* * *
“Three Magebreakers, twenty archers that I could count, and about two hundred swordsmen. At least ten of them were full Elder Blood.
This won’t be an easy fight,” Vaze informed them all from his seat at the table.
Jala nodded slowly, her gaze moving over the map of Valemuir in front of her. Glancing up, she caught Neph’s eye and motioned toward the map. “This map is confusing,” she informed him as she slid it toward him.
Neph grinned and nodded at her. “That’s because most of the city is actually inside the mountain. It’s confusing because it is built on levels,” he informed her as he pointed to the largest open area on the map. “This is the area above ground. The main wall is here, as well as a few buildings that are used for curing meat or brewing. The snow cats have dens there as well, but I doubt the Rivasans have left any alive.” His finger slid across the map to the first level of the city. “The main housing is here as well as the barracks. The entrance to House Delvay is along the Northern wall. Some of the other houses have multiple layers as well, but House Delvay is the only building in Valemuir that extends all six levels below ground.”
“So, in order to take the city we have to gain control of the courtyard area somehow and move through layer after layer of several different houses,” Valor said with a frown.
“If the Delvay had wards against Shadow magic that would be the only approach. I only found one part of the city that was protected from my magic, however, and it was only a single room in House Delvay,” Vaze said with a smile. “So my idea is to start on the lowest level of House Delvay and work our way upward. With that approach, we should keep the element of surprise on our side for quite a while. With luck we might even manage to take a few of the Pure bloods out of the picture before the real fighting erupts.”
Jala nodded thoughtfully, her eyes once again on the map. “Aside from House Delvay, which houses on this map extend the deepest into the ground, Neph?”
“The storage rooms go four layers. The ones on the east wall are food and the ones along the north wall are weapons and crafting materials,” Neph replied, moving his hand from area to area as he spoke. “Other than that, House Zengael is the largest building. It goes four floors as well, but doesn’t cover as much space as the storage areas or House Delvay.”
“Do you want to take more with us, Jala?” Valor asked with a raised eyebrow.
Jala seemed to consider the question as she looked from Vaze to Zoelyn and then to Neph. “Ten Elder Blood could be a problem,” she murmured and leaned back in her chair. “I don’t want to take Sovann or Wisp. I might have, had Wisp not told me this morning she was pregnant, so that kind of puts a stop to that. I don’t want to endanger their child,” she exhaled deeply and drummed her fingers on the table, then looked over to Vaze. “Do you know where Sovaesh is?” she asked thoughtfully.
“The last I heard from him, he was in Rivana trying to track down another Changeling,” Vaze replied with a shrug. “All right, then. That only leaves one option,” Jala sighed and smiled at Valor.
“Who?” Valor asked in obvious confusion.
“Dresharn and Jail are needed in Sanctuary and Nigel and the Three Sisters are guarding Glis’s borders. Wisp and Sovann are out of the question and Shade is negotiating with the Blights. Sovaesh is busy, so I really have limited choices when it comes to Elder Bloods that can help us. I’m going to summon Vosha and we will take Dray with us as well. That gives us seven pure blood and two Bendazzi on our s ide. So, nine to their ten. I think we can pull it off,” Jala explained with a shrug of her slender shoulders.
“Vosha is only a boy and Dray has no experience with fighting. Zoelyn is going as a healer and you neglected to count the twenty archers and two hundred swordsmen in your calculations of even,” Neph pointed out with a smirk. He shook his head at her with amusement and couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride that she had so much faith in her people.
“Vosha may be young, but he is a young dragon and he was raised by Dresharn and the Three Sisters. I have no doubt he knows how to fight,” Valor pointed out with a smile and nodded to Jala. “Might I suggest we take Foster as well. He is Elder Blood as well, and his Earth crafting could come in handy underground.”
“That works,” Jala agreed with a smile and winked at Neph. “I didn’t count the others because I know we can handle them without too much trouble. It’s the ones that have strong magic that worry me.”
“So I will have Vosha summoned here and find Foster,” Valor rose from the table as he spoke and smiled at Jala. “Should be an interesting day,” he said with a smirk as he headed for the door.
“Interesting, frustrating, and depressing all rolled into one, I’m sure,” Jala murmured as her gaze found Neph. He could see the sadness in her eyes once more and he smiled faintly in return.
“I know,” Neph muttered before she could say a word. “I’ll have Delvay back soon and I’ll lose you all in the process,” he added glumly. His attention moved to Zoelyn who had been watching them in silence. She had a look of apprehension about her, but not fear. That was to be expected, though. She had seen the aftermath of battle in Arovan and that had been horrible. This would be her first time actually seeing honest fighting, though, and he knew how she felt about violence. “Are you sure you want to go, Zoey?” he asked quietly in a voice that was far kinder than he typically used with anyone save Jala.
Zoelyn looked up at him silently and nodded her head slowly. Her dark eyes were still filled with concern, but he could see determination there as well. “I won’t fight, but I will heal if needed,” she replied softly.
“No one expects you to fight, Zoey. Just stay in the back, behind the rest of us, and you will be fine,” Jala assured her with a smile. With a heavy sigh, she looked to Neph and rose from the table. “Let’s kick these pigs out of your home, Lord Delvay,” she said with false cheer as she nodded for them to rise.
“You do realize I will be the one in front, right, Jala?” Vaze asked as he rose.
“We shall see. Valor usually likes to be up front with his bright shiny bull’s eye armor on, and you know I can’t let him be the only target. I love him too much for that,” Jala grinned and winked at him as she headed for the door.
Neph shook his head again and let out a long sigh. “I wish just once you would remember how dainty you are Jala,” he grumbled as he followed her from the room.
“Tell that to the dead dragons in Seravae, Neph. I don’t think they considered me dainty at all,” Jala replied with more arrogance lacing her words.
* * *
Neph leaned back against the wall and watched in silence as Vosha tried his best to impress Zoelyn. The boy was wearing chain and leather armor that had obviously never seen combat, but that didn’t seem to dampen his attempt to appear as a seasoned warrior to her. He had spent the last ten minutes of preparations informing her how he had learned from the Three Sisters, and then tryied to dazzle her with stories about the campaign in Avanti. Shaking his head, Neph looked away and wondered exactly how long it would be before the poor brat realized Zoelyn was anything but impressed.
“Someone really should have warned him that she is a pacifist,” Valor muttered and Neph smiled in response.
“Or that she can kill him with a touch when he annoys her enough?” Neph offered quietly.
“Not to mention the Blight that is no doubt beside her planning on how best to get rid of his competition,” Valor added with a snort of amusement, then fell silent as Jala and Vaze entered the room.
Jala smiled at them and glanced back at Vaze before clearing her throat. The room fell silent at once with all eyes on her. Her eyes lingered on Neph for a moment and he smiled in response. “All preparations have been made and everyone has been briefed on this mission. This may look difficult at a glance, but I have faith that we can accomplish this,” Jala began in a clear voice. Gently she lifted her amulet and kissed both sides paying homage to War as well as Death with her action.
“Victory for us in battle and death to our enemies,” she intoned quietly and looked to Vaze. “Ready when you are.”
Vaze nodded sharply and moved to her side. “I will be taking us in near the bottom of the city. I will also be in front when we move. I know how to scout, the rest of you don’t,” he paused and looked at Jala with narrowed eyes. “If you try to move past me I will stab you in the ass,” he warned in a lower voice then smiled at her and winked.
“Feel free to attempt to stab my ass. I’m confident in my armor,” Valor replied with a smirk.
Turning slowly, Vaze regarded the knight dryly for a moment before motioning everyone forward. By his expression, it looked as though Vaze wouldn’t mind making the attempt regardless of armor. “Closer to me, so the shadows can reach you all,” he ordered.
Neph waited for a breath and watched as Zoelyn moved without hesitation to stand at Jala’s side. He still couldn’t believe the girl was truly going with them. She hated violence and yet she looked eager to go to battle. With a slight shake of his head, Neph moved to join the rest of them and watched in silence as the shadows thickened around them.
Mixed feelings rose in his chest as he considered the outcome of the day. He had no doubt that they would win the fight and recapture his city, and part of him was elated with the thought. The other part wanted to run screaming back upstairs and lock himself in his room, refusing to move. Once today was over, he was High Lord Delvayon rather than simply Neph, and he wasn’t at all sure he was ready to face that.
Vertigo washed over him and he pushed his doubts away as Merro faded to darkness. The stones of Delvay loomed around them as the shadows parted and he stared in silence at his childhood home. It had been so many years since he had stood in these halls. He felt eyes on him and glanced to his side to find Jala watching him with a knowing look in her eyes. She smiled faintly and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
“Temporary,” Jala whispered as Vaze stalked toward the stairway door. “Temporary,” Neph agreed softly with a nod.
“For Delvay,” Valor said with a smirk and moved forward with Foster to stand behind Vaze. Both knights drew their swords as they waited patiently for Vaze to signal the advance.
Vaze glanced back at them with a scowl as they approached and pointedly looked toward their metal shod boots. His eyes narrowed and he shook his head slowly in disgust as he motioned for them to hold back. As silent as the shadows he summoned, Vaze pulled the door open and slipped up the darkened stairwell to scout.
Several minutes of silence passed before a concussive boom echoed from the floors above. Neph’s eyes snapped upward as dust floated down from the stone ceiling. Whatever had just detonated had been massive and he wasn’t sure if it was a spell or mundane explosives.
“Move!” Valor bellowed as he sprinted up the stairs. Foster followed without hesitation, taking the steps two at a time in an attempt to reach Vaze and support him.
Jala watched them both with a worried expression before glancing at Neph. “They never should have spotted Vaze,” she said with concern lacing her words before she moved quickly to the staircase.
“You think they were expecting us, then?” Neph asked as he fell into step beside her. “I don’t see how they could have known,” Jala replied with a quick shake of her head.
Another explosion shook the building and Jala’s pace quickened to a run in response. Neph could see the fear on her face and knew it was for her companions and not for herself. He had never seen Jala fear for her own life as much as she did for others.
The door ahead of them still swung loose on its hinges from where Valor had passed through and Neph could see fire filling the room beyond. The ring of sword blades echoed back to them with a frequency that spoke of brutal combat.
“Jala leave! Do not come in here!” Valor’s voice rose frantically through the sound of combat.
Glancing over at her, Neph grinned and shook his head. “It’s always good to ignore Valor.” The others had gathered behind them nervously and were watching him and Valor for any sign of what they should do. “Vosha, you are a dragon, but are you the fire breathing variety of dragon?” Neph asked as he pulled up his strongest shields.
Vosha shifted and shook his head quickly. “No, actually I haven’t exactly mastered my draconic breath yet,” His reply was hesitant and it was obvious the boy didn’t want to admit his failings in front of Zoelyn.
“Impress Zoey later, Vosha. Once we are out of here,” Jala snapped. Her own shields were in place now and he could see her readying her first spells. Neph knew she wouldn’t listen to Valor. How could she, after all. Jala was simply not the sort of person that could walk away and leave a friend to die, but then, neither was he.
The tempo of swords picked up again, followed by a grunt of pain and Jala looked ready to bolt through the door. Moving swiftly to her side, Neph grabbed her by the arm and shook his head quickly. “Fools rush in, and your fool already rushed in. We have to use logic here. Once we move inside we stay beside each other and use our shields together. If mine starts to fail I’ll drop back behind you to bolster it until I can strengthen it. The same goes for you. Got it?” He spoke quickly and glanced once more at the fire in the room then back to Zoey and the two boys. “Jala, the two Bendazzi and I are going in first. Hang back here and help where you can. This is going to be bad, kids so if you don’t come in we won’t blame you. Staying alive is your only priority right now and we don’t expect the help.” He looked at Zoey as he spoke. Normally she was the most mature of the three, but right now she looked terrified. She gave a quick nod in response to his words, but didn’t budge from where she stood.
“Vaze, fall back! Fall back!!” Foster’s voice rose to nearly a scream and Jala tensed beside him. Another explosion rocked the room and the ceiling shuddered once more.
“They are going to collapse the whole place on us!” Jala snarled as she glanced up at Neph. “You ready? I’d much rather kill them before they have a chance to do the explosion thing again.”
“Let’s kills some Rivasans,” Neph agreed as he moved slightly ahead of her and glanced into the room. “A lot of Rivasans,” he amended as his eyes quickly scanned over the figures moving in the room. An arrow thudded into the door beside his head and he pulled back hastily. “You have your ward against missiles up, right?” he asked quickly.
“Of course. You taught me to sleep with that damned spell active,” Jala snapped back. Her eyes were on the arrow and she had paled a bit at the sight of it. “Is it all of them at once, Neph?” she asked in a quieter voice.
“Looks to be that and more, Sweety. We aren’t leaving them, though. I won’t budge from here anymore than you will,” he replied quickly as he leaned through the door once more and then back quickly. “We move in and we go right as fast as we can. There is a small group of swordsmen there waiting for us, but with the Bendazzi we should be able to kill them quickly enough to gain purchase in the room.” Jala nodded in response and Neph let out a sharp breath before nodding back to her. “Let’s kick these pigs,” he mumbled as he drew on his own magic and pushed forward into the room.
Arrows slammed into their shields the moment they passed through the doorway. Neph did his best to ignore the steady clatter off his shields and the wall behind him as he closed on the waiting swordsmen. The Rivasans had turned to face them and stood ready with their swords behind a make-shift barrier of crates. From what he had seen of the room as they entered the entire place had been staged with the scattered barriers. There was no way this was anything but an ambush, and that meant Merro had a spy. The plans had only been made this morning, and the room had been a private one. That meant the spy had to be in Jala’s inner circle. The thought settled in his mind as he unleashed his first spells on the Rivasans. Everyone that had been in that room was a friend of his with the exception of Vosha, and he highly doubted the young dragon was the spy.
Pushing the thoughts away, he focused again on the battle and drew on his magic once mor
e. They needed to push farther into the room and find a position that offered them some kind of advantage. The options were limited, however. He could hear Jala unleashing spell after spell behind him and the stream of arrows seemed to have slowed. That at least helped. With the archers out of the picture he didn’t have to worry so much about his shield failing.
A blur of white moved past him and Neph paused his next spell as Marrow sprinted toward the Rivasans with Emily close behind him.
The Bendazzi slammed into the enemy with savage growls and rending claws. Just the sight of the attack would have sent most running, but to their credit, the Rivasans held their ground and moved in to attack.
With a quick flick of his fingers, Neph altered the spell he had been about to hurl to a smaller effect. His first few attacks had been larger spells designed to hit multiple enemies and do as much damage as possible. He could no longer risk that kind of magic with the Bendazzi so close to his enemies, though. A slender shard of ice formed at his command and hurtled toward the closest enemy. In the dim light it would be difficult to spot such a small projectile, but the effects would be deadly enough if it found its mark. So far, he had yet to do any real damage to the swordsmen because of their spell shields, but the shields had to be close to breaking by now. He had unleashed enough damage on them in the first moments of the fight to bring down the average shield on anyone.
“Magebreakers,” Jala hissed behind him. “They are siphoning my spells before they can hit,” she added in a savage growl. He felt her back press against his as she borrowed his shields for a time. “They are siphoning my shield, too,” Anger laced her every word and he couldn’t blame her for it at all. Considering what had happened at the battle in Arovan, Jala Merrodin had more right to hate Magebreakers than anyone else.
The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 4 The Blessed Curse Page 35
