“Talented, handsome, charming, and feared,” he answered smoothly with a smirk.
“Arrogant, vain, smug, and a bully,” Valor corrected with his own smirk.
“Bully?” Finn complained, looking at Valor with a wounded expression. “I’m no more of a bully than you are.”
“Technically I think most would consider us both bullies,” Valor said with a shrug. “We do tend to get our way, either through charm or force,”
Finn shrugged carelessly. “And what’s wrong with that?” he asked lazily.
“Depends on how you bully and who,” Jala said, bringing the gazes of both men to her. She shrugged her shoulders at them and sighed. “Well, if you are bullying a Rivasan or Cassia I likely won’t care. They earn it as far as I can see. If you two make a habit of being bullies to those that don’t deserve it though, you are asses,” she clarified.
“You have married a judgmental woman, Finn Sovaesh,” Valor said haughtily and smirked at Finn.
“I don’t bully those that don’t deserve it so I’m not too worried,” Finn said and let his gaze drift across the crowded streets to the looming archway ahead of them. “Have you ever been to Arovan’s district, Jala?” he asked.
Shaking her head, she studied the arch as they rode under it. It was a dark metal of some kind, though she couldn’t say exactly what. The top of it was carved in the likeness of two knights jousting with trails of engraved flowers covering the sides. The city beyond was so different from the one she had left she caught herself glancing back through the arch just to make sure they hadn’t, in fact, used a portal.
Small cozy houses lined both sides of the street, made in a charming beam and stucco style. The spaces between the houses were wide and open with garden plots or pools of water alternating. Her gaze was drawn to the sound of splashing and giggling, and for a moment she watched several children at play in one of the pools before returning to her sightseeing. No matter where she looked, the city was clean with grass and trees lining the streets. There was no sign of trash strewn alleys or beggars. Rounding a corner, they began to ride up a small hill toward a massive manor house.
“Does your brother rule here?” Jala asked, gazing at the house in awe. It stood like an ivy clad sentinel above the city with two massive willows flanking it on either side. The lawn stretching out before it was manicured with a spectacular array of topiary.
Valor shook his head and grinned like a mischievous child. “He is more like the captain of guards here.” She could hear the amusement in his voice.
“While you are simply the lawn ornament of the family,” Finn grinned.
Valor eyed him with a dry expression, his amusement gone. “I am increasing the family’s reputation through my higher learning and success at the Spring Games,” Valor declared smugly.
“While decreasing it with your lechery and gambling habits. I see it’s a balancing act,” Finn said, his voice filled with feigned understanding.
Valor pursed his lips and then burst into laughter and nodded to Finn. “Essentially,” he said and Finn joined him in merriment.
Shaking her head at them and smiling, Jala focused on the topiary and her eyes lingered on the form of a Bendazzi. “Look, Marrow, now I know what you would look like green,” she said, riding a bit closer to the leafy rendition. The details on it had been done with loving care. Small glass pieces had even been set for its eyes.
“Don’t get too close, that’s a golem,” Valor warned, pulling his horse to a stop while she examined the gardens. “They are one of the house defenses and will awaken if you disturb them.”
“It is?” Jala asked staring at it with more fascination. Pulling back gently on her reins she brought her gelding to a halt and dismounted. Marrow paced up beside her and sniffed suspiciously at the shrubbery.
All in all it is a horrible representation of me, it looks so harmless. He stalked in a circle around the creation and froze, his head dropping and his ears flattening to his skull.
“What?” Jala asked in concern. She hadn’t felt the awakening of the magic but the Bendazzi had proven time and time again his senses were more acute.
There are flowers sprouting from its back. Bloody flowers sprouting from a Bendazzi. I can see my kind need to hunt more in Arovan. Marrow’s voice was indignant and Jala had to bite her lip to keep the smile from her face.
“I can feel your amusement,” the Bendazzi reminded her dryly.
“I think it’s beautiful. It suits you well. Beautiful and deadly. There really is no need to take offense, Marrow,” she said in a soothing voice and moved over to stand beside him. She studied the flowers and bit her lip harder and then turned away just before the laughter burst from her.
“What!” Marrow demanded following after her.
“Nothing,” she replied, quickly remounting her gelding and wiping a hand across her face before looking back at the Bendazzi who was glaring up at her with yellow eyes. Shaking her head she gave him a sweet smile. “It’s nothing really,” she assured him. “It’s just in Merro, those flowers are called Kitten’s Paw, for the shape and the fuzz on them. I’m sure they thought it was clever, or perhaps Arovan has another name for the plant,” she explained when he remained unmoving, his gaze locked on her.
“In Arovan, they are called Pussy Foot,” Valor supplied helpfully. “Really I think Kitten’s Paw is a much better name, let’s just use the Merro name,” he added after another snarl from Marrow and turned his horse toward the back of the house. “I think we should find my brother. So much to do today,” he said quickly and kicked his horse to a trot.
Finn smirked and looked down at Marrow. “It’s just a flower,” he reassured the Bendazzi and shrugged. “At least they didn’t use flowers for the entire thing,” He offered and motioned toward topiary farther off. “The fairy display is made entirely of Blue Bonnets and Fox Bloom. It could be worse.”
Jala admired the fairy display briefly and rode after Valor. “Are they all golems?” she asked Finn, guessing he would have the answer.
“Val told me three out of five were, but he wouldn’t say which three. I had no idea the Bendazzi was one, though I should have guessed. Had I been the one arranging it I would have chosen the fairies and the squirrel. The Bendazzi is intimidating enough just standing there in the evening. Trust me, Marrow, you can’t see the flowers at all when it’s a shadowy outline on the yard,” Finn said falling into place beside her.
Valor stopped his horse at the corner of the manor and leaned back in his saddle. There was a commotion ahead of him, though she couldn’t tell what it was. Riding up beside him, Jala watched as a man clung for dear life in the saddle of a dark grey horse that was twisting in the air. They were inside a corral and another man stood in the center holding the lead to the horse forcing its movements in a circle rather than close to the wooden rails. With another squall the grey hit the earth with bone jarring force and launched itself airborne once more twisting with more dexterity than she knew a horse had. Her black gelding flicked its ears in interest and snorted while Valor’s more excitable bay danced in place and rose slightly on his hind legs. Her attention was drawn to a third man and a woman leaning against the corral gate. The man’s back was turned so she couldn’t see his face. He had dark brown hair and was dressed in green and black clothing that looked well-tailored from what she could see. The woman beside him wore a gown of pale ivory with embroidery of every color lining the skirts in fanciful patterns. Her silver hair was pinned up, showing slender delicate features. A wide smile on her pouty lips. Her skirts fluttered to one side and revealed a small girl that had been standing close by the gate, clutching at what must have been her mother.
“Is that your brother and his wife?” Jala asked Valor quietly.
The knight’s attention had been fully upon the spectacle in the corral. At her words, his gaze flicked briefly to the man and woman. “No, that is Sebastian Blackwolf and my sister Chastity, his wife. My brother is the man about to be thrown in the c
orral.”
Jala nodded slightly and studied the man by the gate a bit longer while his attention was away. She hadn’t had a chance to meet any of the Shifters yet and while the Blackwolf line was rumored to be very strong in the Shifter powers she could see no sign of animal traits on Sebastian - well, at least not from this angle.
“He looks perfectly normal aside from the shade of his eyes,” Finn said as if reading her mind. “And Chastity looks far primmer and much more proper than she actually is, so be prepared. She is the female version of me I think. Bluntly honest and totally uncaring if she offends.”
Kicking his horse forward at last, Valor approached the corral with Jala and Finn close behind. “Is that anyway to treat your liege, lord Honor?” He called loudly to the man still managing his hold on the horse that appeared to be wearing down.
“I have the easy job Val,” the man holding the rope called over his shoulder without taking his attention off the horse. “It’s Honor that will carry the bruises from this.”
Shocked, Jala looked closer at the man standing in the center of the corral. She had thought him a groom or perhaps a horse trainer and hadn’t paid much attention to him. He was dressed plainly in rough linen and covered with dust and splattered with mud up past his filthy boots. He wore gloves that looked more fitting for a field hand and his long dark hair was pulled back loosely with tangled strands sticking to his sweaty face.
“This one is going to be his pride and joy, Val,” Chastity said sweetly, walking over to stand by her brother’s horse. The little silver-haired girl followed her meekly, stopping to stare up at Valor with wide blue eyes nearly the same color as his. Jala watched the child nervously as she approached Vanguard’s dancing hooves but neither her mother nor her uncle seemed the least bit troubled. Leaning out of his saddle Valor held his arm down for the girl, keeping his balance perfectly despite the horse’s continued motion. The child grinned with delight and wrapped herself around his arm, giggling as he drew her up into his saddle.
“Uncle Val,” she cooed and hugged him, her cherub-like face lit up with delight.
“And how is my favorite niece?” Valor asked, giving her a hug.
“Don’t try to buy favor like that Val, she is your only niece,” Chastity said dryly and leaned back on the rail. “That mare he is breaking is Arovan mustang stock. Honor caught her near the Black rock cliffs. To hear the stories, Honor actually went over one of the cliffs in pursuit of her, nearly killing himself and his horse.” She paused and looked up at her brother, blue eyes alight. “Father was furious,” she purred and smiled.
“Why would he bother with a mustang?” Valor asked, distaste thick in his voice.
“One of our scouts swears they have traits unlike other horses. He says they are being affected by the elemental works we do. I don’t know if he is right but Honor seems to think he is,” Chastity explained and casually looked past her brother to where Jala sat watching the horse that now trotted in circles her head held low. “Are you going to introduce me to your friend?” she asked sweetly and glanced briefly at Finn. “Hello, Finn, so glad no one has killed you yet. Amazed, yet glad nonetheless.”
Valor flushed and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry Jala, I was rude. Jala this is my sister Chastity, her Lord Husband Sebastian and their daughter, Devony.” He motioned to each as he spoke and then waved a hand graciously toward Jala. “This is Jala, Finn’s wife. She is a fellow student at the Academy and a very impressive Sorceress I might say. The Bendazzi beside her is her familiar, his name is Marrow.”
“So good to meet you,” Chastity said with a smile. She looked her over once, then flicked her gaze back to Finn. “How did you convince her to marry you? A lot of strong alcohol?” she asked sweetly.
“I’m much nicer to her than I am to you Chas. You are like a bossy older sister to me. There is no reason whatsoever to be nice to you,” Finn answered with the same sickeningly sweet tone.
Pushing off of the gate Sebastian approached slowly and stood by his wife. He was tall and well-built, standing a good six inches over his wife’s more petite frame. She understood what Finn had meant about the Shade of his eyes when she locked gazes with the man. They were a bright green with flecks of gold, almost the color of a cat’s, too vivid a color to be considered normal. His expression was calm and serene but Jala could see darker emotions lurking in that gaze. Probably due to the troubles in his own lands she decided, and bowed her head respectfully to him.
“Finn married? That is an unusual announcement. I would have bet good money that he would have died single,” Sebastian said in a quiet voice. “You must be exceptional,” he said, his gaze still on Jala.
“She is,” Finn agreed, drawing the lord’s attention away from her.
“Did you meet at the Academy?” Sebastian asked, his tone suggesting he was asking out of courtesy rather than interest.
“At the Spring Games actually. She saved me from some planned mischief by the Justicars,” Finn explained.
“She is far too beautiful for you Finn,” another voice broke in, and Jala turned to see Honor sitting on the exhausted grey mare near the rail. The horse stood placidly, her head low and breathing heavily. Up close, Honor looked so much like his brother they could have passed for twins. They had the same fine bone structure to their faces, giving them features that would leave most girls swooning. Had she not been told in advance that Honor was years older, she would have never guessed. He had more of a roguish look than his younger brother, though with shorter hair and one ear pierced with a decently sized diamond.
“Thank you,” Jala said bowing her head with a smile. She was rather glad she had taken the extra time fixing her hair and choosing a dress today. Valor had given her no indication that she should expect to meet so many influential people.
“So what did you want to see me about, Val?” Honor asked, allowing himself to relax back in the saddle. One of the mare’s ears twitched but other than that she showed no sign of moving.
“I’d rather discuss it inside, actually,” Valor said looking back at the house.
“I have a fairly good idea as to why you are here. Father warned me to expect a visit from you,” Lord Arovan said as he approached. Unlike his more refined comrades, he climbed the rail of the corral, removed a filthy glove, and offered his hand to Jala. “My name is Micah. Don’t bother with titles or last names. I don’t care much for them. It’s nice to meet you and congratulations on your marriage,”
Grasping his hand gently she smiled. “Nice to meet you Micah.” She released his hand and he swung both legs over to rest on the top rail of the fence.
“He wants his majority funds, Honor,” Micah explained and Honor looked at his brother skeptically.
“The gold bit wearing through and you need a new platinum one?” he asked dryly.
“Actually I want it in form of food and lumber,” Valor replied in the same dry tone.
“For what?” Honor asked incredulously. “That would be a lot of bloody lumber, Val. Do you have any idea how much you have in your majority fund. You know if you take it now you will have nothing left in Arovan.”
“I’m not going back to Arovan,” Valor replied and silence filled the yard. The only noise was the heavy breathing of the grey mare.
“You not coming home, Uncle Val?” Devony asked, breaking the silence. Her wide blue eyes were locked on his face and her lower lip was beginning to tremble.
“I will still come to visit as I already do, Angel. Don’t get upset. I’m just going to build a new home somewhere else when I decide to leave Sanctuary,” Valor said in a soothing voice and kissed the child on the top of the head.
“Where?” Honor asked raising an eyebrow.
“Somewhere else,” Valor replied vaguely and shifted in his saddle.
“Oh that’s golden, Valor. Does father know?” Chastity asked, shaking her head.
“Not as of yet. But I will tell him soon,” Valor said, the confidence in his voice failing for the f
irst time since Jala had met him. It was becoming more obvious by the moment that he was the youngest of the siblings.
“Leave off and give him what he wishes,” Micah said bringing the attention of all three of the Hai’dia children to him. Despite the ragged clothes and dirt covering him, he managed a demeanor of authority well. “Father has already contacted me and told me that Valor may do something of this nature and to support him. I do not question the High Lord of Arovan, do either of you?” He flicked his gaze from Honor to Chastity and they both shook their heads looking sufficiently reprimanded.
“I can have it done by next week Val, just give me a list of what you want and I’ll have it shipped to Sanctuary,” Honor said, his tone subdued.
“I want to know where you plan to live,” Chastity pressed, gaining a dark look from Micah.
“That is his business not ours,” Sebastian said mildly, wrapping an arm around his wife’s waist.
“I do have something for you inside, Valor. My father sent it with his compliments,” Micah said, dropping down from his perch on the fence. “Give me a moment and I’ll fetch it.” He moved past them in long strides, headed for the manor.
Honor watched him go and then locked his eyes on his little brother. “What’s going on?” he demanded, once Micah was out of ear shot.
“Spill it,” Chastity said, adding her stare to her brother’s.
“Love, I really don’t think we should …” Sebastian began.
“I don’t get involved when your people start their growling Bast, don’t get involved when I’m cornering my family,” Chastity said cutting him off.
“He isn’t going to tell you anything right now. He can’t. You will know soon enough. Don’t press him,” Finn broke in, coming to Valor’s rescue.
“He would tell you if he could,” Jala added with a frown.
“Mysterious,” Honor murmured and flicked a gaze at his sister.
“Is Finn about to get you killed?” Chastity demanded.
“No, that’s ridiculous,” Valor said, rolling his eyes.
“I try to only get myself in dangerous situations,” Finn said calmly.
The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 2 Blood Honor and Dreams Page 5
