“This is me in all of my unholy glory, Shade.” Caleb returned quietly and bowed his head respectfully to Shade before turning for the door. “I will send Syrah in to you. Hide her and stick to the plan.” He ordered as he pulled the door open.
Bright sunlight poured into the store and seemed to settle on the dead woman by his feet. Shade stared at her for barely a breath and then moved as quickly as he could to the window. The street beyond was filled with armored men and horses. Near the center of the group was a finely dressed man mounted on a blue grey horse that seemed to tower over the other animals present. It didn’t take much for Shade to guess his identity. Only Derrick Rivasa would show up to face the Bloody Huntsman without a trace of armor on. The presence of the furiously glaring little girl seated before him confirmed his suspicion and Shade found himself studying the child more than the man. She was delicate in build with grey eyes that looked too large for her fragile face. Her long hair seemed black until the sun glinted off of it, then it took on a deep blue hue. The dress she wore was barely worthy of the title dress and looked to be little more than rags from what Shade could tell, but the child sat as proudly as any queen. The scowl faded from her face as her eyes found Caleb and a smile tugged at her lips. It was the last reaction Shade had expected to see from the child. According to Finn the girl was barely six, any other child of that age would have been wailing for their father to save them. Syrah Faulklin didn’t look the slightest bit inclined to wail however. Her chin tilted upward and her smile slowly widened into a look of pure satisfaction. With more dignity than most adults could muster in a situation such as hers Syrah nodded to her father and remained silent.
“I looked for you at Amdany.” Derrick Rivasa announced loudly and his horse danced under him at the raised voice. With a frown he yanked on the reins and pressed Syrah closer to him. “They all said the Blights had done for you, but I didn’t believe it. To believe you dead I will have to see it. I’m so pleased you made that particular experience so convenient for me.”
“Release my daughter and once she is safely to my side you may have your son.” Caleb called loudly ignoring the man’s taunt.
“So you can teleport away? I don’t think so. You murdered my wife and mother if my guard is to be believed. You will have to die for that of course.” Derrick returned in a voice that held no remorse whatsoever.
“I have no intention of running. I declare Kevala’drin on you and all who follow you. Amdany and all who fell there will be avenged.” Caleb’s voice rang clearly throughout the street without a trace of hesitation. Several of the guards laughed at his words, but to Shade’s ears the laughter was edged with nerves.
“How traditional.” Derrick scoffed. “Give your word you will stand your ground and return my son. I know your pretty little code of honor will bind you. Everyone knows the Black Bastard always keeps his word.”
Caleb’s jaw clenched at Derrick’s words but he visibly forced his temper back down before speaking. “I give you my word that I will not harm your son and I will release him once Syrah is safely away. I will not flee or attempt to escape. By the Aspects and Divine I swear I speak the truth and will abide by my words.”
“Good enough.” Derrick agreed with a shrug as he shoved Syrah from his saddle. The girl twisted in the air and Shade had to bite his lip to keep from cursing out loud as she landed hard on the cobbles by the horse’s massive hooves. Derrick loosened the reins on his horse and leaned over his saddle to gaze down at the child with a wicked grin. “I thought Shifters always landed on their feet?” Amusement filled his voice as he spoke and several of his guards laughed in response. This time Shade detected the nervousness in their voices quiet clearly.
Syrah remained silent as she picked herself up from the ground and narrowly avoided the large grey’s hooves as it began to dance in place once more. She crossed to her father with her head held high despite her scraped knees and bleeding hands. Caleb dropped to his knees as she drew closer, still managing to keep a firm grip on his hostage despite the boy’s frantic attempts to escape him. For a moment Syrah looked as though she was going to burst into tears, but she clenched her jaw and bowed her head deeply to her father. Without so much as a slight embrace she turned on her heels and pointed back toward Derrick with a steady hand.
“He killed Lord Micah, and he killed him slowly. Our lord died screaming in agony, Father.” She announced in a high clear voice. Her hand moved slightly to the right and settled on a young man in plate mail. “He killed Lord Honor and made Grandma Blue cry nearly every night. She wouldn’t speak of the violations he forced on her, but I know he treated Grandma cruelly.” Her tiny hand shifted once more and settled on a woman who stood just behind the line of horses and Shade felt his breath catch as he followed the child’s motion.
He knew the woman Syrah was pointing at, though he had no idea what she was doing in Rivana. He hadn’t seen her in well over a year, and the last time he had seen her she had been deep in her cups. Grace Morcaillo looked to be stone cold sober today however. Her long auburn hair was pulled back in a tight braid and the expression on her normally relaxed face was severe. It was the first time he had ever seen his mother in anything but a dress. Today however she wore leather pants and an armored jacket. The sort of clothing a warrior favored, though he had never known his mother to be anything but a drunken fool.