Soft violet illuminated the room outlining the large bed and dresser as well as the man seated in the only chair the room offered. He was slight of build with jet black hair and features that reminded her of Wisp. Smiling softly he pulled back the edge of his black feathered cloak revealing a small blanket wrapped bundle nestled in one of his arms. “Your son missed you, Lady Merrodin,” he said in a low voice as he beckoned her closer.
“Who are you and why do you have Legacy?” Jala demanded, her eyes locked on the bundle in his arms. Every instinct in her body screamed for her to run and snatch the blanket from his arms, but she held herself back. There was no guarantee that this wasn’t a trap. Legacy should have been safe in Merro with her friends.
“My name is Seth, and I have your son because he was in danger. The Nightblades came for him earlier tonight. Your friends live, though they were unable to protect your son properly,” Seth explained as he rose slowly from the chair and walked toward the bed. He kept his gaze on her as he moved slowly to set the bundle down. “You are wise to be cautious, Lady Merrodin. I respect you for that. Let me assure you that I mean no harm to you or your child, though.” Seth spoke softly as he unwrapped the blankets to reveal the child sleeping soundly within. He stepped back as slowly as he had approached the bed and kept both of his hands upraised and well away from the weapons that lined his belt. “This is a lesson for you, Lady Merrodin. Never leave something you love behind. Your enemies will use love against you at every opportunity, and there won’t always be someone there to stop them.”
Jala stared at her son in disbelief and started toward the bed, but froze before she had taken more than three steps. It took all of her willpower to keep from rushing to Legacy, but she forced herself to call on her magic instead. As quickly as she could she poured through every spell Sovann and Neph had taught her to examine the child. “It’s really him,” she gasped as the truth of the matter was proven with magic. Rushing forward she leaned over her son searching for even the slightest bruise on his tender skin.
“He is in perfect health. I promise you that. Though he will likely be hungry very soon,” Seth said quietly.
“Why would you help my son? I don’t know you. I don’t even know who you serve,” Jala whispered, her eyes searching the man for any emblem that might give her some clue of his origin. His dark leather armor was of simple fashion without even the slightest embellishment and the long feathered cloak had no ornamentation other than the feathers themselves.
“Memories. I helped him for the sake of memories. You didn’t know me, but you do now, Lady Merrodin, and as to who I serve… Well he prefers to be anonymous, though I promise you he is not your enemy or affiliated with any of your enemies,” Seth answered, his words so cryptic that they didn’t even begin to answer her questions. Smiling faintly Seth bowed to her and pulled his cloak back around himself once more. “Do you know why Dashara failed, Lady Merrodin?” he asked as he stepped back from her toward the room’s only window.
“No,” Jala answered in confusion, caught completely off guard by the change of topics.
“She wasn’t strong enough when things got dirty. She couldn’t stand the sight of blood or to actually cause pain to others. Her companions did all of the messy work for her. Dashara was beautiful and compassionate to a fault and could speak with such eloquence that you could believe the Divines themselves guided her. Twice she had the chance to end the rebellion with one thrust of a knife and twice she showed mercy and lost that opportunity.” Seth shook his head slowly and let out a long sigh before looking toward her once more. “They repaid that mercy by flaying her skin and salting the wounds. Dashara died in complete agony because she wasn’t strong enough to strike.” He paused again to open the window, turning his back toward her, but not before she caught the look of pain on his features. “Fiona was the complete opposite. She had the strength and the resolve, but none of the compassion and charisma,” Seth continued, turning back to look at her, his expression neutral once more. “Despite what they lacked and their faults, both of them nearly changed the face of this world, and neither of them had Divine blood.” He winked at her and smiled. “We share enemies, Lady Merrodin, and for that and the sake of memories you may call on me if you are ever in dire need. They call you Dasharan and there are those who seek to kill anyone given that title. Call on me if they try and you think they might succeed.” He pulled a feather from the edge of his cloak as he spoke and laid it carefully on the table by the window before slipping out into the night.
Are you all right? Valor’s voice in mind broke the spell of silence she had been lost in and she shook her head quickly before answering.
I’m fine Valor. I just had a very strange visit and Legacy is here now, Jala explained, still in a bit of a daze. Seth’s words had left her in a state of confusion. She wasn’t sure exactly what he was wanting from her. Did he expect her to change the world? Would he still help her when he realized she had no intention of changing anything aside from the population of the Avanti lands?
What? How is Legacy here? Is he OK? Wait to answer. I’m coming to your room, Valor’s voice was filled with concern as he broke the mental link. Within a breath, her door was opening and he stood there, his gaze sweeping the room as if he had expected trouble.
“A man by the name of Seth brought him,” Jala said when he turned his gaze toward her. Her eyebrow raised in question as she watched the color drain from Valor’s face. “I take it you know him?”
“Only through stories and few of them are pleasant,” Valor murmured.