The Elder Blood Chronicles Bk 1 In Shades of Grey

by Melissa Myers

  “Or smiles,” Adana suggested wickedly.

  Jala shook her head at the woman and fought back a chuckle. “Horrible, simply horrible,” she scolded weakly. They were passing through the houses now and into a large open square. Sunlight glittered across the cobbles and Jala paused again. “Is that gold?” she asked staring in wonder at the patterns worked into the cobbled square.

  Adana nodded and motioned toward the lamps on each corner and then the fountain in the center. “It is all gold. This is the Denove Solae, or Home of the Sun in your language, though it sounds much better in mine.” She paused, giving Jala time to take in the splendor and then motioned to the opposite side of the square where a rather substantial crowd was forming. There was a raised area there and several figures stood upon it. Even from this distance she could make out Finn. He stood straight near the back of the platform, dressed in black and gold. He hadn’t noticed her approach yet, and Jala felt herself tense at the size of the growing crowd.

  “Who are all of these people? Jala asked, her voice quiet. She hadn’t expected more than simply Finn’s family.

  Adana moved closer to her and motioned with one hand discreetly. “There in the back beside Finn are of course Arjuna and Sovann. To the right is Nallia my granddaughter and her husband Truce.” she paused making sure Jala had noticed the couple.

  Nallia was smaller than her two brothers but had the same tanned coloring though her hair seemed more golden than either Finn's or Sovann's. She was dressed in a beautiful gown of red and white and even from this distance Jala could pick out the glimmer of jewels at her wrist and neck. Her husband leaned against a pillar nearby her. His dark hair was long and held back in a loose ponytail. By the pale coloring of his skin and the style of clothing he wore, he was obviously not Firym. Her eyes lingered on the fine white jacket he wore, trimmed in gold. The vest beneath was a dark red as were his pants. “Aren’t those the Avanti colors?” she asked Adana with a raised eyebrow.

  “Indeed, Truce Avanti is the heir to House Avanti. I suppose we should consider it an honor that Nallia gained such a husband.” She paused and gave Jala a glance. Her lips were pursed and her nose wrinkled slightly in an expression of distaste. “We don’t though. He is, after all, Avanti. Out of all of them though, Truce is the most tolerable.” She gave a long sigh and shook her head slightly. “Past that though, the business is done and the dear girl does seem to love him despite his obvious faults. On the left of Finn is Talon, Arjuna’s Heir and Commander of the Flame Riders. Beside him is his son Havoc.”

  “Havoc?” Jala asked in surprise her gaze swiftly moving from the impressive armored form of Talon to Havoc’s more familiar form.

  Adana looked at her in surprise. “You know Havoc?” she asked.

  Jala smiled and nodded her eyes scanning the crowds for Victory. “I do. I consider him a friend, and I hope he considers me the same. He has saved my life more than once,” she told Adana, her smile fading a bit when she realized Victory wasn’t in the crowd. “I don’t see Victory though. I’ve never seen the two of them apart. Is he OK?”

  Chuckling, Adana nodded. “I see, you know them as Fionaveir then. Let’s not mention that fact with Truce around. The Avanti do despise the Fionaveir. Victory is not here because House Faydwer and House Avanti cannot be kept from attempting to kill each other no matter how civilized the Avanti claim to be,” she explained.

  “Are Finn’s parents not here?” Jala asked after scanning the platform and realizing it held no one else.

  With a heavy sigh Adana shook her head. “Sovaesh is no longer welcome in these lands. When he chose to marry Avanti there was a falling out between Arjuna and my son. It took all of my cunning to convince my brother to not punish the children for the sins of their father. And so my grandchildren are allowed within these borders but not my son.”

  Frowning at the pain in the woman’s voice, Jala gave her a light hug. “I’m sorry, Adana, I didn’t realize,” she apologized, wishing she had never brought up the topic.

  Adana returned the hug and began slowly walking again. “Just wait until you see my Finn in his uniform. Everything else will fade from your mind,” she said, abruptly changing the topic.

  The crowd parted quickly for Adana. Jala kept a close pace behind her. As they neared the platform, Finn noticed her and smiled. True to Adana’s word, all else but Finn faded from her mind. The uniform jacket fell below his hips and fit so well it had obviously been tailored for him. The material was fine black wool with insignias that she didn’t recognize sewn into the high collar and shoulders. Everything from the house sigil at his collar to the gold buttons down the front had been polished to a mirror shine. His dark red pants were of the same quality fabric and the knee high boots he wore looked as though they had never been worn before.

  “You must be baking in all of that wool,” Jala said quietly as he took her hand and helped her onto the dais beside him.

  He shrugged and shook his head. “Firym blood, remember? Heat really doesn’t bother me much.” His eyes roved over her and his smile widened. “Traditional Firym gown. I had wondered if they would get you to wear one.”

  “She had a struggle over it I assure you. I feel naked,” Jala explained with a bit of a blush.

  “You know, a tug on one strap and a tap to those clasps on your hips and you would be,” he whispered in her ear.

  “That didn’t help at all,” she said frowning. Suddenly, the prospect of standing in front of a large crowd of Firym naked came to mind and she fought down the desire to run back to the palace.

  Grinning, Finn led her to stand before Arjuna as if sensing she was about to bolt. The others on the dais quickly stepped down from the platform and took places in the crowd. A brush of fur against her hip caught her attention and she looked down to see Marrow seated beside her.

  The Avanti tried to talk him out of this, Marrow told her.

  And what did he say? Jala asked keeping the conversation mental.

  The Avanti told him that this marriage would damage his reputation in Sanctuary because Cassia Avanti dislikes you so. Finn laughed and said it did not matter what Cassia thought, he is not too fond of her either. It felt like a warning to me. I think I should have waited to eat so I could have removed the Avanti, Marrow explained.

  “Jala?” Finn’s voice broke through the mental conversation and from his expression she gathered it was not the first time he had spoken her name. “Do you have the chain?” He asked in an amused tone. He flicked his gaze toward Marrow and smiled his understanding.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t hear you when you first spoke,” she replied in embarrassment and handed the chain over to him.

  He in turn handed it to Arjuna who spent a good long while simply studying the links. Looking up at the two of them, Arjuna nodded his approval. “One of the finest chains I’ve seen, even on both sides with the same metal. This is truly a blessed match,” he said quietly.

  Finn leaned closer to her. “He is keeping his voice low as he says that so his wife doesn’t hear him,” he whispered to her loud enough for Arjuna to overhear.

  Frowning at him, Arjuna motioned toward their hands. “If not for your lady, I’d leave you standing on the dais half the day for that Finn,” Arjuna said in a mock scolding.

  Finn grinned and carefully positioned her in front of Arjuna. He moved to stand opposite her and raised his hand, motioning for her to do the same. She did, and he pressed his hand against hers while Arjuna wrapped the chain between their hands and around their wrists. Locking her gaze with his, Jala smiled and kept her hand steady, not allowing it to flinch in the slightest. His own larger hand was cool to the touch and held as motionless as stone.

  “We gather here before all under the light of the Sun to witness the bonding of Finn Sovaesh and Jala in the ceremony of marriage,” Arjuna began, his voice deep and steady. “They have forged a true chain of devotion and await only the test of endurance to be one. Are there any here who speak against this match?” />
  As Arjuna’s voice carried the last words over the crowd Finn’s free hand dropped to the ceremonial blade at his side and rested on the hilt. Jala watched him with widening eyes and raised an eyebrow in question.

  “It’s the traditional way of saying if you object you better be ready to fight,” Finn said, his voice too low for any other to hear. “And if anyone does object, they will be fighting,” he added with a grin.

  The crowd remained silent, apparently taking Finn’s warning quite seriously. Arjuna gave a nod and clasped one hand over their two joined ones. A faint tingle spread through the chain as he removed his hands and continued on with the ceremony.

  Finn held her gaze and grinned again. “He is pretty much saying whatever he wants right now, there really are no traditional words past the point of objections. For those he doesn’t like the ceremony usually lasts several hours. Really, once the magic fades in the chain it’s done,” he whispered.

  “What happens after that?” Jala asked, keeping her voice equally low and wondering if she shouldn’t actually be paying attention to the High Lord.

  “Feast, dancing, lots of drinking, and then I get to have you all to myself,” he explained and as he spoke the last part a devilish grin crept onto his face. “You, however, are not allowed to get drunk tonight,” he warned, the grin never fading.

  “I never actually intend to get drunk you know, it always just sort of happens,” she objected mildly.

  “If you do tonight I’ll have Sovann pour a potion down your throat,” he said in further warning.

  She tried not to blanch at the thought of the potion’s taste. “Fair enough, I will stick with water I think,” she agreed.

  “Nothing that drastic I hope,” he replied trying hard not to laugh.

  “Better safe than drinking that potion,” Jala whispered back. “Shouldn’t we be paying attention to your uncle?” she asked, feeling guilty about ignoring her own wedding ceremony.

  “He could be talking about crops for all I care. The important part is you and the chain,” Finn replied, barely stopping himself from shrugging. “I’ll pay attention when he moves forward to remove the chain, I promise.”

  “If you say so, it seems rude though,” she said and stole a glance at Arjuna to see if he had noticed their conversation. If he had, the High Lord gave no indication. His gaze was fixed on the crowd, and he seemed to be motioning toward them and the sun.

  “Sun is sacred here if you hadn’t guessed,” Finn explained when her gaze returned to him. “The Firym say the first of their people came from the sun. In truth, they are actually related to the Faydwer distantly and likely some demon blood, which means they are related to either the Avanti or the Rivasan.” His gaze flicked to his uncle who had not slowed in his speech. “See if he was paying attention to us he would have stopped right then to smack me upside the head,” he grinned.

  Fighting back laughter, Jala gave him a slight glare. “If my hand moves it will be your fault, Finn,” she warned.

  His expression sobered at once. His grin vanished leaving a perfectly neutral expression though his eyes still twinkled with mischief. “Better?” he asked, his voice low and respectful.

  “Much, thank you,” she agreed, though she was a bit suspicious of the look in his eye.

  “Don’t give me that look. I’m behaving,” Finn said, a bit of his grin returning.

  “For now, with that look in your eye, though, I wonder for how long.”

  “Till about now,” Finn said with a smile as Arjuna moved forward and carefully removed the chain from their joined hands. A line of deep gold remained on her hand where the links had been, perfectly echoing the delicate pattern of the chain. Finn moved forward the moment Arjuna stepped back. One hand slipped behind her neck pulling her closer while the other wrapped around her lower, the edge of his fingers slipping below her skirt to rest on skin. He kissed her before she could object to the placement of his hand and the kiss itself stole all objections from her mind. He had kissed her before, but never like this. She closed her eyes and returned the kiss, the roaring approval of the crowd fading from her mind, as did the knowledge of everything but Finn. Drawing back at last he smiled at her and lowered his head in respect to his uncle. “Thank you Uncle Arjuna for blessing this marriage with your words,” he said formally, his tone filled with respect.

  “I doubt you could repeat five words of what I said,” Arjuna replied mildly. “And if you ever suggest my people are related to the Faydwer, Avanti, or Rivasan’s again I’ll have you whipped at a post,” he added with a smile that seemed predatory.

  Finn laughed and bowed in acknowledgment to his uncle. “Are there any here who speak against this match?” He quoted in a perfect mimicry of Arjuna’s deeper voice. “You see, Uncle, I heard the important part,” he said grinning.

  Turning to Jala with a shake of his head, Arjuna smiled and offered his hand. She took it and he squeezed it lightly. “Welcome to our family, Jala, though you may soon wish you had married Sovann rather than this impudent brat,” he said with warmth in his voice despite the words.

  “Sovann couldn’t handle my Vezradesh. Look at the Bendazzi, Uncle. That is the mirror of her soul. I knew the moment I saw Marrow, I would marry her,” Finn replied taking her hand the moment Arjuna released it. “Before we go to the feast I feel I should warn you the others are here. Apparently Sovann informed them of the wedding, and I have to say Wisp is not pleased with either of us for sneaking off as she calls it,” Finn told her. He watched Arjuna leave the platform and began leading her that way as well.

  “I’m glad they are here,” she said and then paused. “But will Wisp and Truce have difficulties? Adana says their houses do not get along,” she added with concern.

  “Doubtless they will, and saying their houses don’t get along is putting it mildly. However, if you want to get into politics there will likely be more trouble from Valor and my uncle than there will be from Wisp and Truce. The Firym and Valor’s homeland of Arovan have a long standing feud on which lands hold better craftsmen. It’s silly really but duels have been fought over which sword is better crafted. Personally, I think it matters more how well the sword is wielded.”

  “Aren’t your blades crafted in Arovan?” Jala asked quietly.

  Grinning, Finn shook his head slightly. “Not the ones I wear when I visit here,” he said patting the sword at his side.

  The crowds had thinned below as most had already headed for the feast. Only a few figures remained waiting and all of them were faces she knew well. Wisp moved to the front of the group, looking almost a stranger in the deep green dress she wore. Jala had never actually seen the Fae in anything other than tunic and breeches and usually a cloak covered that. She stopped a few feet from them with a broad smile on her face and her hands on her hips.

  “How dare the two of you sneak off like that,” she said, her tone sounding far more indignant than her expression looked.

  “It wasn’t exactly planned,” Jala began.

  “You are lucky that Sovann had enough good sense to tell us,” Wisp continued, cutting off Jala’s explanation neatly. “Had you two returned to the school married and none of us been any the wiser I would have had Jail beat Finn senseless.”

  Jail raised an eyebrow and glanced at Wisp and shrugged to Jala. “I suppose she might have been able to bribe me into it. Congratulations by the way.”

  “I can’t believe you did it,” Valor said, his voice holding a bit of dismay. He had pushed past Wisp while she was speaking and now stood beside Finn with eyes locked on the marriage marks on his hand.

  “Did Jala steal your man, Valor?” Neph asked dryly from the back of the group.

  Valor glared back at the mage and then looked back to Finn. “Do you realize what you have just done to me?” he asked, the dismay still clear in his voice. “Not only will every single woman in Sanctuary be looking for me now, my mother will be saying things like ‘Finn is married, why aren’t you?’ I will never know pea
ce again, you bastard.”

  “Why thank you, Valor, you have no idea how much your good will means to me on this special day,” Finn replied, smothering a chuckle.

  “Congratulations. Jala is way too good for you. I can’t believe you actually convinced her to marry you. I’d swear you had gotten her drunk if it didn’t take a full night to make a Firym chain and she surely would have sobered up before standing in the damn sun with you,” Neph said, his eyes fixed with annoyance on the brightness of the square.

  “Ahh, Neph, thank you. It was her idea actually, but thanks for the vote of confidence in me,” Finn replied and pulled Jala closer to him with a smile.

  “You were wrong, Jail, she did suffer damage to the mind when she healed him,” Neph said elbowing Jail lightly.

  “We should probably get to the feast,” Sovann said quietly, diplomatically ending the debate on her sanity. He nodded to Finn and motioned for them to lead off.

  Smiling, Finn nodded thanks to his brother and headed back toward the palace, keeping the pace slow and chatting with the others as they walked. While there was still teasing, the general attitude of his friends seemed happy, if a bit shocked.

  Sovann moved to walk beside her as they entered the crowded gardens behind the palace. Tables had been set up in the open areas and the seats were already packed. Finn was leading her toward the main table where Arjuna and the rest of his family sat. Both ends of the table had empty chairs to accommodate their friends from the Academy with two chairs empty beside Arjuna himself as seats of honor for the newly married.

  “Do not eat the meat courses, they are marinated in peppers and cooked in peppers and usually stuffed with peppers. Well, you get the idea. It makes Firewater seem like nothing. Stick with the fruits and cheeses, though I’d avoid the cheese with the red flecks in it. That has peppers in it as well,” Sovann warned her in a hushed voice as they approached the seats.

  She eyed the loaded table and nodded slightly to Sovann. Even as they approached the scents of spices were strong. “They certainly like their peppers,” she murmured.