“What is over there?” she asked quietly, her eyes locked on the jostling people. Their full attention was on whatever lay in the center of the circle and they seemed almost feverish with excitement.
“Your husband, I’m sure. I’m looking for Valor at the moment. One idiot never travels without the other,” Neph replied. “Ahh, there he is,” he mumbled and began to pull her away from the circle and toward a rickety looking set of stairs. “Should have known he would be gambling”
Jala allowed herself to be pulled along willingly but kept her attention on the ring of people behind them, trying in vain to catch sight of Finn. “I can’t see any sign of him,” she said to Neph as they reached the first of the stairs.
“You will be able to from the balcony. He is in the pit right now,” Neph assured her. “Though I doubt you will like what you see,” he added in a quieter voice.
Frowning at the words, Jala followed him up the narrow stairs and paused, looking back over the side once they had reached the top. The ground just beyond the ring of people dropped away into a massive hole about thirty feet in diameter. Mage lights hung suspended at intervals and illuminated the occupants of the pit in bright white light. There were perhaps ten figures in the pit, six of which lay unmoving on the ground with growing pools of blood beneath them. Finn stood in the center, bare chested as always with one sword held in defense. His other arm had been tied behind his back. Blood and sweat coated his body and his breathing seemed labored. She watched in frozen horror as the remaining three figures circled him like a pack of wolves. They wore armor and held viscous looking weapons at the ready as they waited for the perfect chance to skewer her husband.
“What is he doing?” she asked in a hoarse whisper.
“Winning, by the looks of it,” Neph replied quietly. “Nine to one. I’m sure the odds on that fight were spectacular despite his reputation.”
Silently, Jala studied the figures circling Finn and her gaze lingered on one. He looked young and didn’t appear to have any Elder Blood. She felt a nagging feeling in her gut as she studied the young man and tried desperately to determine what it was. She watched Finn rush another of his opponents and slice the man from groin to throat in one fluid stroke. The young man backed off farther and she could see his axe shaking slightly in his grip as his companion fell limply to the dirt.
Finn rounded on the last two with a predatory smile. He raised his eyebrows at them twice and the smile widened. “Shouldn’t pick a fight you can’t win, boys,” he said in a low humorless voice, an echo of the words he had used on Cassia.
Jala’s gaze followed the young man as he strove to move behind Finn. His companion was edging in and looked as though he meant to attack. Jala shook her head in disgust and wrote the man off as dead, her eyes traveling back to the young one. He was familiar somehow but she couldn’t place him. She certainly hadn’t seen him at the Academy and she didn’t think she had met him in the market. The thought struck her just as Finn wheeled toward him, his blade arching in a silver streak toward the boy’s throat. “Finn! No. Don’t!” she screamed, though she knew it was too late. She had to fight to keep her eyes open as the death stroke came.
A strangled sob broke from the young man as Finn’s blade came to a stop resting firmly on the side of his throat. A slow trickle of blood ran down his neck and Finn smiled.
“You should thank my wife,” he said with a smile, his words barely reaching Jala’s ears over the roar of the crowd. The young man let out another sob and fell back into the dirt one hand rising to clutch at the wound on his neck. “Hello, love, didn’t expect to see you here,” Finn called up to her with a pleasant smile.
Numbly, she waved back down at him, still shocked that he had managed to stop the sword blow. “Hi, Finn,” she called weakly and lowered her hand to grasp the railing.
“What the hell was that?” Neph asked, leaning on the railing beside her.
“I know that man. It took me a long time to place him but I remembered at the last moment. He was a childhood friend of mine. His name is Joseph Walker,” she explained quietly and glanced over to meet Neph’s curious gaze. “I want to know how he is still alive. I didn’t think anyone else survived,” she added quietly, her gaze slowly returning to Finn who was climbing quickly from the pit. “Damn I hope he isn’t mad at me,” she breathed and rubbed a hand across her face.
“Doesn’t look mad,” Neph offered with a shrug and pushed off the railing. “I’ll be by Valor if you need me, though I doubt you will,” he said with a gentle pat to her shoulder as he moved off.
She watched Finn take the stairs two at a time and smiled weakly as he approached. “Are you mad?” she asked quietly as he stopped beside her. He was still breathing heavily and the scent of blood was thick on him. “How much of that is yours?” she asked with concern.
He glanced down at himself and shook his head absently. “None of it. Would you mind untying my arm please?” He turned slightly, offering her a view of the trapped appendage and she nodded quickly. He flexed the wrist and smiled the moment she had him released and shook his head at her slightly. “Nah, I’m not mad. I am a bit curious though. Why did I just spare him? And why are you here?” he asked.
“I don’t understand why you were killing any of them but you spared that one because I know him. He grew up where I did,” she explained, adding emphasis to the last.
He nodded in understanding and wiped an arm across his sweaty brow before leaning on the railing. “I killed them because they were dumb enough to get in the pit with me. Even with one arm tied behind me, they should have known better. I needed to test something before tomorrow and this was the best place to do it,” he explained, letting out another long breath. His breathing was slowly returning to normal but she still watched him with concern. She had never seen Finn this winded from a fight, even the hour long bouts he had with Valor each free day.
“Are you okay?” she asked, wiping a bit of blood and sweat from his face with the sleeve of her dress.
“Oh Hun, don’t do that. I’m filthy,” Finn said with a shake of his head pushing her dress away gently. “Yes, I’m fine. I just need a minute.” Turning his gaze to her, he frowned and shook his head. “You shouldn’t be here, it isn’t safe here. I thought you had training with Neph tonight. If I would have known you wanted my company I wouldn’t have come to the pits. We could have gone to dinner or to a nice fest hall. This is a horrible place for you to be.”
“I did have training with Neph tonight. It’s just that something came up and I had to talk to you and I wasn’t sure if I could reach you through a mental link. So, Neph brought me here,” she explained.
“What came up?” he asked curiously.
Fishing the note out of her bag for the second time that night she handed it to Finn. He frowned when he saw the writing and glanced at her darkly. With an incoherent grumble, he unfolded the note and began to read. He paused halfway through and looked at her in disbelief. “So, let me get this straight. Shade finds a man-eating creature that he barely knows and sends it to you?” he asked with a bit of an edge to his voice.
“Well, I suppose he assumed that I would be fine with it, considering who I’m married to and what my familiar is,” Jala responded dryly. “Keep reading Finn,” she urged and flipped the paper lightly.
Grumbling once more, he finished the note and handed it back to her. “This could have waited until I got home. You didn’t have to come here to tell me this. Why did Neph bring you here?”
“I thought you said you weren’t mad?” she said, watching him closely.
“Do you feel any anger from me, Jala? It’s concern, not anger. I don’t want my wife in this part of the city,” he said, glancing over to the card table. “I’m leaving, Val, I’m taking Jala back home,” he called in a louder voice.
“I’ll be joining the two of you,” Neph said, rising gracefully from the table.
“Just a moment,” Valor called back, gathering his winnings quickly befo
re standing. By the expression on his face it was obvious Valor was not at all pleased with his surroundings either. “I’ve got to gather our winnings from the bookies,” Valor said as he brushed past Finn.
“Have someone gather that kid I left alive in the pit and have him sent to The Copper Penny. I’ll pay for his room there,” Finn said as Valor headed down the stairs. Glancing back at Jala, he looked up to Neph. “She is walking between the two of us until we are back in the Academy grounds. If anyone even looks at her funny, kill them,” he ordered.
“No, don’t kill them for looking at me funny,” Jala objected quickly, falling in behind Finn as he headed down the stairs.
“I will use my own discretion, Jala. I’m not homicidal,” Neph assured her, giving her a gentle nudge to speed her progress.
They reached the floor quickly and Finn began clearing a path, roughly shoving any who moved too slowly from his way. To her amazement, no one objected to the treatment. As soon as they saw who had shoved them, they moved farther from his path.
“Are they all scared of you?” she asked quietly.
He gave a snort and nodded. “As they should be,” he replied, not pausing in his progress toward the door.
When compared with the close confines of the warehouse, the night air was fresh as the country to her. Inhaling deeply, she cleared the smell of sweat and blood from her senses and looked toward the alley for Marrow.
We will catch up with you. Head for the Academy. We are hunting, the Bendazzi’s voice came the moment her thoughts had turned to him.
What are you hunting? she asked him, half afraid of his answer.
One of Emily’s brethren. She sensed it near the pits. She says he was drawn by the blood smell. We are tracking him to find the hive, Marrow explained.
Be careful please, she urged, though she knew the words were needless. Marrow was a seasoned hunter. He would of course be careful.
I will see you soon, Marrow assured her and his voice faded from her mind.
“Jala?” Finn’s voice broke through her thoughts, and from the tone of his voice she guessed it wasn’t the first time he had said her name.
“Sorry, I was talking to Marrow. He will catch up with us,” she explained and looped her arm through Finn’s.
“Use that cleaning spell on me, Vezradesh, I don’t want to get you filthy,” Finn urged and she quickly cast the spell. Nodding his approval, he wrapped an arm around her waist and began guiding them back toward the portal stone.
“Do you have any idea where Jail or Wisp are tonight?” Neph asked, quietly glancing at Finn.
“Jail is in jail. He punched a Justicar earlier,” Finn answered with a light chuckle and Neph rolled his eyes in response.
“Why? And for how long is he in jail?” Jala asked, her voice filled with concern.
“The Justicar said something he didn’t like I suppose,” Finn replied with a shrug. “He won’t be in there long. Don’t worry. He is a Mind mage. At most it will be a couple of days. He does this shit all of the time. I think he just likes messing with them,”
“I think he craves attention. Perhaps he was neglected as a child,” Neph offered, his tone sarcastic.
“Wisp, on the other hand, I think I saw her with Sovann earlier, not positive,” Finn said, his words drawn out.
“Then we should go to Sovann’s,” Neph concluded.
“Shouldn’t we be waiting for Valor?” Jala asked, glancing over her shoulder toward the Pits as they neared the portal stone.
“We will wait for him at the stone. He is a big boy. They won’t pick a fight with him,” Finn assured her and looked over to Neph. “Why should we go to Sovann’s? Have you seen where he lives now?” he asked, his tone filled with distaste.
“Because we need to warn everyone and if Wisp is with Sovann it would be easier to talk there,” Neph replied.
Jala kept her gaze on the Pit door as they spoke, watching closely for any sign of Valor. She didn’t like the thought of anyone being in there alone and Valor always dressed finely and wore jewelry. He would be the perfect candidate for robbery.
“He is fine,” Finn assured her again following her gaze. “He is just gathering our money,” he added and then motioned toward the entrance. “See, there he is and he is fine,” he said with a smile.
Jala nodded slowly, watching Valor step from the door of the Pits, the crowd falling back from him quickly. With a quick snap of his arm the knight shook blood from his bare sword and carefully wiped the blade clean before replacing it in his scabbard. “Am I the only one that doesn’t kill people nightly?” she asked quietly.
“I don’t kill people nightly. I usually stay home,” Neph objected with a snort of amusement.
“Mmm, someone probably tried to rob him,” Finn said with a shrug as he watched Valor approach. The knight’s expression was dark with anger as he grew closer. “I’d say they did, he looks pissed.”
Stopping a few feet from them, Valor motioned down the front of his tunic. “Look at this shit, ripped down the side and splattered with blood. That’s real gold thread the bastard cut through. This tunic was probably worth more than that damn building. I’m telling you, Finn, this is the last time I’m coming here. I hate this part of the city,” Valor snapped, his words coming out in a tirade.
“Ahh, Val, I’m so sorry, man. I mean a tunic. By the gods, you only own about three hundred of them,” Finn said, his voice thick with amusement.
“That isn’t the point. The point is, I prefer to drink where bastards don’t try to gut me as I’m leaving,” Valor shot back, his annoyance growing.
“Speaking of fine establishments, can we go to Sovann’s now?” Neph asked, his hand flicking toward the archway.
“Sovann’s. Why in the bloody hell are we going to Sovann’s. Do you know where he lives now?” Valor demanded.
“That’s what I said,” Finn nodded and looked toward Neph.
Rolling his eyes, Neph glanced at Jala and then at Finn and Valor. “Can we at least get out of this district and then you two can whine?” he asked in a mockingly patient voice.
“Fine,” Valor snapped, and moved toward the portal stone, his posture rigid. “We go to Sovann’s, then maybe another drunk would like to gut me there.”
“I know someone sober that is getting the urge to,” Neph grumbled, following Valor.
Grinning at her, Finn winked and led her toward the archway as well. “Ahh, friends,” he murmured softly and squeezed her waist gently.
* * *
“All the lights are off,” Valor said in disgust, staring up at the three-story brick building before them.
“Thank you for paying homage to the Aspect of Obvious,” Neph said dryly.
Cocking his head slightly, Finn regarded the building and then burst out laughing, stumbling back from the doorway and raising a hand to cover his mouth.
“What?” Valor asked, as the three of them turned to stare at Finn in confusion.
Shaking his head slightly, Finn regained his composure and stood up straight, taking care to remove his smile. “I believe the two of them are, uhh, occupied,” he explained, motioning toward the building. “Though I’m not sure if that girlish moan I heard was my brother or Wisp,” he said, the words thick with contained laughter.
“No,” Valor breathed and looked back toward the building, then to Finn again. “Wisp is molesting your little brother?” he whispered, a grin forming on his own face.
“Oh, grow up,” Neph snapped at them and shook his head. Glancing to Jala, he shook his head again. “It might be better to come back tomorrow,” he said, glancing at Finn and Valor and then back to her, letting her draw the same conclusion. She gave a slight nod in agreement, not wanting to embarrass Sovann or Wisp.
“No, no wait. You two said this was important,” Finn objected, holding a hand up to stop them both from turning. “If it truly is, we should tell them now,” he urged, fighting down another wave of laughter.
“I am in full agreement. If
it was important enough for us to come here, then we should tell them now,” Valor said, doing a slightly better job than Finn at keeping a straight face.
“You two are immature asses,” Neph said, looking between the two of them.
“Damn I wish it were Jail with us instead of Neph,” Valor sighed looking at the mage in irritation.
“I’m on Neph’s side here. I think we should tell them in the morning,” Jala said firmly, eyeing the two of them with narrowing eyes.
“Your wife spends too much time with Neph,” Valor said with disapproval, looking toward Finn.
“I won’t be mean, I promise, Jala,” Finn said with a charming smile. “I just want them to be safe,” he added in a sweet tone.
“Just looking out for their welfare,” Valor agreed in a voice equally sweet.
“Don’t believe them,” Neph warned with a slight shake of his head.
“Don’t listen to Neph. He is an asshole remember?” Finn said, quietly glaring at the mage.
“Oh Fortune, really Finn, you really want to torment Sovann that much?” Jala asked with exasperation.
“No it’s mostly Wisp we want to torment,” Valor clarified earning his own glare from Finn. “Remember, earlier I was telling you we were bullies. Well yes, we are,” he added, dodging as Finn tried to elbow him.
“But I don’t want you to torment Wisp or Sovann,” Jala objected, keeping her tone mild.
“And sadly life often disappoints us and we often don’t get what we want,” Valor replied glancing toward Finn who was half way up the stairs to the building.
“Finn …,” Jala objected again, her voice trailing off as she watched him push the door open.
“Victory is ours,” Valor said with a wink and hurried to join Finn as he entered the building.
“Would you believe that both of them are at least seven years older than I am?” Neph asked her quietly, watching the two of them disappear inside.
The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 2 Blood Honor and Dreams Page 13