The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 2 Blood Honor and Dreams (53 page)

The Bendazzi led her through the thickest of
the festival and toward a small fountain. As the crowds thinned
around her she spotted Neph leaning back against the side of the
fountain using one of the festival lamps as a light to read by. He
looked up at their approach and gave her a questioning look.

“I had guessed you would be half-drunk and
dancing with your husband by this late in the night,” he said
calmly and closed the book. He was dressed in noble’s clothes
rather than his typical black leathers. Jala smirked at him,
raising an eyebrow at the finery and nodded her quiet approval. His
expression darkened a bit and he stood, looking down at her.
“What?” he demanded, brushing at his tunic as if to smooth it.

She snickered and shook her head slightly,
then glanced back toward Sovann before speaking quietly to him.
“That’s not Finn. That is Sovann, pretending to be Finn. Finn is
apparently off doing something dangerous somewhere without telling
me.”

“Finn is being an idiot and water is wet.
What’s your point?” Neph said dryly, though he was studying
Sovann’s impersonation from across the square now. He gave a
grudging nod in that direction and looked back at her with an
almost bored expression.

“My point is, I need you to locate him, so I
know where he is being an idiot at,” Jala snapped. “You are more
discreet with scrying than I am and I don’t want to give him away
with my heavy handed use of magic,” she added in a calmer
voice.

A pulse of magic washed over the city in a
wave as she fell silent. Jala looked around slowly trying to figure
out what had just happened, and then followed Neph’s gaze upwards.
They both stared in wonder as the sky cleared of the crimson
clouds. Above them twinkled thousands of stars that they hadn’t
seen in well over a month. Her eyes widened as the truth of the
sight fully dawned on her. The Barrier was down. They were free to
leave the city. A loud explosion from the inner city sounded and
she snapped her head in the direction in time to see a wave of
flames crest high in the air.

“Offhand, I’d say he is in that direction,”
Neph said sarcastically, pointing a finger toward the flames. “When
Finn is involved it’s always easiest just to look for dead people
or fighting and you will find him.”

“Thanks Neph,” she muttered sourly and heard
excited whispers ripple through the crowd. Turning back, she saw
Sovann standing by the portal stone and casting a spell. All eyes
in the crowd were on him as he worked the magic. He was back in his
own form now Jala realized with relief. The people crowded closer
to him, their attention divided between his obvious use of magic
before them, and the magic being used in the inner city.

Wisp stepped up beside the mage as he closed
his eyes in concentration. She raised her hands to silence the
people. Her green eyes were shining like a cat’s in the lantern
glow. “The Barrier is down for now, but there is no way of telling
how long it will stay down. If you wish freedom and safety step
through this portal Sovann is creating. It will take you out of the
city. The land there does not look like much now but I promise you
it will very soon,” she said loudly in a voice pitched to carry
across the square.

“That should have been me speaking with
them,” Jala muttered, feeling guilty that she hadn’t moved and Wisp
had been forced to.

“Really, did you not know what was coming?”
Neph asked.

“Well no, not until he began the spell,” Jala
replied. A tug on her sleeve brought her attention away from Wisp
and she looked down to see a small ragged boy standing before her.
He was the typical street orphan with unkempt dark hair and eyes
that seemed too large for his small face. “Yes?” she asked with a
smile, trying to reassure him. Most of the orphans were terrified
of Lords and Ladies and she was surprised that this one had
approached her at all.

With a grubby hand he placed a small leather
pouch in her hand and backed away. She looked from him down to the
parcel curiously and when she looked back up the child was gone.
Frowning, she studied the bag more closely. It was pale grey and
made of a leather so fine it was like silk to the touch. Small
black leaves were embroidered along its sides.

“It could be a trap,” Neph warned, staring at
the bag with suspicion.

She nodded slowly and cast a quick spell to
seek harmful magic on it. Satisfied that there were no magical
traps waiting for her she untied it and dumped its contents into
her hand. A single vial fell out of it. It was filled with a gold
liquid and sealed with wax, and was all too familiar.
As long as
I hold the vial of blood Finn Sovaesh shall live, Hemlock
’s
words rang in her mind so loudly, it was as if he stood beside
her.

“Oh Fortune, no,” she gasped, clutching the
vial in her hand.

“What?” Neph asked, his confusion written
clearly on his face. “Jala, what is that and what is going on?” he
demanded, trying to grab her before she could turn.

“I don’t have time to explain, Neph. Finn is
in serious danger. For once it’s not just my paranoia,” she called
over she shoulder, not slowing her steps in the least.

“What?” Neph asked, his tone bewildered. No
doubt she had confused him. She knew he would figure out the vial
soon enough when he actually bent his mind to it and she didn’t
have time for the lecture that would result from it.

More explosions ripped through the inner city
and her heart pounded painfully against her ribs. By the sounds of
it there was a war raging beyond her walls and in the midst of it
was Finn. She gripped the vial tighter, walking quickly for the
stables. As long as she could still feel the link between them,
Finn lived.

She would have used magical transport if she
dared. That wasn’t an option, however, with no way of knowing which
parts of the inner city were under attack. If she chose her
destination poorly she could end up in the middle of a battle, or
worse on the end of a sword. The idea of contacting Finn mentally
had been tempting as well, but if he was in a delicate situation
right now, the distraction could mean his life.

The smell of clean straw and horses greeted
her as she opened the door to the stable. It appeared to be empty,
aside from the shuffling of horses. Pausing in the darkened
entrance, she let her eyes adjust before entering fully. With the
threat of the Blights she had learned to use caution whenever
alone. Once she was certain nothing more than horses awaited inside
she moved quickly to her gelding’s stall and started to lead him
out.

“Not him, you look as though you are in a
hurry. He is steady but he isn’t fast,” Valor said as he moved past
her. So much for my sense of caution, she mused sourly. She hadn’t
even heard him approaching, and he was wearing armor. Without
asking why she wanted a fast horse, he led his chestnut mare from
her stall. He took her saddle from its rack calmly and placed it on
the mare’s back. “I’ll take Finn’s grey and you can explain what we
are doing once we are finished here,” he said as he handed her the
bridle for the mare.

He turned away from her and went to the grey
mare’s stall leaving her staring after him blankly. She hadn’t
realized Valor had been paying attention to anything tonight. From
what she had seen of him, he had been lost in thought for most of
the evening. The grey danced at the end of her tether as he led her
out of the stall. The sounds of the distant explosions already had
the mare on edge.

“That isn’t Finn outside,” she began as she
recovered.

“It’s Sovann,” Valor said, cutting in with no
surprise in his voice at all. “Finn I would guess is at the middle
of the attack in the inner city. That really isn’t unusual for him.
My question is why are we riding into that mess? You know he can
take care of himself.” He spoke quietly with no hint of what
emotion he was feeling.

Jala hesitated on answering and pretended
that bridling the chestnut required all of her attention. She knew
how Valor felt about Hemlock and actually admitting she had made a
deal with the man wasn’t a topic she wanted to broach. “I have good
reason to believe he is in danger,” she said at last, as she
finished with the last buckle on the headstall.

“Given the explosions, I think anyone that
realizes he isn’t here has good reason to believe that. You will
have to do better Jala,” Valor replied patiently. By the way he was
watching her, she guessed he knew she was hiding something.

“All right, I’ve let Wisp and Sovann know we
are going to be delayed on joining them, and Jail and the rest will
meet us at the gate. So explain why we are going to be delayed and
what they are meeting us for,” Neph said as he walked through the
stable doors. He paused mid-step as he realized Valor was there as
well. With a quick nod to the knight he began to hastily prepare
his own horse.

“Hemlock made a bargain with me while I was
imprisoned. In return for one vial of my blood he would not accept
any contracts on Finn. As long as he held the blood he said he
wouldn’t move against Finn. I even signed a contract on it. He
returned the blood to me about ten minutes ago,” she explained, the
words pouring out of her.

“You did what?” Neph demanded, almost
dropping his saddle as he whirled to face her. “Do you have any
idea what he could have done with your blood,” his tone was rising
in volume with every word, as was the color of his face. She had
never truly seen Neph lose his temper, but thought he was close
now.

“Neph, enough. I’m sure she does. By what she
says we don’t have time for this. Saddle your horse or be left
behind,” Valor said, his voice as firm as any commanders. Neph
stared at him in shock for a moment and then silently returned to
preparing his horse, though the look on his face said this wasn’t
the last she would hear of it.

Valor gave her a faint smile and bowed his
head slightly. “My apologies, Jala, for doubting your honor during
our talk at the Academy. I’m afraid I misunderstood your purpose in
dealing with him. Do you have any idea where Finn might be?”

She shook her head miserably and rubbed her
face with a slightly shaking hand. “I’m afraid to try to locate
him. If he is in hiding, my magic will give him away. I’m afraid of
trying to contact him too. If he is in combat, it could distract
him,” she said, her voice almost breaking. Her throat was growing
tight as her fear grew.

Valor gave her another faint smile that she
guessed was meant to reassure her. “Go ahead and try contacting
him. Finn is enough of a professional that a mental link will not
throw his fighting off. You contacted him during his fight with
Kithkanon, remember?” he spoke softly as if soothing a child.

She nodded slightly and let out a ragged
breath as she watched Neph lead his gelding from its stall and nod
that he was ready. Closing her eyes she focused on the bond between
them to check his emotions before she tried a link. She frowned,
unsure what to make of the combination of satisfaction and
nervousness.
Finn, where are you
? She tried to keep her
voice calm in the link, but if he focused on the bond as she was
doing he would know the truth.

Ahh. So that explains why I’m getting so
much fear from you. You had me nervous, Vezradesh. Don’t worry
about me. I will be with you soon. Go through the portal that
Sovann is making, I’ll meet you in Merro
. A surge of relief
came through the bond as he answered her and she wondered if she
was over-reacting yet again. Finn had always pulled through, no
matter the odds.

Finn, Hemlock returned the vial to me, the
vial I gave him to ensure your safety. I think he is planning to
kill you. Please tell me where you are
, Jala explained as
calmly as she could. Neph and Valor were mounted now and both
watched her silently for any sign of what was coming.

I can handle Hemlock, Jala. Follow Sovann,
please
, Finn replied, sounding amused by her concern.

Finn I’m not leaving this city without you
and if you don’t tell me where you are I will go building to
building in the inner city until I find you
, Jala pressed, her
patience worn through by her frustration and fear.

I don’t want you involved in this, Jala,
but I see you aren’t going to give me a choice. I’m at the Hall of
Justice. If you absolutely must come into the inner city, then ride
in this direction and I’ll meet you on the way. Do not come alone
though. The streets are in chaos right now
. Irritation was
clear in his voice as he responded.

Neph and Valor are with me. We will meet
you there
, she replied and swung into her own saddle. “He is at
the Hall of Justice. He says he will meet us enroute there,” she
explained to her two companions and guided her mount out the
door.

“Lovely. That is bound to be the center of
the fighting,” Neph said dryly as he followed.

“Yes it is,” Valor agreed with a note of
satisfaction in his voice. Jala didn’t need to ask what he was
thinking. It was clear that he was hoping to find vengeance against
those who killed his sister as well as Finn. For his sake as well
as Chastity’s spirit, she sincerely hoped he did.

* * *

They rode through the nearly vacant streets
at a canter. As they drew closer to the sealed gate, the sound of
combat on the other side grew louder. She could hear the clashing
of swords mingled with screams and the occasional explosion. Jail
sat on his horse to the left of the gate waiting patiently. She
hadn’t even realized that he was back in her district. No one had
told her of his return until Neph had mentioned he would be waiting
for them. To her shock, Madren sat waiting to his right looking
more at ease than she had ever seen him.

I am here as well. Jail has been helping
me with some problems. I am sorry for being so distant lately
,
Emily’s voice rang clearly in her mind and she felt a wave a
relief. Knowing the Blight was with them as well, was a trump card
that she dearly needed right now.