The Crow King's Wife (The Elder Blood Chronicles #5)(82)
“When I fled my homeland Myth offered me safety. He was kind and always polite, and I was terrified. I found security in the fact that a High Lord as powerful as Myth Morcaillo was guarding me. All he asked in return was information on occasion, and I saw no harm in the questions he asked me at the time. I realize now that what he asked then was the prelude to the current disaster of our world.” Her voice trembled slightly on the words and her arms tightened around her stomach. His expression must have shown his confusion he realized as she smiled sadly at him. “You don’t even know who I am do you?” she asked quietly. Remedy shook his head slowly and a bitter laugh rose from her. “Azashy of the thousand eyes.” She said once her laughter had died. “The betrayer of Glis. I am the former spy master of Nicoli Blackwolf.” She informed him as she bowed her head mockingly toward him.
“I heard of the scandal, but your name was never mentioned. All I heard of it was that the Spy Master of Glis revealed Nicoli’s affair and Blue Bess was nearly exiled. I thought the spy master had died after that though.” Remedy spoke as gently as he could. He knew the topic itself was painful enough to her and didn’t want her to read anything into the tone of his voice.
“Not dead, though I wish I was. If Nicoli had killed me I wouldn’t be where I am now.” Azashy said wistfully.
“But the Shifters of Glis are primarily druids, and I don’t see how you could possibly gather your information with those talents.” Remedy pressed. He had a rough idea of how she knew so much, but he wanted to keep her talking. The more she told him about herself the better chance he had of figuring out what to do next.
Azashy waved an idle hand toward the spider web. “One of my thousand eyes.” She explained with a shrug. “Most Shifters find affinity with predators. My predator just happens to be very small. I think I may be the only Shifter to ever bond with spiders, but they have always fascinated me. If I focus I can see through their eyes or hear what is around them, and there are very few places in our world that hold no spiders.”
“It’s the first case I’ve ever heard of. Though I will freely admit that I haven’t put much time into learning of Glis or its people. My talents were primarily needed in more difficult lands.” Remedy admitted with a grin.
“Remedy Lutheron, adopted child of the Fionaveir’s second. Diplomat and socialite in an otherwise undiplomatic or social organization. You don’t know me, but I do know you.” Azashy returned before turning toward the cottage. “Fictional tea in our little pretend world sounds rather pleasant. Shall we retire inside and I will do my best to explain to you what is going on so that you can figure out what needs to be done?”
“Fictional tea sounds lovely.” Remedy agreed and felt his muscles relax at her words. He had expected to have to pry information from her in small bits, but apparently she was going to serve him answers on a silver platter. All that left him to do was sort the truth from what she told him, and given what he already knew of the Fionaveir’s troubles that task shouldn’t be too difficult.
The interior of the cottage was bathed in shadows with only faint light shining through the tiny windows. A small table rested in the center of the room and aside from the tiny kitchen and a sleeping pallet near the wall the house was empty. He didn’t even see a storage chest for clothes.
“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.