The Crow King's Wife (57 page)

“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.

For the course of the entire war the lords
assembled around him had fought to give Symphony her throne, and
she had rewarded them with disappointment after disappointment at
every turn. With every given opportunity to lead Symphony had
failed, and now she was not only failing she was proving herself a
coward as well as far as Neph saw it.

Faramir whispered into the Empress’s ear once
more and Symphony nodded before turning her attention back to Jala.
“I give you the honor of protecting my city Lady Merrodin. I know I
will not be disappointed by your efforts on my behalf.” Symphony
called before turning on her heels to retreat further into the
palace.

“The Empress is much too valuable to risk in
such an endeavor Lady Merrodin, it was wrong of you to suggest she
might place herself in harm’s way.” Faramir scolded and glared at
Jala before turning to hurry after Symphony.

“Far be it for us to suggest our leader
should lead.” Neph said dryly as he glanced at Jala before turning
back to gaze up that the sky once more. “Well do we fight?” he
asked softly.

“We have no choice but to fight.” Jala
returned firmly. “If we do not fight we are damned. We must face
them together or die alone in our own lands when they come for
us.”

“So we fight.” Madren said with a nod as he
moved forward to stand beside Jala. The witches that had
accompanied him as his entourage spread themselves into a
semi-circle behind their lord and Madren smiled confidently. “So we
win.” He amended and gave Jala a firm nod.

“We win.” Jala repeated and her eyes narrowed
as she struggled to gauge the distance of the approaching
forces.

“But first we send the ones too young to
fight to safety.” Valor pointed out with a smile as he hefted
Legacy gently in his arms. The child had been so quiet and well
behaved during the council that Neph had almost forgotten he was
present until Valor brought attention to him. “I believe Avanti has
a son here as well that is too young to fight.”

“You’re mad if you think I will entrust my
heir to you.” Truce snapped defiantly.

“Would you entrust him to his Grandfather?”
Jala asked as she waved a hand to the crowd near the palace doors
and motioned Sovaesh forward. The Assassin moved swiftly to her and
bowed before turning to regard Truce.

The High Lord’s face fell in defeat as he
nodded to Sovaesh and gave his wife an apologetic look. “I will.”
He relented as he gently pushed not only his son, but his wife
forward as well. “Please Sovaesh if you would see them to safety I
would be grateful.”

“I would rather stand with you!” Nallia
Avanti protested and tried in vain to cling to her husband’s
arm.

“And I would rather you were safe.” Truce
countered as he carefully handed his loved ones over to
Sovaesh.

“Take Legacy as well Sovaesh and keep them
all safe no matter what the outcome of today is.” Jala commanded
softly. Turning back to the sky she gripped the holy symbol around
her neck and Neph heard her begin muttering to beginnings of a
prayer.

A snort of amusement rose from the crowd
behind him and Neph turned to regard one of the priests who had
been utterly silent till now chuckling softly as he moved away from
his fellows to stand at the edge of the stairs for a better view.
Shaking his head Neph tried his best to ignore the man as he began
his own silent prayers. With the odds they were about to face they
would need all of the Divine intervention they could get.

* * *

Shaking with outrage Zoelyn rose from her
chair to stare at the scry and then glared at her mother. “This is
what must happen?” she demanded fiercely and pointed a finger at
the assembled lords. “My brother must stand like a lamb for the
slaughter against the combined forces of Rivana and Nerathane?” she
added in an incredulous voice.

“Morcath too, they haven’t noticed the forces
approaching from behind them yet.” Cora replied in an apologetic
voice.

“And you expect me to stand here and watch as
my Brother and friends bleed for an Empress that is so cowardly she
flees in the face of her enemies?” Zoelyn snarled as she pushed
back from the table and shook her head at Cora in disbelief.

“It is not something I wish to witness either
Zoey, but it must happen.” Cora said sadly and carefully moved
Syrah from her lap to a chair as she rose to her feet. “You and I
are both powerless in the matter. What else can we do but
watch?”

“Is my Daddy there?” Syrah asked softly and
Zoelyn could see the terror written in the child’s eyes.

“I am not powerless.” Zoelyn growled to Cora
and then turned to Syrah and tried to think of anything she could
say to the child that might reassure her, but she couldn’t think of
a single word that seemed appropriate. The sad truth was her father
likely was somewhere in the city and the odds of Grim escaping the
assault on the city were slim. “I promise you Syrah, if I see him I
will do everything I can to send him back to you.” She said at last
then shook her head sadly at her mother. “How could you ever expect
me to just watch this.” She asked sadly as she paced as far from
the table and scry as she could.

“What other choice do you have Zoey? Be
reasonable.” Cora said in pleading tones.

“Anything is better than nothing.” Zoelyn
shot back and closed her eyes as she slowly pulled her gloves from
her hands. She knew what she had to do and just the thought of it
made her heart thunder painfully in her chest. Swallowing heavily
she held her hands out before her and willed her curse to drain
away the wards protecting her brother’s room. “Seth.” The name
burst from her lips in such desperation that it rang like a war cry
through the halls beyond.

The air before her darkened before her mouth
had fully closed and the shadows coalesced into Seth’s lithe form
in under a breath. His gold eyes were lit with interest as he
studied her face and he raised an eyebrow at her in question. “You
called?” he enquired sweetly. “Rather desperately too I might add,
yet I don’t see a threat here.” He added as his gaze skimmed over
Syrah and Cora then came to rest on her once more.

“Zoelyn what are you doing?” Cora demanded as
she hesitantly took a step toward her daughter.

“Something rather than nothing.” Zoelyn
replied quietly as she met Seth’s gaze fully and let out a long
slow breath to steady herself. With effort she reined her curse
back in before it could destroy all of the wards of protection on
the house. She had only wanted to disable the ones preventing Seth
from coming to her, and apparently she had succeeded. “You wanted a
test from me.” She reminded him.

“I did.” Seth agreed and the interest in his
face deepened. “I take it you have thought of an adequate way for
me to prove myself then?”

“I want you to help me save my friends.”
Zoelyn replied without hesitation and motioned toward the scry.

Seth glanced toward the scry then back at her
before he walked slowly toward the table and stared down at the
scene unfolding in Sanctuary. Absently he tapped his fingers across
the polished table top as he studied the images for a long moment.
“Jala, Neph, Valor, and Madren are the ones you are referring to?”
he asked softly.

“Since I don’t know where Grim or Shade are
presently yes. Those are the friends I am referring to.” Zoelyn
agreed as she watched him closely for any sign of his feelings. It
was of course possible that he would laugh at her and refuse her
request, most rational people would, but she didn’t think Seth
would.

“They won’t abandon the city to their
enemies.” Seth observed thoughtfully and glanced back at her. “So
you are essentially asking me to save the city as well.” He pointed
out in a matter of fact voice.

Cringing slightly Zoelyn nodded sheepishly
and felt her certainty fading quickly. “I suppose I am.” She
admitted quietly.

“The city of Sanctuary is an extravagant
bridal gift.” Seth mused then turned to face her fully forcing her
to meet his eyes. “You do realize that this is what it will be
correct? If I do this, if I save your friends and that city you are
mine. Our little story will have reached its ending and you will
truly be the Crow King’s wife. Is what you ask worth what you will
pay?”

Swallowing heavily Zoelyn nodded firmly and
took a step toward him still holding his gaze. “Help me save my
brother and my friends and I will consider myself blessed by both
sides of our bargain.” She said fervently.

“Zoelyn you can’t!” Cora objected loudly and
started toward her as if she meant to pull her away from Seth
before she could approach the demon any closer.

“She can and she has.” Seth announced with a
wicked smile. He was at her side before Cora could take two steps
and within a breath the halls of Delvay were fading from her vision
as Seth’s magic enveloped them both. “Mine.” His breath was warm
against her throat but it was the tone of his voice that brought
the goosebumps to her arms. She had never heard anyone speak with
such devotion and satisfaction in the same breath.

Sanctuary

The streets of the city were in complete
chaos as they emerged from the prison forcing Shade to struggle
just to keep up with Grim as the Priest roughly cleared a path
through the crowds. He could hear Lex laboring to keep up behind
him and the Fionaveir’s rasping breath was a testament to how long
he had been held captive. Shade had known Lex for years and he had
never seen the man break a sweat aside for the rare times the
Fionaveir had crossed blades with Finn Sovaesh at the Spring
Games.