Zoelyn nodded slowly and watched Grim’s eyes flutter several times and then finally settle closed. His body relaxed as he sank into deep sleep. “How long will he stay asleep?” She asked softly though she doubted the sound of her voice would awaken him. His breathing was already too deep for it to be a natural sleep. It had to be the potion and that explained Shade’s guilt. He had drugged a friend even though he knew Grim wanted to be awake. It was obvious even to her that Grim had a thousand questions for Shade, and Shade had intentionally silenced him before he could ask any of them.
“Forty-eight hours for a normal person. Rose says to expect twelve for Grim given his Shifter blood.” Shade answered quietly and there was definite guilt in his voice when he spoke. Clearing his throat he looked between Zoelyn and Dray and let out a soft sigh. “I would appreciate it if everything I say from this point on stays in this room. I understand if you feel obligated to speak on it later, but I would greatly appreciate your silence for a few hours at the very least. With what is coming next it may seem strange, but I have my reasons. I don’t want anyone to attempt to defend me later today, which is why Grim is sleeping at the present. Let the cards fall as they will please.” He waited until the both nodded then turned to Syrah. Digging in his pockets once more Shade pulled a storage stone out and offered it to the girl. “I think you might possibly be the only one I can give that to. I haven’t seen you show fear once, and everyone else would be afraid of this. There is a goblin inside it, but it is not a mean creature. If you feed it then it will follow you as loyally as a puppy. It is yours if you want it, if not please tell your father to release it. It cannot go with me once I leave Delvay.”
“You are leaving Delvay?” Dray said in obvious shock.
“I have other promises to keep that I have already delayed too long.” Shade replied softly, but didn’t bother to look at Dray. His gaze was still fixed on the child and the stone she held. Absently he pulled a pouch from his pocket and dropped it on the foot of the bed before her. “That is for you and your father if he decides to not return to Arovan. When you give it to him please let him know that it isn’t blood money. Those are gems that I had hidden on my ship for emergency use. I want the two of you to use them instead. If he manages them carefully it should be enough for you both to live well and pay for your schooling in the future if you decide to attend the University.”
Zoelyn’s hands froze over the wound in Grim’s side. She had been trying to work and grant Shade as much privacy as he could until his last words. Tilting her head up silently she studied the dark circles under his eyes and the pale color of his skin. He didn’t look well at all, and his words weren’t the least bit reassuring. “You aren’t ever coming back?” she asked softly and watched the expression on his face closely as she spoke.
A flicker of grief lit his eyes for a breath and then it was gone. Shaking his head slowly he forced a smile on his face. “I won’t be welcome in Delvay after today.” He spoke the words calmly, but she could see the tension in his shoulders increase. Something was very wrong and she didn’t have the slightest clue what it was.
“What have you done?” Dray demanded as he pushed himself from the wall. The expression on his face was one of dread and anger. He was staring at Shade as if the man had just betrayed them all, and it was only then that she realized Dray was staring at Shade’s clothing rather than his face. He was wearing the blue and silver of House Morcaillo, and she hadn’t even noticed until that moment.
“Dray, it’s Shade!” Zoelyn snapped as she rose to her feet as well. “How many stories has Jala told us about Shade? You know better than to doubt him. Shade is the last person we should suspect of being a traitor.”
“Feel free to doubt me, Dray. I’ve done everything and I am most definitely a traitor.” Shade whispered cryptically as he turned for the door. “Don’t bother attacking me for it though. I’m sure Neph will want those honors.” He added as Dray took a step toward him.
Zoelyn watched the door close behind him and turned to stare at Dray. After several breaths she realized her jaw was still hanging open and hastily closed her mouth then shook her head quickly to force her mind back into motion.
“What the hell was that?” Dray demanded looking more than a little unsettled himself.
“I have no idea. Follow him though. If he is going to talk with my Brother I want to know what it is about and I have to finish on Grim before I can leave here.” Zoelyn motioned toward the door as she spoke and shook her head once more as Dray practically bolted to follow her suggestion.
Slowly she sank back into her chair as the door closed for the second time and stared down at Grim’s sleeping form. Shade had asked for her silence, but Grim would have to know. There was no other way for Syrah to explain the bag of gems or the goblin. It wasn’t going to be pretty when they explained it either, by the way Shade spoke something very bad was about to happen.
Still stunned and utterly confused she focused on the wound before her. It required most of her concentration to locate and remove the quills which was nearly enough to keep her from dwelling on Shade’s last words. I am most definitely a traitor. It was almost impossible to imagine Shade as a traitor. She had seen him throw himself into the thick of danger too many times. Shade couldn’t be described as anything other than a hero, and yet he was wearing the blue and silver of House Morcaillo. Grinding her teeth she forced her mind clear once more and pulled another quill from Grim’s side.
“He was lying to us.” Syrah spoke quietly breaking the silence of the room with her timid voice. “I watched him fight. He isn’t a traitor. He wouldn’t have killed his mother if he meant to return to his house.”