“You are going to fix it all? Won’t that take a really long time?” Legacy asked, his eyes widening and a note of sadness filling his voice.
“I’m not going to fix it all, Legacy. I’m going to start the process and show the others how it’s done. All it takes is building a road. Once the foundation is laid, others will follow our path,” Jala assured him as she slowly sat in the grass to stare up at her son. “You are so big,” she whispered, not truly able to believe her magic had changed her child so much in her short absence.
“This is not a true reflection of him, Jala. Though it will be soon if you don’t end the magic that is aging him. He is still the small child that you remember for now. He simply prefers to be bigger in the waking dreams,” War explained with a smile.
“I don’t like being little. Devony calls me a baby and I’m not like Nathan. Nathan cries when he gets hurt, but I’m tough like you, Momma. The only time you cry is when you are hurt here,” Legacy placed a small hand over his chest. His childish face was locked in an expression so serious that Jala found herself smiling sadly in response. Leaning over, Legacy wrapped his small arms around her neck and rested his head against her shoulder. “I miss you, Momma,” he whispered again, his voice softer and she could hear the sadness more clearly.
“I miss you too, Legacy. More than I can possibly say. But let’s not waste the time we have with sadness. Grandpa said you had the entire night to play, didn’t he. We should play then,” Jala said as she gently pulled his arms free of her neck and stood slowly, his hands still locked in her own. Forcing a smile onto her face despite the hollow feeling his words had left in her chest, Jala lifted her son and spun him through the grass until he erupted into giggles. Slowing she released his hands and truly smiled as she watched Legacy stumble dizzily, a wide smile on his face. “Thank you for this,” Jala whispered to War.
“You will need this in days to come, Jala. When darkness closes on you, remember this and never forget that it was a waking dream. This is truly what waits for you at the end of your trials. You do have a happily-ever-after, Jala, but you have to fight to keep it,” War said softly and motioned her toward her son. “Enjoy what happiness I can give you, Jala. It is not nearly as much as you have earned, but it is something.”
“So it’s true,” The deep voice pulled Jala from her dreams and she blinked in the morning light. She felt Valor tense under her and pulled back as he sat up in the bed. “Do you have any idea how furious mother would be to know you had a girl in bed with you in her house without the proper rings of marriage?” The voice slowly registered in her mind and Jala could see expressions of outrage and joy crossing Valor’s face. Turning she stared in disbelief at Honor Hai’dia who stood grinning in the doorway.
“Have you ever heard of knocking?” Valor demanded, though the joy in his voice was evident.
Honor laughed and a warm smile spread across his face. Turning to Jala, he bowed deeply the smile still showing. “Please forgive me, Lady Merrodin. I couldn’t believe it was true when your man found us. We rode all night to reach home and I couldn’t wait to see for myself,” Honor said and glanced back to his brother. “Or miss an opportunity to torment Val, of course.”
“My man?” Jala asked in confusion and glanced over at Valor. They had arranged for scouts to go out this morning, but no one should have been on patrols the night before.
“Grey haired fellow. He stepped right out of the shadows on the trail and nearly caused Micah’s horse to throw him. He said you would be here. He is waiting with the others if you would like to speak with him,” Honor explained, then seemed to realize their predicament. “I’ll leave you both to dress and wait downstairs. Don’t be long, Val. Micah has so many questions, and the only one to answer them is the damned Delvay.”
Valor turned to Jala as Honor closed the door and his smile seemed to lighten the room. “I couldn’t ask for a better morning. To wake up beside you and then find out that my brother still lives. I doubt there is anything that can take the smile from my face today.”
Jala returned the smile and leaned over to kiss him. Pulling back she nodded toward the door. “Let’s not leave them with Neph too long then,” she suggested as she climbed from the bed. “I left my armor in the other room,” she realized with a sigh and pulled her robe back on.
Valor looked back at her from where he was dressing and grinned wickedly. “I prefer the robe.”
“I don’t want to greet Lord Micah in a bathrobe,” Jala objected with a grin of her own. “I’ll meet you downstairs. Don’t wait for me,” she said quickly as she left the room.
Pushing the door open to the master bedroom, Jala started toward the bathroom then paused as she spotted Vaze seated at the small table. With a casual wave he motioned toward the bed and Jala turned to see her freshly cleaned gear waiting for her. Her eyes widened as she spotted the black staff lying near her pile of armor and she turned back to Vaze, an expression of shock clearly written on her face.
“Next time you lose that weapon would you please try to make sure it’s not in serpent infested waters?” Vaze asked with a faint smile.
“You retrieved it from the sea?” Jala gasped as she crossed to the bed quickly and plucked up the staff, wrapping her hands tightly around it. Jala could feel the energy humming through the weapon and looked up at Vaze in confusion. She had drained the weapon fully in Goswin yet it brimmed with magic.
“I did, and Symphony charged it fully for you. She wants to help so badly, Jala but her hands are tied. Faramir has convinced her that in order to protect and hold the city she must keep all of her strength in Sanctuary,” Vaze explained as he rose slowly from the chair. “I want to help you as well, Jala, but I’m not sure of my welcome. I wanted a chance to speak with you in private to settle things between us,” Vaze said with a heavy sigh, his gaze locked on her every move.
Jala nodded slowly and sorted her thoughts. Every time she had needed help, Vaze had appeared and had never asked a thing of her in return. It was true that he had sent Finn back to the Darklands, but perhaps he was trying to help her then, too. Her Uncle seemed to know everything. Perhaps he had known the truth of Finn’s feelings and had been trying to spare her the pain. “You are welcome here, Vaze,” Jala said at last as she carefully sat the staff back down on the bed and crossed the room to stand before him. “I don’t always understand what you do or why you are doing it, but you have never moved against me. In every action you have taken you have tried to protect me, though I didn’t always understand it at the time. Thank you,” she said as she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him lightly.
Vaze stiffened for a moment then hesitantly returned the hug. “You are my kin, Jala. You are the only family I have left in this world aside from my father. I will always try to protect you,” he said softly as he pulled back from the embrace. “The others are waiting downstairs. I will let them know you will be down shortly,” Vaze said as he stepped back toward the door.
“Thank you for that as well, Vaze. You have no idea how much it meant to Valor to see his brother alive,” Jala called after him, a faint smile tracing her lips as she remembered the look on Valor’s face. She turned back from the bed as the door closed behind Vaze and began to dress quickly. Things were looking up rapidly. Between the dream of Legacy and then the morning’s events, she shared Valor’s opinion. She couldn’t see how anything could steal her smile today.
Music filled the hall and Jala leaned back in her chair with a smile on her face. Blue’s clear voice was filled with joy and the mood around the table reflected it. Her eyes moved slowly across the faces of her people as they traded stories with Lord Micah’s men.
“You will have to explain to me sometime why your people are so protective over the Seravae. There have been four fights in the camps outside for the use of the word Spook,” Micah said quietly from her left and Jala smiled as she glanced at him.
“If not for Ash, Jala and I both would have died in Avanti. Our people know th
at and they have learned that our Soulreavers are different from the raiders they are familiar with,” Valor explained from her other side.
“I wasn’t awake during the rescue, but from what I hear, Ash held our spirits in our bodies until they were able to get us to a healer,” Jala added with a nod toward Ash who sat in animated conversation with Nigel.
“And how did you happen to get dragons to help you?” Micah asked quietly, his attention moving to follow her gaze.
“Nigel and his comrades arrived after the second battle with Avanti. When Valor brought down an entire army with just his company,” Jala replied and felt Valor shift beside her.
“That is a story I would dearly love to hear, but I fear the night is already growing long and we have much to discuss,” Micah said with a sigh, his gaze moving to her once more. “I can’t believe that you are here and I cannot begin to express how grateful I am for it. We didn’t expect anyone to help Arovan.”
“I don’t leave friends to rot, Micah. We came as soon as we were able. I only brought two thousand with me, but I don’t think it will take that many to face the Blights,” Jala said with another smile. A month ago the act of smiling had seemed impossible and now she couldn’t seem to keep the expression from her face.
“I have another favor to ask of you instead,” Micah began hesitantly and fidgeted with his glass of wine.
“Then ask,” Jala urged him.
“We were sent south to forcefully evacuate those too stubborn to leave their land. We have refugees camped among our soldiers now, to escort north. I still have to reach the Elemental towers of Amdany, but the refugees are slowing our progress so much that it may be too late by the time I reach there. Seravae is raiding in numbers that they have never shown before and I worry that the mages there will not be able to hold against them,” Micah explained, his gaze rising to meet her eyes once more.
“You want me to continue north with your people,” Jala surmised and nodded slowly.
“I cannot believe the mages are still in Amdany,” Valor began with a shake of his head. Leaning forward he looked at Jala and she could see the worry on his face. “Honor’s wife and daughters live in that tower. He must be frantic to reach them. Why hasn’t she evacuated before now?”
Micah smiled, his eyes flicking toward Honor who was engaged in a heated debate with Neph farther down the table. “He is frantic and the pace we are moving at is like torture to him. He has asked permission to ride ahead four times now and so far I have refused him.” Sighing, Micah twirled the wine in his glass once more and shrugged at Valor. “You know how Chalice is. She is as strong willed and independent as her husband or their marriage never would have lasted so long with his extended absence from her side. Her life revolves around the Amdany towers and she will not abandon her post.”
“We will help you,” Jala promised, glancing back to Valor with a smile. “I’m sure Valor will be able to guide us to your holdings in the north,” she added and Valor nodded in answer.
“Our plan is to get everyone to safety at the Dawnspire Fortress and then strike back in force to clear the enemies from Arovan. Glis stands with us and with the help of Merro it shouldn’t take long to win back our country. Then we can focus on Glis though that may take much longer than any of us care to think about,” Micah explained.
“We will help with the cleansing of Arovan, but we must return to Merro once that is done,” Valor said, his words drawing an expression of surprise from Jala.
“Understood,” Micah agreed with a smile, his eyes flicking between the two of them. “You make a beautiful couple, if I may say so. I wish you both happiness and my deepest thanks for what you are doing to help my land. Arovan will always consider Merro the closest of friends, I promise you that.” Micah raised his glass as he spoke. “To Merro and the Lady Bendazzi, may the friendship she has shown Arovan never be forgotten,” he called loudly, his clear voice ringing down the table. Echoes of his words rang back through the hall and Jala bowed her head in thanks, a deep smile on her face.
Chapter 34
Arovan
Her horse shifted beneath her as she gazed at the soft glow rising from the southeast. Frowning, Jala looked over to Valor in question. They had left his home days before and had been steadily moving north at a pace that tested even her patience. Most of the people she escorted were commoners and their strength was far more limited than that of her soldiers.
“It’s fire, and a big one if we can see it from here. By the glow I would say Amdany itself is burning,” Valor said at last, his voice filled with concern.
“Perhaps they set it to prevent Seravae from using it as a landing point,” Jala offered, but not even she truly believed her words. All morning she had felt a tension in the air though she hadn’t mentioned it to anyone. It was as if the world itself was pressing in on her trying to warn her. Tiny needles danced across her flesh as she continued to stare at the distant fire. “We both know that isn’t it, though. Something is very wrong,” Jala said in a quieter voice.
“We can’t press our people any farther tonight. They are exhausted,” Valor sighed, his own frustration rising in his voice. “We need to make better time, damn it!” he growled, his palm striking the front of his saddle in anger.
“Do you feel it, Jala?” Vaze asked as he stepped from the shadow and began to walk slowly toward them.
Jala glanced over at her Uncle and nodded slowly. “I feel something, but I don’t know what it is. In my gut I know something is wrong and I keep feeling this prickling sensation on my skin.” Her voice was filled with the tension that pressed her and she looked to Vaze hoping he would explain what it was she sensed.
“They are looking for us with magic. That prickling is their spells,” Vaze began, his gaze traveling to the south. “I can’t see them clearly through the shadows. They are hiding themselves well, but they are close.” His voice grew fainter as he stared off into the darkness.
“Who?” Valor demanded, his own eyes moving to follow Vaze’s gaze as if he could somehow see what the man sensed.
“Rivasa,” Vaze said quietly, the word sounding like a curse as he spoke. “They are moving far more quickly than we are, Jala. They will be on us soon and with their mages watching us so closely we don’t dare use magic to flee.”
“What do you suggest?” Jala asked. She had expected to face Blights or perhaps even Seravae. She had not however counted on Rivasa being here. Life was always so full of unpleasant surprises.
“That we find the best ground we can to hold them as quickly as we can and send the refugees on with a very small force to protect them. I would use the shadows to speed them on their way north but I cannot move so many and we cannot simply leave them behind,” Vaze said as he moved to stand beside her horse.
“I wouldn’t leave them behind to save myself,” Jala said firmly. With a heavy sigh she nodded and glanced to Valor. “Do you know of any place nearby that will suffice?”
Nodding slowly, Valor pulled his gaze back from the fire of Amdany and motioned a hand back behind them to the north. “There is a valley about five miles ahead near the foothills of the Dawnfall Mountains that narrows near the center. If we place our dragons on the hills above and our main force in the valley itself we should be able to hold for a time.”
“Five miles,” Jala repeated, and then glanced to Vaze. “You don’t believe there is any way I can transport us with magic?” she asked.
“You are strong, Jala, but there is more than one mage at work here. I cannot even counter their spells of obscurity to get a glimpse of their true numbers,” Vaze said with a sigh and shook his head. “To use a transport now would be suicide for the mage as well as the ones being moved.”
“Then we press on the last five miles tonight. We have no choice if they are truly closing on us already.” Turning to Valor, Jala smiled. “Care to inform the refugees while I empty some of our supply wagons to clear room for the children?”
“We need the supplies, Jala,
” Valor objected.
“I will gem them Valor, I won’t leave them behind. We need the people we are trying to save to survive and if we force march them the weaker ones will die,” Jala said with a final glance over her shoulder toward the south. Valor nodded his agreement and she watched him ride off before turning to look at Vaze. “How bad is it really?” she asked softly.
“If we can hold them until help arrives, Arovan might survive,” Vaze said softly.
“What help?” Jala asked softly. There had been so sign of any other nation rising to Arovan’s assistance and she had difficulty believing they would stir in the face of the newest threat.
“The help that I am praying so desperately for right now,” Vaze replied with a trace of irony in his voice.
Jala watched in mute horror as the ranks of their enemy filled the field beyond the valley they had chosen for their final ground. Tens of thousands of soldiers covered the ground as far as she could see. Her mouth dry, she glanced over at Vaze who stood beside her with a look of resolve on his face. She didn’t dare look back at her own people right now, not with the look of despair on her face. She could hear the murmurs through the ranks behind her. They were nervous enough without seeing the fear and utter lack of hope she knew she wore. There was no way her two thousand could hold against Rivasa. They had faced bad odds before, but nothing like this. Not even the chosen ground they stood in could spare them from death.
“Lady Merrodin!” A voice called from across the field amplified with magic. “I would speak with you, Lady Merrodin!” The voice rose again as a rider broke free of the ranks and stopped several yards ahead of his main force.
Pressing her own horse forward, Jala rode out to the mouth of the valley with Neph and Valor close beside her. The two Bendazzi ranged ahead of her horse and stopped, their bodies both crouched in threat. With a quick spell, Jala amplified her own voice and straightened her back. “Then speak!” she called her voice steady despite her growing fear.
The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 3 From the Ashes Page 54
