The Crow King's Wife (The Elder Blood Chronicles #5)(85)
“I won’t write them off.” Remedy said firmly. “There may be cracks showing but that is better than leaving something broken. They are my family.”
Azashy nodded her agreement and started to open her mouth then closed it abruptly. “He is coming. Can you stay here? Can you keep part of me back from him?” her voice was frantic and he could see the fear growing in her eyes.
“I can, but I don’t understand why. You face him daily Azashy and I’ve never seen you look this terrified of it before.” Remedy reached across the table and took one of her hands. He could see her trembling and the hand he held was icy to the touch. Her dream self was a reflection of her form in reality and he knew she was shivering beyond the dream. With a gentle nudge he sent a wave of calmness toward her. It wouldn’t do to have Myth see her trembling in cold sweats when he entered.
“When I betrayed Nicoli I destroyed a child’s life. Because of me he was raised as an orphan and far from his true home. I tried to redeem myself and I did everything I could to make his life easier in an attempt to make amends for what I had stolen from him. I told him secrets, I taught him magic, and I showed him where to find things of value. He is on his way to Rivana as we speak to avenge the death of his loved ones. If Myth learns of my Godson’s existence or what he is about I will betray the boy again. Myth thinks he is dead, Myth believes he died in Amdany and I would rather die than betray him again. I would rather die a thousand times in agony than cause him more pain, and I know what Myth is capable of.” The words poured out of her with such conviction that he couldn’t think of what to say in return. Her hand clamped tightly around his and she no longer trembled. Dark eyes locked on his and he could see the determination filling her. “Keep the part of me that knows such things here with you Remedy. Hold it tight and no matter what Myth does to try to steal my secrets do not let go of them.”
“Azashy, he threatened to cut off your fingers last time you refused him. Do you honestly expect me to sit idly by while he mutilates you?” Remedy objected. He could feel his stomach coiling at just the thought of watching Azashy tortured. There was a fragile friendship building between them, and he wasn’t the sort to sit silently by while a friend was in pain.
“My suffering is a very small price if the Bloody Huntsman succeeds today. Please Remedy. Please promise me that you will help me in this. Myth is more powerful than both of us. We can’t win against him, but others can. He won’t kill me. I’m too useful to kill. He will try to break me, but with your help I won’t be truly broken.” Azashy’s voice took on such a note of pleading that he found himself nodding slowly.
“The Bloody Huntsman is your Godson?” He asked softly. In the world beyond their shared dream he could hear the sliding door opening followed by Myth’s soft footsteps. There was a faint sound of bedsprings as Azashy sat up from the cot she had been resting on. His own body was tucked safely away in the far corner and well hidden by the mind fog.
“He is.” Azashy confirmed proudly. Her dark eyes flashed as she smiled widely at him. “He is the most beautiful mistake I’ve ever made. He is the sort of hero that Caspian himself could never equal, and he will be one of the lynch pins that holds this broken world together. If he survives today that is, and I will do everything in my power to see that he does.” Her words rang with promise as she turned her gaze away from him. She stared toward the web filled window and her eyes locked on the slowly crawling form of the Wraith spider. “Help me spin a beautiful web of lies little one.” She whispered as her attention faded from the dream.
Azashy hadn’t waited for more than his nod before focusing on Myth. Perhaps she had glimpsed the resignation in his eyes Remedy reasoned as he forced his own mind to stop whirling. He had a lot to focus on and very little time to focus. Myth was dangerous and he had to work quickly if he was truly going to help Azashy protect her secrets.
“I have a few questions Azashy.” Myth’s voice rang loudly through the small room beyond the dream.
Remedy closed his eyes and focused his mind on Azashy. With practiced ease he moved past the dream they shared and into her mind itself slowly gathering her secrets to him and locking them beyond her reach. Once he was done she would not be able to betray her loved ones no matter what Myth did. The information simply wouldn’t be there. Even if Myth forced her to gather it anew Remedy would be watching and the secrets would vanish before Azashy could even open her mouth. This was not a new game for him. He knew very well how to keep secrets from being shared. He had performed this exact service for Vaze a hundred times or more. Only then it had been against Lutheron, and if a Divine couldn’t force the truth, Myth didn’t have a chance of succeeding.
Chapter 13
Rivana
The ship settled uneasily into the sandy riverbed. It was far from an ideal landing spot but it was the closest he could get to the city without risking his ship being spotted by scouts. They would still have a substantial walk to reach Prendington, but it was the only option he had seen that offered any hope of stealth. With a sigh Shade leaned back from the controls and turned to Caleb with a pleading look. He had tried to talk reason to him before they left Delvay, but the man hadn’t listened. Now was his last chance, and he had spent the entire flight inventing ways to manage the day without Caleb dying. He had several ideas and he was certain they would work even if they weren’t conventional plans. The difficult part would be getting Caleb to listen.