A Matter of Blood

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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

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"We can't find Raisa," Adewyn said, meeting my remaining eye, "I don't know if they kidnapped her or not. Her room looked like it had seen a fight, and there were two dead assassins in it. She put up a fight at least."

"Gods dammit. They got Caliban too. Gwyn," I said, turning to my niece, "can you feel her at all?"

She found herself the focus of all the attention in the room and turned a bit shy, but shook her head no after a moment of concentration. Then she asked me questions that I really should have anticipated but had forgotten about in my haste and worry.

"Are you all right? Will it heal? Does it hurt?"

Gwyn's little face was filled with compassion, and I looked around I saw it mirrored in others.

"Yes, I'm all right," I said, forcing myself to smile, but it wasn't that hard when I was surrounded by my family, "I don't think it will heal, at least no time soon. And it hurts, but not too bad."

Gwyn reached out and held my hand in sympathy. I appreciated it.

"They must have wrapped Caliban in chains of Cold Iron," Merwyd said, "that would keep her from doing, well, anything. It's the same thing used to capture Pureblood criminals to keep them from utilizing magic."

"Nothing we can do about it for now," I said.

"Should we run or should we fight?" Mother asked with her typical directness. She knew the difficulties of entering the castle as well as I did. As mother asked me the question, however, Adewyn gave me a peculiarly intense look.

"We fight," I said, "we have no choice. The more time we give him the more Bayrd will kill and the more his forces will grow. That is what he meant by time favoring his army and costing ours. And then he'll just pick us apart as we run. The more time we're near to Marche Grodayn the more likely that we can think of a way to get to Bayrd."

I was having difficulty focusing due to the intensity of my pain and sudden fatigue.

"Mother, you're going to protect Gwyn and Artan tomorrow. I have no one else I trust and you know how to kill anything that gets close to them. Adewyn, you already know this but you're in charge of all maneuvers tomorrow. If I make it out there I'll just be for show and magic. Make sure everyone knows not to expect me. Merwyd, do whatever you can to help Adewyn, but be aware that Bayrd will be hunting for you specifically from high up in Marche Grodayn. He'll probably be in the men's sanctuary since it has excellent sight lines and will give him cover. Next to me you're the most powerful mage here and you definitely have superior skill and control so I know you can help."

"All right, love," Merwyd said, smiling at me and taking Gwyn's hand, "I'll do what I can. Be careful."

I caught the scent of her fresh from the bath and longed for more time with her. With all of them. With Raisa, especially.

Before they all left I had one more thought.

"No one sleep in the same place tonight. Find somewhere else or just get new tents set up. We can't assume that they won't try again."

Everyone nodded and left. Adewyn and I were alone.

"Raisa's alive I think, but she didn't want us spreading the news around. I found this in her tent. I read it but I probably shouldn't have."

It was a small piece of hastily folded paper with very familiar writing on it. It had my name on it but I wasn't too upset that Adewyn had looked.

"Finn,

I have a chance to pursue the surviving Seyla back to wherever they exited from the castle. With luck I can slip in with them and help tomorrow. I hope you and the others are all right.

I saw that one took Caliban away in chains. I almost saved her but then I decided that maybe I could do something about that as soon as the battle starts tomorrow. If I can't get to Caliban, then I'm going after Bayrd. You wouldn't want me to but you know that it's what you would do so don't be a hypocrite.

Please keep this to yourself. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to say goodbye.

I love you,

Raisa"

"Fuck!" I was finally frustrated enough to be visibly upset. Losing my eye was one thing but I couldn't handle losing Raisa.

"I thought you'd be happy," Adewyn noted.

"I'm happy she's alive, or was to write this letter anyway. I'm less happy knowing that my pregnant wife is in the enemy fortress with a diabolist who would like nothing more than to torture her or worse."

"Finn, am I wrong or does she intend to do something specific tomorrow morning?"

"You aren't wrong. She was vague here but I think I know what she intends."

"So you won't be seen by the army at all? That will be bad for morale."

"If things go as I expect them to, they'll know I'm fighting alongside them even if I'm not in front of them, precisely. Things will probably be pretty loud and obvious. How are the wards doing?"

Adewyn smiled.

"The Seyla that Bayrd hired aren't as good as our Raisa. Some soldiers on the line noticed some men acting suspiciously and thought they were possessed so they sounded the alarm and killed them before they could do more than erase a few lines. The wards were repaired to full power before mages even showed up."

"I'm guessing that tomorrow he'll try to erase them all at once and overrun us. It would explain why we haven't seen any flying bastards lately. He's saving them for one big push."

"Finn," Adewyn said gently, "let me worry about that. You can't carry everything on your back. Merwyd can cover the magical side of things, and you know she's been thinking about what to do if the wards fail en masse. Do what you have to. Now rest, I know you spent time with Merwyd tonight, and you've lost a goddamn eye."

"Hey, it's not gone, just broken," I said, laying back down and trying to ignore the deep pain in my face, "I've got one spare left in any case. Good night, wife."

"I'll wake you before things start. Sleep well, husband," she said, blowing out the lantern.

When she left the last light left with her.

* * *

The battle would be today. This would be the end. The attempted assassinations from last night might make our victory possible, although I hadn't really planned it that way. We could not take the castle by siege. Not with that army of howling madmen between us and it.

I woke to Adewyn standing over me, gently touching my shoulder. My head ached as if I'd been hit by a boulder. I was alive and able, and perhaps our enemies thought that I was incapacitated or dead.

I sat up and made a noise rather like that of a surprised pig. The pain was...impressive at first, but it lessened quickly. My concern for Raisa made the pain seem much less important.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Finn?" Adewyn asked. Her tone was...afraid.

"Part of me does not. Part of me just wants to go out with you and fight that army of the damned with my own army behind me, but we both know I can make much more of a difference elsewhere."

She sighed.

"I don't want to be a widow, Finn. I don't want Artan to grow up without a father. I don't...I don't want to have to answer to Bayrd. More importantly, I don't want cry over the grave of my dead husband because he decided to be a hero. Do you understand me? I won't forgive you if you die. I can't. I'll hate your fucking ghost forever," she said, making no attempt to conceal her tears.

"I'm coming back, Adewyn," I said with confidence that I did not feel, "I'm afraid, and I don't want to go, but I have to kill him. I have to kill him so he can't get to you, or Artan, or anyone else."

She sighed, but then she smiled. It was grim, but it was real. There was belief in it. Belief in me.

"This is why I am proud of my husband. I...I have to go lead the other battle, although I'd rather be going with you. Good hunting, Finn."

She kissed me once, intensely, and then turned and walked out like a goddess from the old legends. Even this close to death and danger, I was still distracted by her ass as she left. Gods help me but I loved that woman with an intensity that was almost frightening to me, even now.

Dammit, I should have asked her to send me some help. I had to do this next part quietly. I didn't want anyone to see me but I wanted some of my things. And I wanted some things from Raisa's tent too. I was wondering if I could really sneak around the camp like some sort of cut-rate Seyla when my saviors arrived.

"Bartles! Gwyn!" I really was pleased to see them besides my need for help. Gwyn ran in and I gave her a big hug.

"We're just stopping by, before we go and stay near your mother," Bartles said. She was obviously nervous but it mixed with a certain confidence that made her more attractive. Sometimes it was difficult to be married. "I...I can fight a little too now, and the things don't seem to like my magic one bit. It kills them fast."

"The power of the Wyld is pure and strong," I said, glad that she'd be there do help my mother with defending Artan and Gwyn, "I'm sorry to say I need some help with something if you have a moment."

"We'll help!" Gwyn volunteered for both of them.

"Wonderful!"

I sent Bartles to my tent to fetch my old mercenary armor and the short sword that I wore before I found Caliban. I wanted protection today but I didn't want to wear a shiny breastplate or anything that would draw extra attention. I sent Gwyn to Raisa's tent for some of the little bottles I knew she kept there, full of the potion she gave me to rid me of fatigue after I nearly died that night many years ago. I figured she'd need the energy after being up all night. I probably would too.

They both came back shortly with everything I'd asked for. I hugged Gwyn again and thought about having Bartles deliver a message to my mother, but she already knew that I loved her.

"Bartles, thank you for taking care of my family. This won't be forgotten."

She blushed adorably when a slight green tint.

"Come on Gwyn, we need to get back, the sun's nearly up."

They left, and I could see the light peeking over the horizon. I drank one of the flasks while I waited. It's acrid taste belied its quick effectiveness. I had to be ready, because we all knew that once the sun rose, we'd be under attack. I wished my family and my army the Goddess' luck and the Gods' protection. Then I felt it.

Raisa had been successful. I answered the call and disappeared.

Before this the farthest I'd ever been called to Caliban was across the camp. Even then I'd managed to see just a flash of something. This time, I had a longer look. Truthfully it was much longer than I had wanted. I was flying but I wasn't entirely myself. It felt like I was lighter, and less coherent, as if I was made of a cloud. But that wasn't the disturbing part.

What I saw was a black, rocky desert. There were rolling hills but many had their tops sheared off at odd angles, as with an enormous blade. Sitting on some of them were things that looked like pale towers, if towers grew like fungus. It seemed to be night, with a starless sky. Hanging there was a single great red-orange flame, circular and oppressive. It was a sun, but not ours. Rather I recognized it immediately. It was the single light of the Sitra Ahra, from where man fled when things went wrong. It was the Tyrant Star which gazed over Belial's Realm.

Those who made Caliban must have known to traverse this place, and use it to travel quickly in our own plane. I'm not ashamed to say that it frightened me to be there, and my fear only heightened when I saw the strange crawling figures on the hillsides. Were they demons? Or were they the last descendants of the poor humans who couldn't make it out? Things like the Karrash but even more changed by this unwholesome hell. Thankfully, I spent no more time there.

I appeared next to a very surprised guard who holding a blade to my sister-wife's neck. This did not amuse me and he died quickly as his blood turned to ice. The man behind him turned to run but was propelled much faster than he intended, slamming into a wall and falling prone and unmoving. I recognized where we were. About halfway up the western tower, near the living quarters of my family, in an area meant for secure stores. The stone here was a familiar old grey of mountain granite, worn after many centuries of constant use. I was amazed at how nostalgic it made me.

I looked at Raisa and took her head in my hands. She was kneeling, and looked tired, a small scratch on her forehead bleeding freely. She was sweating all over. Gods she was beautiful.

"Are you all right?"

"I am now," she said, smiling and standing, before frowning worriedly and touching the side of my face with great care, "but what happened to your eye?"

I ignored the question.

"What the fuck is the matter with you? Running off and coming here? By yourself!?"

She opened her mouth to reply but I didn't let her. I found to my surprise that I was very angry with her.

"I can't believe you. You're pregnant! And you're running around like you're Andraste returned to the firmament! You aren't immortal, woman!"

Her mouth dropped open in shock, and she looked like she might cry for moment, then I could see her grow angry and ready to shout back, and then she looked over my shoulder to see more men-at-arms standing in the hallway, some looking at their fallen ally while the rest tried to figure out who Raisa and I were and whether they should arrest us.

"Listen you bastards, just wait over there! I'm not done...hey!"

Raisa rolled her eyes dramatically and ran towards them, effortlessly and acrobatically rolling between them, a previously unseen blade flickering out and cutting throats and arteries. All of them died rather messily but she ended up on the other side of them, untouched and clean.

"Get your pretty little ass back here, wife! I'm not finished admonishing you. You are insufficiently admonished!"

"So you're saying you think I'm pretty?" was her only reply before she turned and swayed away, a smug little smile on her face.

"Gods dammit is this how you feel whenever I do something stupid? Ugh!"

I heard her chuckle as she rounded the corner. For once, I had to run to keep up. The worst part was that yes, I did think she was pretty just then. Very pretty.

Gods dammit.

* * *

In my haste I had forgotten to call Caliban to me, so I did so, apologetically. She expressed some discomfort to me, in the manner of someone trapped in a small space with quarreling lovers. I blamed Raisa but she reminded me that Raisa had heroically rescued her and made my arrival a possibility.

Women always stuck together.

Raisa was waiting for me, up ahead in a small room that was used by the servants as a place of worship. I entered and shut the door behind me, the candles within casting strange shadows behind the many idols and symbols set up on small altars around the octagonal room. She looked at me, arms crossed, but calm.

"Are you done?" she asked, her eyes narrow.

"Yes. For now."

"Good," she said, staring at my bandaged face with real compassion, "now what happened to you?"

"I had to stop some Seyla from getting at Gwyn and Merwyd. The latter got a little banged up but Gwyn is fine. In the process I appear to have lost the sight of my left eye. Might end up getting the vision back or I suppose I could end up losing it if it dies completely. The priests weren't sure and I didn't have time to recuperate properly."

Raisa looked so sad when she embraced me, but I oddly didn't feel too bad about the loss. I probably just had too much on my mind to care about at the time. Later I would be annoyed at my reduced vision but it would never truly grieve me.

"I'm sorry, Finn, that's awful. I should have...I don't know, maybe if I had stayed..."

I sighed.

"If you had stayed we'd be in a worse position than we are now. Much worse. The fight is going on now, and hopefully Adewyn is doing well. Unless I miss my mark she's going to be feinting or even trying some assaults on the castle walls today. As it stands all we really lost in the attack was an eye. You're alive, as are the rest of my family. I can be bitter about this later I suppose, but for now, I can still fight, and I've got you if I need more eyes, Raisa. Oh, and I brought you this."

I handed her one of the little flasks full of potion that she used to stave off fatigue. She drank it down, eagerly, then she stepped back and smiled. How did she look so good right now? She was worn out, sweaty, and bleeding a little, but also amazingly sexy. Her fiery red hair was stuck to her forehead, her green eyes bright. The flush on her cheeks made her look even more alive and appealing and her lips seemed even more full. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. The way her tight leather pants held her ass didn't hurt, and gods if her breasts hadn't started to get bigger. Her swelling belly was barely visible through her shirt, and that both aroused and worried me even more.

I leaned in and kissed her, really kissed her, like I was going to fuck her. I almost did, but she pushed me off of her, laughing.

"Finn, calm yourself! We're supposed to be taking the bloody castle!"

She was smiling though, and had her hands on my chest. I understood. I was holding her waist and I didn't want to stop touching her either, or put her in danger, but this fight would require both of us. I took a deep breath and re-focused.

"All right. We both know I'd love nothing more than to have you wait somewhere safe but there isn't anywhere like that and, to be honest, I won't be able to do this without you. Just...please be careful. Please. I couldn't stand it if you died. It would make any victory taste like ash."

"Finn..." she said, looking at me with genuine adoration, "All right. What do you need me to do?"

"I have to fight Bayrd myself, alone. Not just because I want to kill him personally. I'd be happy if you did that. I just have a strong feeling that he's found a way to gain true magical ability on par with mine, through his new friends. I think he's doing most of the summoning himself. I have a hard time seeing him trusting any mage enough to call up things like that. And I have to believe he has protections against Seyla assassins, given what kind of man he is."

"I agree."

"Good. So while I'm doing that, I need you to keep the rest of the castle off of me. If it gets hairy enough I won't even be able to call up enough attention or magic to protect against arrows. If you can open a gate, or even just convince the garrison that they need to defend somewhere else, then that would be ideal. If it comes to it, and I die or am captured, I want you to flee. Get everyone to safety if you can, if you can't, grab Artan and Gwyn and run by yourself. You have the best chance to escape and protect them."

"Finn...don't...gods don't say that. And I couldn't abandon my sisters or your mother...or even Bartles."

"You can if you have to. You're strong and smart enough to have reached these decisions on your own. I just want you to know that its what I'd want. Also..."

"That isn't enough grim talk?"

I sighed.

"No, Raisa, it isn't. I did some talking with Octavius recently, over some beer after I taught him warding. It turns out he served at the Temple of the Law before he became a healer. I wrote up a new succession, in case I pass away. It puts Adewyn as High Queen, then you, then Merwyd. The order isn't based on ability, or love, because I think you could all do it, but on who is most likely to be accepted by the army and people. This isn't a regency, but a full succession. If I survive we can restore the original and make Artan heir or we can try to change the way things are done. I just needed you to know, in case."

She was stunned. At first I was worried that she was offended that I'd made Adewyn the first heir. It hadn't been an easy decision. But, it turned out, she was just moved. She hugged me.