The Crow King's Wife (4 page)

The hood on his cloak fell back as he landed
giving everyone a full view of his well-tanned face and sandy hair.
Rings lined both of his ears and another was pierced through his
left nostril. That combined with the sandy stubble of beard and
dark clothes gave the newcomer the perfect image of the bard’s tale
rogue. Finn could very easily picture the man as the highway man
that swept naïve young women off their feet, but he really didn’t
look the hero sort which made his current actions rather
confusing.

“Who in the hell are you?” Finn murmured
softly as the man raised his hands to silence the crowd.

The man winked at him, but turned back to the
crowd without giving answer. “My Lady would speak before this
progresses any further.” The man called loudly and the noise of the
crowd turned to a positive rumble of shock.

Even Lutheron seemed taken aback by the words
and Finn turned his attention slowly back to his newest ally. “Who
exactly do you serve?” he asked in bewilderment. By the reactions
of the assembled gods it must be someone terrifying, and yet the
man beside him didn’t seem threatening at all. He wasn’t even armed
as far as Finn could tell.

“He serves me.” A soft voice answered from
behind him and Finn turned at the sound of it. The woman was small,
barely coming to his chest in height. She was dressed in dark blue
silks that seemed to cling to her delicate form with matching
streaks of the color lacing her short dark hair. Rings glittered
from every finger and tiny silver hoops adorned her ears, but other
than that she seemed to carry no other metal. There was no sign of
sword or daggers and by her appearance she looked even less
dangerous than the man that served her. She smiled at Finn impishly
and bowed slightly in his direction with a flourish that belonged
in a noble’s court. Standing once more she locked her blue eyes on
him before slowly trailing past him to the waiting crowd. “I rarely
come to these gatherings. I do hope you all remember who I am.” She
began in a voice that seemed almost musical to Finn’s ears.

“What do you want?” Lutheron demanded and
there was a trace of unease in his voice. It wasn’t fear, but there
was definite uncertainty in his expression and tone.

“Ahh I see you remember me at least.” The
woman chuckled and shrugged her slender shoulders. “I want to
intervene before you do something stupid Lutheron. Your plots and
schemes are so important to you that sometimes you fail to look at
the grander picture. For example if you happen to kill sweet Finn
here, do you have someone to take his place as the Keeper of souls?
Is there someone waiting on the sidelines to take up the mantle of
Death that I’m not seeing?” She cocked her head in question and
slowly turned a full circle as if searching the crowd for her
answer. Clicking her tongue quietly in thought she slowly shook her
head and turned her attention back to Lutheron. “It’s an important
role you know, especially now with everyone in the sunlit world
killing as quickly as they can.” She added with a sad little
smile.

“Death can easily be replaced and no doubt
with someone more competent than Finn Sovaesh.” Lutheron replied
coldly.

“Really?” The woman asked in sheer
astonishment. “I doubt that.” She added and waved a hand lightly to
her right. The air shimmered for a moment and then cleared
revealing Seth’s dark clad form. The demon’s eyes narrowed as he
took in his current surroundings and he looked to Finn with
questioning eyes. “Seth Avanti you have served Death for longer
than most of us have held power. Tell me in your honest words does
Finn Sovaesh do his duties well? We all know you for the creature
you are, and we all know you will speak bluntly, especially now
that you have lost your gift with Charm magic.”

Seth hesitated and it was obvious from the
expression on his face that he had thought Finn had turned him over
for his crimes. His posture slowly relaxed as he regarded the woman
who had summoned him and he nodded slowly. “At first he was
confused by his new role as anyone would be, but since he has
mastered his powers he has done more to help the fallen than his
predecessor ever did, and Finn is not showing favoritism in his
judgments as she did.” Seth began and sighed heavily with a glance
of apology at Finn before he continued. “With the exception of Jala
Merrodin that is, aside from that however Finn has done his duty
well. More souls have been returned to the lifestream under his
watch than I have seen return in the past three hundred years, and
they are from all countries not simply the ones he favors. While
Finn Sovaesh may personally hate the Rivasans he does not allow his
feelings for them to mar his judgment of their souls. Penance is
delivered fairly and is not abused as it has been in the past.”
Seth finished and bowed his head to Finn.

“Do you believe the Domain of Death would do
better with another master?” The woman asked with a smile.

“Place another in Finn’s place and I will
kill them and take the mantle myself. I will only serve Finn
Sovaesh. I will not accept another master. Make your peace with
him, or deal with me, your choice.” Seth answered coldly.

“Thank you Seth.” The woman murmured happily
and waved her hand once more. The demon vanished from the pit
almost instantly and her eyes rose to Lutheron once more. “Seth
would be much more complicated to deal with I think. He knows you
personally Lutheron and he doesn’t like you much as I recall.”

“I can’t say that I blame him.” Finn muttered
sourly. Things had definitely taken a turn in an unexpected
direction and he wasn’t sure what to think of his ally. She had
seemed charming right up until she had summoned Seth. That action
in itself had annoyed him far more than Finn cared to admit. She
was helping him of course, but he hadn’t asked for the help, and
she had no right to summon his people.

“You have heard my case and the valid points
I have to make. Now let me tell you the outcome of this.” The woman
turned in her circle once more smiling at the assembled Aspects.
“Regardless of what you decide you will not kill Finn Sovaesh
today. He has my protection and there is nothing any of you can do
against my powers. I am taking him home now, and you can all piss
and fume till you turn blue for all I care. This is done and the
verdict is not guilty.”

The sand beneath Finn’s feet rocked as her
voice fell silent and the entire room faded from his vision as
vertigo washed over him. He was standing in his own throne room
when his vision cleared. His benefactor was seated comfortably in
his throne while her servant reclined comfortably on the steps
before her. She smiled at him and winked.

“You owe me, Finn.” She said sweetly.

“I didn’t ask for your help, and I’m not even
sure that was truly helpful. I think you may have pissed them off
even more than I did.” Finn snapped as he searched the room quickly
for Fiona. The last thing he wanted was one of his own left behind
at that assembly.

“She is safe in the Darklands, but not in
here. I didn’t want to listen to her. Fiona has such a sour
disposition these days.” The woman sighed and sat up straighter in
the throne. “I may have pissed them off, but I gave them plenty to
think about, and with me at your back they won’t be so quick to
trouble you again.”

“Who are you?” Finn demanded in exasperation.
Everything had moved so quickly since she had arrived he felt like
the room was still spinning. He really couldn’t say what he thought
of the entire situation, but he was fairly certain it wasn’t
good.

“Exodus. Forgive me for not introducing
myself. I thought beginning my act with introductions would steal a
bit of my thunder, and I needed my presentation to leave them
spinning in their seats.” Exodus smiled apologetically and shrugged
at him.

“Exodus.” Finn repeated dumbly as he tried
frantically to determine what Aspect the woman must represent. “Why
did you help me and what do you want in return?” he asked in a
calmer voice.

“I helped you so you would help me. As to
what I want…” her voice trailed off and for the first time since
she had arrived in the sand pit she seemed unsure. A slight frown
creased her full lips and she rose from the throne. “I have power
amongst the Aspects, but as far as my followers go… Well they are
not powerful in a worldly sense, but more of a personal sense. They
are capable individuals, but no one of significance in the grand
scheme of things. You however have very powerful allies in the
sunlit world.”

“Jala.” Finn concluded with a frown. He
didn’t like where this was going at all. With a sigh he nodded for
her to continue, but he doubted he would like what she had to
say.

“Jala and Nephondelvayon, and others.” Exodus
agreed with a quick nod. “You see the problem is this. I have many
of my followers locked away and they pray to me to save them, and I
can’t, I’ve tried.” Her voice cracked with genuine pain and she
shook her head quickly fighting back tears. “Each prayer from them
is like a knife in my gut and I have tried everything I can to save
them short of a personal rescue, and you saw how the Aspects react
when we get personally involved in mortal affairs.” She waved a
hand toward the man still sitting on the stairs and stared at Finn
with a look of pleading on her face. “Nix is the finest of my
servants and he is the most capable sneak I know and even he hasn’t
been able to free them. He has tried half a dozen times to answer
their prayers and I’m afraid if he continues trying I will lose
him. You must understand, Finn, Nix is my Seth, I cannot part with
him. I would be utterly lost.”

“And you think Jala or Neph can succeed where
he has failed?” Finn asked in confusion. Neither of his friends
were the least bit sneaky and the thought of sending Jala into
danger was not one he would even consider. She lived with enough
danger in her life and Finn wouldn’t ask her to endure more.

“I believe they have enough political power
to pull strings in the mortal world. I am truly desperate here or I
would never even consider resorting to something as distasteful as
the legal approach.” Exodus explained. She rubbed her face and
turned away from him as she paced toward one of the walls. “Close
to a dozen of my most devoted and one of my most powerful followers
are rotting away in chains and with every day that passes their
faith in me diminishes. If you cannot help me with this I will go
myself and to hell with the Aspects opinion on the matter. I’m not
even sure how much longer Charm will last in captivity. He has been
there so long and his prayers are so weak now. If I delay much
longer he may be in your domain soon.”

“Charm?” Finn repeated and the image of the
wiry little Fionaveir sprang to his mind almost instantly. A faint
smile creased his lips as he realized what Exodus was asking was
something he could help her with, but she was requesting the help
of the wrong people. Shade Morcaillo was the ideal person for the
job. He was friends with Charm and he owed Finn whether he realized
it yet or not. “It’s amazing how everything seems to just fall into
perfect place at times.” He murmured as he relaxed against one of
the pillars lining the room. “Let me make sure I have this
perfectly straight before I go any further with this. You are the
Aspect of Thieves and you have a dozen or so cut purses locked in a
prison that you can’t breach. You want me to send one of my friends
in to rescue them. Am I correct in what I have deciphered from your
words?”

Exodus nodded slowly. “More or less I
suppose. I am the Aspect of Elusion, the Patron of the rogues and
the Mistress of the clean escape, but most consider me just as you
have by only one of my virtues. And yes, you have understood me
perfectly.”

Finn smiled at her and nodded once. “Just so
we are clear for the future. You didn’t need to bother with the
theatrics. Had you simply asked for help I most likely would have
helped you.” He paused and his smile grew wider. “And I will help
you with your problem, but it’s not my friends you need for this
job. The one this requires is most certainly not my friend, but he
owes me.” He snorted with amusement and shook his head. “A favor to
repay a favor to repay a favor. What a complicated mess.” Finn
added with a sigh. “Give me time to settle things in my domain and
I will see that your people are freed. Just one thing Exodus.”

“What’s that?” Exodus asked in a brighter
voice. It was obvious his words had done wonders to lift her
spirits.

“I will consider you an ally for now, but if
you ever summon one of my personal servants again without my
permission I will become your worst enemy.” Finn warned in a firm
voice that left no room for doubt. His smile had faded and her
expression grew wary in response.

“I’m sorry for that. I should have thought
better on it and I understand your anger completely. Had another
god summoned Nix I would have been furious.” Exodus admitted with
chagrin. She bowed her head once more to him in respect. “Please
forgive my transgression. Much like Lutheron, I don’t always
consider the consequences of my plans. It seemed like a very good
idea in my mind, but I see what a poor choice it was now.”

“Then we’re good.” Finn agreed with a hint of
his former smile. “As long as we know where we each stand there is
little chance of offending each other in the future.”

Glis

Sweat trickled down Shade’s forehead as he
focused every ounce of will he had remaining on his mangled leg.
The flesh around the wound was the color of a corpse and felt like
leather under his hand. Swallowing heavily he redoubled his effort
to force his body to shift, silently pleading that his Changeling
gifts could return his strength to the limb. As it was walking was
nearly impossible and fighting was something he wouldn’t even
contemplate. Agility had been his strong point, and now he needed
Caleb’s help just to cross the room without falling.