The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 4 The Blessed Curse

by Melissa Myers

  “Like you are trying to figure out how to stab me through the door? That high?” Shade asked in a tone far too conversational for the current topic.

  “No, Shade that’s the level I was at when you arrived. That was before you opened your mouth,” Neph hissed through clenched teeth. His knuckles were beginning to turn white from how tightly his fists were clenched.

  “So you must be somewhere near chewing through the door to strangle me with my own entrails about now,” Shade mused thoughtfully.

  “I don’t need to chew through the door, Shade. I know how to work a door knob, but yes, I would like to choke you with your own entrails right now and stab you repeatedly in the face and possibly piss on whatever remains of your body when I’m done stomping on it,” Neph spoke over his shoulder in a voice that was far too calm for his current frame of mind, but he wanted to make sure Shade got the full picture painted very clearly in his mind.

  “Colorful. Very good imagery there, Neph. You are incredibly cranky. Got it. I will let Madren know and advise him how to ans wer accordingly, then. Have a good night pumpkin.” By the sound of his voice, Shade was already part way down the hall and it was quite possibly the only thing that saved his life.

  “I want to go home,” Neph whispered and when he closed his eyes once more it was Merrodin he pictured in his mind, not Delvay. He missed them all, though he hated to admit it. He would happily trade everything he had for a chance to just sit and work with Jala on magic again. Jala was dead, though, and he was the lord of Delvay. He had responsibilities no matter how much he might despise them.

  Pushing off the door he slowly crossed to the far side of the room and dropped lightly to his knees in front of the make shift altar he had fashioned. His eyes roved over the symbols of the Aspects and Divine and he let out a heavy sigh. He had been praying every night since he had arrived in Goswin and so far he had no signs that the gods were listening.

  Pulling lightly on his magic he summoned a spark of flame and lit the tiny candles lining the altar one by one, whispering the names of the Divine as he did so. Just because they hadn’t given him a sign, didn’t mean they weren’t listening. He had to keep faith. The Aspects were about the only thing he had left to turn to for solace. Bowing his head he closed his eyes and began his nightly prayers. His body relaxed with the routine and his anger slowly faded. There was a certain peace to the ritual that couldn’t be replaced by anything else.

  “What are you praying for Neph?” The voice was barely loud enough to be heard, but just the sound of it nearly stopped his heart. Jala was dead. He had seen her body and yet it was her voice. There was no mistaking it. If this was a trick, someone was about to die horribly.

  “A lot of things. My loudest prayer was possibly just answered, though,” Neph answered cautiously. He didn’t open his eyes. He didn’t want to see that it wasn’t truly her. Had he snapped? Was he only imagining her voice? He didn’t feel insane, but then he was relatively sure no one insane ever truly realized they were.

  “Possibly? You aren’t sure it was?” Jala asked her voice still near a whisper.

  “You are dead,” Neph pointed out bluntly.

  “Mmmm, I kind of was for a bit,” Jala mused, her voice a bit louder. The soft scuff of footsteps sounded behind him followed by the squeaking of the springs on his bed as someone sat down. “I suppose I bit off a tad more than I could chew and well, lesson learned,” s he sighed heavily.

  “You bit off more than a dozen dragons could chew, Jala,” Neph snapped, his eyes flashing open at last. He had to see her. He had to know if it was truly her. She sat on the foot of the bed watching him, her violet eyes sparkling in the dim light. She was dressed in a gown of dark purple silk, cut dangerously low in the front and split on the sides to reveal her legs. Silver sandals laced up her calves and jewels covered her wrists and fingers. Her hair had been braided into intricate patterns and a net of silver chains held it in place. His eyes lingered on her face and the web work of purple tattoos that began above her right eye and traced a delicate path down to her cheek.

  Jala smiled at the direction of his gaze and raised a hand to touch the marks. “It’s a new addition. I hope it is artistic enough to hide its true purpose,” Her hand dropped back to her lap and she gazed around his small room. “Do you remember when I was wounded by the Blight in Avanti? It was because I couldn’t get my glasses on fast enough. I probably should have been wearing them the entire time, but the tunnel was so dark it wasn’t practical,” she shrugged and motioned at the tattoo once more. “No glasses required now.”

  “Just because you know some of Jala’s life does not prove you are Jala,” Neph pointed out in a neutral voice. His heart was thudding so painfully in his chest that he was sure she must be able to hear it. He wanted so desperately for her to prove it truly was her, and yet he feared to press the issue. If this was a hoax. If she couldn’t prove it… He let the thought fade in his mind. He didn’t want to think of it not truly being her. “Valor warned me that you wouldn’t believe. I came prepared, though. I suppose I should cut myself and show you gold blood, but then you would likely say that could be faked too. So turn on your mage sight and watch my magic reserves, Neph. I don’t want you to accuse me of faking this, so tell me when you have done so,” Jala smiled as she spoke and the sight nearly brought tears to his eyes.

  Neph wasn’t sure exactly what she was planning, but he couldn’t see any harm in what she asked. Pulling on his magic once more he cast the spell and nodded to her. “Ready,” he said quietly, his gaze never leaving her even for a breath. In truth, he was fighting back the urge to even blink in fear that she would be gone again when he opened his eyes once more.

  Casually, Jala lifted her hands before her and summoned mage stone after mage stone more quickly than he thought possible. She dropped them on the floor before her one by one until a small pile formed by her feet. Her reserves were slowly draining as she created the stones, but not nearly as fast as they should have been, given the amount of stones she had created. His eyes widened slightly as he realized exactly how much power the woman before him must possess to fill so many stones with so little effect. She gave a wistful sigh and continued to drop the stones until the pile of gems spilled over onto one of her feet. Pausing she met his eyes once more. “Is it obvious that my power is drained down a bit now?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

  Neph nodded slowly, his gaze moving to the mage stones and back to her. “Jala did not have larger reserves of magic than me,” Neph began slowly.

  “I do now, sweetie, so deal with it,” Jala chirped in a tone that sounded far too smug. Lightly she kicked one of the stones toward him and smiled again. “Go on, test it, you cranky skeptic. I don’t want you to have any excuse to say I didn’t pass the identity test. I want your trust back and I swear if I have to fight a constant battle with you to prove who I am, I will smack you upside the head.”

  Neph smiled at the words and lifted the stone. Magic brimmed inside it and there was no denying that it was a true mage stone. “You certainly sound like Jala, and yes, this is a legitimate stone.” He set the stone back down on the pile and gave her a questioning look.

  “Ahh, I love that expression on your face. It’s the what now look. Well here is what now Neph,” Jala said and reached behind her on the bed. Carefully she lifted her staff from behind her and held it out for Neph to see. The metal was melted and the stones had cracked from heat, but it was Jala’s staff, of that he was certain.

  “I haven’t seen that since the night you sent me from Arovan,” Neph whispered his eyes locked on the weapon.

  “Valor found it by my body and kept it safe for me. He was afraid they would try to bury it with my body,” Jala explained and then paused cocking her head at him. “He took me to see my grave in Arovan earlier. Do you have any idea how strange it is to stand on your own grave, Neph? No, I suppose you wouldn’t, but let me just say it is not a happy feeling.” She shook her head and shrugged again before
offering the staff to him. “It doesn’t turn anymore as it was intended to, given that it’s half melted but the Barllen is still there and functioning. Go ahead, Neph, take it and examine it. As I said, I don’t want there to be a shred of doubt in that thick skull of yours.”

  Neph smiled again and took the staff, his eyes scanning the familiar runes and stones lining it. It had been a thing of beauty when Valor gave it to Jala, and even now in its damaged state it was still impressive. Slowly he ran a finger up the side of the staff until he felt the bite of Barllen draining his magic. “It is exactly what it appears to be. This is Jala’s staff,” he said firmly as he handed it back to her.

  “Still have your mage sight on?” Jala asked and waited for him to nod. “All right then, watch closely,” she ordered and placed her hands firmly on the Barllen part of the staff.

  Her eyes narrowed as she focused and Neph watched with held breath as her reserves filled once more. All doubt vanished from his mind at the sight and he was on his feet before he realized it. Only Jala could draw power from Barllen. It was the proof that he was so desperately craving. Within a breath he had her lifted from the bed and wrapped tightly in an embrace.

  “Breaking ribs,” Jala gasped, though the tone of her voice was amused.

  “Don’t you dare ever do anything that stupid again, Jala. I thought you were gone forever,” Neph whispered as he loosened his grip and rested his chin on the top of her head. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.” His voice had grown thick as he struggled to fight back the tears threatening to pour down his face.

  “I have a better idea than most would, Neph,” Jala answered quietly as she rested her head against his chest. “I swear by the Divine that I will never again risk myself so carelessly. I promise you I will do everything in my power to live as long as I possibly can. I have so much in my life that I never want to lose again.”

  Stepping back from the embrace, Neph looked her up and down and shook his head at her with a smile. “You went through an awful lot of trouble to get rid of scars, Jala. You know most women would have just used magic to hide the blemishes, but not you. You had to create an entirely new body you damned egomaniac.”

  “Well, you know,” Jala replied with sarcasm thick in her voice and smiled at him. Taking his hands in her own, she looked down and studied the two rings he wore. On his left hand was the signet of Merrodin and on his right he now wore the signet of Delvay. She ran her thumb lightly across the scarred metal of the Merrodin ring and pushed at it gently forcing it up on his finger a bit. “Good. You haven’t taken it off and the callous proves that,” she murmured then lifted her eyes to meet his once more. “Get dressed in something pretty, Neph. I want to take you out and show you off,” she ordered flippantly with another grin.

  “You have Valor to use as eye candy,” Neph returned dryly.

  “And Valor is waiting outside for us. Hurry up. I’m not kidding. Get dressed nicely, Lord Delvayon, we have a party to crash. ” Jala prodded him gently with her hand and turned for the door. “I’ll wait outside your room,” she informed him as she hefted her staff in one hand and pulled the door open.

  “Jala are you going to explain what is going on?” Neph grumbled as she started to close the door behind her.

  Glancing back, Jala gave him an impish grin and shook her head lightly. “No,” she chirped and pulled the door shut behind her.

  Neph let out a deep sigh of irritation, but couldn’t quite manage to keep the grin off his face. Everything had been spiraling out of his grasp, and then, with just the sound of her voice and the sight of her, it was all fixed. Jala Merrodin had returned and no matter how dire the situation looked, he would face it head on and without doubt. When Jala was involved, any miracle was possible, even saving Delvay.

  It took him less than five minutes to dress, though Neph doubted she would approve of what he had chosen. He wasn’t like Finn had been, or Valor was. He didn’t own silks or velvet. For him, dressing nicely meant putting on the leather armor that had the least amount of scars and no dried blood on it. Pausing at the mirror he studied his reflection and smoothed his short blond hair a bit. His eyes lingered on his face and he shook his head slowly at the wide smile that still showed. It wasn’t an expression he was accustomed to wearing, and he would have to get rid of it before Shade or Madren saw him. The last thing he wanted was for Madren to lose his fear of him.

  Jala was leaning against the wall, twirling her staff between her two hands when he stepped from his room. She looked up quickly, her eyes scanning him and nodded once. “That is about as well dressed as I’ve ever seen you,” she said agreeably.

  “Anything more and I will be the one doing the identity tests,” Neph said with a shrug. “So, where are we going?” he asked as they walked side by side to the door.

  “To get Valor and Madren,” Jala replied with a grin that had him rolling his eyes.

  “After that?” Neph pressed.

  “Out of Goswin,” Jala replied glancing up at him as she pushed the door open and stepped out into the cool night air.

  The sound of childish laughter echoed through the garden and Jala’s answering smile was positively radiant. She moved swiftly in the direction of the laughter ending his chance at any further questions. Neph sighed and followed her quickly down the winding paths that led from the guest house to the Manor itself.

  Valor was the first one Neph spotted as they approached. The knight stood by the entrance to the path. His purple and silver armor had been polished to such a shine it gleamed like a mirror. The sound of their footsteps drew his attention and Valor turned to watch them with a look of such utter devotion on his face that Neph shook his head. Neph wanted to make a smart ass remark, but he knew he couldn’t. While his expressions were more guarded than the knight’s and Neph typically wore a scowl, he could relate with that expression perfectly. The only difference they had in their feelings for Jala was that Valor was in love with her while Neph simply loved her. She was a sister to him and he was just as devoted as the damned Arovan was and he knew it.

  The childish giggle broke through the stillness of the night once more and Neph paused beside Valor and Jala until he located its source. Legacy sat in the grass near one of the garden pools with an overly large white rabbit on the ground before him. The creature was sitting on its rump with both hind feet splayed out before it. As Neph watched, the rabbit rocked back on its haunches and its cheeks puffed out with air as its eyes crossed. More giggles erupted from Legacy as the rabbit’s ears grew limp and all of the air exploded out of it in a rush that sounded far cruder that a noise one would expect from an animal.

  “What the hell?” Neph mumbled, glancing at Valor. “Wait until he dances,” Valor whispered back.

  “Dances?” Neph raised an eyebrow and turned his attention back to the strange little creature as its body began to shift. Within a breath, Shade sat in the grass before Legacy with a stupid grin on his face.

  “That’s all for now, little man. Shade needs a smoke and bunnies can’t have cigarettes,” Shade said with a grin and ruffled Legacy’s hair as he stood. Reaching into the pocket of his coat he produced a slender silver case and fished a cigarette out. He seemed to notice Jala and Neph then and bowed his head slightly to them in greeting.

  “You have no dignity at all,” Neph informed him dryly.

  “I’d rather be able to make a child laugh and have fun myself than worry about dignity,” Shade replied with a shrug. “We ready, Jala?”

  Shade asked as he lit the cigarette and took a long drag.

  Jala glanced at Madren who nodded once, though to Neph’s eyes Madren looked more nervous than ready. Kneeling down, Jala held her hands out to her son who promptly crossed the small stretch of grass separating them at a wobbly legged run. Wrapping her arms around him tightly she stood once more and balanced him on her hip before nodding to Shade.

  “We taking my ship or traveling by shadows?” Shade asked as he glanced around the courtyard.


  “Shadows,” Vaze answered as he stepped from a pool of darkness and into the clearing to join them. “We don’t have time for the spell hawk trip, it has already begun.”

  “Was I the last person to figure out you are alive again?” Neph demanded looking to Jala with narrowing eyes.

  “No, most people don’t realize I’m alive again, but honestly have you ever tried to keep a secret from Vaze? It’s impossible, the man is worse than an old woman. He knows everyone’s gossip,” Jala replied with a shrug. “Madren and Shade found out a few minutes before you, but that was only because you were in your room rather than in the main house.”

  “I tried to get her to cast an illusion of me over herself before she spoke to you, but she saw through it and smacked me,” Shade said with a grin.

  Neph glared at Shade for a long moment and decided it was best to not waste his breath with a response. “Is anyone going to tell me where we are going?” Neph asked his eyes landing firmly on Jala.

  “Arovan. I understand you were naughty and used the bad magics when you got cranky in the battle. I’m going to settle things on that matter and conveniently they are having a meeting of the alliance tonight. I think there must have been a mistake when the invitations were sent out because Merro, Goswin and Delvay didn’t seem to receive theirs,” Jala answered and Neph could tell by the tone of her voice that it wouldn’t be Jala Merrodin that arrived at Arovan’s meeting, it would be Lady Bendazzi and whoever had skipped over Merrodin would soon regret it.

  * * *

  Neph blinked several times as the shadows faded around them. Bowing slightly, Vaze stepped away from the group and allowed them all to get their bearings. They stood in the center of a massive hallway just in front of a set of double doors that bore the symbol of House Arovan. By all appearances, Vaze had bypassed all of the protective wards on the palace as well as the guards and dropped them right before the council room.