A/N: ^^ Hi again! Here's the fourth chapter to this story. Enjoy! All reviews are welcome, even flames, because they tell me what I'm doing wrong. And I just remembered that I have not placed any disclaimers in this story. So I'd like to say that the characters do not belong to me. They belong to the wonderful author, Garth Nix. Crow's reincarnation is not even MY idea. 'Twas Eriko Myoujin's brilliant mastermind. And I'll shut up now.
Chapter 4- Clarifications of Insanity
Being in the Castle had its benefits and drawbacks. For one, I would not have to leave my chamber encumbered by Selski fur, and the ground would at least be stable- not rocking and scraping from icy ground. Talks with Shield Mothers did not occur every day either, for they were exploring the ways of the Castlefolk.
The drawbacks were more multiple than the profits. There were the numerous amounts of people meandering through the Castle, whispering about my deeds. Then there was the part of being confined in this place. Despite the Ruin Ship's travel through the Ice, the place was home to me. I was able to leave the ship and look upon the world around me. Here, I was trapped in the walls of the Castle, incapable of leaving.
A strange sight I had seen while I was here was what the Chosen called a funeral. People had been mourning at a lifeless body inside a box they termed a "casket." Sadness was discernible as I stepped in the room. I pitied the people the man had left behind, but I did not understand why they encased him in a tomb and did not let him see the Ice.
But the oddest sight I witnessed was Malen walking blindly through the halls as if she could sense her current location, or her destination. "Crone Malen?" I called, running to her. She looked weary, as if some burden was upon her.
She clapped her fists automatically. "Good day, War-Chief."
"The day does not seem too pleasant for you, though, Malen." I glanced at her. Her azure eyes were empty.
"It is nothing."
"Malen, what is bothering you?"
Finally, she lowered her head and sighed. "Can we speak in private? This talk should not be heard in public."
Once we were in an empty chamber and locked it, I asked her again. "What happened?"
Malen took a deep breath, then began. "I spoke to Crow last night."
"And?"
"He was still fatigued. I glimpsed a deep wound on his head, worse than the cut Tal gave him five circlings ago. He would not speak of it, but promised to explain to me later." Her face showed that his answer had not been to her liking. I looked thoughtful.
"Did you heal the wound?" I asked.
"Yes, but what chilled my heart was the wound."
"Why?"
"It had not been there before I visited."
"What?" I hissed.
"The wound," she repeated. "I nursed him back to health before our meeting. The gash looked deadly, and I am positive I left that room earlier with him bloodless on the outside."
I closed my eyes. "We should talk to him now."
Again, Malen avoided my eyes. "I fear what lies inside him, Milla," she whispered. "The shadow breeds within."
I opened my mouth to speak and was interrupted by sniffling. "Malen?"
This time she glanced up. "What?"
Her eyes were dry. "What is that noise?" I stood and followed the noise. In the corner, I found a small figure. "Ferek!" I cried, kneeling to him. "Why do you weep?"
Malen stood also and went to him. "What's wrong, Ferek?" she asked soothingly. She hugged him comfortingly and wiped the tears trickling from his cheek. He stared at her, eyes teary.
"Is Crow okay?" asked the boy. His lip was trembling, and Malen rocked him in her arms.
"Crow is ill at the moment, Ferek," answered Malen. "We think his problem is worse, though."
He nodded and rubbed his eyes with his sleeve. Then a thought occurred to me. "How long were you listening, Ferek?" I asked.
"The whole time," he replied honestly, a small, innocent smile on his face.
"Umm, why, may I ask?"
He gazed at the Crone and me disbelievingly and blinked. "This is my room."
I need to choose my meeting places more carefully.
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Malen sent Ferek to find Tal, and to order him to head immediately to the infirmary. Ferek sped off, and the young Crone watched him with a smile. "You are really fond of him, aren't you, Malen?" I asked.
She continued to smile wistfully. "He comforts me sometimes," she said. "Almost like the little brother I never had."
I did not answer, but thought on her words. I had never really known my family, and grew up learning from the Shield Mothers and the Crone of the Far-Raiders. Yet, Malen must have lived a life of solitude as well, for her mother was a Shield Mother, and would have been gone on errands from the Crones. The Castle must have shown Malen the intimacy of the families living here.
Walking to the infirmary took longer than Malen and I had thought. We seemed to have taken several wrong turns as we ambled through the corridors with our heads in the clouds. Regardless of her long period here, Malen was apparently notorious among the Castlefolk for getting lost. As I was one of the main guests of the Castle, we found no difficulty in finding ecstatic people to assist us to the room.
By the time we arrived at the infirmary, Tal, Ebbitt, and the rest of the Freefolk were already comfortable in their seats. Malen and I strode in with straight faces, struggling not to burst out laughing on our belated entrance, and the expressions from everyone as they saw us.
Crow, Tal, Ebbitt, and Ferek were staring at us with a mix of confusion and wonder; Gill was attempting not to explode from laughter, and Clovil merely sighing. Inkie still looked nonpluss.
"Did you get lost again, Malen?" Clovil asked, glancing at her shrewdly.
Shifty look from Malen. Then she gave a wide innocent look and an exaggerated smile. "Maybe."
At this, Gill and I lost it. We started laughing insanely, with no particular idea why. Neither, it seemed, did the boys. Tal and Crow looked at us as if we were out of our minds. Ebbitt was grinning and had the look that stated, "Alas! Friends!" Ferek scratched his head, and Clovil raised an eyebrow. I saw a hint of a smile in Inkie.
The door opened and Bennem entered with a lunch cart. He halted as he saw Gill, Malen, and me dying with mirth on the bed next to Crow's. "Uhh, what just happened?" he asked.
"These girls have officially gone mad," mouthed Clovil to Bennem.
Bennem looked to Ebbitt for confirmation. Ebbitt shrugged. That pretty much settled it for Bennem. If Ebbitt of all people thought we were nuts, then it was serious.
Meanwhile, Crow watched behind them as they laughed. 'Foolish mortals,' he thought. 'Be careful when you turn your back on me.' He smirked, and resumed a believable, blank look.
I however, noticed the evil glint in his eye as he drew his dagger surreptitiously.
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A/N: I love cliff-hangers. Sorry to leave the story like that, but I wanted to leave a little suspense for once. I will update once I type up my fifth chapter. Technically, I don't really know how long this story will grow on to be, so stay tuned if you feel like it. Once again, please review! Thanks to all of those that did:
Eriko Myoujin/ Word of a Sayre: I did at least one thing you requested of me to do- the Ferek and Malen moment. Crow and Malen will have more conversations soon, but as for Tal and Milla: O.O; Meep. We'll see.
Scott: Whoops…guess I made a mistake there, huh? Thanks for pointing it out! And Scott- do you REALLY think that I would leave you out of this?
Danica Kai: *chokes from hug* Thanks, Dani. You should read the Seventh Tower series- they're awesome. Whenever you feel like it, I'll let you borrow my books. And don't give me the notebook- I'll ruin the whole story.
LMB: Why thank you ^.^; For all the reviewer's sake's, I updated. Hope you like the new chapters as well.
elvesmagic010: Glad you liked it! I hope you continue to read the other chapters as well. Your review made me actually type up the chapter three.
noc: Wow- your review spontaneously appeared on my email, and then my mind started poking me to review. Thanks noc- you told me to make this chapter. Inspiration did come from the least expected- like your review.