Neph could clearly see the look of apprehension on her face.

  “You are accused of charges of brutality in the maintenance of your borders Lady Merrodin.” Symphony announced then glanced down as Faramir supplied her with a small stack of papers. The Empress scanned the papers and her brow creased slightly as she looked back up to Jala with narrowed eyes. “Would you please define your protocol for defending your borders for all assembled?” Symphony said in a voice that turned the politely phrased question into a command.

  “I have put strict rules upon my borders as to who is allowed to cross. Those who break those laws are branded for the first offense and sent back to their homeland. For the second offense they are branded a second time, fined and jailed for one week before they are returned to their home. For the third transgression we brand them, fine then and expedite their return in a fashion that keeps them from bothering us a fourth time.” Jala explained in clipped tones her gaze locked on Truce Avanti as she spoke.

  “Please define expediting their return.” Symphony pressed then tilted her head slightly to one side as Faramir whispered into her ear. Nodding Symphony turned her attention back to Jala and raised an eyebrow in impatience.

  Clearing her throat Jala nodded and stood straighter meeting Symphony’s eyes directly with no sign of remorse on her face at all. “We bind them hand and foot and place them into a catapult. We aim the catapult back at Avanti’s lands and do our best to hit his Palace with the criminals we are returning to him. Unfortunately we have yet to hit our mark as it lies some distance from our borders, but we hope to one day enjoy success on that endeavor.” Jala replied in a sickeningly sweet voice.

  A snort of laughter erupted from High Lord Arjuna and the Firym abruptly turned away from the assembly in an obvious effort to regain control of himself. “Expedited return.” Arjuna chuckled and he shook his head at Jala with a wide smile on his handsome face.

  Symphony glared down at the Firym for a long moment then turned back to Jala with a disapproving look. “Does this not seem harsh to you Lady Merrodin?” Sounds of running feet echoed through the hall beyond the door accompanied by muffled shouts and Symphony’s stern expression faded as she turned to Faramir in confusion.

  “I will see what the trouble is your, Grace.” Faramir assured her demurely but paused before she had reached the first steps as the double doors burst open and Victory Faydwer stormed in with a frantic look on his face. His gaze swept the room quickly and seized on Symphony. Bowing deeply he stood and Neph could see blood tracing down the side of the Fae’s face as he stood.

  “Your Grace the prison has been breached and we have rioting in the streets.” He announced loudly.

  “How dare you interrupt such an important council with this. If you cannot handle this matter perhaps you do not deserve the rank you have Commander Faydwer.” Faramir snapped with anger flashing in her dark eyes.

  Victory glared at her then turned back to Symphony once more. “Your, Grace I cannot spare the men to contain the rioting as I must turn my attention to the forces heading for our city. It appears as though Rivasa and Nerathane plan to attack Sanctuary itself. Do we defend the city or do we raise the Barrier Milady?” The urgency in his voice brought Neph to his feet.

  With a quick glance to Jala Neph braced one hand on the balcony of his dais and swung himself over the side. Landing gracefully he nodded briefly to Victory as he passed him on the way to the doors. “If the answer is raising the Barrier over the city let me know before you do it. I’m not going to be trapped here like a rat while my home is left undefended.” He announced loudly enough for everyone assembled to hear before heading for the door.

  A faint scuffle sounded behind him followed by the sharp click of high heels on the stone floors. Glancing back he saw Jala rapidly catching up with him and smiled as he realized the scuffling must have been the High Lady following his example and leaping the rail of her dais like a farm boy.

  “If she raises the Barrier we are all damned.” Jala said quietly as they drew to a stop on the outer stairs of the palace.

  Gazing up at the sky Neph nodded absently and stared hard at the small dark figures in the distance. “Dragons and Spell Hawks and more than we can fight.” Neph observed with a sigh and glanced at Jala. “The prudent thing to do would be return to our lands and try to manage as best we can.” He said softly as he watched the remaining High Lords approaching.

  “If we do that Sanctuary is damned.” Jala announced and her mouth tightened into a determined line. “We cannot let the Barrier go up, and we cannot flee. We need to end this now. We need to fight.” She said in a louder voice.

  “Are you bloody mad?” Truce Avanti exclaimed as his gaze moved from the approaching forces to Jala and back again.

  “Not in the least Lord Avanti.” Jala replied calmly then turned her attention to the greater assembly. “If we run now we will not have time to muster our forces in our own lands.
” She informed them then pointed up to the sky. “They are already mustered and prepared for a fight. If we flee and the Fionaveir raise this Barrier they will divert their course to another target.” She paused and met each High Lord’s eyes individually. “If that hit Arovan could your people hold against it Lord Elijah?” Jala asked pointedly.

  Elijah stared up at the sky and shook his head slowly. “You know we cannot Lady Merrodin. Arovan is too weak right now.” He replied bleakly.

  “Arjuna could the Firym hold against that?” Jala demanded turning toward the High Lord of Firym in question.

  “We would last longer than most.” Arjuna answered proudly.

  “However you would still fall.” Zachary Dark observed and nodded once to Jala. “I see what you are saying Lady Merrodin. Individually we have no chance as we are but one great power amongst a land of mostly common soldiers, however if we stand together now we are many great powers assembled against and army of lesser creatures.”

  “Exactly!” Jala said with a wide smile then looked at the High Lords once more. “Lord Dark has the right of it. We are all High Lords and they will not expect us to take a stand. If we work together we can save the people of Sanctuary and defeat our enemies at the same time.” She announced loudly.

  Movement at the back of the crowd drew Neph’s attention and he gently nudged Jala with his elbow and nodded his head toward the retreating figure of the Empress. Jala’s jaw dropped slightly and she took a step toward the retreating forms of Symphony and her guards.

  “Your Grace!” Jala called after Symphony in obvious dismay. The Empress paused and turned to look at her with wide eyes as Jala took another step toward her. “Empress Symphony will you not take command of your High Lords in defense of your city? We stand ready to fight on your behalf.” Jala called loudly and Neph could see how much she was struggling to keep the anger from her voice.