Finn sat silent and seemed to be considering his words carefully. He waved the bard away from them as he looked up and settled his dark green eyes on Seth once more. “I’ve never seen you show hesitation over confronting anyone before. Even Hemlock doesn’t seem to scare you.” He observed quietly.
“I didn’t say I was scared, I said it wasn’t safe, and so I’m showing caution.” Seth corrected a bit too sharply. To even suggest he was feeding Lutheron was an insult, though he didn’t think Finn realized that.
“I don’t know the name Ryvenken, but you have never shown hesitation around Shade or Dray so I’m assuming you are referring to Caleb Faulklin, but I have a very hard time believing he is at threat to you. Granted he is formidable, but Seth you are terrifying when you fight.” Finn spoke slowly and Seth could see the confusion still present in his gaze.
“Ryvenken the Keeper is not a person it is a thing. It is a sword to be precise and quite possibly the most powerful weapon within the Barrier. Caleb carries it. He plundered it from one of the fallen Veyetta cities and it has accepted him and bonded with him. Don’t judge him by his age or by his family, he is more than that now. Ryvenken was crafted for one of the Divine, and one of the most dangerous Divine at that. It holds memory and power and it grants those gifts to whoever it bonds with. At the same time it drains power and memory from those that wield it until they are one. Every time Caleb uses that sword he gives more of himself to it and it becomes more of him. Who he was will eventually fade into the blade and his body will be a shell for the combined memories of the sword. As much as he has already used it in battle I would venture to guess that very little of his original mind remains and his power has grown to nearly match yours. Ryvenken knows me, I have faced that blade in battle before and I know what it is capable of. I don’t care if a three year old child holds it. If they are bonded I am cautious, and Caleb Faulklin was formidable before the bonding.” Seth kept his voice low as he spoke but laced every word with sincerity. He didn’t want Finn to ignore the warning in his words.
“So you think following the story is the better path. I can’t say I’m convinced it is. It sounds cruel to me and I don’t think Zoey will react well to anything that was done to Karalea.” Finn said with a sigh.
“Caleb Faulklin is a fully anointed priest of Lutheron.” Seth informed him quietly and watched as Finn’s expression shifted from hesitation to concern. “Zoey will recognize the story before I ever reach the nightmares. I have faith in her. It is possible she may be stubborn, but she will come to me before she allows others to suffer as the villagers did in the story. She has to come to me. It’s the only way I can save her. I didn’t tell her the secrets of how to sustain herself, and I won’t. She needs me to provide for her or she will corrupt herself in the gathering. The key to Undrae survival is Life energy Finn, and I can’t let her kill for herself. It would darken her soul every time she had to kill to survive and I’m not sure she would even do it. I think she would rather starve herself or worse than kill someone to gather life energy.”
Finn had paled at his words, and he wasn’t sure if it was the mention of Lutheron or the explanation about Undrae. Grudgingly he nodded and let out a long slow breath. “Do what you must then, but be careful. If Caleb is everything you describe than I have a feeling he is our enemy. I don’t know why Lutheron hates me, but he certainly appears to, and I’m sure that will extend toward those that serve me as well.”
“It doesn’t matter if Lutheron hates me. Ryvenken does. I’ve killed two of its former masters and it never forgets. If I show myself before him, Caleb will attack.” Seth replied quietly. With a faint smile he leaned forward to the table and plucked a book from the stack. With a casual glance he examined the worn leather cover then glanced back toward the bard. “Summon your storyteller back and let’s devote the next few hours to your research. I’d rather my mind be in a brighter place before I go face Jala. If we work swiftly maybe you can have something impressive built when I bring Legacy back to visit you.”
Chapter 10
Delvay
“If I never see another Spell Hawk it will be too soon.” Dray grumbled as the ship finally landed. He looked much paler than normal and it took him several moments before he seemed to trust that the ship was going to remain still. With a heavy breath he unclenched his hands from his arm rests and glowered at Shade.
Zoelyn smiled faintly at the reaction and rose unsteadily from her seat. Neither Shade nor Grim were unnerved by the flight, but she shared Dray’s opinion fully. The storm had been bad enough with wind buffeting the ship like a sparrow, but Shade had seemed intent on testing his skills at every moment. She hadn’t even realized a Spell Hawk could move so swiftly, but it had barely taken them four hours to reach Delvay. Four gut-clenching-terror-filled hours of flying through canyons, trees, and skimming across the ocean so close she was certain that the waves were brushing the bottom of the ship.
Her attention flicked to the front of the ship as Grim rose from the co-pilot’s seat and headed for the door. He seemed perfectly at ease, as did Shade, but she wasn’t certain she could walk on her shaking legs and Dray still hadn’t chosen to stand.
“Welcome home.” Shade smiled brightly at her as he followed Grim to the door. He paused as he noticed Dray’s scowl and gave her a questioning look.