The Crow King's Wife (The Elder Blood Chronicles #5)

“Taken to gardening and lost your tongue. It hasn’t been that long since I parted company with you, but apparently I missed something very important.” Exodus said with forced levity and he watched as she attempted to summon another smile and failed miserably.

Finn let his own smile widen fractionally and lowered himself slowly to the moss covered ground. Still silent he adjusted the fall of his cloak and leaned back against one of the massive oaks. He let his attention wander for a moment toward the distant grass covered hills that rose closer to his city then glanced up at her once more. “I don’t think that you are a regular guest at War’s table so I’m going to assume the rumors of my madness have spread throughout all of the Aspects by now.” He began in a calm voice. For some reason speaking in low tones seemed to reassure those that questioned his sanity. It didn’t make much sense to him, but he wasn’t going to knock it. He would take every advantage he could get.

“A few people are talking.” Exodus agreed hesitantly. She eyed him curiously as if she couldn’t quite believe he wasn’t frothing at the mouth and rambling then seemed to relax a bit on her perch above him. “You don’t sound mad though even if you do look a bit nutty.” She added in a brighter voice.

Frowning Finn gazed down at his immaculate armor and traced a hand through his hair. He knew it was wind tousled, but that couldn’t be helped. Beyond his hair however he was perfectly respectable in appearance.

Exodus laughed softly at his self-inspection and shook her head quickly. “Not in appearance, but in action. You are planting a bloody forest in the Darklands after all.” She amended with a grin.

“I’m recreating the city of Evagale. It was surrounded by thick forests on three sides. The city itself was built in a bit of a valley and was famous for the scholars and artists that dwelled there. I’ve read in three books by different authors that say Evagale was the most precious gem lost in the thousand year war.” Finn explained with the same patience that he had used when explaining his projects to everyone else that doubted him.

“And why should you bother? It is a lost city from beyond the Barrier does it really have a place in the Darklands?” Exodus asked. Concern had crept back into her face and voice.

“I could give you the same answer I gave Fiona.” Finn began with a grin. “I could say it’s dead therefore its mine, but I said that mostly to make her question my sanity so she would run to her true master in panic. War has done a good job of spreading his concerns for my well-being and here you are.” He waved a hand toward her lightly and his grin broke into a full smile as the glint of concern on her face blossomed further. “I will give you the truth though.” He added before she could speak. With a sigh he propped one of his legs before him and rested his arm against it. “Evagale is dead, but it could be revived, just as easily as the souls of my domain can be returned to the world above. Every piece of land I alter is a monument to what we can accomplish. The souls are sent to me for redemption and I am showing them what is worth being redeemed for. I am showing them what can be done if they can set aside their wars and their differences. I altered my own house for that reason. It is not the protective fortress that will keep me safe now, but it is one of the reasons for my redemption. That is a replica of the house I was born in. That is the house that my mother and father lived in for decades and raised their family in. That was my Mother’s prison and sanctuary. Every time I walk through my door I remember why she was trapped there, and it gives me the strength to try to achieve the impossible.”

“And what exactly do you define as the impossible?” Exodus asked cautiously.

“A world where Evagale can exist again and thrive and no one is forced to live in fear.” Finn began softly and he rose slowly to his feet. He motioned toward the trees and then looked up at her with determination lighting his eyes. He knew he was on delicate ground here. He had to gain her support and if he chose his words poorly she would think him just as mad as Fiona did. “The city had no standing military. It had no guards or walls, and the only thing that could be considered defense was the forest that surrounded it on three sides. Yet it stood for close to four hundred years in complete and utter peace. I want to take away their desire to fight Exodus. I want to eliminate their desire to escape what they see as a prison. All I have to do is force them to realize the Barrier is protection as much as restraint. If I can build Evagale in the Darklands it can be built in the Sunlit world. All I have to do is remind them of what they could have, and how little the cost would be.”

“Something like that would never last in Sanctuary.” Exodus replied with a shake of her head and a wistful smile. “It sounds beautiful Finn, and it makes a good story, but something like that could never exist in our world.”

“Why?” Finn demanded with a raised eyebrow. He didn’t raise his voice, but she looked stunned regardless.

“Well they would never build a city without defenses for one. No matter how hard you try you will never get them to stop their fighting the city would have to be protected.” Exodus explained with obvious frustration for what she must see as stupidity.