“Neither, actually. Reckless perhaps. Confident certainly, but mainly it is simple tenacity. I don’t back down and I don’t give up. You might have won, Kithkara, from sheer numbers, but I would have given you enough fight that you would never forget facing me no matter how long you lived,” Jala replied in a soft voice.
“An overconfident fool,” Kithkara muttered sourly and Jala simply smiled in response.
Chapter 20
Merro
Emily crouched on the edge of the roof and stared hard at the surrounding area. Ravens filled the town, clustered on every roof and in every tree as thick as flies in summer. The noise from the creatures was hideous and almost overwhelming enough for her to retreat back inside. Her eyes moved from creature to creature as she tried to determine exactly what the birds were doing. They didn’t seem to be interested in food or showing any interest in the city beyond the perches they sat upon. It had been like this since the sun had risen and the commoners of the town were beginning to mutter about ill luck.
“I say we use the damned things as archery practice,” a passing knight muttered as they rode by the roof Emily perched upon.
“Ill luck to shoot a raven,” his companion returned in a voice that quavered slightly. Raising a gauntleted hand to his chest he made a quick warding gesture as they continued down the road.
Emily shook her head at the gesture and returned her attention to the birds. It might have been interesting to see what happened if the animals were attacked. Her instincts told her the creatures weren’t entirely natural and who knew what would happen if they were attacked.
A soft whimper from below her perch drew her attention and she edged toward the sound and leaned down toward the open window. The noise from the birds was so loud that she nearly missed the cry. A second whimper followed and Emily frowned. It was Legacy crying, probably hungry again. The child always seemed to be hungry, especially in Jala’s absence. Another louder wail rose from the window and Emily dropped soundlessly to the sill to peer inside.
The crying wasn’t unusual. Legacy was miserable without his mother nearby. The unusual part was the fact that Wisp wasn’t in the room yet. The Fae was seldom far from the child and usually responded with the first whimper. Silently Emily slid through the open window and looked down into the crib at the fussing baby. Her gaze moved from the crib to the door that was still closed tightly. It was possible that Wisp hadn’t heard the noise through the racket the birds were making. Moving slowly, Emily advanced on the door, her head cocked toward the outer hall, listening closely for any noise that spoke of trouble.
Legacy wailed again and Emily glanced back at the crib with indecision filling her mind. She didn’t want to actually touch the child. She had refrained from even getting too close to him since he had been born. It wasn’t that she disliked him. It was the simple fact that she didn’t trust herself by him. He was so small and fragile, and the Blight instincts seemed so much sharper when Marrow was away. Yet she didn’t want to leave him alone either, especially when he was upset. She could relate with his feelings completely. It was horrible to be left behind.
A soft patter at the window drew her gaze past the crib to settle on the huge black bird that had landed. The bird cocked its head, looking around the room before hopping farther in and closer to the crib. She was about to attack it when a soft rasp at the door drew both of their attention. They froze as the door knob slowly began to turn the bird’s attention as focused as her own. Definitely not a natural animal then, she decided with growing interest. So which is more dangerous here, the bird or whoever is at the door? She pondered silently and wished that Marrow was with her once again. The Bendazzi not only had more experience with life than she did, he was a partner in situations such as this. Had he been here they could have divided their strength and eliminated both threats at once.
Wisp would already be in the room. Emily realized with a frown. Whoever this was opening the door was far too cautious to be a member of the household. All of the maids adored the child and would have scrambled had they heard the pathetic cries he was making. Her breath slowed as the door slowly pushed open revealing a sliver of shadows from the darkened hallway beyond. A black gloved hand appeared against the wood frame of the doorway and the faint coppery smell of blood filled the room.
Emily crouched beside the wall waiting for the intruder to enter the room fully. There was no question of it now. This was an enemy. All she needed now was a full target. The door opened farther and a man stepped fully into the room. His features were impossible to make out between the murk of the hallway and the heavy black cloak he wore, but Emily had no doubts on attacking.
The moment the stranger cleared the door frame she moved, lunging forward with a speed that would make a cat envious. One hand locked around the man’s throat, her claws digging in deep as she slammed him hard against the wall, her other hand slashing at his stomach. Warm blood gushed from both wounds and the smell was intoxicating. A broken gurgling noise tore from his throat as the wound to his stomach tore farther spilling his innards onto the thick carpet. Emily smiled and watched the frantic look in the man’s eyes as his body began to fail him. “Not this child you don’t. This one is protected,” she hissed as she slowly released the dying man and watched him slump to the floor his lifeblood pooling around him.
“More than you know,” a man’s voice whispered behind her and Emily whirled. He stood by the window, the child cradled in his arms with one tiny hand clutching at a raven black feather from the stranger’s cloak. She hadn’t even realized Legacy had fallen silent.
“Put him down now,” Emily hissed, already pacing to another location in the small room.
“You have a dilemma, Emily Solace. He was not the only intruder in the house. There are more. Look down at that man’s side. Do you see the dagger there? That’s the mark of the Nightblades. They were sent for the child as should have been expected,” The man leaned back against the wall his gaze falling to Legacy and a small smile formed on his lips. “You have no idea of the hostage value this child has to just about everyone for one purpose or another.”
“How do you know my name?” Emily growled as she continued to approach the man. If she could just get close enough she could possibly snatch Legacy from the man’s grasp before he had a chance to flee out the window.
“That is irrelevant. What you should be considering are your friends below. The Nightblades have already incapacitated them both as well as the household staff and while they are not dead now if you continue to waste time they will be,” the man continued his eyes still on the child.
“You expect me to leave this room without that child? You are mad. Legacy is to be protected at all costs and both Jail and Wisp would agree with me,” Emily snarled as she crouched for another lunge. If she came in low she could lift the child straight from his grasp and perhaps still manage to get a solid hit on the fool.
“Nice plan, think it will work?” the man asked in a mocking voice, his smile growing wider. Looking up from the child he turned his attention straight to her and winked.
Emily returned the stare. Her jaw dropped slightly as she stared at the man in complete and utter shock. Not even Neph could tell precisely where she was without the glasses Sovann had crafted, and yet this stranger was looking right at her. “Are you a Blight?” she mumbled as she slowly stood back up from her crouch. She hadn’t sensed him as a Blight, but then she hadn’t truly sensed him at all.
“Ah, if only it were something that simple to deal with. No, Emily, I’m infinitely more dangerous than your brethren. I am however on your side here. I want the child safe as well for my own reasons. He won’t be safe here. As long as your enemies know that Jala and the main strength of Merro are gone, they will send more for this child. Your friends are very near death now Emily, I suggest you hurry and make your choice. Let them die and fight me for the child or save them, kill your enemies, and allow me to return Legacy to his mother’s side.” His eyes continued to
follow her as she backed a half step away from him, and Emily’s frown deepened.
“How do I know you will take him to his mother? I don’t even know who you are,” she asked as she studied the man searching for any clue to his identity or who he might be working for.
“My name is Seth, and you don’t know I will, you must simply have faith,” Seth said with a mocking smile. “It would be a perfect time for you to practice that particular part of being human. Faith is the thing you have the most difficulty with isn’t it? Well aside from snacking on your comrades that is. Which in fact will be very easy for you to do shortly and they will already be dead so no fight in getting the meal.”
“I can’t allow you to leave with him,” Emily snarled as she lunged with no warning at all. Despite the surprise she was positive she had, Seth dodged the attack easily and laughed.
“You never had a choice, Emily. I was simply trying to allow you a chance to keep your pride. Sorry doll, but I have no more time for this. The Nightblades are already closing on this room. Better kill them quickly, Emily or you will have let your friends die as well as lost the child. That’s more failure than I’m sure you want to deal with.” Seth spoke the words even as she was charging him again, his mocking smile never once faltering.
“You won’t leave this room with that child!” Emily snarled as she brought her claws down hard across the man’s side and nearly plunged headfirst into the wall as her hands passed directly through him.
Seth turned to watch her as she stumbled back to her feet, spinning to face him with an expression of disbelief clearly written on her face. Shaking his head slowly he clicked his tongue against his teeth. “I was gone before you killed the Nightblade Emily. This is a projection. I’m surprised you didn’t pick that up with your advanced senses.” Sighing dramatically, he shook his head once more. “You really do need the Bendazzi with you, child,” he murmured in a sickeningly sweet voice as the image slowly faded into the shadows of the room.
Cold weight settled over her chest at the words and she swallowed quickly as her eyes began to burn. “Damn you,” she whispered as the full brunt of her failure brought glassiness to her eyes. The faint scuff of a boot in the hall drew her attention back to Seth’s warnings and she turned to face the open door. Seth might have tricked her, but these fools wouldn’t. Flexing her hands Emily waited in utter silence for the first of the Nightblades to show themselves. She almost pitied the bastards. Seth had humiliated her and stolen Legacy and now they would pay for his sins, painfully. Crouching she waited for the first victim and only then realized the rest of the city had fallen silent as well. Not a single caw of a raven could be heard.
Chapter 21
The Darklands
“Clear the room!” Seth bellowed from the back of the crowded audience chamber as he pushed his way through the doors. The two demons posted to either side of the entrance gave the rogue a fleeting glance but showed no signs of following his order.
Finn leaned back in his seat and watched as the man crossed the room toward him. The spirits didn’t simply move from Seth’s path, they fled his approach in terror. “Why do they fear him like that? They don’t run from me in that fashion,” Finn whispered to Fiona. His teacher and unwilling mentor stood to his left, watching the proceedings with a look of utter disgust written plainly across her delicate face.
“The Dark Lady gave souls to him in payment. Seth feeds off them such as a Soulreaver would,” Fiona answered quietly, her gold eyes locked on the approaching rogue and narrowing dangerously. “This is your first official judging of souls. He should not be interrupting.”
“Clear the bloody room, now!” Seth snarled in a louder voice, his attention fully focused on the demons that lingered near the doors.
“Seth, I fail to see why I should have the chamber cleared for the laundry you are bringing me,” Finn called across the room before the demons had moved from their stations. Honestly, he didn’t really want to use the creatures more than he had to. The hold he had on the denizens of the Darklands was tenuous at best and he preferred to have them within sight for the time being. At least, until he mastered better control of the more dangerous ones.
“I bring more than laundry, Milord, please humor me, I beg of you.” Seth’s voice held a faint note of pleading to it that seemed quite out of character for him.
Glancing at Fiona, Finn shrugged and waved a hand to the demons. With a low growl the first of the creatures moved to clear the hall. “This better be good, Seth. Do you have any idea how long I’m going to have to listen to Fiona bitch about you interrupting?” Finn sighed, glancing once more at Fiona before looking back to Seth with a weary expression.
Seth paused, a smile on his handsome face and brown eyes sparkling. He cocked his head to the side and winked at Fiona before turning to ensure the room was clear of all but the three of them. With a faint nod of approval he looked back at Finn and carefully pulled his cloak back revealing the wrapped bundle in the crook of his arm. “Milord, might I present your son,” he whispered, as he offered the bundle forward toward the throne.
Finn stared blankly for a long moment before blinking in shock and rising quickly from his throne. “My son?” he gasped as he took the bundle and stared down at the violet eyed child wrapped within. “What of Jala? How did you get the child? Why did you get the child?” The questions poured out of him as he backed once more to his throne, his eyes never leaving the baby. His legs shook slightly as he sat back down and pulled the blanket farther back.
“Jala left the child with two of her comrades while she tended to Goswin. During her absence the Nightblades were sent to retrieve the child. I beat them to it,” Seth answered with a grin.
“Why?” Fiona demanded, her voice thick with suspicion as she watched the rogue.
“To gain favor, obviously, Fiona. Why else would I do it?” Seth replied with a snort of amusement.
“To save the child, perhaps?” Fiona offered dryly.
“Silence Fiona,” Finn snapped as he slowly looked up from his son. He regarded Seth for a long moment and nodded slowly. “You have gained favor, but I wonder what you are planning now.”
“I’m planning to allow you to spend time with your son before I continue my journey to his mother and return him safely to her,” Seth explained easily as he leaned back against a pillar. “Time passes differently here, Milord. You could spend half a day with your child and none would be any the wiser. His name, I believe, is Legacy Sovaesh Merrodin. Quite a long name for such a small boy but I’m sure he will grow into it.”
“Small boy?” Finn chuckled as he unwrapped the child fully from the blanket and balanced him carefully on his knee. “He seems rather large to me for his age. Should he be this big at two weeks old Fiona?”
Fiona blinked at him several times and made a faint sputtering sound. “How in the bloody hell should I know how large it should be,” she asked, sounding as if he had insulted her.
“Well I thought you…” Finn began but let his voice trail off as he noticed her expression growing even more indignant.
“He is large for his age, Milord. I believe Jala’s magic is still at work upon him. At his age he should be half that size,” Seth broke in smoothly.
“You know about children?” Finn asked in disbelief, his gaze returning to Seth.
“He should. He is here because of one,” Fiona said with a smirk and for the first time since he had met the man he saw all humor drain from the Assassin’s face.
“I’m not here because of the child, Fiona,” Seth said softly in a voice that seemed far more dangerous than any battle cry Finn had ever heard. He raised a hand and rubbed at his face then looked back to Finn. “I had a child once. If you have questions, Milord, better to direct them to me than to the harpy.”
Finn nodded slowly, his eyes watching the Assassin. “What happened?” he asked after a long moment.
“Someone used the child against me just as they would have done to your wife, Milord. To l
ove something is to present weapons to your enemies. They will use the love to kill you,” Seth explained with a shrug and pushed off the pillar. “I will be back for the child this evening, Milord. Enjoy your time with him.” With a flick of his wrist he tossed a bag down at the base of the throne and pointed at it. “Your clothing and a flask of goats milk should the child become hungry. It’s a decent substitute for commoner children, but for your son it will do little more than fill his stomach. He is pureblood. He requires more to sustain him,” With a final nod, the Assassin turned and strode from the room without a single glance back.
Finn watched him go in silence and looked to Fiona as the doors closed behind him. “Why did you goad him?” he asked quietly.
“Because I knew it would make him leave. It’s a sore spot for him,” Fiona explained calmly and looked down at the child with a faint hint of disapproval in her eyes. “You have no time for this, Finn. You have to let go of that life and this isn’t helping at all. This is not your son any longer.”
“I think it’s time we set a few things straight, Fiona.” Finn spoke quietly, a faint smile playing across his lips as he watched his son tracing the intricate details of the chair arm with his pudgy little fingers. Slowly, Finn looked up and the smile faded from his lips as he locked eyes with his mentor. “First, this will always be my son,” he said softly. “Second, I will never let go of my former life. I will always try to protect those I care for in the Sunlit world.”
Fiona started to interrupt him, but he raised his voice and continued, his eyes still holding hers. “Third, you work for me, Fiona and I don’t care what you believe the rules are. I make the rules now. I am Death. You are dead. Do you see the difference? I will do this job, but I will do it the way I see fit. You have taught me and for that I put up with your complaints, but I will not be your puppet. Are we clear?”
The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 3 From the Ashes Page 33