The Elder Blood Chronicles Bk 1 In Shades of Grey

by Melissa Myers

  “You think they will accept me then?” Shade asked.

  “I’ll speak for you. They will accept you,” Lex assured him and slowed his horse back to a trot.

  “There is a bit of a confession I need to make, Lex,” Shade began. Pausing, he looked over his shoulder to see where Leah and Oma were on the trail. Satisfied that they were out of hearing range he looked back at Lex. “About what I am. I don’t want to go into this new life swimming in secrets like I was before. But it may change your willingness to speak for me, so I need to tell you now.”

  “I doubt it will change my speaking for you, Shade. I don’t care what you are, it’s who you are that counts, and I’ve known you long enough to figure that out,” Lex replied. “Still, if you need to get it off your chest spit it out.”

  “I’m a Changeling, Lex,” Shade blurted out and was amazed at how easy the words were to speak. He had been taught his whole life to guard that secret, and it had just rolled off his tongue. “It’s not just a trace of Changeling blood either, Lex, not like I can just shift forms. I am full blown straight-out-of-the-scary bedtime-stories Changeling,” he added after a moment of Lex’s silence.

  “So you can imitate people perfectly just like in the stories?” Lex asked, his tone curious rather than suspicious, as Shade had feared it would be.

  “If I know enough about the person, yes,” Shade replied.

  “So you could imitate me?” Lex asked, his voice still calm.

  Shade frowned and nodded slowly. “Yes, I know you well enough for that,” he answered somewhat hesitantly.

  “Good, my mother lives at the Fionahold. If I find myself on her wrong side, you can imitate me and take the lecturing. That should make us even for my speaking for you to the council.” Lex grinned at him. “Like I said, Shade, I don’t care what you are. I know who you are. I’m not worried in the least about you betraying us. Besides, I knew you were a Changeling already.”

  “You what?” Shade gasped turning to look at Lex in shock.

  Lex laughed and shook his head at Shade. “They sent me to the Academy to learn everything I could about the children from the High Houses. I was living in your bloody wing. If I hadn’t figured out in the time that I was there that you slipped out of your window to slum it as a commoner, I wouldn’t have been much of a spy,” he explained.

  The first genuine smile since the trip to Tolanteer slowly crept across Shade’s face and he nodded his understanding. “I’ve never actually been lectured by a mother; it would be interesting, I suppose. My own mother spent most of her time drunk or hysterical, or both on holidays,” he said quietly.

  “You say that now. Wait, I will offend her somehow and you will regret those words. My mother could convince the Aspect of Honor that he wasn’t worthy to breathe,” Lex warned him with a light chuckle.

  The mountain air was crisp and a refreshing change from the smells of a city as large as Sanctuary. Leaning back in his saddle, Shade inhaled deeply. Glancing back he checked Oma’s progress and then glanced to Lex again. “So, what’s it like? The Fionahold, that is.”

  Lex leaned over the side of his horse and plucked a branch from a plant. Sticking it in his mouth, he chewed on the end while considering the question. “Crowded, rustic, beautiful, violent, all of those words could describe it. I simply use the word home when I think of it though.” He chewed on the branch again and looked around the forest with fondness. “I grew up here, and learned to hunt in the mountains. When they first sent me to Sanctuary, I thought I had landed in the Darklands. Everything smelled so foul to me after being here, and the noise. You can’t go anywhere in Sanctuary for silence. Even the gardens there are noisy.”

  Shade snorted in amusement. “My father raised me in Sanctuary mostly. I grew up in our quarter. There were a few months that were spent in Morcath of course. For the most part, though, my childhood was spent learning to govern the city.”

  “Are you going to tell me what happened with him?” Lex asked. The road was becoming steeper, and the Fionaveir took the lead, letting his mount choose its own path up the narrow rocky incline.

  “My uncle was there when I arrived. I had every intention of throwing my ring in my father’s face and telling him to bugger himself. My uncle stopped me and kept me from showing myself.” Shade paused and ducked beneath a low hanging branch, trying not to notice how steeply the side of the trail dropped away on his right. “He let me overhear my father speaking with Lord Avanti. After hearing their words, I realized I had no value in my father’s eyes anymore and that he is much darker grey than I ever knew. I didn’t realize what I was helping when I worked to strengthen Morcath.” He let his voice trail off at the last, wondering just how much damage he had done to the rest of the world by helping his father gain finance and power in Sanctuary.

  “Love is blind,” Lex replied with a shrug and fell silent, as well.

  They passed the next few hours traversing country Shade never would have believed a horse capable of. The paths were almost nonexistent and fallen trees and loose rocks kept Shade’s attention fully focused on the task of staying on his horse. It stayed narrow as they moved farther into the Rilkens, making riding single file essential. Keeping his eye on the sun’s slow descent, Shade found himself praying to any Aspect that would listen, that Lex would call a halt before darkness fell. He wasn’t sure about how good his mount’s night vision was, but had decided if they continued after dark, he was using his birthright and shifting to something more suitable to this terrain.

  “Campfire ahead,” Lex’s voice broke the seemingly endless silence and Shade jumped at the sound. He had been listening intently to a call in the forest, trying to decide what sort of animal made that trilling noise.

  “Should we leave our, umm, path, though I’m not really sure this should be called a path. Should we leave our goat trail and hide?” Shade asked.

  Lex gave a snort of laughter and shook his head. “Both Houses on this border know we are here. There are certain High Lords that actually like the Fionaveir, you know.”

  “No, actually, I didn’t know that. I thought you were hunted by everyone,” Shade admitted quietly.

  “Given our location, I’d say its Fionaveir camped ahead. With luck, they will have food,” Lex said and kicked his horse into a faster walk.

  Shade watched him move off and glanced down at the trail. With his gaze locked on the loose rocks on the trail and the ever-present drop off to his right, he shook his head, looking down at his horse. “No, I think we will be late to supper. This speed is just fine with me,” he said quietly.

  Lex was dismounted and seated by the fire by the time they caught up with him. Dismounting, Shade tied his own mount by Lex’s and turned to help Oma down. He glanced over his shoulder toward the fire, curious about the two cloaked figures Lex was speaking with. By the cut of their cloaks and what he could see of the clothing beneath, the man and woman were definitely not rangers. The colors were vibrant and the fabric costly, and looked quite out of place in the wilderness.

  “That’s Symphony, our older sister and Lutheron, the second in command of the Fionaveir. Not sure what they are doing out here, but I’m sure we will find out soon,” Leah whispered as she tied her own horse near his.

  “You have a sister? You’ve never mentioned her before.” Shade kept his voice as quiet as her own had been and gave her a sidelong glance.

  “Aye, a brother too. Other than Lex. Our family is a big one. My mother loves my father very much. Symphony is the eldest, though,” Leah explained with a grin.

  Shade stole another glance at the woman trying to get a better look under the hood of the cloak, but her face was too shadowed by the distance. She seemed slighter than Leah, with more of a willowy build. Looking back at Leah, he found her grinning at him.

  “Same hair and eyes but she is the tiny one. Sure, she is tall but a strong wind would carry her off,” she said with a wink as she motioned for him to follow and headed for the fire.

 
“Coming, Oma?” Shade asked, pausing for the girl. He offered his hand to her, and she took it with obvious hesitation. “I’m sure it will be fine, after all, one of them is related to our guards,” he said in a reassuring voice. After a moment, Oma took the offered hand, and he led her to the far side of the fire and took a seat.

  “Sym, Lutheron, this is Shade. You should both remember him from my reports. The girl beside him is Oma. She would make a damn good Truthfinder if we could find someone to help her learn. She is a bit shy, though,” Lex said the moment they had seated themselves.

  Lutheron pushed his hood back revealing dark hair and darker eyes. His features were lean and almost delicate in its bone structure. The expression on his face was perfectly composed, giving no hint whatsoever to what he might have thought of Lex’s reports. “So, you are the Changeling, eh? And why do you wish to join our ranks?” he asked in a voice that Shade was sure he never had to raise to get the attention of others.

  “I’ve spent the entire time I’ve been in power believing I have been doing my part to make our world better. I’ve learned otherwise recently. I’d like to spend the rest of my life knowing I’m making the world better,” Shade answered. He’d given thought to how he might answer that question on the ride and had decided this was not the time for diplomacy. He wanted to forget diplomacy and simply rely on honesty.

  Symphony nodded to Lex. “That was a good answer,” she said to her brother. Her voice was low and rich, and Shade had the instant desire to draw her into more conversation simply to hear her speak.

  “He is smart and he is sick of the intrigue, Sym,” Lex said.

  “You won last year’s Sky Race, didn’t you?” Lutheron asked, his tone thoughtful.

  Nodding, Shade glanced at the man. “I would have won this year too, but it was deemed inappropriate for me to enter it and not the melee,” he explained.

  Lutheron smiled, and the expression sent a shiver down Shade’s spine. The expression had no warmth to it at all. At once, Shade thought he knew how a deer might feel when it spotted a Bendazzi stalking it. “I believe I know just what to give you for your first assignment,” Lutheron said with a hint of satisfaction in his voice. “Tell me, have you ever been to Eldagar?” he asked, the smile still on his lips.

  Shade shook his head. “No, I’ve never even been to that continent. The ruling lords there do not consider House Morcaillo suitable guests.”

  “One of our operatives is having a bit of difficulty in Eldagar. I think you might be just the person to help him out, if you truly are as Lex says.” He glanced at Lex who looked mildly offended at the suggestion that he might have deviated from fact on his reports and gave a slight nod. “Tell Caspian to explain Eldagar to him, once he has been sworn into our brotherhood,” Lutheron told Lex and leaned back against a tree. The shadows seemed to cling to the man as he reclined, but Shade had the distinct feeling he was still watching him.

  “It will be as you say, Lutheron,” Lex agreed and turned to Symphony. “What are you two doing out here anyway? Especially dressed like that.”

  “We are on our way to either bless a wedding or stop it. We haven’t decided yet. Lutheron sensed you approaching so we made you a fire and waited. He wanted to see your new recruit before we left. I have no idea how long this will take us, possibly a few days,” Symphony explained.

  Leah raised an eyebrow and frowned. “Whose wedding? It’s not exactly typical Fionaveir business to get involved in such things.”

  “Finn Sovaesh and Jala. I believe you know both of them,” Lutheron answered quietly.

  “You are going into Sanctuary?” Leah asked, her voice incredulous with eyes locked on her sister.

  “No, they are in Firym, actually,” Symphony corrected, her eyes flicking to Shade.

  Finding himself suddenly uninterested in conversation, Shade leaned back away from the fire. Aware of Oma seated so close to him, he tried to keep his emotions under control but was finding it increasingly difficult. He should be happy she was out of the city. The Firym lands would be safe for her. His father had no power there. It didn’t dull the sting of rejection, though, no matter how much he told himself it didn’t matter.

  Chapter 30

  Firym

  It was full dark in Fallanor when they arrived. The city was spread out before them with beautiful stone homes lining both sides of the cobbled street. Lanterns lit the way, shining brightly inside colored glass globes that swung in the light breeze. Beyond the town walls, she could see the dim outline of the Scarlet Jungle looming vast and black in the night. Scents of flowers hung heavily in the air, making an aroma that was almost intoxicating.

  Finn looked around to get his bearings and glowered at his brother. “Could you have possibly put us any farther from the palace?” he asked.

  “I could have set us down in the jungle, but I thought this more appropriate. It gives you plenty of time to tell me what is going on before we get there,” Sovann replied, his tone mild.

  “Palace?” Jala asked, eyes widening. Finn had mentioned his great uncle but he had said nothing of palaces.

  Giving her an absent nod, Finn drew a shirt from the bundle in his hands and pulled it on. Nodding for her to follow he began to walk dressing as he did. “It’s not too far to walk,” he assured her as he tucked the shirt into his pants and pulled a vest over it.

  “No, it really isn’t too far, but why are we going there?” Sovann pressed.

  “I’m getting married,” Finn replied now hopping on one foot as he pulled a boot on.

  Sovann stopped in his tracks and stared at his brother with his jaw dropped. “Finn,” he began cautiously. “Do you remember when we talked about you not thinking things through completely?” he asked.

  “I was actually the one that suggested it,” Jala said meekly, trying not to laugh at Finn’s progress with his boots.

  Finn stopped abruptly. He stood in the middle of the street his vest unbuttoned and shirt barely tucked in. He looked down at his one bare foot and then to the boot he held in his other hand and raised an eyebrow at his brother. “What makes you think I haven’t thought this through?” he asked, his expression carefully blank.

  Jala turned her head and covered her mouth with a hand. She was losing the fight with laughter quickly and now didn’t seem the time to burst into giggles. She studied the homes beside her admiring the lush gardens that surrounded each one. She knew if she looked back to the brothers she would lose the battle and likely wake the neighborhood with her laughter. She could picture the expression on Sovann’s face clearly enough in her mind.

  Are you finally ready to admit he is your mate? Marrow asked, padding up beside her to sit.

  She gave him a nod and smiled at the Bendazzi. Yes, you are right, Marrow; he is the only one for me.

  She glanced back at the brothers to see them bent close in discussion their voices too low to hear. Finn seemed quite pleased with himself, and Sovann looked close to surrender.

  With the Soul Bond the two of you have I’m amazed it took this long, Marrow said, his tone filled with exasperation.

  Soul Bond? Jala asked, her gaze dropping to Marrow.

  Did you not realize? It is rare in your kind I think. Bendazzi have it, as do wolves. I’ve heard hawks do, as well, but they seem too simple-minded for something such as a Soul Bond. It is the joining of spirit, when one soul calls to another. It is beyond the thing your kind call love; it is whole and complete. With a Soul Bond, there can be no other, Marrow explained, using more words than she had ever heard from him before.

  What makes you think we have one? Jala asked with curiosity.

  Marrow gave an indignant sniff. I can see it when I look at the two of you. Your souls reach for one another even if your bodies do not. The spirit holds more wisdom than the mind. It knows where it belongs even if the mind is too stupid to accept it.

  You can see souls? She looked down at the Bendazzi in amazement and then looked to Finn wondering if he knew what a Soul Bond
was.

  Glimpses at times, but one does not need to see your soul to know. I have been trying to tell you for days, Marrow replied wearily.

  “Fine. Then you are getting married. I won’t bother trying to talk sense into you.” Sovann turned from his brother throwing both hands up in defeat. “Congratulations, Jala, you are getting married to an impulsive ass.”

  Grinning widely, Finn pulled his other boot on and quickly adjusted the cuffs of his pants tucking them neatly inside the knee high black boots. He stood straight again and offered his arm to her. At some point in their discussion, Finn had managed to straighten his shirt and button the vest and now looked quite respectable. “Hurry now before you regain your senses,” Finn teased and she moved to his side, taking his arm in hers.

  “I’m not going to change my mind,” she assured him and fell into step easily beside him as they continued toward the Firym Palace.

  They walked in silence for a bit, her eyes roving over the beauty of the city as they moved. Sanctuary itself was imposing, built on such a grand scale it blinded you to the dark alleys where poverty thrived. Fallanor, however, didn’t seem to have any dark alleys. The entire city seemed to be thriving and if poverty dwelled here at all, it was extraordinarily well hidden. All of the houses were tidy and the streets were clean. Each intersection they crossed was built in a circular fashion with a fountain in the center.

  “Have you told father?” Sovann asked as they neared the massive structure that could only be the palace they had mentioned.

  Jala’s eyes roved up and down the vine-covered columns and brightly lit windows. The building itself was a work of art with delicate arches and murals lining the walls.

  “No, I haven’t. I don’t live by his means. I don’t need his permission to live my life as I see fit,” Finn answered.

  “Have you given any thought to what Uncle Arjuna might say about this?” Sovann pressed as they began to climb the worn stone stairs.

  “Not really, Sovann,” Finn replied, his tone absent of any concern.