The Crow King's Wife(92)

Finn stared at her in silence for a long moment his gaze locked on the bright blue of her silk shirt against the constant twilight of the sky behind her. The color she wore was the blue of a cloudless summer day, another aspect of his domain that he couldn’t master. He had tried to lighten the sky, but the effect had been both unnerving to his subjects and too draining on his power to maintain. So it was twilight again, and always would be. He let his hand fall from the tree as he straightened. His cloak settled straight across his shoulders once more as he pulled his gaze from her and studied each of the trees in turn before looking back up at her. Her smile had faded and he could read concern in her face as she watched him. He felt the corners of his own mouth tug into the fraction of a smile in response. It amused him to no end that everyone seemed to think he had gone mad when he was finally thinking clearly for the first time in his life. He knew exactly what needed to be done, and this little project of his was just the first step. The changes to the Darklands unsettled his servants, and when they were unsettled they were not plotting. He needed them complacent while he sorted out the rest of his plans and started taking the steps needed for his true goals.

“Taken to gardening and lost your tongue. It hasn’t been that long since I parted company with you, but apparently I missed something very important.” Exodus said with forced levity and he watched as she attempted to summon another smile and failed miserably.

Finn let his own smile widen fractionally and lowered himself slowly to the moss covered ground. Still silent he adjusted the fall of his cloak and leaned back against one of the massive oaks. He let his attention wander for a moment toward the distant grass covered hills that rose closer to his city then glanced up at her once more. “I don’t think that you are a regular guest at War’s table so I’m going to assume the rumors of my madness have spread throughout all of the Aspects by now.” He began in a calm voice. For some reason speaking in low tones seemed to reassure those that questioned his sanity. It didn’t make much sense to him, but he wasn’t going to knock it. He would take every advantage he could get.

“A few people are talking.” Exodus agreed hesitantly. She eyed him curiously as if she couldn’t quite believe he wasn’t frothing at the mouth and rambling then seemed to relax a bit on her perch above him. “You don’t sound mad though even if you do look a bit nutty.” She added in a brighter voice.

Frowning Finn gazed down at his immaculate armor and traced a hand through his hair. He knew it was wind tousled, but that couldn’t be helped. Beyond his hair however he was perfectly respectable in appearance.

Exodus laughed softly at his self-inspection and shook her head quickly. “Not in appearance, but in action. You are planting a bloody forest in the Darklands after all.” She amended with a grin.

“I’m recreating the city of Evagale. It was surrounded by thick forests on three sides. The city itself was built in a bit of a valley and was famous for the scholars and artists that dwelled there. I’ve read in three books by different authors that say Evagale was the most precious gem lost in the thousand year war.” Finn explained with the same patience that he had used when explaining his projects to everyone else that doubted him.

“And why should you bother? It is a lost city from beyond the Barrier does it really have a place in the Darklands?” Exodus asked. Concern had crept back into her face and voice.

“I could give you the same answer I gave Fiona.” Finn began with a grin. “I could say it’s dead therefore its mine, but I said that mostly to make her question my sanity so she would run to her true master in panic. War has done a good job of spreading his concerns for my well-being and here you are.” He waved a hand toward her lightly and his grin broke into a full smile as the glint of concern on her face blossomed further. “I will give you the truth though.” He added before she could speak. With a sigh he propped one of his legs before him and rested his arm against it. “Evagale is dead, but it could be revived, just as easily as the souls of my domain can be returned to the world above. Every piece of land I alter is a monument to what we can accomplish. The souls are sent to me for redemption and I am showing them what is worth being redeemed for. I am showing them what can be done if they can set aside their wars and their differences. I altered my own house for that reason. It is not the protective fortress that will keep me safe now, but it is one of the reasons for my redemption. That is a replica of the house I was born in. That is the house that my mother and father lived in for decades and raised their family in. That was my Mother’s prison and sanctuary. Every time I walk through my door I remember why she was trapped there, and it gives me the strength to try to achieve the impossible.”