“Good luck, Vaze. May we meet again under the sun,” Jala said as she watched him move down the road toward Despair. He moved casually as if he were simply on a stroll through the park.
“Should we move closer?” Valor asked, his gaze following Vaze’s approach.
“I think so. I don’t think the Forgotten will take long to arrive, once I summon them,” Jala answered.
“If they answer at all,” Valor sighed and urged the Arovanni forward at a slow walk.
“They will answer,” Jala assured him.
Vaze had moved to a slow jog ahead of them and his path seemed to be leaving the road. His form blurred as he increased speed and she watched in amazement as his other four swords were drawn by what seemed to be living shadows. The forms moved with him, only the occasional shift from his body and the additional weapons revealing their presence.
“That’s a nice trick,” Valor whispered.
“I’ve never seen anything like that before,” Jala said, her eyes locked on Vaze as she tried desperately to decipher the spell he had used before he grew too distant for her to see the weave. It was an innate ability she was sure, but if she could just study the way it was done for a moment longer, she might be able to roughly duplicate it with arcane magic.
“That must be Davrian,” Valor breathed, his words barely audible over the murmuring of the spirits.
Reluctantly, Jala pulled her eyes from Vaze and looked past him to the massive form that was emerging from the gloom beyond him. Davrian towered over Vaze in height and muscle. The demon had lost nearly all semblance of humanity beyond the basic human shape. His skin was covered in scales that she could see even from her distance. Spines covered his shoulders and arms and seemed to run down his massive back. He drew twin axes from his belt as he lumbered toward Vaze and Jala shook her head in dismay. “Those things look big enough to cleave a horse in two,” she mumbled.
“If he had swords, I would worry. With the size of those Axes, Vaze will be able to dodge nearly every blow. Those are not maneuverable weapons. Once he picks a direction to swing he is committed,” Valor assured her.
Jala nodded in understanding, though she wasn’t sure if she truly believed what he told her. To her, it seemed as though the axes were so big that Davrian couldn’t possibly miss. Vaze sprang forward to strike as the demon raised its axes in what looked to be a challenge. The shadowy duplicates moved as well, splitting to the left and right as Vaze’s swords struck sparks from the creature’s scaly hide.
“Call the Forgotten,” Valor urged her with a gentle nudge to her back. “He said to waste no time.”
Jala pulled her gaze from the fight and quickly wove a message spell to all those she had given names. “It’s time.” She felt their response echo back in the form of raw fury.
The air in front of them shimmered and the gentle murmurs of the shuffling spirits before them was drowned by the banshee squall of the Forgotten as the tormented dead appeared on the road ahead of them. Demons poured through the gates in an effort to keep the Forgotten from the city. The gentle spirits that had been milling calmly, exploded into chaos as the first of the fighting erupted. The Forgotten ignored the frantic spirits completely and threw themselves at the demons with a savagery that made her skin crawl.
“We are supposed to ride through that?” Jala asked in disbelief. From her vantage, there was no way through the mass of dead.
In answer, Valor pressed his heels deep into the Arovanni’s sides and the horse sprang forward. He leaned forward, forcing her toward the horse’s neck, his armor digging painfully into her back. “Stay low,” he ordered, though there was no need for the words. She had no choice but to stay low with the way he was pushing on her.
Hands reached for her as they thundered by, their icy grasp tracing paths across her armored legs. Jala shrank back farther against Valor and willed the horse to run faster. There were too many faces among the recent dead that she recognized, and that itself was far more painful than the chill of their grasping hands. She heard Valor let out a rough chuckle behind her and tried to look up at him but couldn’t turn her head from the way he pressed on her.
“What in the name of all of the Aspects are you laughing about?” Jala demanded. Her own emotions were ranging from disgust to anger. There was certainly no amusement in anything she saw.
“Devron Rivasa was back there. His spirit made a rather rude gesture to you. I don’t think he cared much for the results of your brief duel with him,” Valor answered as he slowly lifted the pressure from her back.
“May he rot here eternally and if fate is generous I’ll send Cassia to keep him company soon,” Jala hissed as she sat up cautiously. They were through the gates now and past the worst of the fighting. More spirits milled in the streets here, but they seemed inclined to let them pass without threat. Glancing down at her legs Jala noted the crystals of frost coating her armor. She could still feel the cold in her skin below, but it was passing quickly. Just a brief touch had left ice however. Should one of the spirits decide to do more than brush against her, she would have problems.
“Of course there would be,” Valor muttered behind her as he turned his horse toward the center of town.
“Would be wha…” Jala began but her words died as she realized what he had been speaking of. Ahead of them, rising above the rest of the city, loomed what was no doubt their destination. The palace stood looming above the rest of the city, its high roof crowned with crystal-peaked spires. The spires were the source of the glow she had seen from beyond the walls. Forms circled the palace in the air, though she couldn’t tell what they were, between their speed and the blinding glow.
“Of course there would be dragons,” Valor repeated, his voice filled with disgust. “If they land for a fight, continue on. I’ll deal with them alone while you get Finn.”
“Out of the question,” Jala snapped, the words out of her mouth before she had considered what she was saying or what tone she was saying it in.
“If we both stop to fight, we waste time, Jala. Vaze said to move quickly before the Forgotten are defeated,” Valor reminded her gently.
“Bugger the Forgotten and the dragons and the demons and Death her bloody self, I’m not leaving a friend behind,” Jala growled daring him to object again. “You promised me, Valor Hai’dia. We come in together, we leave together with Finn,” She reminded him firmly.
“Damn, nearly my full name. I feel like my mother is here suddenly. Well, we are running out of time to argue. What do you propose if they land?” Valor asked with a heavy sigh.
“I propose we make quick work of them together, and continue on together, and rescue Finn together, and leave together!” Jala replied angrily.
“Sounds perfect. Let’s hope it goes that way,” Valor agreed.
“It will,” Jala snapped, her eyes following the path of the creatures above the palace. They didn’t seem to show any inclination to land, which seemed a very good sign to her. Unless, of course, they landed after Jala and Valor entered the building, thus trapping them inside with Death.
“I will have to dismiss Valorous when we reach the doors. I can’t leave him alone out here,” Valor informed her as they neared the front steps.
The spirits were thicker in this area and Jala shuddered at the thought of passing through them on foot. Valor was right, though, they couldn’t leave the Arovanni alone. “How about you dismiss him on the stairs,” Jala suggested as the spirits began to move toward them.
“Deal,” Valor agreed without hesitation as he reined his horse directly toward the palace with no indication that he planned to slow from the dead run before they reached the stairs.
Icy hands grasped at her legs and arms as Valorous plowed through the spirits. With a massive push the Arovanni launched himself toward the stairs clearing more than half in the single leap. His hooves skittered on the stones as he scrambled for purchase on the too narrow stairs and she felt him sliding back as he lost his balance. Valor dropped quickl
y down from the saddle and pulled her down beside him as the Arovanni’s hind legs lost their purchase. The massive horse let out a squall that echoed through the city as he crashed down to the stone stairs.
“Valorous be gone!” Valor bellowed as he pushed Jala toward the double doors at the top of the stairs.
Jala barely glimpsed the Arovanni fading before her attention was focused on the doors themselves. She knew there would be protection wards lacing them and she didn’t have time to unweave them gently. Drawing her power in, she held a hand up for Valor to wait as she prepared a blast of raw magic. Lifting her hands before her she ignited the magic in the focus gems Sovann had given her and held her breath. Focusing her gaze, she pulled her hand back to release the magic as the doors opened silently, revealing a soft glow of firelight beyond them. Jala let the power slide from her grasp and stared in disbelief at the obvious invitation before them.
“Well done! That was much neater than what you did to the gates in Sanctuary,” Valor said quietly with an impressed look on his face.
Jala blinked and then looked over at him in annoyance. “That’s because I didn’t open the doors. She did,” she explained dryly.
“Ahh. Well, then, that’s unsettling isn’t it?” Valor said hesitantly. He placed one hand on his sword hilt as he moved forward cautiously to take the lead.
“Valor, no, wait. Let me go first in case there are spell traps,” Jala said quickly as she moved in front of him.
“I don’t like the idea of your being in the lead,” Valor protested.
“And I don’t like the idea of being splattered with bits of Stormlord if you step on a trap,” Jala replied calmly, her eyes already scanning the ground ahead.
“Well, when you put it that way.” Valor relented and motioned her forward with a nod. His words were followed closely by the sound of his sword being drawn.
“There doesn’t seem to be any traps at all,” Jala whispered as she looked up from the floor and gazed around the entry hall of the palace. The room was massive and most of it was lost in shadow to her gaze. Torches flickered along the walls at intervals but their light did little more than add an eerie flicker to the dark stone. The faint edges of curving stairs were barely visible along both sides of the wall, but it was the steady glow that emanated from the open doors between them that drew her eye.
“No guards either,” Valor said softly, his eyes scanning the room as well.
“I think I would prefer traps and guards,” Jala admitted and let out a light breath as she squared her shoulders and began walking toward the open doors before her.
Spirits drifted along the walls and corners of the room, but they paid no attention to Jala or Valor as they entered. Their attention was fully devoted to the dark robed figure that sat comfortably on a throne at the far end of the room. Jala scanned the room once more, her eyes briefly lingering on a pillar of dark flames near the throne. She wasn’t sure exactly what it was, but it didn’t seem to be a threat. In fact, nothing in the room looked threatening, not even Death herself. If anything the Divine looked relaxed and showed no indication that she even knew her city was under siege.
“Have you come to make another deal with me, Jala Merrodin?” Death asked, her voice rasping and hoarse.
“I’ve come for Finn,” Jala replied loudly, her back straight as she approached the throne. She could hear Valor’s footsteps behind her and by the sound she knew he was as determined as she was.
“He is mine now. What have you to trade? The Arovan?” Death asked, leaning forward.
“Finn swore his soul to me three times. You have stolen what is mine and I’m here to take him back. I haven’t come to trade or deal with you,” Jala pressed as she stopped several feet from the throne, her eyes locked on Death.
“All dead are mine, foolish girl, no matter what words they speak in life. Besides, Finn made a deal with me. I’m sure you remember it. The same time you agreed to break a curse, Finn offered me something else entirely. His service after death in return for your safety from my domain,” Death said, her voice filled with amusement. “You have wasted your time if you have simply come to make demands. I’m feeling generous today, though. The harvest has been good this year and it’s not often that I have guests. I will not accept the Arovan alone as a trade. I will however take the child and the Arovan for the one you seek.”
“You will not have either!” Jala snapped.
“I told you she was difficult to deal with,” a familiar voice drawled behind her. She heard Valor utter a curse and turned to watch the grey cloaked figure slowly cross the room to stand by Death’s throne. “It took me so many visits to get her to be willing for barter and still she was a bit of a bitch about it, despite how good a deal I made her.” There was no mistaking Hemlock’s voice, no matter how much Jala wished she could forget the sound of it.
“You bastard,” Jala hissed, her power already rising for a spell.
“Tut, tut. Let’s not be hasty there, Jala. Do you really want to end the conversation that way?” Hemlock shook a finger at her, a smile barely showing beneath the grey hood of his cloak. “How about this, Death. In honor of Jala’s former reverence for Fortune, how about you offer her a wager? Perhaps a duel. That would honor Finn as well, given his former occupation.”
“Mmm. That could prove interesting,” Death agreed and leaned back in her throne once more. “Your champion versus mine. If you win, you get Finn and I allow you to leave my domain. If I win, I get the Arovan and the child and I still allow you to leave. That’s more than fair, I think.”
“Leave the child out of it and you have a deal,” Valor said from behind her.
Jala whirled and stared at Valor, an expression of disbelief on her face. He lifted his visor and met her eyes. There wasn’t a trace of doubt on his face. “Valor, you can’t…” she began but he shook his head slightly.
“I remember my promise and I fully intend to keep it, Jala. I am not going to sacrifice myself in this fight, I promise you. I’d love a chance to kill that bastard.” Valor assured her, his gaze moving past her to settle on Hemlock.
“The child remains in the bargain. Take it or leave here with nothing,” Death pressed, her tone sounding annoyed.
“Done,” Jala agreed before Valor had a chance to speak again.
“Jala!” Valor gasped in objection.
“You said you intended to keep your promise. Now you have more incentive to do so. My trust and faith are fully with you, Valor. I know you will not fail me,” Jala spoke softly. Turning back to Death she squared her shoulders once more. “Show me Finn before we pursue this. I will know that you truly hold his soul before we continue,” she demanded.
“Difficult to deal with indeed,” Death muttered and motioned a clawed hand toward the pillar of dark flame beside her. The black fires receded, revealing the limp dark skinned form that hung suspended beneath them. His arms and legs were already showing the scaled skin of the Darklands demons, but there was no mistaking Finn.
“Finn,” Jala gasped, her eyes locked on the closed eyes willing them to open.
“Murderers and rapists. Really, Jala with the taste you have in men, we should get along much better. Judging by the standards you have, I may be your ideal man,” Hemlock chuckled.
Jala heard Valor shift behind her and looked back as he closed his visor. She only saw a glimpse of his face before the helm closed but his expression was pained, not outraged as she had expected. “I’d rather fight you than continue this conversation,” Valor growled as he moved forward a few steps and leveled his sword in a defensive position.
“I recall saying my champion versus yours. I do not recall saying Hemlock was my champion, however,” Death said with a rasping chuckle. “No, Hemlock is no warrior and we all know that. He serves me in other ways. I had a bit more of an equal fight in mind for you, Valor Hai’dia.” Death motioned toward the back of the room and the air shimmered as a form began materialize. Details began to take shape and Jala caught her
breath as she recognized the long silver hair and delicate build of Chastity Hai’dia, Valor’s sister. With the exception of the blood stain on the front of the woman’s dress, she looked as lifelike as she had the last time Jala had seen her on the stairs of the Justicar’s hall.
“Valor! What are you doing here?” Chastity demanded, her tone filled with concern. Her eyes flicked across the other occupants of the room briefly then back to her brother.
“Chastity.” Valor gasped as he pulled his helmet free and stared in dismay at his sister.
“Touching, so very touching,” Death said, her voice void of any emotion at all. “Chastity Hai’dia, your husband lies on my very doorstep. He clings to life by the barest thread in the sunlit world. He took a poisoned arrow in the last engagement he fought in and no healers remain to save his life. I, however, have the power to spare him if I choose.”
Chastity turned toward Death, her expression one of desperation. Her eyes flicked back to Valor and then Jala in confusion. “Why do you tell me this? What can I do to save him?” Chastity asked in a cautious tone.
“Your brother is here to save Finn Sovaesh. I have offered him a duel in return for Finn’s spirit. I name you my champion. Defeat your brother, and your husband lives. Fail me, and your child is an orphan,” Death answered, her voice still calm but holding a hint of amusement.
The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 3 From the Ashes Page 14
