Blood, Honor and Dreams (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #2)

Shade remained tense expecting another attack and didn’t dare turn his gaze to find Charm. He was sure the words had been the rogue’s but he wasn’t sure the child would listen.

“He is Blight,” the girl hissed as if that were reason enough for him to die.

“So are you,” Shade pointed out, hoping to get her to speak again. If he could determine where the voice was coming from he would have a better chance of dodging the next attack. Taking a quick tally of his wounds, he realized he would need to dodge the next attack. His ribs were scored deeply and bleeding freely. His shoulder was a ragged mess and he wasn’t sure if his right arm would hold for combat. That wasn’t good. Shade was right handed. He pushed down weight on his leg, testing the wounded knee, Not good. Dodging would be slow. He would be better off ducking than trying to move quickly.

“Why did Lutheron send you?” Charm’s voice broke through his mental inventory and Shade looked up to find the rogue standing barely two feet away. He was dirty and his clothing was tattered but he seemed unharmed. Dark circles hung heavy under his clear grey eyes but they were filled with intelligence none the less. Charm was obviously one of those rare individuals that could stay awake for days without losing their sanity. Most didn’t fare so well using magic to stay awake, it tended to cause minds to fray. “I know you, despite the claws and talons you still resemble your true self, Christian Morcaillo.” There was disgust in the rogue’s voice when he spoke the name, “Morcaillo,” and Shade couldn’t blame him for it.

“I was Christian Morcaillo. I go by just Shade now,” he whispered back, pressing his hand against his side trying to stem the blood. The wound was healing quickly. Thankfully the Blights had good regeneration. “Lutheron sent me to get you out and take you home,” he said at last, his eyes still roving the area trying to figure out where the demonic little child hid.

Charm snorted with amusement, looking at his ragged state. Shade felt himself flush under the scrutiny. He had just told Charm he was here to rescue him shortly after the rogue had seen a child maul him. He didn’t blame the man for doubting him. “And just how exactly do you plan to do that, Shade?” Charm asked, the amusement still present in his voice.

“I have my spell hawk stored in a gem. All we need to do is get to a place big enough to bring it out and then we are as good as free. One of the gardens in the noble district should work,” Shade explained and he watched the amusement flicker out of the rogue’s eyes replaced by hope.

“This way, come on Emily,” Charm said quickly and glanced over Shade’s wounds one last time before turning on his heels. He moved with speed and grace through the shadows and several times Shade lost him in the alleys. A small hand would tug on him when he hesitated and he had to restrain the urge to pull away from it. He could feel the talons there and he knew well how sharp they were.

They reached the gardens without incident and Shade wasted no time breaking the gem open. He stared at his ship for a long moment as it appeared. He loved his ship like he had never loved anything else, but at this particular moment it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. “Thank you for the help, Emily, good luck,” Shade whispered as he opened the door to the ship and motioned Charm in.

“Don’t bid her good bye, she is coming with us,” Charm said as he stepped into the ship.

“What?” Shade spoke louder than he had intended and flinched at the sound of his own voice.

“I wouldn’t be alive still if she hadn’t warned me of the other Blights. She is coming with us. I won’t leave her here. She isn’t like them,” Charm motioned again. “Come on Emily.”

“I’m already inside,” The child’s voice called back to him and Shade glanced into his ship nervously. He hadn’t felt anything pass him and he was standing right by the door. The only presence he had noticed was Charm’s.

“She has to drop the camouflage,” Shade said, his voice firm. “I won’t fly without knowing where she is.”

“Fine, get in the ship and close the doors before more show up,” Charm agreed irritably.

Finding no reason to argue with that logic, Shade stepped into the ship and sealed it closed. He turned back from the door to find a naked child that looked perhaps eight, watching him. She was filthy with dirt and gore and her dark brown hair was tangled beyond salvation. If her hair had ever been brushed in her life, it didn’t show. “She is naked,” Shade said lamely stating the obvious.

“Yes she is, but you wanted her visible so she is. Now get us out of here and explain to me why Lutheron sent you,” Charm replied, the irritation still present.

Moving cautiously past the child, Shade let the Blight form fade returning to his own familiar body. With a sigh of relief he dropped into the pilot’s seat and placed his hands on the controls. The panel flickered to life and he began raising the ship quickly. The draw of magic might attract the Blights in the city. He had no desire to have them swarming over his baby like ants. The ship hummed softly and responded to his touch gracefully. He heard the Blight child hiss behind him and successfully managed to not flinch. The pain in his shoulder was fading now but the memory of the wounds was still very fresh. It would have been embarrassing to die to a child but she was formidable.

Charm dropped down in the seat next to him and leaned back with obvious appreciation. “I need sleep desperately, but I need answers first. Why did Lutheron send you here?”

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