The Crow King's Wife (44 page)

“Stand down Dray! Did you see how quickly he
dropped Havoc? Did you somehow miss how the wood hung in the air
like that? That is Hemlock before you and that was time magic he
used to cheat Havoc.” Zachary barked the words like a field
commander and Zoelyn watched mutely as Dray’s shoulders slumped a
fraction, but the Blight didn’t budge from where he stood.

“I would die to protect Zoey.” Dray
proclaimed in a voice that only shook slightly.

“Then you are a fool, because once he has
finished with you he will continue after her. Don’t throw your life
away, Dray.” Zachary snapped as he pushed past the Blight to stand
before Hemlock with one hand on his sword hilt. “What do you want
here Hemlock? As far as I knew the Rivasan’s don’t hire your kind.
It’s considered too dishonorable even for their tastes as I
understand it.”

“I am here for my own reasons Lord Dark.”
Hemlock drawled as he slowed to a stop and leaned back on his heels
to regard the taller man. “You know that knife I used on Havoc was
rather well poisoned. It was the same mixture I used to kill Finn
in Sanctuary. I doubt the girl has the skill to heal it, but Jala
likely does. I’d say the Firym has about fifteen minutes of life
remaining with the dosage I used, so that leaves us with a bit of a
quandary. Do you waste his remaining time dying beside him or do
you escape and attempt to get him healed?”

“I will not leave here without the children.”
Zachary declared firmly.

“Noble to the marrow aren’t you? Well fine
then. Let’s make a deal. I will allow you to take Havoc, the
Blight, as well as the children and flee without giving you the
slightest trouble for your efforts.” Hemlock spread his hands
before him and cocked his head to one side as he presented his
offer then tilted his blood stained dagger toward Zachary. “Or I
kill you, the Blight, and then the girl and still have time to
watch Havoc die slowly and painfully before I sell the children at
the first slave market I can find. Which would you prefer?”

“You are here for Zoey?” Zachary asked
incredulously.

“The more honorable they are the thicker
their skulls I think.” A woman purred from inside the room. Slow
measured steps echoed through the room as the speaker moved to the
doorway and leaned against the frame. From her vantage behind the
others Zoelyn could tell little about the newcomer beyond her pale
hair and white clothing, but she remembered enough of what Neph had
said to guess who the woman was.

“Kali too.” Zachary observed grimly and his
hand tightened on his sword hilt. “Zoelyn we have a problem. I will
have to draw on Oblivion to face these two at once. Hemlock I might
have been able to handle without drawing on more power, but not
both of them.” He said in a tightly controlled voice. She couldn’t
see the expression on his face, but his knuckles were white on his
sword hilt and the set of his shoulders spoke of pure fury.

“And Oblivion destroys sentiment, so when I
make the same offer to an Oblivion soaked Lord Dark he will leave
you here with me without a second glance.” Hemlock finished with a
faint chuckle.

“Unfortunately that is correct. Without
personal grievance toward me I won’t fight them once I hold enough
Oblivion to win against them, and I promise you they won’t provoke
a fight with me once I draw on my power.” Zachary agreed sounding
thoroughly disgusted with himself.

“Take Havoc and Dray to find the children
then. I don’t want anyone to die on my behalf.” Zoelyn said in the
calmest voice she could muster as she gently laid Havoc against the
wall and straightened were she stood. Summoning what she hoped was
a confident look to her face she drew her other glove off and
tucked it into her belt. “Kali won’t be a problem for me, and
neither will his time magic. I will manage on my own.” She added
with forced bravado.

“It’s the only option you have.” Kali offered
lightly and pushed a wooden box through the doorway. “Look I’ve
already packaged the brats up for you nice and neat Lord Dark.
Shrunk just like you pretty shiny knights transport your
horses.”

“Take them and go Zachary. I would be
satisfied just to know that the children of Delvay are safe.”
Zoelyn urged quietly.

The faint rustle of feathers rose behind her
and her thundering heart froze in her chest as a warm hand gently
moved her aside. Seth’s gold eyes met hers for a breath and a faint
smile creased his lips as he continued past her to stand beside
Zachary. “Your third option would be allowing me the honor of
killing them while you leave with Zoelyn.” Seth’s voice was low and
far too casual for what he was suggesting. She had seen the
illusions of the last fight between Seth and Hemlock and she didn’t
want to even think of Seth kneeling on the floor in a pool of his
own blood again.

Hemlock sighed heavily as he twirled his
dagger lazily in one hand. “It’s amazing how we find ourselves
repeating history isn’t it, Seth? Me with children as hostages and
you about to watch the woman you love die, again. Really this story
is getting old.” He snarled as he kicked the wooden box toward
Zachary. “Go ahead Lord Dark scamper away now.” He snapped then
pointed down the hallway directly at her. “I’ll see you very soon
sweets, and I’ll leave his blood on my daggers just for you.” He
added in a sickeningly sweet voice.

“I am in your debt, Seth.” Zachary said
stiffly as he gingerly picked up the box and backed away from
Hemlock. Kneeling quickly he pulled Havoc to his feet and looked to
Dray. “Bring Zoelyn. We need to be away from here now!” he ordered
with anger layered thick in every syllable.

“We can’t just leave him here to face them
alone!” Zoelyn protested and tried to pull away as Dray’s hand
locked firmly on her arm.

“We can and we must.” Zachary returned firmly
as he started down the hall at a brisk pace with Havoc hanging
limply from his arm.

“He is right Zoey.” Dray murmured and pulled
her along quickly on Zachary’s heels. She tugged at his hand and
tried to pull away but his grip tightened as the first ring of
steel filled the shadows behind them.

“Seth.” Zoelyn gasped and felt tears welling
in her eyes as the tempo of fighting increased behind them while
Dray pulled her further away with every step.

The Blight slowed as they caught up with
Zachary and the Lord nodded impatiently toward the closed door
before him. “I can’t open it with Havoc and the children, and
climbing back out isn’t an option so batter it down any way you can
Dray and we will pray we are heading for an exit. I’m not sure how
much time Seth can buy us, but I don’t plan to waste a second of
it.”

Dray nodded and his grip on Zoelyn’s arm
loosed for just a breath as he moved for the door. Twisting quickly
Zoelyn pulled her arm free of his and backed quickly away from them
shaking her head. “I can’t do it.” She gasped as the first few
tears poured down her cheeks. “I can’t leave him to die for me.”
She added hoarsely and turned back the way they had come at a quick
run.

“Let her go and get the door open. You can’t
save someone who doesn’t wish to be saved and Havoc is dying as we
speak.” Zachary snapped.

She didn’t bother to listen for pursuit as
she stumbled blindly toward the sound of fighting. Even before she
closed on them she could feel the magic in the air. Slowing her
steps she flattened herself to a wall and forced her breathing to
calm. It took all of her will to move with what little stealth she
could summon, but she knew it would only make matters worse if she
ran headlong into the fighting.

Kali had moved further into the hall and
stood with her back to Zoelyn. For a moment Zoelyn was torn on
whether she should try to sneak up on the mage or simply rush her,
and then Kali unleashed a spell on Seth causing the demon to
stagger forward off balance and the decision was made. With anger
burning away all trace of logic Zoelyn sprinted toward the mage and
slammed a hand down hard on her bare shoulder. The curse drained
deeply as Zoelyn spun Kali around to face her and slammed her fist
hard into the stunned woman’s face.

The mage reeled under the blow and staggered
back against the wall with her eyes rolling back in her head before
sliding slowly down to the floor.

With a snarl Zoelyn shook her stinging hand
and turned back to the fight in time to see Hemlock’s dagger sink
deeply into Seth’s side. The demon shuddered and one of his swords
fell from his limp grasp. As he turned toward her she could see the
damage Kali’s spells had wrought and her throat tightened at the
sight of his blackened skin. She hadn’t seen any fire light the
hallway but his entire right side looked burnt and she could see he
was barely managing to keep his feet.

“Seth!” Zoelyn screamed as Hemlock casually
slashed the dagger across Seth’s face splitting his cheek open to
the bone.

“Just like old times eh, Seth?” Hemlock
murmured as he took as step back and smiled widely.

“With the exception of one thing.” Finn’s
voice rose over Seth’s rasping breaths as his sword plunged through
Hemlock just under the Assassin’s ribcage. “He serves a Master who
cares about his well-being now.” Finn added coolly as he withdrew
the sword slowly.

Blood bubbled on Hemlock’s lips as he
staggered forward wheezing in an attempt to regain his balance. The
look on his face was one of absolute incredulity as Finn stepped
casually around the Assassin slowly wiping a cloth down his sword
blade and studying the blood covered cloth with a faint smirk.

Finn raised his eyebrows at Hemlock and his
smirk widened to a grin. “My sword was rather well poisoned by the
way. It was not quite the same mixture you used on me in Sanctuary
though. I’d say Havoc has a much better chance at living than you
do unless you can somehow manage to stumble over to Kali and rouse
her quickly. I’d highly suggest you leave here before you attempt
to wake her though. Zoelyn looks ready to kill you and I know Seth
would like nothing more than to bury his knife in your throat.”
Finn spoke calmly as he replaced his sword in its scabbard and made
a point of tucking the blood soaked cloth into an inside pocket of
his cloak.

“You are a Divine.” Hemlock coughed and shook
his head at Finn in disbelief. “You can’t involve yourself
personally in this.” He said with accusation thick in his
voice.

Finn raised one eyebrow and cocked his head
at Hemlock. “I can’t?” he asked in mock innocence then gave an
exaggerated frown. “But I just did.” He pointed out calmly and
motioned toward Hemlock’s blood soaked tunic. “And if you don’t get
that tended soon you are going to be the first victim of the Elder
pox in over two thousand years. That particular disease died out a
while back you know, but I do so hate to let fascinating things
fall by the wayside. I’ve heard it’s a rather gruesome way to die.
What happened to the Veirasha is supposed to be a pale facsimile of
the true pox.”

Hemlock’s already pale face seemed to lose
another shade or two as he stumbled toward Kali and slid down to
the floor beside her leaving a bloody smear across the stone wall
in his wake. “The Divine may not interfere in the actions of the
mortal world.” Hemlock insisted as his hand locked around Kali’s
wrist.

“Don’t just let him go.” Seth snarled, but
even as he spoke Hemlock was beginning the casting of a
teleportation spell with more than a little panic showing in his
expression. Apparently Finn’s mention of the pox was more than
enough incentive to get him to leave.

“I have your blood Hemlock. Remember that
before you think to move against Zoelyn again.” Finn warned as the
Assassin finished his spell and faded from the room with Kali. Finn
gave a weary sigh and looked at Seth’s ragged form. “I’d explain
why I let him live, but in your current state I think you’d be dead
before I got to the second sentence. We need to get you back to the
Darklands where you can heal.” Glancing up he offered a hand to
Zoelyn and smiled. “Come along Zoey. Let’s get you some place
safer.”

Zoelyn started to move forward then shook her
head slowly and stepped away from both of them. “I’m not going with
you Finn. I only came back to help Seth, but I know he will be fine
in your hands.” She murmured as she took another step back and
turned to go.

“Zoey, the others won’t realize you are here.
You will be left in Rivana.” Finn called after her with a hint of
concern lacing his voice.

“I can’t go with you, Finn.” Zoelyn returned
as she quickened her pace. She couldn’t allow herself to look back
at them. She didn’t want to see Seth in such a pitiful state, and
it was taking all of her willpower to walk away from him. She knew
if she went with them to the Darklands that she would lose all
desire to turn away from Seth, and she didn’t want to be caught by
his Charm again. Being tricked once was bad enough. She wouldn’t
allow it to happen a second time.

“Zoelyn wait!” Seth called after her in a
pain filled voice and her walk turned to a run as her willpower
crumbled. She had to get far away from him before it faded
completely or she knew she was lost.

* * *

The sound of faint footsteps drew her gaze
upward and Zoelyn stared listlessly toward the doorway. She had no
idea what part of the ruined keep she was in, and she knew her
friends were long gone by now. Whoever was approaching was most
likely Rivasan, and she knew she should get to her feet, but she
couldn’t muster the energy for it. She had run until her tears
blurred her vision too much to continue then collapsed by one of
the walls and hadn’t bothered to move again.

There was no point to moving. Her friends
were gone, Finn was gone, and she was lost. She couldn’t even
summon magic to transport herself home. A bitter smile curved her
lips at the thought, there was no escaping Rivasa, and she couldn’t
even count on Seth showing up to save her. He’d already shown up
once and nearly died for it, but she couldn’t honestly say if he
had shown up to save her, or simply to attempt to kill Hemlock. She
knew how much Seth hated Hemlock, and doubted he would miss any
opportunity to kill the Assassin.