“Quite,” Ash murmured with a quick nod.
“Wisp, I want you to divide your archers into two companies. Place them at each side of our lines to watch for Blights. Sovann, Neph you are with Wisp. I want one of you with each Archery regiment. Make sure you get the Blights stopped before they reach our archers. Ash, once the shamans have the dragon down, their only duty is to keep our people from passing onto the Darklands,” Jala continued, the orders flowing out of her as naturally as if she were discussing the weather. “Valor, wait until the signal and then charge. Ash, have your Soulblades ready to back up the knights. Badger, you have command of the militia. They know you better than the rest and they will take commands from you better. Use them as you see fit. Jail, you are with me,” she finished turning on her heel to head for her horse.
“Jala,” Valor called behind her, a bit of amusement in his voice. She turned back to look at him and raised an eyebrow at the smile on his face. “What is the signal?” he asked cocking his head to the side with a questioning look on his face.
Jala walked backwards a few steps and pointed her finger toward the dragon with a smile. “That ugly bastard falling out of the sky, Val. Should be pretty hard to miss.”
“Got it,” Valor said already turning to jog back to his waiting knights.
“Impressively handled,” Jail said as they remounted. “Think we will win?” he asked with a smile.
“Always,” Jala replied, her gaze locked on the dragon. Pulling on her magic she held it ready as she waited for the Shamans to start the fight. “Jail, they are protected from most mind magics right?” she asked quietly, her eyes locked on the Avanti camp.
“Fear, despair, such as that? Yes it is standard for all armies to have wards against such common tricks,” Jail answered with a shrug.
“What about discomfort?” Jala asked turning to look at him.
“Pain you mean?” Jail corrected with a frown and started to shake his head.
“Nope. I mean like say a very full bladder. I doubt anyone but a woman that has carried a child can realize exactly how distracting it is when you truly have to piss. Whenever Legacy would so much as shift in my womb when I had to go it was like hell itself. You can’t think, you can’t focus on a task,” she paused and smiled at him. “Are they protected from that Jail?” Jala asked.
Jail shook his head slowly and then burst into laughter. “No, Jala I’m positive they are not,” he replied with a wide smile. “Dirty trick. I approve,” he added with a nod as he began his own magic.
Nodding, Jala turned her gaze back toward the field. The dragon was just finishing another pass and was close to the Avanti camp once more. “Get the horses, too, Jail,” she added with another smile.
Jala’s smile widened as the dragon bellowed and faltered in the air. Its wings convulsed once and then the entire creature shuddered as it began to plummet.
“Merrodin!” Valor’s bellow echoed through the camp as the Knights of Arovan thundered past. It would be a long charge at this distance, but the Arovan horses were not typical beasts. They would not tire before reaching their target, and there had been no way to move them closer without losing the element of surprise. Jala could see Jexon stepping from his tent in confusion as the horses thundered by. It was too late for him to stop them though. The attack was already underway.
“You know, it’s considered bad form to attack your enemy during a parlay,” Jail said casually as Jala began casting her spell.
“You know my reputation means nothing to me when compared with the survival of my people,” Jala replied through clenched teeth.
Jala wasn’t entirely sure about the spell she was casting. It wasn’t one she had learned from Neph or Sovann. Really it wasn’t one she had learned at all. It was an impulse and she was praying that it would work. Closing her eyes she focused with everything she had trusting the Bendazzi and Jail to keep her safe.
Jala’s stomach lurched painfully as her magic took hold and she slowly opened her eyes. Vertigo washed over her as her magic spread through the dragon’s broken body giving her full control over the massive creature and double vision from her human body as well as the dragon. Closing her human eyes once more she focused only on what she could see through the dragon’s eyes and forced the body to move with her magic. The massive scaled body lurched to the side and rose unsteadily to its feet as Jala tested her control of its movements. She could see the Avanti scrambling back from the thing, looks of terror on their faces. They knew the dragon had been dead moments before, and nothing was more terrifying to those without magic than Necromancy.
“Very impressive indeed,” Jala heard Jail whisper beside her and she smiled her eyes still closed tight.
“Haven’t seen nothing yet,” Jala murmured as she willed the dragon to attack. Screams filled the air as the massive tail tore through the ranks of reserve soldiers closest to her. Spinning the Dragon back on its haunches, Jala tore through another regiment with a swipe of its claws as Valor’s knights crashed into the front lines. Chaos spread through the camp as death closed on them from both sides. Faintly, Jala could hear the Avanti commanders bellowing commands in a desperate attempt to restore order. The damage was done, though. Already, Jala could see the Soulblades moving in to join the battle. Avanti had no prayer now. Turning her attention back to the dragon, Jala tore through another rank of Avanti soldiers with all of the fury she had been holding inside for the past few months. “Thank you Jexon for giving me fuel for the fire,” she whispered.
Exhaustion washed over her as Jala let the last of her magic holding the Dragon fade. The Avanti army was broken and most had fled the field running hard to the north. Leaning back in her saddle, Jala turned her head to gaze at Jail.
“Well, we won,” the Mind mage mumbled, his eyes locked on the body-strewn field beyond.
“And it was beautiful,” Jala breathed softly. Her eyes lifted to watch a rider approaching swiftly and it took her a long moment to realize it was her father. Her human eyes seemed weak and blurry after spending the past few hours watching the world with a dragon’s vision.
“I wouldn’t exactly call it beautiful,” Jail muttered, his own gaze on Badger now as the man pulled his horse to a stop beside Jala. The animal was heavily lathered and breathing in harsh gasps. It wasn’t like her father to work a horse so hard.
“We have prisoners, Jala. Valor sent me to fetch you. The woman, at least, is of House Avanti. I’m not sure about the rest,” Badger said, still breathless from his ride and the fighting.
“Cassia,” Jala hissed. “Where?” she demanded. The exhaustion she had felt moments before was forgotten.
Badger eyed her for a moment and then nodded over his shoulder. “At what’s left of their camp. This way,” he said as he wheeled his horse back toward the Avanti camp.
Cassia. Her mind repeated the name almost like a curse. The bitch that sent the Nightblades after Finn. The main reason Jala was on a battlefield right now. If not for Cassia, it was possible that the Avanti wouldn’t have bothered to look south. Merro wasn’t a threat to anyone. It was Cassia’s hatred that had sent House Avanti after her people. Jala barely noticed the ride across the field or the scattered bodies. Her mind was focused on one thing alone, Cassia.
Her horse slowed to a trot as they neared a small group of knights. Jala could see Valor standing near the center of the group with several forms seated behind him on the ground. Her eyes found Cassia almost instantly. The woman was dressed in a gown rather than armor, and from the looks of her face she had been crying for some time. Dropping down from her saddle Jala strode toward the woman, her eyes never wavering from her target.
“There are six in all, Milady. At least two are officers,” Foster offered as Jala drew closer.
Nodding her head silently, Jala continued past, pausing only long enough to rip a sword free from one of the milling knights. A gasp of shock sounded behind her, no doubt from the man she had just mugged, but she didn’t slow. It was the first tim
e she had ever actually held a sword, but she didn’t need skill for what she was about to do. Closing quickly on Cassia, Jala drew the sword up behind her and brought it down for a viscous slash at the woman without so much as a pause in her steps. Pain shot through her arm as the sword blade struck something solid in its path toward Cassia and Jala fell back her eyes locked on Valor who held the blade firmly in his gauntlet.
“Could you sleep at night after murdering her, Jala?” Valor asked, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“Soundly and with a smile on my face,” Jala returned as she tried to pull the sword free from his grasp.
“Look at her, Jala. She is bound and helpless,” Valor pressed, taking a small step forward and forcing the sword blade up more.
“She killed Finn. She caused the whole bloody war,” Jala snarled. She couldn’t believe Valor of all people was stopping her now. He hated Cassia as much as she did.
“What happens when Legacy attends the Academy and reads how his mother brutally killed prisoners of war? Could you sleep then, Jala?” Valor asked as he took another step toward her and the blade of her sword tilted even farther from her target. “Killing a prisoner is something they would do, Jala. Are you like them? Which is it, Lady Bendazzi? Am I serving a tyrant or are you simply governed by anger now?” With every word he drew closer until he was near enough to reach her hand and carefully pry her fingers back from the sword’s hilt. Taking it from her hand gently he tossed the blade back to its owner and nodded slowly to her. “I hate her too, Jala. I want her dead as well, but she surrendered and we are not the sort of people that murder prisoners.”
“I hate her, Val. I hate her so much,” Jala whispered, the anger fading from her as she stared at the sigil of the Bendazzi on his breastplate.
“I know, Jala. You are standing on that ledge right now, though. You are balanced right on the verge of darkness, and no matter how badly you want her dead, I won’t let you fall. I will not let you become one of them, no matter how hurt or angry you are. You are better than they are, Jala,” Valor whispered back.
Jala looked up slowly, her eyes searching his face. There was nothing but concern in his dark blue eyes. She had been expecting disappointment and felt relief wash over her when she didn’t find it there.
“The Lord is approaching,” Jail said softly behind her and Jala nodded slowly before turning away from Valor to watch Jexon pull his horse to a stop beside her own.
“Thank you, Valor,” Jala whispered as she pulled back from him and walked toward Jexon. She could see the fury on her husband’s face, but it no longer concerned her. The agreement had been that she would be the obedient wife as long as he protected Merro. He had failed in his task by attempting surrender, which freed her from the obligation of good behavior.
Jexon closed on her quickly, his strides fueled by his fury. He would rant and rave, but nothing more. He never did more with witnesses. Jala watched him calmly and held a hand up for the knights to stay back. “It’s OK,” she told them softly. Though, by the expressions on their faces, they hardly agreed.
“You stupid bitch! Do you have any idea what you have done?” Jexon bellowed as the back of his hand connected solidly with her face. Staggering back from the blow, Jala reeled in shock, more from the words than the actual blow. She doubted Jexon even realized that he had quoted Finn’s last words to her, but the memory stung regardless. She could hear movement from behind and then Jexon was on his back on the ground with Valor’s fist rising for another blow.
“Are you all right?” Her father demanded as he pulled her farther back from Jexon.
Jala nodded absently as she watched Valor’s fist rise again and again, his metal gauntlet coated with Jexon’s blood. A faint smile tugged at her lips though she knew it was the last expression she should have.
“Are you going to stop Valor?” Jail asked softly and elbowed her lightly in the side. “Because it would really be a good idea to do so before he manages to kill Jexon,” he added when Jala didn’t show any signs of moving.
“Valor,” Jala called out loudly as she stepped toward the two men.
Valor stopped his next blow, but didn’t look up from Jexon. He crouched there, his face a mask of fury staring down at Jexon. She could see the muscles in Valor’s neck quivering with the desire to continue the assault.
“Could you sleep at night if you murdered him?” Jala asked calmly, repeating his own words back to him.
“Soundly and with a smile on my face,” Valor replied in a voice that was choked with anger.
“What happens when Legacy reads about this at the Academy?” Jala asked as she drew closer still.
“Then he will ask what took me so bloody long to kill the son of a bitch,” Valor shot back but she could see his body relaxing.
Slowly, Jala closed her fingers around the wrist of the hand he still held upraised for another blow. With a gentle tug she pulled him to his feet and looked down at the blood soaked gauntlet. Without bothering to even look at her husband she began to undo the buckles and pulled the gauntlet from Valor’s hand, gazing down at the bruised and scraped knuckles.
“Seize him!” Jexon bellowed from the ground, his voice distorted by his broken nose and bleeding lips.
“Uh, beg pardon but who exactly are you telling to seize him, Milord? We knocked your two guards out cold and disarmed them when the Commander moved toward you and the rest of us were cheering him on and hoping he would kill you,” Noble said with amusement in his voice.
“That’s not entirely true. I wasn’t cheering I was holding a sword out in offering in case he wanted to use something other than his fist,” Foster objected.
“There is nothing to seize him for. He hasn’t committed a crime,” Jala said quietly as she healed Valor’s hand and stepped back from him. Looking down at Jexon she shook her head slowly and smiled. “Valor is my Warder, remember? He was simply doing his job and protecting me. Unlike you, Jexon he does his duty,” she finished.
Jexon struggled to sit up, his face still filled with anger. Raising one arm he wiped the worst of the blood from his face and staggered unsteadily to his feet. “I was trying to protect your lands you stupid little bitch. We were outnumbered we had no choice but to find terms with the Avanti.”
“And yet we won,” Jala pointed out coldly, her eyes narrowing.
“Against an army of rabble. That was nothing more than show. They will send true soldiers against us now. Before, they were just bluffing. Now they will attack in truth,” Jexon snarled back in disgust.
“Then I suggest next time you actually fight,” Jala returned, then turned toward Jail. “Take my husband to the healers, Jail. I have no energy to spare to heal his wounds,” she ordered and turned back to look over the battlefield. “Father, have our dead and wounded cleared from the field. I will see to them as soon as I have the prisoners situated,” With one final glance at Valor she moved to stand in front of Cassia once more. Looking down, she stared at the woman and shook her head slowly. “This isn’t salvation, Cassia. This is a delay. Valor stopped me this time, but if you so much as whine in my presence, he won’t stop me a second time. I promise you that,” she whispered, her voice pitched just loud enough for Cassia alone. “Valor, set your own guards on the prisoners and Jail will question them when he has time. I don’t want any of Jexon’s guards watching them at any point.”
“As you say,” Valor agreed with a sharp nod. “Jala, are you truly planning to raise all of the fallen?” he asked as she moved toward her horse.
“Every last one of ours. Death will get nothing from Merro,” Jala promised as she swung into the saddle once more. Her eyes fell on the dragon’s corpse once more and she paused before turning to tend the dead. “Valor,” she began as she calculated the exact size of the beast.
“Yes?” Valor asked, glancing back from his place beside the prisoners.
“Are dragons edible?” Jala asked thoughtfully.
“What?” Valor and several of the knights echoed
the word their voices filled with disbelief.
“It’s that or horse meat. We are low on meat and the army could use the protein. I’ll leave it to Arovan to decide what is in the stew tonight,” Jala said calmly as she turned her horse and rode toward the waiting dead.
Chapter 28
The Greenwild
Rain poured down from the sky in steady waves. Glancing to her side, Jala gave Valor a suspicious look. The knight was drenched from head to toe, his fine cloak hanging from his back like a wet rag, and yet he had a smile on his face. He had been a steady companion of hers since the first battle, and that had been days ago. Now, finally, they had the Avanti forces pinned down again and Valor was in the best mood she had seen since before Finn’s death. She wasn’t entirely sure why, either. It was pouring down rain and the Avanti had the higher ground.
“It’s not me,” Valor said casually as she continued to watch him. He didn’t bother to look her way. She had been giving him glances all morning and he knew well enough she was wondering if the weather was his doing.
“Well, can you at least stop it?” Neph demanded from her other side. The Delvay was doubtless more uncomfortable than either of them considering his leather armor and lack of a cloak.
“Does leather armor shrink when it’s wet, like boots do, Neph?” Valor asked in a voice that was far too innocent.
“I would guess Neph’s is enchanted, isn’t it, Neph? Oh, wait, that’s right, the Delvay put the wards of protection on themselves, not their gear,” Jala said slowly as she grinned at Valor.
The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 3 From the Ashes Page 44
