The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 3 From the Ashes (48 page)

“Like a damned cockroach,” Kithvaryn sighed
and nodded slowly, his expression relaxing into one of resignation.
Looking back to Jala he shrugged. “It will take more than my son’s
return, Lady Merrodin. I have soldiers to pay and supplies to buy.
I cannot work for free on any contract that I take. So what can you
offer in coins?”

Jala smiled and nodded in understanding. “Of
course you can’t work for free, General Kithvaryn. I understand
that. I can offer you two hundred thousand gold to begin the
contract as well as the return of Kithkanon’s soul and another five
hundred thousand to be paid upon the end of the war. I know there
are others that could pay you more, but they will ask more of you
as well.”

Uh, Jala, I really hate to break into your
bargaining, but where exactly are we going to get that kind of
money
? Sovann’s voice in her mind was as anxious as his
expression and she had to suppress a smile. It took effort to hide
a mind link in both magic and mannerisms. Sovann had always been
good at hiding his magic. He always failed at hiding his emotions
however.

I spoke with Madren about it before we
left for Goswin. He will pay most of the two hundred thousand that
will start the contract
, Jala explained calmly.

And the five hundred thousand
? Sovann
pressed, his voice still filled with concern.

Will be paid from the Avanti coffers once
we defeat them
, Jala replied and once again had to suppress a
smile as Sovann’s eyes widened dramatically.

What if we don’t defeat them, Jala
?
Sovann’s voice had risen in panic and she was sure if the mage had
spoken the words aloud they would have been in soprano.

Then I will be dead and I won’t have to
worry about it any longer, Sovann
, Jala answered with a faint
smile as she broke the mental link between the two of them. She
could tell by Sovann’s expression that there was more he wanted to
say on the matter but she didn’t have time for it now.

Kithvaryn was watching her with a thoughtful
expression on his face glancing over at Vaze he raised an eyebrow.
“And what did the Fionaveir plan to offer me?” he asked.

“They had planned to hire you to defend
Sanctuary, but I retract the offer for contract in light of Lady
Merrodin’s request. So now I suppose it is between Lady Merrodin,
Lord Hexian, and whoever offered you the fourth contract. Who
exactly was it that arrived before me, Kith?” Vaze said, raising an
eyebrow as he spoke the last words.

“Morcaillo, actually. He wanted me to level
Goswin before they could become a problem. Coincidently, he offered
more money for the job. While it would bloodier than simply
defending them, it would also be very quick. Which would allow me
to take another contract before this is all done,” Kithvaryn
answered with a faint smile.

“Is that a no on my offer then, General?”
Jala asked calmly, though in truth, she was anything but calm. She
had been so certain Kithvaryn would accept the contract for return
of his son that she hadn’t actually thought about what she would do
if he refused it. Then, of course, there was the possibility that
he would take Morcaillo’s offer which pretty much guaranteed the
destruction of Goswin. Of course, Lord Hexian’s contract would
likely mean the same thing. Hexian’s homeland of Rivana shared a
border with Goswin and while they were currently at war with Delvay
she doubted it would be long before they looked at Goswin. Things
were going from bad to worse at a speed she had never
anticipated.

“Not a no, as of yet. I will think on it and
I will speak with Lord Hexian first. You will stay as my guests
here for the night and I will have your answer by morning,”
Kithvaryn said after a long silence. Slowly he stood from his chair
and rolled his shoulders. “Too long in that bloody chair and too
long ignoring my other guest,” Kithvaryn sighed as he turned to
look at Vaze with a faint smile. “I have no doubt that you know my
fortress as well as most of my guards, Fionaveir. You are, after
all, the favored spy of your people aren’t you?”

Vaze shrugged and stood as well, as it became
obvious that their meeting was at an end. “I know a bit about the
place, I suppose. Why do you ask?”

“Because I trust you to guide my guests to
quarters better than I trust my own guards to do so. Lady Merrodin
is not well loved on this island and I think it would be best that
I not tempt fate. Take them to the north tower if you will, Vaze.
You will all be safe and out of the way there,” Kithvaryn
answered.

“As you say, Kith,” Vaze agreed with a faint
smile and motioned Jala and her two companions toward him. “The
shadows will be the quickest I believe,” he explained as the room
around them began to darken.

Jala nodded quickly and held her hands out
for Valor and Sovann. It was not the first time Vaze had
transported her by shadows and she was incredibly grateful for it
now. The thought of walking through the fortress again through the
countless halls and stairs was akin to torture in her mind at the
present.

Don’t look forward to sleep just yet. The
night is far from over I’m afraid
, Vaze warned her as his magic
washed over the three of them.

What is that supposed to mean. Is Kithkara
planning on murdering me or something
? Jala demanded once her
feet touched down on solid stone once more. There was a time when
translocation magic had nearly made her sick. Lately however she
had been using it so much that it barely even made her dizzy.

“Welcome to the South tower,” Vaze said
softly with a faint smile.

“I thought Kithvaryn said the north tower?”
Sovann asked in confusion as he scanned the narrow hall they stood
in.

“He did and that is why I chose this one. The
rooms here are nearly as good and it is farther from the common
hall as well as the officers’ quarters,” Vaze said aloud at the
same time he spoke in Jala’s mind.
Third door. Open it slowly
and leave your companions outside when you enter. I can see through
the shadows here and I know what awaits you.
Looking back at
Valor and Sovann he smiled widely and motioned toward the first two
doors. “Your rooms, gentlemen. I will take the one on the far side
of Jala’s. That should keep her safe for the night.”

What are you sending me into Vaze
?
Jala tried to keep her voice calm, but her emotions were running
too high.

Nothing that you can’t handle, Jala
,
Vaze assured her.

Jala sighed and searched her mind for Marrow.
She would have given a lot to have the Bendazzi beside her tonight.
He was better off where he was however. If things went poorly in
the morning he could possibly be a trump card in her favor, or at
the very least he would be safe from whatever fate she suffered.
Smiling calmly at Valor and Sovann, she walked slowly toward the
third door. “Goodnight, guys. I will see you in the morning,” she
said, letting the brunt of her exhaustion fill her voice.

“I should check your room first,” Valor
objected and started to move toward her door.

Jala shook her head softly and laughed. “Val,
we both know Vaze sees through the shadows. If there was anything
dangerous lurking in there waiting for me he would know it,” she
said in a light voice and hated herself for every syllable. It was
close to lying in her mind, but Vaze had said to enter alone. Still
it was hard to trust the man after what he had done in Merro.
Turning back toward the door, she started to push it open and then
paused, her teeth clenched. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t
deceive Valor again no matter what Vaze said. Her hand flat on the
door she turned her gaze back toward Valor and met his eyes fully.
Something is waiting inside for me Val and I don’t know who or
what it is. Vaze says it is something I should face alone but I
won’t pretend the room is empty to you.

Then let me go in first
, Valor
demanded the irritation plain on his face.

Vaze says it is nothing I can’t handle
alone, but I didn’t want to lie to you. Just go ahead and go into
your room. If I need you, I will call, I promise
, Jala assured
him as she slowly turned the knob to the door and stepped inside
the dark room. She closed the door without turning her back on the
darkness as she held a hand up and summoned a pale mage light.

Soft violet illuminated the room outlining
the large bed and dresser as well as the man seated in the only
chair the room offered. He was slight of build with jet black hair
and features that reminded her of Wisp. Smiling softly he pulled
back the edge of his black feathered cloak revealing a small
blanket wrapped bundle nestled in one of his arms. “Your son missed
you, Lady Merrodin,” he said in a low voice as he beckoned her
closer.

“Who are you and why do you have Legacy?”
Jala demanded, her eyes locked on the bundle in his arms. Every
instinct in her body screamed for her to run and snatch the blanket
from his arms, but she held herself back. There was no guarantee
that this wasn’t a trap. Legacy should have been safe in Merro with
her friends.

“My name is Seth, and I have your son because
he was in danger. The Nightblades came for him earlier tonight.
Your friends live, though they were unable to protect your son
properly,” Seth explained as he rose slowly from the chair and
walked toward the bed. He kept his gaze on her as he moved slowly
to set the bundle down. “You are wise to be cautious, Lady
Merrodin. I respect you for that. Let me assure you that I mean no
harm to you or your child, though.” Seth spoke softly as he
unwrapped the blankets to reveal the child sleeping soundly within.
He stepped back as slowly as he had approached the bed and kept
both of his hands upraised and well away from the weapons that
lined his belt. “This is a lesson for you, Lady Merrodin. Never
leave something you love behind. Your enemies will use love against
you at every opportunity, and there won’t always be someone there
to stop them.”

Jala stared at her son in disbelief and
started toward the bed, but froze before she had taken more than
three steps. It took all of her willpower to keep from rushing to
Legacy, but she forced herself to call on her magic instead. As
quickly as she could she poured through every spell Sovann and Neph
had taught her to examine the child. “It’s really him,” she gasped
as the truth of the matter was proven with magic. Rushing forward
she leaned over her son searching for even the slightest bruise on
his tender skin.

“He is in perfect health. I promise you that.
Though he will likely be hungry very soon,” Seth said quietly.

“Why would you help my son? I don’t know you.
I don’t even know who you serve,” Jala whispered, her eyes
searching the man for any emblem that might give her some clue of
his origin. His dark leather armor was of simple fashion without
even the slightest embellishment and the long feathered cloak had
no ornamentation other than the feathers themselves.

“Memories. I helped him for the sake of
memories. You didn’t know me, but you do now, Lady Merrodin, and as
to who I serve… Well he prefers to be anonymous, though I promise
you he is not your enemy or affiliated with any of your enemies,”
Seth answered, his words so cryptic that they didn’t even begin to
answer her questions. Smiling faintly Seth bowed to her and pulled
his cloak back around himself once more. “Do you know why Dashara
failed, Lady Merrodin?” he asked as he stepped back from her toward
the room’s only window.

“No,” Jala answered in confusion, caught
completely off guard by the change of topics.

“She wasn’t strong enough when things got
dirty. She couldn’t stand the sight of blood or to actually cause
pain to others. Her companions did all of the messy work for her.
Dashara was beautiful and compassionate to a fault and could speak
with such eloquence that you could believe the Divines themselves
guided her. Twice she had the chance to end the rebellion with one
thrust of a knife and twice she showed mercy and lost that
opportunity.” Seth shook his head slowly and let out a long sigh
before looking toward her once more. “They repaid that mercy by
flaying her skin and salting the wounds. Dashara died in complete
agony because she wasn’t strong enough to strike.” He paused again
to open the window, turning his back toward her, but not before she
caught the look of pain on his features. “Fiona was the complete
opposite. She had the strength and the resolve, but none of the
compassion and charisma,” Seth continued, turning back to look at
her, his expression neutral once more. “Despite what they lacked
and their faults, both of them nearly changed the face of this
world, and neither of them had Divine blood.” He winked at her and
smiled. “We share enemies, Lady Merrodin, and for that and the sake
of memories you may call on me if you are ever in dire need. They
call you
Dasharan
and there are those who seek to kill
anyone given that title. Call on me if they try and you think they
might succeed.” He pulled a feather from the edge of his cloak as
he spoke and laid it carefully on the table by the window before
slipping out into the night.

Are you all right
? Valor’s voice in
mind broke the spell of silence she had been lost in and she shook
her head quickly before answering.

I’m fine Valor. I just had a very strange
visit and Legacy is here now
, Jala explained, still in a bit of
a daze. Seth’s words had left her in a state of confusion. She
wasn’t sure exactly what he was wanting from her. Did he expect her
to change the world? Would he still help her when he realized she
had no intention of changing anything aside from the population of
the Avanti lands?

What
?
How is Legacy here? Is he
OK
?
Wait to answer. I’m coming to your room
, Valor’s
voice was filled with concern as he broke the mental link. Within a
breath, her door was opening and he stood there, his gaze sweeping
the room as if he had expected trouble.