The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 3 From the Ashes (15 page)

“Shade,” Symphony called in greeting, a warm
smile lighting her face. “I understand you handled yourself quite
well during the battle of Sanctuary. Lutheron tells me that if not
for you, Vaze’s squad would have suffered much heavier casualties.”
Her gold eyes were filled with nothing but welcome as she spoke and
the smile on her face seemed genuine.

“I did what I could under the circumstances.
How was your flight?” Shade replied, not quite believing he had
taken Vaze’s suggestion of lamely asking about her flight.

“Filled with the reading of scout reports
from the troubled countries and Lutheron’s reports involving the
city. So depressing mostly,” Symphony answered with a shrug. “Now
that we have the city though, we have a better foundation for
bringing this all to an end. The city of Sanctuary is a heavy
bargaining chip. Or so I hope.”

“It is the center of the world’s commerce and
every country has a stake here. I can’t see how it could be
anything other than an asset to your cause,” Shade agreed as he
fell into step beside her.

Lutheron was watching him with a look of
approval on his face and nodded slightly when he noticed Shade
glancing at him. Lutheron fell back farther behind, allowing Shade
to take his place beside Symphony as they walked. No doubt Lutheron
believed he was simply ingratiating himself to make his task of
spying easier.

Shade smiled faintly and offered the barest
of nods in return as he pointed the ships on the sky port out to
Symphony. “Vaze suggested that I teach a few people how to fly so
the Fionaveir would have more pilots. Would you be interested in
learning as well?” Shade asked, pointedly not looking at Faramir or
Lutheron as he spoke. Vaze had been clear enough on what Lutheron
had thought of the idea and he didn’t think Faramir would like it
much either.

“If I have time, I’d love to. I understand
they run off your skill with magic?” Symphony paused in her steps
to study the ships closer.

“They do,” Shade agreed with a nod. “The
stronger you are with magic the faster and more maneuverable you
can make the ship. I dare say you would give me a run for my money
Milady, and I am the best pilot I know.”

“Humble, aren’t you,” Symphony laughed and
smiled at him once again.

“My father often said that the world is
filled with people willing to offer you humility so when you speak
for yourself, speak with flattery to balance the conversation,”
Shade replied with a smile.

“Why not speak truthfully instead?” she
asked.

“Ahh. I asked the same thing. It was my Uncle
Kiernan that answered that for me. In his words the truth is
reserved for your funeral when you can no longer dispute what is
said about you. In the case of my piloting though the truth is
conveniently also flattering. I am the best. Once you’ve had a
chance to take a few lessons with me, I’m sure you will recognize
the truth of my words,” Shade said with a wide smile as he bowed
ever so slightly in her direction.

Symphony laughed and nodded slightly. “You
have the Morcaillo silver tongue. Kiernan is quite charming when he
isn’t in a foul mood. I’ve had to watch my conversations with him
closely to make sure I’m not being led astray by his wit on the few
occasions I have dealt with him. I can see I will have to watch
myself just as carefully around you.” She waved a finger at him in
mocking rebuke and began walking again. “I do thank you though,
Shade, for distracting me with conversation. Seeing Sanctuary as it
is was a shock despite the reports I have gotten. Faramir and
Lutheron both assure me that the majority of the damage was
structural though and the casualties were light considering.” She
glanced over at him as if to gage his reaction but he kept his
features perfectly schooled and nodded in agreement.

With Faramir and Lutheron right behind them
now was not the time to tell her the truth of things, despite the
subtle hint she had given before mentioning the topic. He would
have to pay closer attention to everything Symphony said from now
on. Apparently she was well schooled in her words and even when it
seemed she was teasing there was merit to what she said.

“You’ve grown quiet,” Symphony said with a
raised eyebrow.

“The mention of the damage to the city. It’s
been difficult for me to see it change so much. Sanctuary has been
my home for a very long time. I knew everyone and everything here
very well. Most only notice the obvious damage, but I know every
brick of this city and see all of the changes clearly. You’ve read
the reports, though, I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you about
it. As you said you need distracting, so let me distract us both
with a lighter topic,” Shade said casually, catching her eye just
long enough to see that she had read what he wanted her to from his
words.
I’ll tell you what they didn’t, but not now
.

“Such as?” Symphony asked the smile once
again placed perfectly on her face.

“Such as when are you going to have your
first free time? I know you are going to need a day or two to
settle in and then of course you no doubt have a mountain of
reports to read. Surely you can find an hour or two free to see the
Hawks up close, though,” Shade said with a smile of his own.

“I believe I can find time later today,
actually. I read my daily reports on the way here and I have very
little to unpack as of now.” Symphony offered. “I would like some
food, though. I’m afraid I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

“Excellent. I know a café near here that is
still open for business. We can grab a bite of food and you can
tell me which Fionaveir you think would be suitable to learn
piloting,” Shade suggested and began to steer her away from the
others. He noticed a few dark looks from the group of people behind
them but chose to ignore it. If they wanted to speak up, then
Symphony could handle it.

“That sounds like a winning plan, Shade. I
have a feeling we will be making a habit of these luncheons in the
future,” Symphony agreed with a nod. Then glanced over her shoulder
to the small group following them. “I will be at the hall in two
hours. Have the meeting set for then and we will discuss what needs
be done next,” she ordered and turned back to Shade. “Now, show me
this café and tell me all about the ships and perhaps you can tell
me a bit about the city as well. I’m afraid I’ll get lost here.
This is my first time in Sanctuary.”

“No fear of that, Milady. I can tell you
about every district here,” Shade assured her and smiled once again
more faintly.

“Tell me about this district first. This is
where the common grounds are, correct? The neutral quarter where no
house holds power,” Symphony began, her gaze sweeping over the
surrounding city as if she was determined to memorize every
detail.

“That is correct. The arena and the Academy
are in this district, as well as the Justicar hall and Council
hall.” Shade began and pointed out the various features as he
mentioned them.

A memory surfaced of giving Jala the same
tour in the spring. Jala had been wide eyes and wonder, whereas
Symphony seemed to be storing his words away carefully, nodding
often as he spoke to indicate she understood. The difference in
their reactions was remarkable. Jala had seemed so innocent then,
that he had trusted her almost before they had left Brannaford.
Symphony, however, seemed confident and poised and somehow more
capable than he had ever noticed before. This was someone that
could change things. This woman was on the brink of becoming the
most powerful person in the world.

It was possible that he had just found
exactly what he had been seeking for most of his life – a confidant
that shared his concerns. He had seen Symphony’s expression when
she first stepped from the ship. No one else had been close enough
to see that initial reaction so he didn’t think it had been faked.
It was possible that Symphony cared as much about things as he did,
but didn’t have the resources to know exactly what was going on.
The idea of spying on her made him sick, but the idea of spying for
her had merit. She seemed to have the wit for the intrigue ahead.
All he had to do was make sure she truly had the compassion. He
would do everything in his power to help her rule the world if she
sought to improve it. The trick would be finding out her true
motives. Symphony had already proven she was clever. Thanks to
Lutheron and Vaze, though, he was apparently going to have plenty
of time to find out what she was truly like.

The Darklands

When we first stepped through the shadow
arch into the Darklands there was at least four inches between me
and the front of this damned saddle.
Jala mused. Now with every
step the horse took, her stomach rubbed and her armor was starting
to chafe her skin.

She supposed she should be grateful that the
armor was enchanted and therefore still fit her. At the moment,
however, she was not feeling grateful at all. She was feeling
irritable and nauseous. Her stomach roiled again and she stifled a
groan. It was getting increasingly harder to keep down the small
amount of food she ate.

They were dangerously low on supplies,
however, and she couldn’t afford to waste what little she had
eaten. There wasn’t enough for a second meal today. They had been
on half rations for days now, and it looked as though she would be
forced to use magic to create food soon.

An incline in the path sent her against the
front of the saddle again and she had to hold her breath to keep
from heaving her stomach’s contents over the side of the horse.
Closing her eyes, she took several short breaths, and had to fight
to keep from bursting into tears.
What the hell am I doing here?
How am I supposed to win Finn back when I can’t even ride a damned
horse at a slow walk? At this rate, the most I will be able to do
to Death is vomit on her
. She exhaled slowly, her breath coming
in shaky bursts, and tried to compose herself once more.

Fiona was still walking silently ahead and
showed no indication that she had witnessed any of Jala’s distress.
For that minor miracle, Jala found herself overwhelmingly grateful.
The dead woman was full of scathing remarks and would have no doubt
had one at the ready had she noticed Jala’s eyes growing
glassy.

Jala let out another slow breath and felt
herself growing more steady as the horse slowed to a stop. Glancing
over her shoulder she looked at Valor in question. Fiona had shown
no indication that anything was wrong and the expression on Valor’s
face seemed calm enough.

“I’m going to walk.” Valor whispered.

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s your horse. If
anyone should walk, it’s me.” Jala snapped, and instantly regretted
her tone. It wasn’t fair to take her misery out on Valor and she
knew it. “I’m sorry. It’s just, well I’m wickedly over-emotional
today, I suppose,” she sighed, and felt the tears welling again as
she let out a shaky sob or laugh, she wasn’t really sure which it
was.

“I’ll walk,” Valor said cautiously and
started to swing down from the horse.

“Bullshit,” Jala snapped and kicked Valorous
hard in the ribs sending the horse into a trot. Valor shifted
quickly behind her, taking the reins up once more and slowing the
speed, but not before her stomach had managed at least three flips
toward her throat. “Oh, why did I do that?” she moaned softly and
bent forward over the saddle resting her forehead against
Valorous’s thick mane.

“Because you are stubborn and insane right
now,” Valor replied with a sigh.

“Insane?” Jala snapped, whirling her head to
look at him once more all tears forgotten.

“Oh, for the love of the Aspects. You were
calling yourself insane not too long ago. My sister was the same
way when she was pregnant. Mood swings, sickness, strange food
cravings, pain in the back and legs. Honestly I don’t why anyone
calls pregnancy beautiful. From what I’ve seen, it turns perfectly
sane women into vomiting tortured loonies with a penchant for
eating things that normally aren’t edible,” Valor said softly in an
exasperated tone that somehow still held sympathy. Shifting the
reins to where they were resting on the front of the saddle he
leaned back away from her and began to undo the buckles on his
gauntlet and bracer.

“I’m sorry. I know this must be difficult for
you.” Jala sniffed and let out another shaky breath. “What are you
doing?” she asked as he placed the pieces of armor into his saddle
bag.

“Hush loony, and try to focus on something
pleasant for a bit. I know it’s rather difficult given where we
are, why we are here, and what we are going to do, but try it
anyway. It’s called mind over matter. Think positive, focus on
things like
I will not vomit on Valor; he is filthy enough
,”
Valor said with a sigh and took the reins up once again in the hand
that still bore armor. Moving the other hand carefully he placed it
between her stomach and the hard leather of the saddle. “At least
you won’t be bumping him this way. I’d hate to see Finn’s firstborn
come into this world with a dented head.”

“I’m so sorry, Valor,” Jala said softly, her
head bowed forward once more. She felt the first of the tears trace
a path down her face and squeezed her eyes shut tightly as if she
could trap the rest before they fell.

“Do you remember what I said about this place
feeding despair into you, Jala? It’s hitting you double because of
your heightened emotions. You have nothing to apologize to me for.
You have done nothing wrong,” Valor assured her.

“How can you constantly stay so calm?” Jala
asked through sniffles, glancing back at him through blurry
eyes.

“I try to keep a constant picture in my mind
of Finn back and you smiling again. When that image starts to blur
in my thoughts, I ask myself would I rather tell your son stories
about his father or watch his father tell him stories. For that,
all the gloom, darkness, and pain is a trivial cost,” Valor
answered, as he carefully steered the horse around another
incline.