From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(168)

She should have helped. Shade repeated the words over and over in his mind as he climbed the stairs to his room and unlocked the door. How could anyone ignore the expression of desperation on Sebastian's face? Shade wondered as he pulled his spare clothing from the drawers and shoved them into his bag.

“What the hell did you do?” Charm demanded from the hallway as he entered the room swiftly and glanced back over his shoulder.

“I asked her to help Glis and when she refused, I left. I told her I would help them if no one else would,” Shade explained, not bothering to look up as he continued to pack.

“Faramir has declared you a traitor. She says you mean to leave the city and she is strongly hinting that you were likely the one slipping information to our enemies,” Charm said, his gaze going to the door once more. “It won’t be long before they come for you, Shade. You have to leave now!” The rogue barked as he grabbed Shade and shoved his half packed bag into his hands. “I know you better, and perhaps a handful of others do as well, but most will believe Faramir,” Charm added as he shoved Shade toward the door.

“How in the hell could anyone believe that? I have been fighting beside you all since I arrived at the Fionahold,” Shade objected, half stumbling as Charm propelled him along.

“Because you are Morcaillo and Faramir is Caspian’s wife,” Charm snapped. The sound of footsteps brought them both sharply to a halt as several Fionaveir rounded the top of the stair way their eyes searching until they spot Shade. “Shit,” Charm hissed as he shoved Shade back toward his room. “The window,” he hissed as they retreated back into the room.

“What? So they can shoot me in the back?” Shade objected as he watched Charm fumbling in his pockets. “What are you going to do, Charm, pay them to leave me alone?” he asked.

“Shut up and get out the window,” Charm snapped as he produced a small gem from his pocket. Kissing it lightly he leaned back out the doorway and cracked the stone. “I hope you are still pissed, sweetheart,” Charm mumbled as he pulled the door shut behind him and looked back at Shade. “The window!” Charm barked.

“Was that the Assassin lady I put in the storage stone?” Shade asked in disbelief.

“Yes, and I doubt she will hold them long. I was banking on the shock of a naked woman to slow them,” Charm hissed as he pulled his coat free and tossed it on the bed. With an incoherent grumble he shoved Shade through the window and followed quickly. “Run for your ship. If more catch us, I’ll hold them as long as I can,” Charm ordered, his hands busy at unlacing his ornate bracers as they ran.

In all of the time that Shade had known the rogue he had never once seen him without his bracers on, though he typically had them hidden beneath the coat he always wore. He had never seen the rogue fight directly, either. Charm was rogue through and through. He avoided direct confrontation like the plague.

Shouts erupted from behind them and Shade glanced back to see another group of Fionaveir running toward them. “Run!” Charm bellowed as he pulled the second bracer free.

Shade sprinted forward then faltered as he realized Charm was no longer behind him. His heart pounding he dodged into an alley as he tried to decide what to do. Charm obviously wanted him to escape, but he couldn’t bear the thought of the rogue dying on his behalf. Glancing back out the alley he stared in shock at the rogue.

Charm stood square in the middle of the road his arms held out to his sides with a pale sword in each hand. He had never seen the rogue with anything other than daggers before, but that wasn’t the most shocking part of it. Wings extended proudly from Charm’s back, the bright white feathers catching the afternoon sun with a rainbow gleam. Shade could barely see Charm’s face, but the rogue’s features seemed different, harsher somehow. Small curved horns rose from his forehead, barely visible through the rogue’s thick blond hair. Raising one hand before him Charm aimed his sword at the approaching Fionaveir. “You will not pass me,” he warned in a voice that didn’t even sound like the man Shade called friend. It was deeper and seemed to echo through the street. The Fionaveir slowed in their approach with evident caution. Apparently they had never seen this side of Charm either.

“And that is why Charm hides his true form. He can’t stand the looks of fear any more than he can stomach the sight of himself in the mirror like that,” Vaze’s voice broke from the Shadows and Shade whirled to look at the man, praying Vaze hadn’t come to stop him. If Vaze attacked, Shade knew he was done for.

“I’ve never seen a celestial before. I thought they were all dead,” Shade mumbled, his eyes on Vaze.

Vaze moved forward to stand beside him, his eyes on Charm’s back. “He is only half-celestial. His mother’s side, actually. She was raped by a greater demon during the war beyond the barrier. Charm is the result,” Vaze explained in a flat voice his eyes locked on Charm.

Shade stared at the man then slowly looked back to Charm. The rogue had lowered his sword and his wings had lost the pristine white coloring and seemed a dull grey to his eyes. “His wings change colors?” Shade asked in confusion.

“No. He has altered them to metal with magic. I’ve heard of that trick in stories about him, but I’ve never seen it. I’ve heard he uses them to fight with like extra blades and that every feather is razor sharp. I wish I had time to see it, though I don’t truly want him to use them on Fionaveir,” Vaze sighed. “Charm has worn the bracers since I have known him and I’ve never even seen his wings before,” Vaze said, a note of respect in his voice. “Seeing this has made helping you almost worth the trouble I’m going to get into for doing it.”