The Crow King's Wife (8 page)

“I make no promises of that. I have people
hunting the Morcaillo now and if they finish before you return I
will move against my enemies.” Onvalla replied coldly. She let out
a deep breath as her eyes locked onto his. “Now tell me where to
find my son if you truly know where he is.”

“The last time I spoke with him he was living
safely with High Lady Jala Merrodin. I will warn you though she has
another Blight living with her as well. If you send your people
there to take your son back with force, they will be found and they
will likely die. If you want to speak with the boy I would highly
suggest you approach Jala directly and politely rather than attempt
to trick her. She has a temper to match your own Lady Onvalla, and
she holds grudges for a very long time.” Shade answered with a
faint smile.

He could feel Caleb’s eyes on him as well and
he knew by the expression on the man’s face his words had held just
as much interest for Caleb as they had for Onvalla. He just wasn’t
certain what interest Caleb held in the boy though. It was possible
he had just endangered Dray’s life with his words. There was a
chance Caleb would want Dray dead to ensure Micah’s secret remained
buried, but he didn’t think that was the sort of man Caleb was, and
he was praying he was right on that matter.

* * *

“If you had a Spell Hawk in storage the
entire time, may I ask why exactly we just walked three hours
before you chose to use it?” Caleb asked in a weary voice.

Shade glanced back from his ship and smiled
weakly at Caleb as he pried the goblin off his leg for the fifth
time. He had chosen a clearing several miles from the Blight
village to unveil his ship, and no doubt Caleb was thinking it was
a splendid waste of time to walk when they could have simply flown.
Considering his constant wrestling match with the goblin during
their walk, Shade supposed it had wasted more time than he had
intended. The creature had been frantic when it had been brought to
him by Granger, and it seemed to think Shade would disappear if it
wasn’t clinging directly to him.

With a sigh Shade looked around the forest
and wondered how many sets of eyes Onvalla had watching them. “On
the ship and I will explain.” He promised as he drew a pair of dark
glasses from his coat pocket and scanned the trees around them.
There was no way he was letting a Blight slip onto his ship since
Onvalla hadn’t ordered one to accompany them.

Caleb sighed and gave a quick nod before
stepping onto the Spell Hawk and was already seated before Shade
closed the door. The goblin scrambled to the back of the ship with
wide eyes and Shade grinned before tossing it some food. With luck
the creature would content itself with eating for most of the trip
and he wouldn’t have to worry about flying with a goblin on his
face or shoulders.

Shade gave the ship another quick glance just
to be sure he hadn’t missed anything before he moved forward and
sat slowly down in the pilot seat. He took several moments to
simply savor how good it felt to be in control of something again,
no matter how fleeting that sensation might be. Once he was off of
his ship again his life would be in chaos and he knew it. There was
so much expected of him right now that it made him want to scream
or hide.

“Well?” Caleb asked as the silence in the
ship grew.

“Did you hear about the bombing of Eldagar?”
Shade asked with a faint smile.

“I did. The largest hive of Blights was wiped
out there in a single day, and by rather unconventional means.”
Caleb replied slowly and by his expression Shade could tell he knew
what he was going to say next.

“That was me, on this ship, and I was worried
some of the Blights might remember that particular day. Considering
how pissy Onvalla was about the glasses that allowed Blights to be
seen I really didn’t think she needed to know exactly what I had
done against her people.” Shade explained with a shrug.

“Bloody hell. Are you sure none of them
followed us here? I can’t believe Onvalla would simply let us walk
out without spying on us the entire way.” Caleb asked softly as he
turned in his seat to stare at the empty ship behind them.

“None that I saw and these are the accursed
glasses she was so upset over.” Shade assured him as he placed his
hands over the control panel. “Now there is a shower and plenty of
soap in the back room of this ship. Feel free to partake of it
while I get us the hell out of here. I’m going to warn you upfront
though. I’ve never flown this weakened or with one eye so the ride
will be a bumpy one.”

“As long as you don’t crash I don’t care how
rough the voyage is.” Caleb returned with a sigh and rose from his
chair. “Soap is too much temptation. I will return shortly.” He
announced as he disappeared into the back of the ship.

Shade smiled and focused himself on the ship
pouring as much magic as he dared into it. Normally a long voyage
was no issue for him, but this time out he was going to have to
pace himself. For some reason his magic wasn’t as strong as it
typically was, and it wasn’t returning with the speed he was
accustomed to. The ship lifted gently from the clearing and he kept
it as steady as he could as they slowly rose above the tree tops.
The last thing he wanted to do was throw Caleb from the shower or
hit another tree with his ship.

“I have seen you looking better.” The voice
came from the seat Caleb had so recently vacated and it was so
shockingly familiar that Shade nearly planted the Spell Hawk
directly in a very large pine tree.

Inhaling sharply he fought to bring the ship
steady again and then glanced over quickly at the passenger seat.
“You are supposed to be dead.” Shade said with dismay as he stared
at Finn Sovaesh in pure shock. He was dressed differently than
Shade had ever seen him, in dark chain armor and a black cloak, but
there was no mistaking who it was.

The corners of Finn’s lips creased with his
typical arrogant smile and he raised his eyebrows twice. “Funny you
should mention that given what I came to speak to you about.” Finn
drawled and his smile widened. “You were very close to death
recently too, Shade. In fact you were right on the boundary, only a
breath or two from crossing over weren’t you?”

Shade stared at him for a long moment and
then forced his eyes back onto the ship’s view screen. “How would
you know that?” he asked and glanced back to the back of the ship.
Had it been anyone else he would have assumed they had learned
through scrying on him, but Finn Sovaesh was terrible with magic
and everyone knew it. Shade’s attention flicked between the back of
the ship and the passenger seat once more and he groaned inwardly.
He wasn’t sure if he was praying Caleb would return or hoping he
wouldn’t. He couldn’t decide if he wanted to see Finn get his ass
kicked or if he wanted to hear everything Finn had to say.

“I was dead, now I’m Death, and you were
nearly dead, but I didn’t allow it. Do you know what that means
Shade?” Finn replied calmly. He seemed amused by Shade’s glances
toward the back of the ship and chuckled when Shade looked at him
in confusion. “Well first of all it means I’m a Divine now and no
matter how much Grim may hate me, he won’t be able to so much as
bruise me. Second it means you owe me a life boon and I’m here to
collect.”

“Bloody buggering hell. Is there one single
individual in all of Sanctuary that doesn’t want something from
me?” Shade snarled as his shock gave away to anger. “Seriously? You
are a god and you are making demands of me? This is the sickest
joke I’ve ever bloody well heard. It’s ridiculous. Why would I ever
consider doing anything for you? I hate you. You know I hate you.
Why would you even ask me to do anything for you?” His voice rose
with each word as his frustration grew.

Finn sighed with exaggerated annoyance and
gave Shade a withering look. “The feeling is mutual, but if not for
me you wouldn’t be alive now would you? You know you were too close
to death to live. You know it had to take more intervention than
your pathetic regeneration to save your life. Given what you are I
really would have thought you would have improved your regeneration
by now. It’s rather sad actually.”

“Really? Is now really the time to criticize
the use of my birthright?” Shade growled and shook his head at
Finn. He let out a long slow breath and stared at the view screen
as he wrestled his emotions back under control. “I don’t have time
for your favor Finn. I’m already in the middle of two other favors
for people that I like more than you.” He said after a long
silence. “And in case you don’t know what the hell I’m talking
about, that was a pretty big insult because I really don’t like
Onvalla.”

“I know what you are talking about. I watched
your little drama unfold in Glis. Your passion is so touching
Shade. You know I really do think you will save the whole world.”
Finn said in a voice laced with sarcasm.

“I’m willing to bet Divine or not that I can
still bruise you, and interrupting my shower is reason enough for
me to try. Keep being an ass Sovaesh, test my patience further.”
Caleb’s voice was low and filled with warning.

Finn slowly turned in his seat and Shade
found himself glancing back as well. Caleb stood just beyond the
door of the back room still dripping wet from the shower. He wore
black uniform pants and had a towel wrapped over his shoulder with
no sign of a weapon on him, but he still looked ready for a fight
if Finn chose to rise from his seat.

“Now is really not the time Grim, and I don’t
want you in hell any more than I do Shade. So it wouldn’t be in my
best interest to kill you should you decide we should fight. Why
don’t you sit down, shut up, and listen instead? I have a few
things to say to you as well.” Finn pointed sharply at an empty
chair as he spoke and then turned back to Shade.

“My friends call me Grim and you are nothing
I would consider a friend. I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t
use the title.” Caleb snapped as he dropped into the indicated seat
with an expression of annoyance on his face.

“Shall I call you the Black Bastard then or
Bloody Huntsman?” Finn growled in response.

Shade’s eyes widened at the words and he
slowly glanced back at Caleb once more. He knew those titles.
Everyone in Sanctuary knew of the Black Bastard of Arovan or the
Bloody Huntsman, he simply hadn’t realized Caleb Faulklin was
either. He hadn’t even realized the bastard and the huntsman were
the same person for that matter. It made the reputation even more
infamous. If the stories about either held any truth at all Caleb
Faulklin really was a psychopath as he had suggested to
Onvalla.

“You aren’t really?” Shade began quietly and
his voice trailed off as he glanced from Caleb to Finn and then
back to the view screen.

“What you didn’t realize you were giving a
ride to the Bloody Huntsman Shade? Didn’t you wonder when he told
you his friends called him Grim? That isn’t exactly a nickname that
one gives to a sweet tempered individual.” Finn said dryly.

“This is neither here nor there. I sincerely
doubt you came here to discuss my reputation.” Caleb snapped with
obvious irritation.

“Quite right, I have gotten a bit off track,
back to business then.” Finn conceded with a faint nod, but his
smirk was still present. It was clear that he found Shade’s current
dismay entertaining. “The favor can wait a moment. I have a
question for you first Shade. Do you know what
Kevala’drin
means?”

“This is none of your affair Finn.” Caleb
snarled and half rose from his seat.

“The bloody hell it isn’t my affair. I rule
hell, Huntsman, and where exactly do you think you will end up? I
know the truth about you even if the bards of Arovan fill their
lives by telling lies about you. I know what you truly are. If you
continue down this path you will die and I will make you my pet
when you do.” Finn roared and the power of his voice drove even
Caleb back to his seat. Finn’s green eyes flashed with anger and he
turned back to Shade who was once again staring at him in utter
shock.

“I have no idea what
Kevala’drin
means.” Shade admitted meekly. He had thought Finn was bluffing
about being a Divine right up until his anger had shown. Now he was
certain it was the truth. He had never seen so much raw power in
anyone, not even Jala.

“It is an old Glis term. It means the
Final Reckoning
. Your new found friend intends to commit
suicide in a very colorful manner.” Finn explained calmly and
glanced back at Caleb once more shaking his head with disgust.

“I intend to deliver vengeance for Micah and
my family.” Caleb growled.

“And you will die for it, but I have a very
compelling reason for you to change those plans.” Finn said with a
sigh.

“I sincerely doubt there is anything you can
say that will change my mind.” Caleb argued stubbornly.

“Really? Let’s try. Syrah still lives.” Finn
shot back without pause.

All color drained from Caleb’s face at the
words and Shade glanced quickly between the two of them before
turning his attention once more to flying. “Who is Syrah?” He asked
quietly.

“Syrah Khalia Faulklin, his daughter.” Finn
answered simply his gaze still locked on Caleb. “She is being held
in Rivasa at the Citadel in Prendington. I don’t know of her
condition beyond the fact that she is not close to death. I wish I
could say the same for Evanell or Ryven, but they were both lost in
Amdany. I’m sorry for the losses you have endured Caleb, but you
haven’t lost everything.” Finn’s voice had taken on a gentle
quality that Shade had never heard him use before, and the
expression on his face was filled with sympathy rather than his
typical smirk. Swallowing heavily Finn shifted in his seat to face
Caleb more directly and cleared his throat quietly. “Look, we have
always been at odds, and I know this likely won’t mean much to you
coming from me, but I know what it’s like to lose everything. I
also know what it is like to have one thing left to grasp onto.
Syrah is your lifeline here Caleb, grab on and hold tight. You have
a reputation across Arovan for being a hero, and Syrah could really
use a hero right now more than a martyr. For once you need to truly
be what the people of Arovan believe you are.” Finn paused and his
expression looked almost pained for a moment. With a deep breath he
leaned closer to Caleb’s chair and his expression became one of
such sincerity that Shade almost doubted it was truly Finn. “You
can’t throw your life away. You are needed. I don’t know if you
have noticed or not, but most of the heroes are dropping like
flies. I was trying to be a better person before my death, Caleb,
but I failed, and I’m out of the game now for the most part. You
could be what Arovan believes you are, and they need you to be that
now more than ever.”