The Crow King's Wife (The Elder Blood Chronicles #5)(140)
“You never were much for pain. I can still remember you squalling like a dying cat when you scraped a knee as a child. That was around the point when I realized you would likely grow up to be the disappointment you are today.” Myth said with disgust as he purposefully leaned toward Grim and prodded him in the chest. “Have you even bothered to ask this one who he truly serves, Christian?” Myth asked calmly as he examined Grim more closely. “He is obviously more than a Shifter, and you should feel the way he is fighting against my magic as I speak. It’s impressive really. I’d say given time he would break free of my spell which is more credit than I would ever give you.”
With a deep breath Shade gathered all of his power and focused himself directly on his father. “Step away from him.” He warned and to his amazement his voice was steady and held a note of command that he had never realized he possessed.
Cocking his head Myth turned to regard him with a hint of interest. “Protective aren’t you. How quaint. You do realize if you try to keep him I will have to kill him. You don’t have much longer to live, but you could learn too much from this one even in the short time you have remaining. I can’t have that. You might actually become a threat…but I doubt it.” Myth’s voice was thoughtful as glanced once more at Grim then turned his full attention back to Shade. “Impressive amount of power you’ve gathered. Before you are foolish enough to use it though let me present the very obvious point you seem to be missing. I’ve already won, Christian. Even if you kill me now I have succeeded in my plans.” Myth continued then motioned toward the sky to the north of the city. “Your friends will not be prepared by the time their enemies arrive. Lady Merrodin is wasting her resources and strengths trying to get the commons to safety.” Myth informed him and laughed at his own words. Rolling his eyes once more he shook his head and smiled brightly at Shade. “The Empress is considered an incompetent fool. Over half of the nations are crippled. Most of the High Lords will die here today, and the rest of the destruction is eminent. I have kept most of my forces in reserves for that very reason. What Rivasa fails to destroy today I will eliminate tomorrow. You lose, I win, your precious world will crumble, the Barrier will fall, and I will be free of this damn prison at last.”
“You have such a habit of underestimating others.” Shade snarled and allowed some of his gathered power to flow from his body. A nimbus of light gathered around him, and he hoped it would be enough of a distraction to keep Myth’s attention focused on him. He didn’t want his father to notice the slow trickle of shadows that was gathering around Grim’s fingers. Shade wasn’t sure exactly what the display of power meant, but he knew Myth hadn’t realized that Grim wasn’t held in stasis anymore.
“That actually works better when you form it into a spell before you release it.” Myth informed him dryly. His form slowly shifted back to the image of Faramir as he walked casually toward Shade and he smiled honey sweet stopping just inches from his son. “This is how it is Shade. You have three options. You can waste your energy fighting me and I can have the amusement of killing you. You can use the power you have gathered to flee this city before it’s destroyed and I can have the entertainment of hunting you down later. Or last but not least, you can go join your friends in their pathetic last stand and I can enjoy watching you all die horribly in your vain attempts to be heroes. Whatever option you choose, you lose.”
“I like option four.” Shade returned with a smile as Grim’s sword sank deeply into Myth’s back. Lunging forward Shade slammed his fist into Myth’s face and felt the satisfying crunch of bones beneath his hand as Myth’s spell dissolved and time snapped back into motion. Symphony’s scream shattered the air behind him as Shade delivered another savage blow to Myth’s jaw and was rewarded with a spray of bright blood. Faramir’s slighter form was not suited to brawling and both blows he had landed had done grievous damage.
“You should have stayed in your own form. It would have held up better.” Shade hissed as he drew back for another blow. Myth ducked away under the blow tearing himself free of Grim’s sword as the air around them crackled with magic and bright white light exploded from where Myth was standing. Staggering back blindly Shade did his best to avoid the several drawn swords held by the advancing Fionaveir guards. The smell of ozone filled the air as he slowly blinked his eyes back into focus and with renewed fury he realized Myth was gone. The entire fight had taken only a breath, and Shade knew his father had been injured badly, yet somehow Myth had managed to focus enough to cast a spell to escape.
“What did you do to Faramir!” Symphony demanded in a nearly hysterical screech. “Seize him now!” She screamed to her guards as she shoved one of them toward Shade.
“Symphony no!” Remedy’s voice broke through the chaos and Shade glanced quickly toward the approaching man silently thanking whatever god had sent this blessing. If the Empress would listen to reason from anyone, it was Remedy. “Leave Shade be. That was not truly Faramir!” Remedy added quickly as he drew to a stop several feet from Symphony with a look of pleading on his face.
Symphony glanced between the two of them seeming unsure of what to do and Shade shook his head at both of them then glanced toward the north. Turning he found Grim standing just behind him with his sword held at the ready and pale grey eyes set on the guards as if daring them to move.