The Crow King's Wife (The Elder Blood Chronicles #5)(141)
“Keep them off me please.” Shade said softly as he stepped back from the unfolding drama and stared up at the rapidly approaching dragons. Myth was right. His friends wouldn’t have time to prepare. He was wrong about the options though. There was one more that might buy Jala enough time to secure the city, but the price was high. His eyes moved from the dragons to the frantic people that were rushing to find shelter from the approaching violence and he felt calmness settle over him. The price was high, but the end result was worth it. If he bought Jala enough time she could save thousands. One life for thousands. Shade mused as he pulled the storage gem containing his Spell Hawk from the pocket of his coat.
Shade could feel Grim’s eyes on him as he broke the gem then stepped back quickly as the bulk of his Spell Hawk filled the narrow street. Glancing back he found the Priest watching him rather than the Fionaveir guards he was supposed to be holding at bay.
“Is that for our escape or is this one of those times when you are giving too much without regard to reason?” Grim asked evenly.
“Giving just enough.” Shade corrected quietly. He turned away from Grim and stepped onto his ship to swiftly rummage through one of the compartments. With a faint smile he seized a small container from his collection of ammunition and tucked it under the arm as he exited the ship once more. He could feel several sets of eyes on him now as he opened the box and pulled a glass sphere from inside it, no one was moving to stop him however. Without pausing to think about what he was doing Shade slammed the sphere on the ground shattering the glass to reveal the tiny orb of dull grey metal. It was difficult to say which was worth more, the protection on his ship or the ammunition he was destroying. The Barllen rounds would tear through Spell Hawk or dragon alike with no regard for wards of protection.
“Barllen?” Grim asked quizzically as Shade rapidly shattered three more of the spheres and stood with the small orbs of metal clutched tightly in his hands. Nodding absently Shade moved to the front of his ship and hastily wired the first orb of Barllen to the broken bracket that had once held rails of the metal before Vaze had ripped them from his ship.
“Can I ask what you are doing?” Grim’s voice was more curious than anything else as he watched Shade move from bracket to bracket attaching the orbs.
“It’s not much in the way of defense, but it’s enough to keep some spells off my Hawk.” Shade explained as he gave Grim a wistful smile. “It’s been a pleasure my friend.” He said and bowed his head to Grim in farewell before turning back to his ship. He paused as he reached the steps and gazed in the direction he had left Lex then frowned as he noticed Charm staggering toward him. He had intended to say farewell, but at the sight of the rogue moving toward him the words died on his lips.
“I’m going with you.” Charm informed him mentally in the same elegant voice that Shade could remember the rogue using time and time again while they were partnered together in the Fionaveir. Despite the fact that his body was so broken that he could barely stumble the look on Charm’s face and the voice he used in Shade’s mind was firm with resolve.
“Charm you don’t understand.” Shade began, but Charm cut him off with a sharp gesture and continued toward the ship in a ragged but determined walk.
“You don’t understand Shade.” Charm said pointedly. “Every secret I have tried to protect has been revealed, and keeping my oath to the Guardians by helping you protect this city is the only left that I might be able to do with what life remains to me. I am going with you. I know how to load the guns, I remember from our previous flights. I can at least be useful in that respect.” Charm’s rang loudly in his mind, and was filled with so much anger that Shade knew there would be no arguing with him. His mind was set and Shade didn’t have the time to try to change it. “It’s better than staying here and being killed by my former comrades for nothing more than being a Guardian.” Charm added bitterly.
“So be it.” Shade whispered and let out a sigh as he looked toward Lex once more. “Tell Jala I will buy her what time I can. Help her get the people to safety. The Academy would be the best choice the wards there are the strongest in the city.” He called loudly. With a final nod to Grim he stepped upward into his ship and staggered forward as Grim followed him up the stairs and pushed him toward the pilot seat.
“Grim! What are you doing?” Shade demanded as the priest calmly closed the door to the Spell Hawk and slid his sword back into its scabbard before turning to face Shade.
“Helping you with every ounce of my power just as we agreed. I will warn you though with what I am doing today Syrah better grow up to be the most well-adjusted and mentally stable woman in all of Sanctuary. That is the only way things will be even between us.” Grim replied coolly as he moved to take a seat in the front of the ship. “Give me control of the guns and explain quickly how they work so you can focus your full attention on flying. I have a feeling you are going to need it.” Grim ordered without bothering to give Shade time to object.
“You realize what I’m doing is like declaring Kevala’drin on three separate nations at once right? My ship has wards against teleportation on it to protect from others invading it, but that works both ways. It means no one can teleport off of it either. The Barllen on the outside will just increase that. This flight is a one way ticket and this ship won’t be landing Grim, it will be crashing. I can’t win against those odds no matter how good I am. All I can do is slow them down before they reach the city, and hope it gives Jala enough time to evacuate more people to safety.” Shade explained in an overly calm voice. It seemed so strange to be discussing the death of his beloved ship so casually. His ship was really the last thing he could truly say he had, but then if the ship crashed Shade sincerely doubted he would around to mourn its loss.