The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 2 Blood Honor and Dreams

by Melissa Myers

  Nodding, Wisp grinned back at Sovann. “See you at the Arena,” she called and headed for the door with Jala.

  “I’m still hungry,” Emily complained quietly as they left the house.

  “I’ll see that you get a big lunch,” Jala promised and tried to calculate exactly how many cows it was going to take to keep the Bendazzi and Blight fed. “I think beef is going to be a major export of Merrodin when it’s done. I’m going to have to buy a cattle ranch to feed them,” she told Wisp as they walked.

  The Fae grinned and nodded slightly. “Might need to invest in a few cows before then. We could keep them in one of the courtyards. I’m sure none of the instructors would notice,” she suggested with a chuckle.

  “Can you imagine the amount of complaining about cow manure from Neph?” Jala said with a sigh and grinned at the thought.

  “Complaining. What a nice way to phrase his bitching tirades,” Wisp replied with a grin. “Come on, the Penny isn’t too far from here. I’m rather curious to meet this young man too. It’s not every day that Finn is willing to spare someone. How did you get him to pull the blow anyway?”

  “I yelled, ‘no!’ really loud,” Jala replied with a shrug.

  “Huh, never tried that one before,” Wisp said in amusement. “I doubt that technique works for everyone though. You likely had the what-the-hell-is-she-doing-here advantage on your side.”

  “Very likely,” Jala agreed with a smile that quickly faded as she noticed the large number of men in white cloaks and silver armor approaching. “What are that many Justicars doing in this section of town?” she asked Wisp quietly.

  “There it is, kill it,” large man near the front commanded his finger pointing directly at Marrow. Snarling, the Bendazzi dropped to a crouch in response.

  “Wait, what is the meaning of this?” Jala demanded, stepping protectively in front of Marrow.

  “Don’t come any closer,” Wisp warned her hand dropping to her sword. Though the Fae was famous for her use of the bow, Jala had seen her practice with blade as well and knew she was formidable.

  “That creature is responsible for multiple deaths in the city. Stand aside and allow us to do our job,” the large man bellowed, his eyes narrowing at Wisp as she drew her blade. “Do you have any idea about the penalty for drawing steel on a Justicar, girl?” he demanded his tone filled with threat.

  “I’ll be doing more than drawing it if you take one step toward that Bendazzi. He hasn’t killed anyone. He eats beef from the market,” Wisp growled back.

  Jala’s eyes flicked from Marrow to Wisp and she tried to guess where Emily might be. Behind one of the Justicars, no doubt, ready to attack if needed. The situation was growing worse by the second. If she didn’t do something soon, they would all likely be dead or fleeing in exile. Clearing her throat, she stepped forward again and leveled her gaze on the large Justicar. “How dare you threaten my companions in my district. Stand aside now,” she snarled with as much force as she could muster.

  “Your district?” the Justicar asked, his tone mocking.

  “I am Jaladene Merrodin and this is my district. Stand down now,” Jala commanded, her voice cracking like a whip. Several of the men behind him shifted uncomfortably and looked to their leader with confusion.

  “The last Merrodin died ten years ago,” the Commander said smugly. “Do you know what the penalty for impersonating a High Lord is, girl?” he asked, his voice cold and filled with threat.

  “Do you have any idea what the penalty for ignoring one is?” Jala shot back, her eyes narrowing.

  “Arrest her and kill the Bendazzi,” the Commander snapped, his glare turning to the milling men behind him.

  “Actually, we can’t kill the Bendazzi before we determine if she is truly Merrodin.” The voice came from off to the side and both the Commander and Jala turned to regard the speaker. He was dressed as the others in silver plate though his had a bit more engravings on it. His jet black hair was cut short and fashionably tousled. He smiled at the two of them and shrugged. “Per regulations a council must be called to verify her claim, Sir,” he said quietly to his Commander and moved toward Jala with manacles ready.

  “What is your name, Justicar?” the Commander demanded, his eyes narrowing.

  “Lieutenant Skyler sir,” the man replied and stopped a short distance from Jala. “If you truly are who you say you are, submit and get this over with. It shouldn’t take long,” he said in a quieter voice that seemed oddly familiar.

  Nodding slowly, Jala held her wrists out in front of her and looked to Wisp. “Take Marrow back home with you, Wisp, and I’ll meet you there soon,” she said in a level voice.

  “No, I’m not leaving you alone with them,” Wisp objected, her hand still clutching her sword.

  “Please Wisp I need you to keep Marrow safe,” Jala pressed with a note of pleading in her voice.

  I’m not leaving you either so you are wasting your breath, Marrow told her firmly.

  I won’t be alone, Emily will be with me. If things go badly she can help me escape. I can’t risk them hurting you, Marrow. We are linked. If something happens to you, not only do I lose my closest friend, I will likely die at the same time. Please, just go with Wisp, she begged praying the Bendazzi would listen to reason. Turning her attention back to Wisp she locked her gaze on the Fae. “Wisp, I gambled a lot here. Please don’t waste it,” she said quietly.

  With obvious reluctance, Wisp nodded slowly and looked to Marrow. “Come on Marrow, let’s do what she wants us to. I don’t like it any more than you do.” The Fae spoke with hesitation and looked ready to change her mind at any moment.

  “Wisp, I need you to let Neph know what’s going on, but not Finn or Valor. I don’t want them distracted right now,” Jala said slowly, keeping her gaze on Wisp as the Justicar clamped the manacles down on her offered wrists. Waves of cold washed over her and she lowered her gaze to the Barllen restraints. “Is Barllen really necessary? I’m not resisting,” she said softly, already feeling the metal feeding hungrily on her reserves.

  “Standard policy. Please come along,” the young man replied with a shrug and gave her a reassuring smile. Once again the feeling of déjà vu washed over her as she watched him and she nodded slowly and began to walk toward the Hall of Justice with him close behind her. The remaining Justicars closed ranks around her, forming a wall of armor and cloaks that made it all but impossible for her to see beyond them.

  They walked in silence, the Justicars intent on their duty and her attention focused on the Barllen. She didn’t dare drain power from it in front of them but she was managing to slow its progress on draining her. Her attention barely shifted from the restraints as they climbed the stairs to the Hall and the massive white doors swung open before her.

  “I will see her to a high cell sir,” Lieutenant Skyler said with a bow to the Commanding officer and led her toward another narrower flight of stairs carefully.

  She climbed steadily, wondering how long it would take before they released her and praying it would be in time for the duel. The thought of not knowing if Finn had won or not tore at her, but she didn’t see that she had been given many options. It was take the action she had or lose Marrow. Swallowing heavily, she glanced up to see a cell door being opened in front of her. Calmly she stepped through the doorway and noticed as the door slammed shut behind her that the bars were made of Barllen as well.

  “Well now I believe you owe me a thank you,” the lieutenant said in a low voice barely above a whisper and the tone triggered the reason for the déjà vu.

  “Hemlock?” she asked in a voice barely above a whisper.

  “Shhh. Not so loud. Do you know you are the only one living in the city that knows what I really look like? In all of Sanctuary there is only one other person that knows my appearance. I’m showing you a great amount of trust,” he said, his tone mocking. Casually he looped his arms through the bars and crossed them, leaning forward to watch her carefully. “I’m afraid you are going
to miss the duel but if you talk sweet to me I might open a scry for you,” he said sweetly, his voice still the same quiet tones she remembered from the bar.

  “Why are you helping me?” she asked, not daring to approach him.

  “Mmm. Well, I decided that I wouldn’t kill you. You see I treasure people like you and Shade. You are precious to me and while it was a lot money, I don’t really need money. I tend to kill for entertainment rather than wealth and keeping you alive is much more entertaining,” he explained with a smile, his dark eyes flashing. He pointed a finger at her and motioned her to come closer. Hesitantly she edged a few steps closer and he smiled again. “See, people like you and Shade genuinely care about others. You want to make the world a better, happier place,” he continued.

  “And you treasure that?” she broke in, somewhat confused. It didn’t seem the sort of mentality an Assassin would have.

  Chuckling lightly, Hemlock shook his head. “Not for the reason you are thinking. No, not because you are a good person, Jala. I treasure you for the entertainment. I like to watch you strive for a better world and then see realization hit that the people you are trying to save aren’t worth it. I like to watch the light die as you realize they would sell you out for a loaf of bread and there isn’t a single thing in this world worth preserving,” he explained, his words slow and drawn out.

  “That isn’t true,” she objected.

  Chuckling, he smiled at her and nodded. “And that is exactly what they all say. Did you know I’m a Time mage, Jala? Did you know I can see ahead and get glimpses of what will happen?” he asked.

  “I have heard it mentioned,” she replied cautiously.

  “I see a glimpse of you soaked in blood and screaming for death, Jala. I see all light gone from your heart and nothing but hate written on your soul. I’m going to keep you alive until I see that happen,” Hemlock whispered, his smile as cold as winter.

  “Then I never need fear death and I can count you as a lifelong guardian, because that won’t happen,” Jala replied, her jaw clenched.

  “We shall see. I have to be a good pretend Justicar, and go file an arrest report on you now. It’s the way they do things you know,” he said, pushing off the bars. “I’ll be back in time to show you the duel though don’t worry. I, of course, already know how it’s going to end but I don’t want to miss the expression on your face when you see it.” He began to whistle lightly as he left the room and it took her a moment to recognize the tune - The Lover’s Lament. The words sprang to her mind as the whistling continued to echo back up the stairs.

  Alone you’ve left me as darkness falls.

  No hope and no answer to my echoing calls.

  Shaking her head, she pushed the words from her mind and paced the cell. She had never liked that song anyway. It was one of those pieces that could depress you even at a festival.

  “I’ve always hated that song,” a familiar voice said from one of the cells across the room. “The lyrics are so whining you wonder why they didn’t just kill themselves instead of writing a song.”

  “Jail,” she gasped, and her eyes flashed back to the door that Hemlock had disappeared through.

  Movement from the cell caught her eye and she watched in quiet awe as the large man calmly slipped a hand through the bars and unlocked his own cell. “He didn’t notice me, don’t worry,” Jail reassured her as he crossed the empty room to her cell. “Now explain what is going on. I’m afraid I’m a bit out of touch on recent events.”

  “You have a key?” she asked in a dumbfounded voice.

  Glancing down at the key ring in his hand, Jail nodded slightly, his expression amused. “As many times as I’ve been in here, of course I do,” he replied with a light chuckle. His gaze flicked back to the door and then to her again. “We should have about twenty minutes. The reports are long ones.” Calmly he pulled a chair closer to her cell and sat down quietly taking care to keep away from the Barllen.

  “He is a Time mage, Jail. He has to know you are in here,” Jala objected, wondering how Hemlock would react to having another person that knew his identity.

  Calmly, Jail shook his head. “Just because he can see glimpses doesn’t mean he sees everything, Jala. Time is a fickle magic. It changes often. That rubbish he spoke of about you covered in blood. Well, that’s just one possibility and it may never happen.”

  “Why do you stay in here if you have a key, Jail?” she asked in utter confusion.

  “Because someone needs to relay information to certain individuals inside this building discreetly. I am the best for that particular job due to my form of magic. I can make them forget why I was arrested, or release me when I’ve accomplished what I need to do. There is, of course, the bonus of getting to smack around Justicars as needed as well. We are wasting time though. Why are you in here? I wouldn’t be surprised to see Finn or Valor land in one of these cells but to see you here, well, I’m rather shocked.” Jail spoke in low tones and leaned toward the cell.

  “I’m here for impersonating a High Lady,” she replied her tone disgusted. With a heavy sigh she sat down cross-legged on the floor across from him and looked up to his concerned face. “They were going to kill Marrow and then Wisp drew steel. I didn’t see any other way to get out of it, Jail. I couldn’t let them kill Marrow or Wisp,” she explained.

  “Why would they kill Marrow? He has been in the city for months and they haven’t paid any attention to him,” Jail said shaking his head slowly.

  “There are Blights hunting in the city and they are trying to blame the deaths on Marrow, but then you don’t know about the Blights do you?” Lifting both hands to her face she rubbed her eyes and let out a long slow breath. “And now Finn is about to fight Kithkanon and I won’t be there and if he dies …,” her voice trailed off slowly and she stared down at the floor in despair.

  “I know what the Blights are. I didn’t know they were in the city. As far as I knew they were only affecting Glis and Arovan. This changes things drastically. So they are calling a council now to determine if you are truly a Merrodin?” Jail spoke slowly as though working through the new information. “That could take several days, Jala, depending on how quickly the high lords respond to their summons,” he said after a moment and she felt her shoulders slump farther.

  “I didn’t know what else to do,” she said miserably.

  “Someone is coming,” Jail said sharply and moved his chair back to the wall quickly. Silently he moved back to his cell and pulled the door almost shut. To the casual glance it would appear to be latched.

  With a crash, the door to the cells slammed open and Neph strolled in with two Justicars trailing him and protesting loudly. Neph scanned the room quickly until his gaze fell on her and he crossed the room in two quick strides. “Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes locking on the Barllen manacles.

  “I am okay physically. Mentally I think I’m fraying,” she replied quietly.

  “Get these damn manacles off of her now!” Neph bellowed, turning to the two Justicars who still milled behind him.

  “That is against regulations,” one protested and shook his head at Neph, quickly stepping back as the mage advanced.

  “As long as Kadan is out of the city I am the acting Delvayon for Sanctuary. Are you telling me you are going to defy the word of a Delvay lord you little worm?” Neph asked, his tone filled with threat as he advanced on the Justicar. “I may not be able to get her released without the council present, but I can see that she is comfortable until they arrive. Do you want to hazard a guess as to how High Lord Arjuna will react when he sees his niece in Barllen chains?”

  Paling in response the youngest of the Justicars flicked a gaze toward Jala. “She is Lord Arjuna’s niece?” he asked in a tremulous voice.

  “Have you been living under a fucking rock?” Neph yelled, his voice echoing off the stone walls of the room. With a violent kick he sent one of the chairs skittering across the floor at the young man and nodded. “The whole damn city knows sh
e married Finn Sovaesh, you fucking moron. Get those gods-be-damned chains off of her now!”

  “Ahh. You would make an excellent high lord, Neph,” Jail said quietly with a low chuckle.

  “You either help or shut your hole, Jail, you lazy bastard. Lounging in a damn cell while the rest of us work,” Neph snarled, pointing a finger accusingly at Jail. The mage didn’t seem the slightest bit surprised by Jail’s presence but Jala could tell by the Justicars reaction they hadn’t realized he was in the room.

  “I could use my talents. They would likely be more effective than your crashing and stomping,” Jail offered.

  “Then, fucking use them, you ass,” Neph snarled, whirling on Jail with a look of pure fury on his face.

  “Temper, temper, Neph. I can’t do much when you have them scared witless,” Jail said in a soothing tone.

  “Neph, please calm down. I don’t want you sharing a cell with us,” Jala said quietly.

  Looking back over his shoulder at her, Neph smiled with a predatory light in his eyes. “They can’t arrest me, Jala. I’m the acting Delvay until Kadan is back. I have the authority of a high lord right now,” he assured her, his tone cool and dangerous. Turning slowly back to regard the Justicars, his smile darkened. “I could kill one of these little fucks for annoying me and they still couldn’t arrest me,” he added and his voice turned to ice with the words.

  “Oh, that did volumes to help the fear. OK, Neph do it your way. Kill the one on the left though. That one by the wall is actually pretty nice,” Jail said with a sigh and waved a hand slightly toward the Justicars. Turning his attention to Jala he smiled faintly. “Have you ever seen a pissed off Delvay before Jala?” he asked in neutral tones.

  Shaking her head slightly she glanced at Neph and then back to Jail. “No, I’ve seen Neph grumpy but never truly angry,” she replied.

  “Well it takes a lot to piss one off, so it’s rare to see,” Jail said sagely and smiled at her. “However, once you do get one pissed it generally takes a lot of bloodshed and destruction to calm them back down. Honestly, I’d be surprised if he stopped at just one Justicar. I think I would be removing the manacles if I were them,” he continued his voice calm.