The Crow King's Wife(17)

Anger roared in Shade’s mind, but he forced it back down. No matter how much he hated it and wanted to deny the words there was a bitter truth to what Caleb said that he knew he couldn’t ignore. Swallowing heavily he bit the inside of his cheek until his anger faded. Nodding slowly he cleared his throat. “Thank you, Caleb.” His voice was colder than usual, but the words were genuine. It was difficult for him to say, but he knew it needed to be said. Had the Arovan been trying to humiliate him it would have been different, but Shade knew Caleb had acted with good intentions.

Caleb stared at him for several breaths and shook his head slowly. “You are a strange one, Morcaillo. Even Micah would have punched me for that.” He said quietly.

“Just Shade please. Don’t call me Morcaillo. I’m not the sort to lose my head to anger, even when I probably should. You were helping me, and no matter how hard it is to accept, you are right. For now I am crippled and for now I do need help.” Shade managed to keep his voice calm despite the bitterness the words summoned in his mind. It wasn’t Caleb’s fault he was crippled and it wasn’t right to take it out on him. He had no one to blame for his problems beyond himself, and Onvalla. If not for her Tevrae doses he would have healed, but he couldn’t dwell on that. He was here to make peace with her for Jala’s sake and he couldn’t allow his own personal grievance to risk his mission.

Turning slowly he pushed open the door of the house and froze as his eyes landed on the woman inside. She had been standing near the window when the door opened, but turned to face him at the sound. He had been expecting someone in armor and perhaps with facial hair by the sound of her voice the night she had visited the prison, but the woman before him was stunning. Her long golden hair fell in waves across her shoulders and her face was that of an innocent maiden with perfect full lips and pale skin. Wide blue eyes followed his every movement as he stepped fully into the room. She looked too delicate to wrestle a child to the ground and yet she was the current leader of the most savage race on Sanctuary.

Her long skirts swished silently against her legs as she stepped closer and then froze as Caleb entered the room. Her full lips curved into a smile and her face lit with delight. “Ah how the mighty have fallen. Did you enjoy yourself Caleb when you were arranging this meeting?” she asked in a honey sweet voice.

“I did what I had to do and nothing more.” Caleb replied in a voice so filled with hatred that Shade cringed at the sound of it.

He glanced back at the Arovan and wondered if he should have asked the man to wait outside. This conversation was going to be difficult enough without Caleb’s anger, and the man had already declared he wasn’t willing to keep his opinions to himself.

“Oh Caleb don’t be like that.” Onvalla purred, but her expression was anything but friendly. She was gloating and it was obvious that she was enjoying Caleb’s anger. It was like watching a child bait a bear, and Shade knew it would end just as poorly if he didn’t do something soon.

“Milady Onvalla I know you and Caleb have bad blood between the two of you, but I really think we should press onto business rather than prodding each other’s wounds. What I am here to discuss is important to everyone in this room and more important than personal grievances.” Shade spoke just loud enough for his voice to carry and took pains to keep his tone as respectful as possible despite his own feelings. In truth he wanted to punch her in the face for taunting Caleb almost as much as he wanted to stab her for leaving him hanging in a barn to rot. He sighed heavily and silently prayed she wasn’t scanning his mind, by her expression though she didn’t seem to be, unless of course she was as good at acting as Caleb was.

“Such pretty words.” Onvalla snapped her eyes flashing back to land on him. She did nothing to hide the loathing she felt for him and Shade felt his hopes sinking further.

She had too much prejudice in her heart to hear anything he said unless he could think of something really good, really quickly. He had dealt with hard negotiations in Sanctuary before during his time as the ruling lord of his quarter of the city, but he had never entered into a negotiation with so many cards against him. He was disfigured, stunk worse than a sewage soaked corpse, and was wearing torn and filthy clothing. There was no way he was going to charm anyone in his current state, especially not someone that already hated him simply for the blood pulsing through his veins.

“I was sent here to offer peace to your people, Lady Onvalla. I’m not trying to flatter you with pretty words, it’s simply the truth. This is more important to me than any personal feelings I have, and if you truly care for the well-being of your people it should be just as important to you.” Shade pressed and knew the moment the words were out of his mouth that he had chosen poorly.