The Crow King's Wife(80)

Finn stared at the bard for a long moment and then turned slowly to regard Seth. “So you plan to romance her by sending her nightmares, dead people, and cursing her home?” he asked in an incredulous voice. Shaking his head slowly he stared at Seth then rubbed his face quickly. “Tell me that isn’t a true story. By the look on his face I think it might be.” Finn added and waved a hand toward the bard who stood glowering.

“Karalea lived in Glis some time ago. The sleepless nights and haunted look came from a tryst she was having with what she thought was a wandering hunter. The lad was handsome and Karalea was na?ve. The dead that haunted her were sent by a mage and most of them were illusions. The crows were summoned and the game was scarce because her lover had a large group with him that was preying upon the same forest for their own comforts. The story she gave about the Crow King was rubbish to hide what she truly did in the moonlit hours, and when she disappeared it wasn’t because I kidnapped her. It was because she had finally run off with the slaver that had been seducing her for months. The hunters that disappeared were victims of the same group and all of them eventually found themselves in Nerathane as slaves. The men I’m sure died from the labor, but Karalea still lives there. She had enough Elder Blood in her veins to lead a long life and has existed as a courtesan for years.” Seth explained calmly. He leaned back in his chair and grinned at the Bard who was watching him with doubt.

“What about Zoey? Why don’t you just go to her in person? Why would you put her through torment when you could simply go see her and apologize?” Finn pressed with a note of frustration clear in his voice.

“I can’t go to her in person right now. She is with Ryvenken so it isn’t safe. I should have before, but as you remember I was busy sulking and angry with Jala. Now it’s too late. So either I wait for Ryvenken to leave or I convince her to come to me. The latter is the faster. I have a feeling he will linger around her for a while. He knows what she truly is now and he will want to keep an eye on her because of it.” Seth sighed and tried to ignore the confusion on Finn’s face. He would have to explain more and he knew it, but decided to hold his tongue until Finn forced him to speak. He gave a meaningful glance to the spirit that lingered beside them and silently prayed Finn would send the bard away before he forced him to speak. What he was going to share wasn’t something he wanted to become common knowledge.

Finn sat silent and seemed to be considering his words carefully. He waved the bard away from them as he looked up and settled his dark green eyes on Seth once more. “I’ve never seen you show hesitation over confronting anyone before. Even Hemlock doesn’t seem to scare you.” He observed quietly.

“I didn’t say I was scared, I said it wasn’t safe, and so I’m showing caution.” Seth corrected a bit too sharply. To even suggest he was feeding Lutheron was an insult, though he didn’t think Finn realized that.

“I don’t know the name Ryvenken, but you have never shown hesitation around Shade or Dray so I’m assuming you are referring to Caleb Faulklin, but I have a very hard time believing he is at threat to you. Granted he is formidable, but Seth you are terrifying when you fight.” Finn spoke slowly and Seth could see the confusion still present in his gaze.

“Ryvenken the Keeper is not a person it is a thing. It is a sword to be precise and quite possibly the most powerful weapon within the Barrier. Caleb carries it. He plundered it from one of the fallen Veyetta cities and it has accepted him and bonded with him. Don’t judge him by his age or by his family, he is more than that now. Ryvenken was crafted for one of the Divine, and one of the most dangerous Divine at that. It holds memory and power and it grants those gifts to whoever it bonds with. At the same time it drains power and memory from those that wield it until they are one. Every time Caleb uses that sword he gives more of himself to it and it becomes more of him. Who he was will eventually fade into the blade and his body will be a shell for the combined memories of the sword. As much as he has already used it in battle I would venture to guess that very little of his original mind remains and his power has grown to nearly match yours. Ryvenken knows me, I have faced that blade in battle before and I know what it is capable of. I don’t care if a three year old child holds it. If they are bonded I am cautious, and Caleb Faulklin was formidable before the bonding.” Seth kept his voice low as he spoke but laced every word with sincerity. He didn’t want Finn to ignore the warning in his words.

“So you think following the story is the better path. I can’t say I’m convinced it is. It sounds cruel to me and I don’t think Zoey will react well to anything that was done to Karalea.” Finn said with a sigh.