Golden Rook Ch. 25-32

"She said he was hurt..." The child peered at him with oddly piercing, pale eyes for a human, "Is he going to die?"

"No." Odos had remounted his horse and come close to the side, "Lady Rook won't allow it. She'd scold him if he tried."

He dropped his head back with a smile, "I wouldn't dare upset her by trying."

*Thirty*

Cyran suspected that Odos had used some sort of magic to put Kwes to sleep. The half-elf didn't stir as the older man spoke with the child.

"Little one, why are you out alone on the road? Your poor mother must be worried."

"No, I..." Edun glanced at Odos and gave him a small shy smile, "Lady Rook said you might understand. My father was the only one who didn't think I was odd. I knew when he and my brother died, like a-a wind blew through the house. Mum is worried about what we'll eat and why it's taking them so long to come home but she was angry when I told her that they..."

"That they weren't coming back." Odos studied the child with a sad expression. "She sent you to fetch them."

"Yes. She said if I was going to curse them that way I could fetch them home or not come back."

"Rook went ahead to his mother, didn't she?" Grimgrip snapped the reins across the horse's back and brought it to a trot. "Hammersworn had firm ideas about how children should be treated."

"She was ten when her mother sent her away and many bad things happened because she was a helpless child alone in the world." Odos looked ahead as grimly as the Rook had before she left them. "Is your mother still alive?"

"Yes." Edun tilted his head slightly, "Lady Rook said she would meet us but I didn't tell her where I live. My father always said not to. That made her smile and she said her uncle would know. He must live along the road."

The dwarf rubbed his face.

A question started to burn at the back of his mind and Cyran asked with a frown, "Can she speak to the dead?"

"It would require Uncle to allow her to, or for Vezar to do it for her. Never underestimate her ability to find out what she wants to know."

"I liked her." Edun was smiling faintly again, "There was something sad in her eyes but she tried to make me laugh and told me I didn't need to be afraid of anything, her family would look after me."

"We will." Odos reached out to ruffle the boy's hair. "She tried to make you laugh?"

"Her ears are pointed."

Grimgrip snorted.

"I haven't seen that before and I asked her if she's an elf. She looked around like she was looking for who I was talking to and asked why I would think that, and I told her, her ears. She-" He clapped his hands over them and felt them while acting surprised as Odos started to laugh.

The dwarf turned to see and grinned.

"She's half elf and all mischief. But mischief and mayhem aren't as different as people think."

"Oh." The boy smiled a little wider. "She made me think of a bird even before she said to call her Rook. My father liked birds, but he said rooks do as much harm as good and you have to be careful of them."

"That sounds like Lady Rook." Grimgrip agreed, turning again to smile at the boy.

"They're friendly birds if you're kind to them, if you're not they have long memories." Odos smiled warmly.

"How far did you get from your home, Edun Rookfriend?" Grimgrip let the horses slow.

The boy's eyes widened and he studied the dwarf from behind, "Edun Rocan. I don't know, it felt like I was walking for a long time."

"I don't think we're far." Odos looked into the distance.

Cyran put on the circlet, the daylight was blindingly bright but there was a faint blue path. "There is a path. Should I ride ahead?"

"No, if you leave us behind your cousin will scold you for leaving us defenseless." Odos' lips twisted wryly as Cyran took the circlet off.

"I'll be more wary." The dwarf glanced back with a sour expression, "I'd feel better if someone went ahead to protect the boy's mother."

"Why?" Edun's brow furrowed. "Lady Rook was kind."

"My little rook can be as vicious as she is kind, Edun. It depends on who is in front of her. Master Grimgrip is afraid that because your mother sent you out into the world, much like Lady Rook's mother did, that she might be very angry with your mother."

"Oh. And her father?"

"She's angry with him too, little one."

The sad smile on the god's face made Cyran start to consider encouraging his cousin to be more forgiving, and to start with her father. It might also benefit his own.

*Thirty-one*

Syreilla held the doorway open and the woman in front of her trembled. "I hate repeating myself. So I'll start by making certain you understand who I am. I am Hevtos' Golden Rook. I have taken lich and the lingering dead home to my uncle for some time and I've tried to build a reputation as someone you don't want to cross.

"There are some who have been blessed by various gods or who have been born with gifts that bring them into the Temples and see them raised to the highest ranks of priests. Edun, that sweet little boy, is one who was born with a gift, one that would see some harm him or mistreat him. Long ago you would have been proud of him and taken him to one of Hevtos' temples to learn how to best use his gifts.

"The doorway I can open is a solid wall to the living but to him, it's more of a sheer curtain." She let the door close and the woman stared at her. "He didn't curse his father and brother. They passed through the door and one of them tried to touch him in passing. Distance is nothing from the threshold. Do you understand?"

The woman sank into a seat. "Wh-why are you here?"

"Your son is being brought back to you. He needs your love and a safe home. There may come a time when Hevtos has priests again but it hasn't happened yet. Edun needs to be-"

"He can't come back here-"

"So you don't understand." Syr put on her widest, toothiest imitation of Vezar's smile and watched the woman shudder. "He comes back to a loving mother and a safe home or he comes back to ash and rubble. I will burn this house with you inside it and drag you screaming through the door."

The woman's mouth dropped open and all color drained from her.

"Distance is nothing. I can walk out of your house and return in an instant. If this child crosses the threshold before you I will be back to make your passing the most agonizing hours that any creature has ever experienced in the world of the living. I will drip dragon's fire like candle wax onto you, I will turn your bones to stone and boil your blood. And then you'll deal with me on the other side of the door. Forever."

Stretching her arms over her head she let her face take on the seriousness and anger she felt. "That boy loves you. You will be a mother to him or you will burn with agony like a hearth fire. That is the choice I give you."

The woman fainted.

My Golden Rook. Hevtos faint voice prompted her to open the door and step through.

"Uncle, before you scold me-"

He held up his hand with a faint smile. "No one can be threatened into loving someone else. Her husband says she loves their son but she is a cold-natured woman. I will allow him to speak with her while she is... sleeping.

"I have something for you to give the child." He held up something the size of a coin and she took it, looking it over.

It was black with a coiled dragon in relief and edged with gold on one side, and on the other, a golden rook's head etched in profile.

"It's beautiful, Uncle."

"It will allow him to reach out to you, or to Vezar, should he need protection."

She felt like she could breathe a little easier, "Good, I was worried for him. I may still look in on him if you'll let me."

"That is how the fledglings were found, my Golden Rook. Your father looked in on them too often. The more you seek him out the less safe he will be."

Syr exhaled and felt her shoulders slumping. "And if someone takes this away from him..."

Hevtos was smiling as he tilted her face up, "Teach him my name, I will listen for him. If he summons you, you may go directly to him. Teach him of Vezar as well."

"I will, Uncle. Thank you."

Stepping back into the house, she waited impatiently for the woman to wake, choosing to make herself some tea and fry a thick slice of bread in a pan with butter, melting some cheese over it. She was carrying it back to the table to sit when the front door flew open and Grimgrip stalked in with a scowl.

"Where is she, Rook?"

"At the table. She fainted."

The dwarf hurried past.

"What did you do, Lady Rook?" Cyran was frowning at her.

"I gave her a choice. She hasn't decided yet, but I expect her to make the correct one." Syreilla arched an eyebrow at him.

Edun came in with Odos and eyed the food in her hand, as hungry as she was she offered it to the boy. "I have a gift for you-"

The boy's head tilted and his eyes unfocused, "You need to apologize to my mother."

Syr took a sip of the hot tea and made a sour face. "I don't want to."

He blinked and then gave her a stern look, "Lady Rook..."

Meeting his pale gaze for a long moment she finally sighed and inclined her head, "If I have to, but I'm not happy with her."

The boy's face softened, "You don't know her, she isn't like your mother."

She pulled the bread back and looked at it carefully as she tried to find her voice.

Odos came to rest a hand on her shoulder, "I'll speak to her first. You can have a talk with Edun." He took the cup of tea out of her hand and went into the other room.

The boy came closer, taking hold of her free hand and leading her out. Next to the wagon they stopped and she offered him the bread again, he took it with a shy smile and broke it in half putting part of it back on the plate.

"I was very upset with her for sending you out like that. I think Master Odos told you a little about..."

"Your mother sent you out of the house that way when you were ten and bad things happened to you."

"Yes." Taking a bite she peered over the side of the cart. Magpie was sound asleep where she'd left him. "Did they just leave my little brother here by himself?"

Edun laughed and took a bite of bread, settling on the ground by the wheel. "Master Dwarf said that anyone who woke him would be facing an angry Rook and that it was safe enough."

"I suppose that's true." She settled on the ground next to him. "I protect those I love, sometimes a little too fiercely. But if people are afraid of me, it keeps my loved ones safer."

"I don't understand why they're afraid of you." He smiled and peered at her with eyes that felt like they could see a little too clearly.

"You don't because you don't need to be." Balancing her plate and bread on her knee and wiping her hands on her shirt, Syr pulled out the coin. "I have this for you. My Uncle Hevtos gave it to me to give to you. He's the god of death. My uncle takes care of everyone who goes to him," She let the boy take the coin from her hand. "He judges and gives reward or punishment as it's been earned. Uncle Hevtos is fair and often kind. If you speak to him, he'll listen."

Smiling as he put his bread on the plate next to hers and turned the coin over in his hands, marveling at it, she started to explain, "He'll listen if you have the coin or not. That's so that you can call me to you easily. Or Vezar. You need my name and his."

"I can-I can call you to me?"

"Yes. The rook, Hevtos' Golden Rook, is me." She pointed to the image of the bird, "Syreilla the Rook."

"Syreilla the Rook." He ran his fingers over the image.

The vibration around her as her name was spoken felt like being inside a bell for a moment.

"Yes. And on the other side is a dragon, Vezar Edra, the Undying. He'll come when you call as well."

Edun caressed the image of a dragon, "Vezar Edra, the Undying."

The door opened and Vezar looked startled as he stepped through, "I was summoned?"

"He's learning how to use it. Edun, this is Vezar, Vezar, Edun."

"The Divinity says I may not linger..." He gave her a longing look and she smiled at him, gently caressing the threads that bound them with a thought.

"Go, ask him when you can visit me for longer, I miss you."

The half-dragon broke into a wide smile and stepped back through the doorway.

"He loves you." Edun looked at her with surprise.

"And I love him, but I start to lose my mind if I can't stretch my wings." She gave the boy an impish smile and he smiled shyly back.

"And your Uncle Hevtos will..." His eyes unfocused slightly and awe dawned across his features as he sat straighter.

Syr picked up her piece of bread and began to eat it. After a few long moments, just as she was finishing her half, he came back to himself and turned an amazed look on her.

"Syreilla the Rook."

"Yes." She offered the bread back and he beamed, taking it.

"He says you're a goddess of righteous vengeance and a protector of gentle souls."

Bowing her head, she exhaled. "I do what I can." She hadn't wanted to become a goddess but it didn't seem like she could remain just the Golden Rook if even her uncle was calling her one.

He began to eat and she heard something shift in the cart. "Are you awake, little brother?"

There was a pause. "I am."

"How much did you hear?" She grinned and gave Edun a slow playful blink.

"Ahh, Syreilla the Rook? Goddess of righteous vengeance and protector of gentle souls?"

"You're a terrible liar."

The boy looked like he was trying not to laugh with a mouthful of bread.

"I'm a fantastic liar, ask Master Odos."

Laughing, she shook her head. "Perhaps Master Odos can make something like Edun's gift for you. I would come if you called for me, Magpie."

As if summoned, Odos walked into view with a mischievous look on his face.

"I thought you were Hevtos' Golden Rook." Edun looked at her curiously.

"I am, but I have a soft spot in my heart for Master Odos, though I occasionally wish I didn't."

"Lady Rook is my daughter, Edun. I haven't been the best father but she's a good daughter."

"She's the goddess of righteous vengeance and the protector of gentle souls." Edun came to his feet. "How can you be her father?"

"That would take a great deal of explaining, little one." Odos' hazy grey eyes brightened as he looked her over, "Distinguished choices, my little rook."

"I've always liked a challenge." She got to her feet with a rueful smile as Edun's mother approached cautiously, "Edun says I have to apologize to you."

"You," the woman licked her lips and took a breath, "You think I deserve...?"

"Do you have any idea what can happen to a child alone? A child abandoned? I do. My uncle chided me, very gently, because he understood why I was so angry."

She took a breath and Edun looked up at her as if he were waiting and made an impatient gesture with his hand.

"I'll get there!"

The woman made a small sound that might have been a smothered laugh.

"Edun says you're not like my mother, and maybe you don't entirely deserve everything I offered to do, so..." Syr folded her arms and tried not to look sullen, "Sorry."

"That's not a very good apology, Lady Rook." Edun frowned at her.

"I'm not very good at apologizing, I'm much better at setting the people who upset me on fire."

The boy folded his arms and turned to face her, "You're not going to set my mother on fire."

Sighing, Syreilla looked up at the sky for a long moment, whether it was having a godhood pressed on her or something else she was suddenly feeling as if she'd been behaving childishly and it annoyed her. She finally looked back down and kicked at the dirt, a little more childishness on top of the rest felt appropriate. "Fine, I won't set your mother on fire. But only because I like you."

*Thirty-two*

Kwes managed to sit up somewhat to look incredulously at Syreilla as Odos broke into laughter.

"If you can make Lady Rook promise to spare people her dragon's fire, Edun, you've just become a very important person in the world!" The old man was grinning and the woman with him looked relieved.

"Edun..." She held out her hand and the boy went to her.

It looked as if they were speaking quietly as they walked slowly back to the house. Odos, however, was loud, "Help me get your brother down, a little bit of walking might do him some good. Mylena will let us stay the night as long as you stay outside, Rook."

"I can do that. The horses that belonged to his father and brother stay here as does all of the money and food we took-"

"All of it?!" Kwes steadied himself on Odos as his feet hit the ground and he wished he were well enough to scramble out of the way of his sister's icy glare.

"All of it. You'll have an easier time getting more than they will, my little magpie." Odos smiled faintly. "Though your sister may look in on them."

"I'm not allowed," Syreilla's pained murmur seemed to take the older man by surprise. She gave a jerk of her chin toward Kwes and offered him her arm, "Uncle said that's how your fledglings were found. He may have been put in danger already."

"I have an idea to help with that. I'll need your brother to help me spin a tale of you trying to convince Uncle to let us travel across the doorstep and failing."

"And me calling for Vezar to see if he could argue on my behalf?" She smiled ruefully. "Someone will need to tell Edun not to argue about it."

"I'll send him out to talk to you, he can bring your dinner out." Odos gave her a peculiar smile, "Do you think you can pretend to be out of sorts for the rest of the journey?"

"What do you mean 'pretend', old man?" She gave him a sour look but Kwes saw a small spark of mischief in her eyes.

"Try to do better than that, Syreilla." He couldn't keep the grin from his face as her mouth dropped open.

"Your Magpie is trying to provoke me, old man. Did I ever tell you about Galot?"

"No, but I thought it was odd that he was suddenly a very quiet, polite man after you agreed to discuss a job privately with him."

"I don't think he ever looked in my direction after that. He never walked quite right again either." Syreilla narrowed her eyes as she gave him a tight smile, "Don't try to provoke me. The only thing you'll gain from succeeding is a limp and nightmares. The only reason you won't get worse is that you're my brother."

"Why don't you start sorting things, I'll send Grimgrip to help you."

Syreilla squeezed Kwes' arm before she turned back.

As they made their way to the house, he couldn't help but ask the old man, "She was bluffing, wasn't she? She wouldn't actually..."

"With my rooks, it's hard to tell." Odos smiled faintly, "It's best not to provoke her."

Inside the small house, Kwes took a seat in a relatively comfortable chair by the hearth and nodded at Cyran as the man came in with an armload of wood. Odos went to find Mylena.

"How are you feeling?" The priest frowned slightly at the way he was holding his belly.

"I'll be fine, I think." Putting on a wan smile he decided to start their lies a little early. "Syreilla was worried too. Despite what Master Odos said she tried to arrange for us to shorten our journey. I briefly met her friend Vezar. I expected something more... impressive somehow."

"She summoned him?" Cyran's eyes widened, "How?"

"He comes when she calls." Odos came into the room with Edun, "Ask Master Grimgrip to help you and Lady Rook with the sorting." The boy left and the old man smiled faintly, "She goes if he calls for her as well, she said. She's on Uncle's bad side but she doesn't want harm to come to Vezar."

"I would refuse to cross into his realm, I..." Cyran shook his head, "He may not be what I have thought him to be but..."

"Unless you're a little mad like my rooks, or have no concept of mortality, the thought of going through that doorway strikes fear into your heart. It's why she held the door open and let Mylena stare through it as she threatened to set her alight and kick her inside. Part of her scolding for that from Uncle was a refusal to allow us to pass. He wasn't inclined in the first place but she's treated the door and the threshold like her own personal shortcut before.