The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 3 From the Ashes (55 page)

“I agree.” The words were faint, barely a
whisper, but then as the title implied the Master of Silence rarely
spoke loudly. She was the only woman Jala had seen since her
arrival that actually had a voice of power. Though saying she had
seen the woman was a bit of a joke in itself. The lady kept herself
covered from head to toe in a long grey dress. A veil of matching
silk fell over her face and covered her hair. Not a single trace of
the woman could be seen through the garb. Jala couldn’t even begin
to guess the woman’s age through the clothing.

“I think this has all been a marvelous waste
of time to begin with. We all know Jexon holds the advantage here.
Ash’s loyalties are questionable at best. He fled from his country
and went into hiding rather than abide by our laws. If we are truly
going to form an alliance with a country as questionable as Merro,
then we must send a trusted leader. Jexon has proved himself time
and time again.”

Jala turned to gaze at the last speaker and
forced her face to remain neutral. It wasn’t the first time the
Master of Spirits had insulted Merro, or her for that matter, and
she doubted it would be the last. The man was old, wrinkled, and
balding, and by far the ugliest creature she had ever seen among
the Elder Bloods. He was half-blood if she guessed and took his
physical traits from the commoner side of his family.

“I regret that the council stands against me
on this matter,” Ash said with a bow of his head. He had regained
the serene bearing the moment they had landed on Seravae and had
managed to keep it through the entire debate. He never showed
anger, he never smiled, and he never gloated, which was more than
could be said for his father. She had witnessed all three emotions
in the High Lord.

“There should have been no debate on this at
all. The matter is settled now, though,” Jexon said, his voice
thick with triumph. Turning, he looked Jala over with a faint
expression of distaste and then looked past her to Neph as if she
wasn’t worthy of his direct words. “If you seek an alliance with
Seravae you will deal with me. If she simply wishes a marriage to
something better than an exiled bastard then I suppose Ash
qualifies.”

“She seeks an alliance with Seravae to
support Merro in this time of conflict,” Neph said formally and she
could tell he had to fight to hold back saying more on the
subject.

“Then we will draw up a marriage contract,”
Jexon agreed with a smug smile of satisfaction.

“We have stipulations on that contract,” Neph
began, and the attention of the entire room riveted on him.
Standing slowly, Neph straightened the knee length coat he wore and
rolled his shoulders. She knew he hated the clothing as much as he
hated holding his tongue. This entire fiasco was taxing on Neph and
she loved him all the more for enduring it. “First and foremost,
would be the matter of Legacy, my Lady’s son. It is to be clear to
all parties involved with this alliance that Legacy is not to be
involved in this contract. It is understood that the new High Lord
of Merro would wish his own blood to be heir in his kingdom and for
that reason the High Lady has decreed that her only son will follow
in his father’s path and will be considered in the succession of
Firym under his uncle High Lord Arjuna rather than be considered
for heir of Merro,” Neph said in clipped tones and Jala wondered if
the Soulreavers in the room were reading his emotions. If they
were, they would no doubt give Neph a wide space at the dinner
table tonight. Even though she couldn’t sense the emotions with
magic, she could see the fury he was containing.

“Next, it is to be understood that in the
event that should the High Lady die before an heir has been born
that the lands will revert to her brother-in-law Sovann Sovaesh
rather than to her husband. If this should happen, it is understood
that Seravae will consider the alliance null and the strength that
they have brought will return to the isles,” Neph continued, his
expression growing darker. “Lastly, my Lady wishes me to remind all
present that this alliance will be occurring after other promises
have already been made. There is a structure in Merro that must be
upheld regardless of Seravae tradition. She has a council of Lords
that will continue to hold power after this marriage. They are to
be given choice lands after all conflicts have settled and will
continue to help in the governing of Merro in times of peace. The
individuals are as follows, Nephondelvayon, Wisp Faydwer, Valor
Hai’dia, Jail Han’shy, and Sovann Sovaesh. If there are any
problems with these conditions, please speak now.” Neph finished
and sat down in his chair, his back rigid. He glanced over at Jala,
his pale blue eyes stormy and nodded once to her. She could tell
she was in for a rant from him, but he didn’t dare risk a mental
link in their present company.

“I see no issue with these stipulations,”
Scythe said slowly as if he was still trying to determine the catch
on her demands.

Jala smiled faintly and glanced to Neph. He
returned the look with a grudging nod. Neither of them had been
sure if the Seravae would accept the terms of her lords or not.

“I find no objections,” the Master of Silence
spoke once more in the hushed whisper and Jala wished she had
managed to catch the woman’s name. The woman reminded her so much
of Ash in her speech and bearing that she was sure the two were
related.

“Then we have the votes required and the
contract will be written. We will sign it this evening and the
marriage will commence,” Jexon announced with a firm nod.

To his credit, Ash did a perfect job of
showing disappointment. “Then there is nothing more for me to say
on the matter, I suppose,” Ash said and bowed his head to Jexon.
“As usual, you win,” he added softly. He watched silently as Jexon
left the room and then turned back to Jala and nodded toward the
door. “Call Valor,” he whispered.

Jala nodded slowly and rose from her chair.
On the surface it was said that Valor was keeping her child away
from the meetings to keep Legacy’s fussing from interrupting the
council. In truth, Valor had been given the job of guarding Legacy
to keep his own fussing from interrupting the council. The knight’s
mood hadn’t improved in the least, even after she had explained
their plan to him. If anything, Valor’s mood had grown darker,
though thankfully he seemed to be gaining more control over the
weather that reflected his emotions. She knew he was still furious
and yet the weather outside was dismal and foggy rather than the
raging storm she had expected.

Leaning out through the door she peered down
the hallway until she spotted Valor seated in a window ledge with
Legacy curled on his chest. He had balanced himself, carefully
bracing his back against one side of the window and his knees
against the other, forming somewhat of a living hammock for her
son. Marrow lay sprawled beneath the two of them, his massive head
balanced on his paws as he slept. She smiled faintly at the sight
and approached slowly to speak rather than risk waking Legacy. She
had thought at first that Valor was sleeping as well, but as she
grew closer she could see his eyes were open and locked on the
rolling waves beyond the keep.

“Is it done?” Valor asked quietly as she
approached. His voice was neutral without the bite to it that she
had expected. He didn’t bother to turn his head toward her as he
spoke, a sure sign that he was still angry.

“The negotiations are finished. Ash asked me
to bring you back to the room,” Jala replied softly, her eyes
moving from Valor to Legacy who was sleeping peacefully with one
hand clenching the front of Valor’s coat and the other curled into
a fist by his mouth. “Has he been asleep long?” she asked, hoping
the answer was yes. The child looked so peaceful she hated to
disturb him, but it was necessary.

“About an hour or so,” Valor replied as he
pulled his legs back from the windowsill and slowly stood. He kept
one arm behind the child’s back, balancing his head and the other
bracing his legs as he moved and Legacy continued to doze without
so much as a flicker of his eyes.

“He always wakes when I move,” Jala murmured
as she watched the child in amazement. Her gaze rose to Valor’s
face and her smile faded. His dark blue eyes wouldn’t meet hers and
his expression was distant. Swallowing heavily, Jala nodded to him
and held her arms out to take the child.

“He is fine and likely will find more rest
with me. I’m sure you will have a hundred things to attend to
here,” Valor said quietly and brushed past her toward the council
room. She watched him go and dropped her gaze down to Marrow.

You have blinded yourself so fully with
your goals that the rest of the world is nothing more than shadows
to you. I hope this army is the most formidable force on the face
of Sanctuary, Jala. That is about the only way it could be worth
the price you have paid for it
, Marrow told her as he rose from
the floor and stretched.
I love you, Jala, and I will always
stand beside you. I will stand beside you in this, but I will be
hanging my head in shame as I do
, Marrow finished as he moved
closer to her and braced his massive head against her leg.

Jala stared down at him for a long moment,
her hand trailing across the back of his head. “I never wanted his
friendship to be the price Marrow. I have followed the only path I
saw available. Faydwar and Firym are infested with Blights, Arovan
and Glis are on their knees and Oblivion is worse off than Merro. I
had no other choices for an alliance, Marrow. Please understand
that,” Jala pleaded, her eyes growing glassy.

So blind
, Marrow repeated as he pushed
against her leg forcing her back down the hall toward the room
where her friends waited.

Jala allowed herself to be pushed and began
walking slowly, her head hung as she tried to master her emotions.
It wouldn’t do to walk back into that room on the verge of tears.
Taking a slow breath, she shook her head at Marrow. “Sometimes
there are no good choices,” she whispered as she stepped through
the doorway once more.

“This is absolutely ridiculous. Women do not
have Warders,” Jexon raged as he paced the small room they stood
in. The High Lord had arrived only moments before and simply his
presence had managed to clear most of the occupants of the room.
Every assistant or servant that wasn’t absolutely necessary had
fled at his approach.

Jala watched him out of the corner of her eye
from her perch in the center of the room. She didn’t dare move with
the seamstress already glaring at her and holding a handful of
pins. No doubt the woman wasn’t used to so much commotion in her
tiny chamber. It was her own fault, though. She had been the one
that had sent the page rushing to find the High Lord at the first
mention of Warders.

“The vows were sworn before the council,” Ash
said calmly as he watched his father cross the room once more.

Jexon turned his glare, moving from Ash then
onto Neph and Valor. “Women have handmaids not Warders!” he
repeated nearly screaming the words.

“I do her hair and nails on the side. Valor
handles the wardrobe and fashion advice, and Ash is there for girl
talk,” Neph said dryly with a tight smile.

“As far as I understand, the Warders are
protectors of the ruling house. Nowhere in the laws does it state
that the ruling individual must be male,” Ash broke in before Jexon
could continue his ranting.

“It shouldn’t have to be stated in the laws.
No woman has, or ever will hold ruling power in Seravae,” Jexon
raged wheeling back to face his son once more.

“It’s a good thing she isn’t from Seravae
then, isn’t it,” Valor said coldly, his eyes locked on the High
Lord.

Jexon turned toward Valor, but held his
tongue, his gaze furious. Smiling slightly, Valor raised an eyebrow
in invitation, daring the man to speak. To Jala’s astonishment,
Jexon turned to face the seamstress instead. “See that she is
properly attired as a matron should be,” he snapped as he moved to
stand directly in front of Jala, his gaze traveling over her
critically. His eyes lingered on her right hand and his lip curled
slightly. “And make sure she has some gloves,” he snarled as he
turned back toward the door and his attention fell on the servant
there. “Tell them to have plenty of strong alcohol at the feast
tonight and have them find some Nesra powder.” Glancing back at her
once more he shook his head. “I’m going to need it, I’m afraid,” he
added in a disgusted voice as he stalked from the room.

Valor started to move forward to block his
way but Neph pulled him back with a sharp shake of his head. “Not
now, Val. He is trying to piss us off. The sorry bastard likely
needs Nesra powder to get it up at all,” Neph whispered.

“He succeeded in pissing me off,” Ash said
quietly and let out a slow breath. “Are you all right, Jala?” he
asked as the seamstress moved off to sort through the stacks of
cloth that covered most of the table standing by the far wall.