The Crow King's Wife(110)

“How traditional.” Derrick scoffed. “Give your word you will stand your ground and return my son. I know your pretty little code of honor will bind you. Everyone knows the Black Bastard always keeps his word.”

Caleb’s jaw clenched at Derrick’s words but he visibly forced his temper back down before speaking. “I give you my word that I will not harm your son and I will release him once Syrah is safely away. I will not flee or attempt to escape. By the Aspects and Divine I swear I speak the truth and will abide by my words.”

“Good enough.” Derrick agreed with a shrug as he shoved Syrah from his saddle. The girl twisted in the air and Shade had to bite his lip to keep from cursing out loud as she landed hard on the cobbles by the horse’s massive hooves. Derrick loosened the reins on his horse and leaned over his saddle to gaze down at the child with a wicked grin. “I thought Shifters always landed on their feet?” Amusement filled his voice as he spoke and several of his guards laughed in response. This time Shade detected the nervousness in their voices quiet clearly.

Syrah remained silent as she picked herself up from the ground and narrowly avoided the large grey’s hooves as it began to dance in place once more. She crossed to her father with her head held high despite her scraped knees and bleeding hands. Caleb dropped to his knees as she drew closer, still managing to keep a firm grip on his hostage despite the boy’s frantic attempts to escape him. For a moment Syrah looked as though she was going to burst into tears, but she clenched her jaw and bowed her head deeply to her father. Without so much as a slight embrace she turned on her heels and pointed back toward Derrick with a steady hand.

“He killed Lord Micah, and he killed him slowly. Our lord died screaming in agony, Father.” She announced in a high clear voice. Her hand moved slightly to the right and settled on a young man in plate mail. “He killed Lord Honor and made Grandma Blue cry nearly every night. She wouldn’t speak of the violations he forced on her, but I know he treated Grandma cruelly.” Her tiny hand shifted once more and settled on a woman who stood just behind the line of horses and Shade felt his breath catch as he followed the child’s motion.

He knew the woman Syrah was pointing at, though he had no idea what she was doing in Rivana. He hadn’t seen her in well over a year, and the last time he had seen her she had been deep in her cups. Grace Morcaillo looked to be stone cold sober today however. Her long auburn hair was pulled back in a tight braid and the expression on her normally relaxed face was severe. It was the first time he had ever seen his mother in anything but a dress. Today however she wore leather pants and an armored jacket. The sort of clothing a warrior favored, though he had never known his mother to be anything but a drunken fool.

“She killed Mother and Ryven.” Syrah’s words barely reached his ears as Shade tried desperately to determine why his mother was with the Rivasans. As far as he had known she was still safely back in Morcath draining her bottles of wine for entertainment. Yet here she stood looking every bit as cold and cruel as Caleb had as he cut down Kellaria Rivasa.

“Yes, yes, though it hardly matters you little brat. Your daddy is about to die as well. Life as an orphan shouldn’t be too bad though.” Derrick taunted in a voice that held more annoyance than amusement.

Shade barely managed to peel his gaze from his mother as Syrah turned back to her father and placed a tiny hand on his cheek. His mind was reeling and he wanted nothing more than to charge out of the store and demand his mother explain herself. That was a foolish whim however and he knew it was the last possible thing he should consider doing. He needed to keep his eyes on Syrah so he knew when she was heading his way. He would hide her, and then he would figure out what Grace was doing here. Her appearance most definitely qualified as the unexpected in his eyes, and while he didn’t think his mother was trained in combat he doubted Caleb realized how dangerous even an untrained Changeling could be. Very few people did.

“Momma says the pain we have faced would destroy most. Some it would make stronger, but you it will make strong enough to destroy.” Syrah said and for the first time since she had started speaking Shade detected a tremor in her voice. “Kill them all.” She added in a louder voice that was filled with more anger and hurt than a child her age should have been able to muster.

Caleb leaned forward and pressed his lips gently to her forehead. His grey eyes met hers as he drew back from her. “Though my heart doth bleed with a suffering such as I have never known I will not falter, for only in the blood of the wicked will I find peace.” He intoned the words as if speaking a prayer and his daughter’s back straightened in response.