Jala looked back and forth between the two of them in confusion. She was about to ask what was going on when Emily shoved the bundle in her arms toward Valor.
“I found this in the back rooms,” she said. The cloth fell away as she moved revealing the soft silver curls of a child’s hair.
“Devony,” Valor gasped, taking the child quickly. He dropped to his knees in the grass and unwrapped the child quickly.
“She is fine. Drugged I think, but she lives and has no wounds,” Emily assured him as he frantically checked the child over. Lifting her nose slightly, Emily sniffed at the wind and nodded to Jala. “The others are that way. I can smell fire and humans. We should get the child to safety and let the others know you are well,” she said then turned back to Valor. “And when things are settled you and I will talk,” she added before fading from view once more.
Valor looked up from the child and nodded slowly. Silently he stood cradling Devony’s small form in his arms. “She is right. The others will be worried,” he said quietly.
“I’m worried,” Jala said, unmoving, her eyes locked on him. “What is going on, Valor? Why is Emily acting like that toward you?” she asked.
“Words from Kali. She gave me the same treatment she gave you, Jala. I’m still sorting it out myself, but I’m of the impression that it is simply poison meant to mislead us,” Valor replied quietly and eyed Jala curiously, his eyes searching her face. “What about you? Have her words changed your heart? Did you believe what she said?”
Jala sighed and plucked one of the leaves from the branch above her. Chewing lightly on her lower lip she began to fold it in her hand much as Finn used to do. “I put thought into it before she sent me from her house. It really didn’t require much thought, honestly,” she fell silent for a moment and tore another small piece from the leaf. “What she said about the gods was true, Valor. Fortune told me as much at the council meeting just after I was married. I didn’t understand what he meant then. I thought he was saying I was blessed with love, not that they had bewitched Finn.” She fell silent again and her shoulders slumped a bit.
“Has that changed your decision about bringing him back?” Valor asked cautiously.
Jala shook her head and smiled faintly. “Not in the least. Even if he doesn’t love me, truly, I love him. I will do whatever it takes to bring him back. His blood is on my hands.”
“No, his death lies at Hemlock’s feet, not yours, Jala. You can’t blame yourself for this,” Valor protested. He shifted the sleeping child in his arms carefully and stepped closer to her. With his free hand he gently tilted her chin up and forced her to meet his gaze. “They killed Finn, not you. I watched you, Jala. You did everything you possibly could to save him,” he said gently.
With a slightly trembling hand she fished the gold coin from what remained of her pocket, half amazed that she still had it after the night’s excitement. She held it up for Valor to see and watched him carefully as she spoke. “Anthe gave this to me when I went to see her in the Tolanteer woods. See the swords on this side. They match Finn’s soulblades perfectly. The other side has a badger on it. My father was called Badger by the Fionaveir. Anthe told me that I could see one side or the other but never at the same time. Everyone speaks in damn riddles, I think.” She lowered her hand slowly and wrapped her fingers tightly around the coin. “Finn understood it, though. He told me if his death was the price of Merro, he accepted it. He called it poetic justice to have so many returned to life with his death.” She smiled bitterly at the words and wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. “Apparently, the coin represented a choice between my husband and my home. When I stepped forward as Lady Merrodin, I made my choice. His blood is on my hands, Valor and while he may have accepted it, I won’t. I will do everything I can to bring him back.”
“And if his feelings have changed when he comes back? What if the god’s magic only lasted while he lived?” Valor asked. His expression hadn’t changed at all with her words. She had expected him to turn away from her in disgust with the confession.
“Well then, I suppose I will hope he still considers me a friend and doesn’t hold the actions of the Aspects against me,” she said quietly.
Valor nodded and let out a long breath. “Then we know where we stand. We should get back to the others. I’m not sure who we can find that is capable of returning Finn’s soul to his body, but Neph will know.” He started forward in the direction Emily had indicated.
“Valor,” Jala said quietly, and the knight paused and looked back to her. “Can you still call me friend? He was like a brother to you and I as much as traded his life for this,” she motioned a hand at the land but kept her eyes on him, searching for any signs of anger.
“You traded nothing, Jala. If Finn knew everything as you said he did, then he made the bargain. He could have walked away at any time and he didn’t.” Reaching up, Valor plucked another leaf from the tree and offered it to her. She accepted it and looked down at it thoughtfully. “This isn’t what you bought with his life, Jala. This is his gift to you. He gave his life freely. Don’t let Kali’s words make you believe differently. It dishonors his sacrifice,” he said with a faint smile and started walking again.
“Thank you, Valor,” she whispered and fell into step behind him. His words had lifted the growing guilt from her and hardened her resolve. Finn had given everything to give her back her home. How could she do less to give him back life.
* * *
Wisp was the first to break from the camp as they approached. With a sob she embraced Jala tightly. “I’m so sorry, Jala,” she whispered and squeezed harder. Backing away, the Fae wiped tears from her eyes. From the redness of her eyes, Wisp had been crying for a while, Jala realized. “Neph told us everything when he arrived. We were so worried about you,” Wisp continued and wiped at her eyes once more, sniffling as she did so.
“We are fine. We helped with the fighting a bit. The Fionaveir hold the city now,” Jala said quietly and allowed Wisp to lead her into the camp. I should be crying like she is, Jala thought numbly, but she was curiously devoid of all feelings. There wasn’t even a trace of anger. She just felt empty and tired.
“Someone arrived here for you not long after Sovann and I began rebuilding the land. He is waiting at another camp, though. I didn’t want him near Valor,” Wisp said, her voice hushed and her eyes on the knight as he approached the fire and gently laid Devony down in the grass beside it.
“Who?” Jala asked in confusion, wondering who they would have to hide from Valor.
“He says his name is Ash. He is from Seravae, Jala, and you know how the Soulreavers and Arovan get along,” Wisp said with a strong note of warning in her voice.
“Actually, no, I don’t, but I’ll hazard a guess and say it isn’t well,” Jala said, her eyes already searching the other camps for any sign of the Soulreaver. If anyone knew about returning the dead to life it would be Ash. “Can you take me to him now, Wisp?” Jala asked, feeling her hope rising. With a confused look and a quick nod Wisp turned their path toward the northern camps and walked quietly with her.
They had barely passed three other fires before Jala spotted Ash. His pale features and white clothing stood out starkly against the bright green of the grass. He rose as they approached the fire and bowed to her with a faint smile.
“You look a bit worse for wear, Milady. Would you rather rest before we speak?” Ash said as he stood slowly.
Jala flushed and looked down at her ragged dress and shook her head slightly. “A lot of fighting. I need to speak with you now, though, if you don’t mind.”
“This is your land, High Lady Merrodin. My time is yours while I am here,” he replied.
Wisp stepped back a pace and gave Jala a questioning look. “Should I stay?” she asked hesitantly.
“Please do,” Jala replied and motioned for Ash to sit back down before lowering herself to the grass. “My husband died in the reclaiming of the city. I’m not sure if you had heard yet
,” Jala began and Ash nodded slowly.
“The dead spoke to me of his passing,” he replied with another bow of his head. “I grieve for your loss Lady.”
She heard Wisp give another choked sob and reached over to take the Fae’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I don’t wish to accept this loss, Ash. I have his body. What do I need to do to bring him back? I’ve seen others that were killed returned to life. How do I bring my husband back?”
Wisp squeezed her hand tightly. “Oh, Jala, I thought you were in shock when you weren’t crying. You aren’t grieving because you haven’t given up!” Wisp exclaimed and gave her another quick hug. She looked to Ash with hope lighting her bright green eyes. “Do you know how to bring him back?” she asked.
Ash regarded them both quietly and folded his hands in his lap, lacing the fingers together. He nodded slowly but Jala could see hesitation written clearly on his face. “I do know how to call a soul back to the body,” he began, but paused again, seeming to consider his next words carefully. “I do not know if his soul can be called back, however,” he said with hesitation.
“Why couldn’t it be?” Jala asked, wondering if Hemlock had used a soulblade in the attack. If he had she would need to retrieve the blade quickly before he had time to destroy the trapped soul within it.
“The dead whisper about many things, Jala, and they whispered a lot when he passed. The Dark Lady has a special interest in that one. I’m not sure she will release him.” Ash spoke the words in a voice barely above a whisper and then made a warding sign over his chest. “To speak of her is ill luck,” he explained as he lowered his hand back to his lap.
“Will you try to call him back?” Jala asked. The last threads of hope were barely holding her grief at bay
He nodded again and looked around the packed camps. “Not here, though. This is not the place for such things. Somewhere private and quiet, and it should be done soon before the soul has been gone from the body too long. I must ask you to not speak of what we do, either. This practice is not accepted by my people. According to our customs, the soul must be strong enough to return on its own.”
“And yet, you are willing to try anyway?” Jala asked, unsure why he would go against the customs of his own land for her. He barely knew her.
“I do not think his soul can return without help, not from her clutches. He is as trapped as the souls of those in Goswin. I will do what I can for him, to thank you for doing what you will for them,” Ash explained and gazed around the countryside once more. “Rest for now, Lady, and I will prepare for the ritual. Tonight, when the moon has risen we will find solitude and try to call him back.”
“I know the perfect place,” Jala said with a nod. She rose slowly and bowed with respect to the Soulreaver. “Thank you, Ash.”
“Don’t thank me yet, Lady. I will do what I can, but it may not be enough. I am not as strong as she who holds him. A lot will depend on him. I will open the gate back to life for him. He must wish to cross back,” Ash warned her.
“I can’t believe Finn wouldn’t want to come back. Is only Jala allowed there or may his friends come as well?” Wisp spoke with such hope in her voice Jala didn’t see how anyone could deny her.
“All who were close to him should be there if they will keep the peace and not disturb the ritual. Their presence will add strength to the call,” Ash replied, smiling as Wisp fairly bounced at his approval.
* * *
Winter was thick in the air as they gathered beneath the Jimpa tree. The only sounds were the bubbling of the brook and the faint stir of the leaves in the night breeze. Jala watched silently as Ash laid Finn’s body carefully out in the grass. The sight of Finn so still and pale made her throat tighten and she swallowed heavily, fighting back her tears.
Ash bent forward and examined the wounds on the body, then looked up to Jala. “This must be repaired before his spirit returns. He must be whole,” he said quietly and placed a hand over the knife wound under Finn’s arm. A soft white light began to emanate from his hand and he nodded his head slowly. “It took much to kill him. There are many poisons in his body,” he said softly. He moved with slow methodical patience as he turned the body over and removed the wounds from his back as well.
“I didn’t know you could heal the dead,” Jala said quietly.
Ash smiled and shrugged his shoulders as he carefully laid the body out once more. “It is not so much healing as it is mending. It is good that you preserved his body. There is no decay to mend.”
Valor shifted uncomfortably beside Jala and frowned down at Ash. “Are you sure that you trust a Reaver?” he asked quietly. He had been watching Ash with suspicion since they had arrived at the tree.
“I’m not sure that I would trust just any Soulreaver, but I trust Ash. He has always shown me respect and honor in his actions, Valor,” Jala answered him and nodded for Ash to continue, hoping he wasn’t offended by Valor’s behavior.
Ash moved to Finn’s head and carefully sat down in the grass behind him. Leaning forward, he pressed his fingers to Finn’s temples and looked up to Jala. “I will work the magic and you will feel the spell. When the magic touches you focus on him. Pour everything you can into those feelings, every memory you can summon. It will add your voices to the summons and he will know how deeply he is missed.”
Ash looked to each of them as he finished, his eyes lingering for a moment on Valor. “Try to focus on your friend instead of your distrust for me, Arovan. I know our people have difficulties and I understand your hate, but now is not the time to feel hate. You will damage the link with that emotion. If you cannot put it aside you should leave this place for now,” his voice was gentle, without a trace of anger or disapproval in it and Valor shifted a bit under his gaze.
“I can focus on Finn,” he assured the Soulreaver.
Nodding, Ash looked away from Valor and stared down at the body before him. Closing his eyes he began to chant softly. The warm white light rose from his hands again and Jala felt the magic brush against her.
Closing her eyes she summoned every memory she could. From their first meeting at the Spring Games to their long night in the Firym gardens as they forged the chain for their marriage. Her chest tightened as her mind recalled every kiss they had shared. “Finn please,” she whispered, her voice caught between a sob and pleading.
Vezradesh. The word was so faint it was almost lost in the breeze but she seized on it.
“Finn,” she breathed back and felt a flutter in the magic. Her breath caught in her throat and she squeezed her eyes shut tighter focusing on the memories with all of her will.
“No!” A woman’s voice screamed, and Jala felt the magic shred away beneath them. An icy wind rose, sending the tree above them quivering. Jala’s eyes flashed open, her head throbbing. Ash lay sprawled back from the body, his hands on his head and blood trickling from one nostril. The others were staggering as well, Jala realized, and even Marrow seemed to be stunned.
“Ash, are you OK?” she asked. Of all of them, the Soulreaver was the only one showing signs of physical harm.
He sat up slowly, hands still on his head and nodded. Lowering his hands slowly he wiped the blood from under his nostril and looked up to her. His expression held a bit of wonder as he regarded her.
“What?” she asked faintly. She kept her gaze on Ash, not wanting to look down at the still body in the grass. Rationally she knew the spell had failed, but actually seeing the failure was too much. He had spoken. He had been answering their call. That flutter in the magic just before the disruption. He had been so close.
“The backlash hit everyone but you, Lady,” Ash said quietly. “I felt the Dark Lady’s hand, as did everyone else here, but you.”
“He was answering. I heard him speak,” Jala said softly and rubbed her face. Everyone was watching her as she lowered her hand. She turned slowly, regarding the varied expressions on their faces and then looked back to Ash. “You heard him, didn’t you?” she asked.
&nbs
p; “I felt his spirit, but I heard nothing,” Ash said and stood. “That does not mean he didn’t speak, Lady. That only means he did not speak to me,” he added as he noticed the doubt forming on her face.
“Why would she do that?” Jala asked.
“I told you she had special interest in him,” Ash reminded her gently. “She wishes to keep that one, Lady, and there is not much more we can do to fight her on it.”
She nodded slowly and looked away, her eyes falling on the stout trunk of the Jimpa tree. The same despair she had felt so long ago was washing over her and she could almost taste the ashes in her mouth again. She felt a gentle push against her side and looked down to see Marrow staring up at her with bright yellow eyes filled with concern.
You didn’t give up then, he reminded her.
No I didn’t, she replied softly as the memory of that day returned. I sat down right here believing I was in the Darklands and I waited for my father to come and get me. Wiping her face with her hand again she nodded and cast another storing spell on the body. “I’m going after him,” she said quietly gripping the storage stone in her hand.
“You are what?” Neph asked sounding incredulous.
“I’m going to get Finn,” she said firmly, turning her gaze to Neph’s. She locked eyes with him and dared him to object.
“I feel the need to ask a rather stupid question here, but are you bloody insane?” Neph said, shaking his head in disbelief. “The nice Soulreaver just told you that Death wants to keep him. So you decide you are going to stroll into the Darklands and ask to have him back?”
“I didn’t say anything about asking. He swore his soul to me twice. He is mine,” Jala replied, her confidence growing with every word.
“Jala, you can’t do this,” a man’s voice broke in. She rounded at the familiar tones and glared at Fortune as he stepped forward from the shadows. He held up both hands in a peaceful gesture and shook his head at her sadly. “Jala, you can’t go. You have too many that need you here.”
The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 2 Blood Honor and Dreams Page 44