The Crow King's Wife(30)

“But I can’t take her with me to Delvay, Valor. She wouldn’t do well that high in the mountains and it’s possible the Snow Cats would see her as dinner.” Zoelyn protested as he started to head for the sky port. With an exasperated sigh she hurried after him.

“Too true so you should leave her here with me for the time being and allow me to raise a colt or two from her in return for board. She would still be yours, and I would have fresh stock with good lines. It would be beneficial to us both.” Valor called over his shoulder as his pace quickened. Jala had noticed the approaching ship too, and it was clear that Valor wanted to reach the port at the same time Jala did to ensure he didn’t miss anything.

They reached the edge of the port as the Spell hawk touched down and even Zoelyn noticed how rough the landing was. Valor moved silently to stand beside Jala with a worried expression on his face.

“Are we certain that is Shade flying? I saw sparks when he touched down. Shade never lands that roughly.” Valor said quietly as Jala started to move toward the Spell Hawk’s door.

“Who else would it be?” Jala asked with a shrug.

“Someone that doesn’t bloody well know how to fly well.” Valor suggested dryly.

“It’s Shade, and others.” Dray spoke up quietly and Zoelyn felt him move closer to her, almost within touch, but not quite. Even though her control of her powers had improved drastically she still took care that no one got too close to her, and Dray knew the boundaries well.

Valor glanced over his shoulder toward the main house and then back to Jala. “Would you mind telling Wisp to keep Legacy inside with her until we know who else is on that ship?” he asked quietly and his hand dropped to his belt for a sword that wasn’t there.

“You were playing stable hand all morning love. That doesn’t require a weapon.” Jala reminded him and smiled faintly. “I sent her the message and she has agreed that he won’t even look out a window until we tell her things are well.”

The ship door slid open as she finished speaking and all three of them fell silent as they watched a large man step down and then half drag Shade from the ship behind him.

“Shade!” Jala cried in alarm. She started to rush toward him, but Valor caught her wrist and gave her a shake of his head.

“Grim.” Zoelyn gasped as the larger man turned and she got a clear look at his face. He was thinner than she remembered, but she had no doubt it was him. He was wearing the uniform of a High Marshall of Arovan, and his expression matched his nickname well.

He turned and looked at her, but there was no sign of recognition on his face until he found Valor beside her. “He passed out right after landing. Do you have someplace we can put him to rest?” Caleb asked Valor without bothering with so much as a greeting.

“Grim.” Valor echoed Zoelyn with equal disbelief in his tone and Jala stepped forward with a quick nod only to pause once more as a goblin clambered from the ship and wrapped its arms around Shade’s leg.

“His pet.” Caleb explained with a sigh and shifted Shade in his arms to an easier position. “Look he isn’t in a good way, and I’m going to assume you are the High Lady Merrodin.” He continued as his eyes settled on Jala. “He was coming here for healing from you, and I’d appreciate it if you perhaps start on that soon.”

“What happened to him?” Jala demanded and Caleb’s expression darkened a bit.

“You sent him blindly into a Blight hive to negotiate peace for you and you are confused why he comes back injured?” Caleb asked in an incredulous voice.

“But it’s Shade.” Jala objected as she moved toward Shade once more with obvious concern on her face. “Shade can dance through rain drops without getting wet.” She continued, but her voice faltered when she noticed his missing eye.

“It was a torrential rain and he was soaked to the skin. Can you help him?” Caleb pressed with annoyance clear in his voice.

“Those are old wounds. They are already healed. I can repair whatever is damaged recently, but the only way to fix his eye would be to…” Jala’s voice trailed off and she blanched at what she was about to say.

“Get a clean bed, a sterile knife, and keep him unconscious long enough to make it a fresh wound.” Caleb finished for her with a sharp nod. “Fine Lady Merrodin. You see to the first two and I’ll see to the last. If I make it a fresh wound can you truly return his eye? He says you can, but that is a difficult matter to heal.” Caleb spoke calmly as if they were discussing the weather rather than carving flesh from someone’s eye socket.