The Crow King's Wife(98)

“Watch the webs.” Azashy warned him and he ducked his head and stared up at the ceiling. The rafters were encased in the silken strands and even in the dim light he could see the scuttling black forms of what seemed to be hundreds of spiders. “Of course they aren’t real so I don’t know why I bothered to warn you to watch for them. Force of habit I suppose.” Azashy sighed and motioned toward the small table as she continued toward the kitchen.

“I don’t know much about spiders.” Remedy admitted hesitantly as he eyed the imaginary versions of what he was sure filled Azashy’s house in reality.

“Those are Ebony Damsels on the ceiling.” Azashy informed him casually and Remedy found himself crouching lower despite the fact that the creatures weren’t real. Damsels had a very painful bite that would leave a strong man convulsing on the floor for what seemed like an eternity. “That’s a Wraith spider by the window. The silk on his web is exquisite isn’t it? It almost looks like crystal when the sun hits it. And over by the sleeping pallet there is a small nest of Sweet Whispers.”

“Every spider you named is deadly in some fashion.” Remedy observed quietly. As softly as he could he approached the window and gazed at the Wraith spider. It was the closest he would ever willingly come to one of the creatures and the only reason he was doing so now was the assurance that his physical body was safely tucked away in a prison cell in Sanctuary. The Wraith spider had venom so toxic it could kill a horse in little more than a breath. From what he understood of the process it was a painful death, and the venom was difficult for even a talented healer to counteract given how quickly it acted. Once bitten by a Wraith the victim was as good as a ghost himself.

“To others perhaps, but not me.” Azashy replied distractedly. She was rattling around in the cabinet in search of cups as she spoke and didn’t bother turning to face him. “I’m immune to them all no matter how vicious the bite. Not that they would attack me at any rate. They understand me as much as they are capable of understanding and they know I mean them no harm.” The clatter subsided as she produced a heavy stone cup. “Hah!” she proclaimed triumphantly as she waved the cup toward him. “I knew I had another one. As you can see I don’t have company often. Well at least not company that cares to come into my house.” Within a breath she had water on to boil and was wiping both of the stone mugs clean. “Mint or Chamomile?” she asked glancing back toward him with a raised eyebrow.

“Mint.” Remedy replied without hesitation as he moved back to the table and took a seat. It was difficult to keep his eyes from straying to the mass of spiders on the ceiling or back to the window, but he forced his attention to Azashy and refused to wonder about the third nest of spiders by her bed. It wouldn’t do to be distracted. He needed to listen to everything she was willing to share and remember exactly what she said and how she said it. “Can you take the form of spiders? I’ve heard that Blackwolf can become a wolf.”

Azashy smiled faintly and shook her head slowly as she opened a canister of tea. “There are varied degrees of Shifters. The weakest can only communicate with their chosen animal. The strongest can assume not only the animals shape, but a hybrid form between animal and human as well. I am toward the bottom of the ladder as far as strength goes. I can command them, speak with them, and I’m immune to their venom, but no I cannot be them.”

“I find that oddly reassuring considering we are roommates at the present.” Remedy returned with what he hoped was a charming smile.

“Are you scared of spiders Fionaveir?” Azashy asked and her smile grew wider.

“Scared? I wouldn’t say that is the appropriate word. I respect the dangerous ones, and I tend to ignore the lesser ones. I can’t say they are something that I would ever go out of my way to be around any of them though.” Remedy answered as carefully as he could and tried not to think of the countless spiders he had intentionally crushed or swatted in his lifetime.

“Most people do ignore them, if they ever notice them in the first place. Which is why I am useful enough to lock away in a dungeon. The term To be a fly on the wall applies very well to my talents. I hear and see so many things that are meant to be private.” Azashy sighed then pulled the boiling water from the stove and joined him at the table with the cups. Carefully she filled both mugs to the rim and the smell of mint bloomed in the stale air.

“So you are the reason that the world is in such chaos. Through your talents Myth has an idea of what we are going to do before we begin to do it. Every time we plan something he knows what it is.” Remedy observed with a frown.