Jala started to turn back to the fight but paused as she caught a glimpse of white in the corner of her eye. Turning in the saddle quickly she spotted a form well off from the demon horde, standing pale against the shadowy landscape. It wore armor and a mottled white cloak, but was too far away to determine much else. Jala kept her gaze on it a long moment as the sound of Valor’s fighting shattered the silence of the night behind her. She let out a low growl in frustration. She was torn between the need to help Valor and keeping an eye on their audience.
A low grunt of pain from Valor made her decision instantly and she turned back to the fight. Several slash marks showed on the creature’s body though there was no sign that the wounds were impeding its fighting. Valor had fallen back a bit and was moving forward once again, his sword upraised in defense. A jagged line tore through his armor on his left arm and she could see the dark wetness of blood across the metal.
The shifter lunged once more at Valor with claws extended and mouth spread wide to bite. Valor nimbly dodged to the side of one arm while driving in closer for a strike at the creature’s neck. Summoning her power quickly, Jala sent a bolt of force straight into the creatures gaping jaws. A howl of anger burst from its throat as its head was snapped back and broken teeth went flying. Valor seized the opportunity immediately and delivered a savage swing toward the creature’s neck. The blade glanced from the creature’s skin and drew a ragged tear down its shoulder. Letting out a muffled curse, Valor danced back from the Shifter’s returned blow.
The creature let out a savage snarl but didn’t advance again. Yellow eyes filled with hatred flicked from Valor to Jala and it motioned quickly with one taloned hand and uttered another guttural word. This one Jala couldn’t understand at all but she could feel the tingle of magic that followed clearly enough. The ground rumbled beneath them as the rocks began to shift. Valor moved quickly to keep his balance as the creature lunged again.
Valorous danced beneath her and Jala shifted in the saddle, alternating her gaze from the ground to the creature. She couldn’t tell what spell it had cast. It was possible the only result of the spell would be the shaking ground, but she doubted it. No countering what you don’t understand. Suck it up and keep fighting. Learn from the fight and counter the next time, if you live for a next time. Neph’s words sounded in her mind and she summoned another spell to hurl at the Shifter. There was no countering whatever it had done. Best to follow Neph’s advice and suck it up and pray they lived. The wind began to pick up around Valor as she sent bolts of ice toward its legs. With luck she would damage the joints there and at least slow the creature down. Valor was calling on his own magics with the wind and she had no idea what he planned. She kept part of her attention focused on him. If she could determine what he cast she might be able to amplify it.
The shaking of the ground increased again and Valor had to fight to keep his footing. Valorous let out a loud snort of unease and she felt the horse tense beneath her as the ground below them exploded in a shower of rocks and dust. The horse lunged to the side and Jala had to grab the saddle to keep her seat. She could hear the snarls and ringing metal that told her the shifter had attacked once more but she could see nothing through the cloud of choking dust around her. The Arovanni continued to dance away tossing his head in frustration at the shaking ground.
Jala tried to grab the reins to force him back toward the fight but something latched onto her wrist as she moved. Pain lanced through her as she looked down at the thick black tentacle that circled her arm. Another wrapped around her ankle and she felt herself torn from the saddle. Valorous let out a furious scream as the tentacles pulled her up into the air.
Not tentacles, roots, she corrected herself. Her gaze flicked to the gnarled trees for half a breath as she tried to assess her situation. The ground where they had been fighting moments before was a rubble strewn waste. Dozens of black roots waved in the air below her seeking anything they could grasp. Valor had shifted his fighting away from the cliff to avoid the roots and his back was now exposed to the smaller demons that crouched with bloodlust clear in their eyes.
The pain on her wrist grew more intense and she had to fight back a scream. That wouldn’t help Valor at all now. He needed to focus on the shifter and she needed to solve her own dilemma without distracting him. Her eyes watered as she examined the root on her arm as best she could. They had lifted her unevenly and she was balanced with her head tilted toward the unforgiving black rocks below with most of her weight supported by the root entrapping her ankle. From what she could tell, the roots were coated in a sort of slime, that judging by the burning on her wrist, was acidic.
She swallowed heavily. “Well, at least when the acid burns through and they drop me, I won’t have to worry about being crippled,” she whispered, her imagination providing her with a splendid image of her body lying broken on the rocks below. “Use every advantage,” she whispered, repeating a lesson Neph had pounded into her skull over and over. The only advantage she had as far as she could see was height now. Her view of the battle was perfect. “Help Valor kill it and this spell will end,” she whispered as the roots pulled at her, stretching her body to a painful angle. “Then die horribly on the rocks below as the roots vanish,” she added in a pained growl. Options were limited, though, and helping Valor seemed the best course available.
The leather on her boot was giving away and she could feel the acid reaching her skin there. Jala inhaled deeply and tried to summon her power but concentration had never been her strongest virtue and it was nearly lost in the pain now. The pressure on her body increased again and she felt her ankle give with a sickening pop. A gasp of pain exploded from her lips and she had to fight back tears. Training with Neph had been painful, or so she had thought. In reality she hadn’t really known what pain was until now, she realized.
The roots shifted their hold on her once again and she found herself staring straight down at the ground. The pressure on her wrist fell away and her heart rose to her throat as she swung free, dangling from her broken ankle. Spots danced before her eyes as the pain ripped through her. “Don’t faint, fight. Don’t pull a Rivana. Don’t fail Valor as you did Finn,” Jala hissed through clenched teeth. She summoned her power once more, her eyes locked on the Shifter below. Another of Neph’s lessons sprang to mind and she was praying it would work. Though who she was praying to, she couldn’t really say at this point. She supposed it was anyone that would listen. Valor had noticed her predicament and she willed him to ignore her and keep fighting. His right hand flicked toward the roots that held her as the Shifter surged in again.
Jala released her spell just as the creature’s jaws opened to bite. Everything blurred together as the Shifter’s huge clawed hand hit Valor full in the chest. Despite her wish for him to ignore her, he had been distracted. His boots dug trenches in the ground as he was forced back, but he managed to keep his feet as their combined magics took effect. The shifter staggered back clutching its skull as her spell unleashed and the roots holding her hostage crumbled beneath her. She began to plummet, the black rocks racing up to meet her. A sob broke from her lips as the wind whistled in her ears and then she was slowing. The wind cradled against her, easing her plummet to a gentle descent. Jala forced her eyes open once more as she dropped gently to the ground beside Valor. Her ankle gave at once and his arm was around her supporting her weight in an instant.
“Nice catch,” she whispered, the spots once again dancing in her eyes. The pain was making her light-headed and nauseous.
“Nice, whatever the hell you did to him.” Valor replied motioning feebly toward the still twitching Shifter that lay sprawled on the ground several feet from them.
“I healed him,” Jala gasped with a faint chuckle at the bitter irony of that. It didn’t seem fair that her healing was sporadic when she tried to use it to help her and Valor, but she could use it to kill with. Valor gave her a puzzled look but didn’t question her. The countless bruises and pains were fraying her
wits and it must have shown on her face. Hoof beats sounded faintly as Valorous returned snorting his displeasure at both of them. Valor motioned him closer and Jala grabbed onto the saddle to support herself. Nodding his thanks, Valor stepped back and bent, bracing his hands on his knees, his shoulders shaking with his ragged breathing.
“Are you OK?” Jala asked ducking her head a bit to try to get a look at his face.
“Broken ribs. Breast plate is bent back on them. Rather uncomfortable,” Valor replied, his words choked. He stood once more, slowly, and she could see the aftermath of the last savage blow the Shifter had delivered. His breastplate was caved in as he had said with jagged holes punched through it where the talons had found flesh. Blood seeped from the holes, though he didn’t seem to be paying any attention to his wounds now. His gaze was focused on the figure approaching them, dressed in white plate mail and a mottled white cloak. Long dark hair showed from under the hood as well as a delicate pale face.
“Symphony?” Jala whispered as the woman drew closer. It made no sense whatsoever for the future Empress to be in hell with them, but this woman was a mirror image of the girl she had met in Firym. The white armor looked battered and the cloak wasn’t mottled she realized suddenly, it was bloodstained.
“Fiona Veirasha,” Valor breathed as the legendary knight of House Veir continued to approach in deathly silence.
Chapter 2
Merro
“But I don’t want to go in here, it’s haunted,” the little girl objected, bracing her hands and feet against the door frame. Her silver hair hung in beautiful ringlets around her pale face and her blue eyes were wide with terror. Despite the tantrum, Devony was the same as all immortals Emily had met so far – perfect and beautiful, even at her tender young age.
Emily started to object to being referred to as a ghost but she wasn’t sure if pointing out that she was, in fact, a Blight, would make the child feel any better, so she remained silent and simply watched. Wisp was behind the child trying to force her through the door, with little success. The small Fae was barely bigger than Devony, despite the fact that the Arovan child was only six or seven. Emily wasn’t exactly sure on the child’s true age. For all she knew it might be closer to five. The Immortal children were difficult for her to judge. They grew so slowly in comparison with the Blights.
“It’s not haunted, Dev, that voice is Emily. We have talked about this before,” Wisp assured her. The Fae had managed to pry one small hand loose from the door frame and was working on the second. “I need to talk with Sovann and I can’t leave you alone,” Wisp insisted, redoubling her efforts on the second hand as Devony scrambled to secure her hold better.
“Devony, it’s perfectly all right in here. I promise. Emily is a friend and is helping me with an experiment. She is not a ghost and this house is not haunted. How could it be haunted? After all, we just built it, remember?” Sovann said gently, his voice filled with patience. “Maybe you should show yourself, Emily. That might make her feel better,” Sovann suggested, turning to look in the direction he thought Emily was in.
Emily fought back a snort of amusement as she watched him gaze at the empty corner. She remained silent and turned her attention outside the window she was perched in, hoping to catch a glimpse of what she knew she wouldn’t see. Jala and Marrow had been gone for days now and no matter how long she watched for their return, she knew in her gut she wouldn’t see them. Jala had left her behind, just as Shade had done, and she had never seen Shade again.
It wasn’t truly Jala that she missed, though. It was Marrow. She identified with the Bendazzi better than she did these perfect pretty Immortals. He was a predator as she was, and he understood things the immortals couldn’t seem to grasp. Like the smell of scented soap alerts prey. Emily grumbled silently and shifted a bit closer to the window. She had no doubt at all that if she showed herself to Sovann and Wisp another bath would be in her future.
A ragged sob followed by a slamming door heralded Wisp’s victory, and Emily watched in amusement as the child ran to huddle beneath the window barely inches below her. The desire to reach down and touch the child flashed through her mind, but she ignored the impulse. While it might be funny for a moment to see the child shriek and jump it wouldn’t be worth the lectures from Sovann that would ensue afterwards.
“What did you need to speak with me about?” Sovann asked quietly as he gave Devony a reassuring smile.
Wisp looked over her shoulder at the door and then back to Sovann. “Are the wards in place?” she asked quietly.
Sovann returned her gaze and arched an eyebrow before nodding slowly. “Whenever the door is closed the wards are active. No one can hear us,” he assured her.
“My brother is here. He wants to speak with Jala. I haven’t told him what is going on. I left him in the main house with some food and drink while I came to speak with you. The only company he has right now is the maid and she had no idea where Jala is. What should I tell him? The truth didn’t seem a good idea at the time,” Wisp explained, her words pouring out in a flood. Wisp brushed a strand of hair from her face and stared at Sovann, her big green eyes full of expectation.
Emily’s attention turned from the window to them and she watched Sovann as he considered the Fae’s words. On the surface, Sovann was a slender mirror of his dead brother. He had the same bronzed skin and tawny hair, though he wore his hair longer than Finn had. Emily, however, had been around Sovann enough lately to know appearance was the only thing the brothers had in common. Finn was passionate and spontaneous where Sovann was calm and thoughtful. He was displaying that thoughtfulness right now and didn’t seem in a hurry to answer Wisp, though the Fae was quite obviously in a hurry.
“I don’t see how they can possibly interfere with Jala right now…,” Sovann began but let his voice trail off. He pursed his lips as he gave the matter more thought and shifted a few items on his work table.
Emily smiled at the habit. It was one of the few entertainments she had while working with Sovann on his secret project. He was very particular about his work tables and liked everything to be perfectly in place. So when she grew bored she roamed the room shifting things around.
“Whatever we tell him, he will report back to the Fionaveir leaders. It won’t take long for gossip to spread. Jala didn’t say that we should keep silent on this but I don’t want to do anything that might jeopardize their returning safely. It’s not that I don’t trust my brother, but I don’t know how far the gossip will go. If the Fionaveir leaders keep it to themselves we don’t have a problem,” Wisp said, her voice filled with concern.
Sovann nodded slowly and then smiled brightly, looking over at Wisp with decision clear on his face. “All right, where is Neph?” he asked sweetly.
“Overseeing the grain that’s being stored and he is in a foul temper because of it. Apparently the flour has been cut with sawdust, or so he says. The last I spoke with him, he was planning to ride north to Brannaford to… How did he put it? Ahh. Strangle the crooked bastard with his own innards. Yes, that was it,” Wisp replied with a faint smile of her own.
“Fetch him and tell him to deal with the Fionaveir.” Sovann said with a firm nod and started to go back to his work.
“But I love my brother! Why would I sick Neph on him?” Wisp objected with a hint of a whine to her lovely voice. She shifted where she stood and twisted the fabric of her green tunic in her hands.
That, too, was a habit Emily had noticed time and again. She didn’t need to hear their words to know their feelings. She had studied these immortals far too often. Wisp always twisted at her cloak or tunic when she was upset.
“Neph won’t kill him Wisp, and Victory will be less apt to press Neph for answers than he would you. Chances are, once Neph walks into that room Victory is going to accept whatever comes out of Neph’s mouth without argument, and hurry home just to avoid further conversation,” Sovann assured her with a wink.
“If you say so,” Wisp agreed, though she didn�
��t sound at all sure of the plan. Motioning to Devony she turned back toward the door. “Come on Dev, let’s go find Neph.”
Devony leaped up from the ground at a sprint and was through the door before Wisp had taken more than three steps.
Sovann shook his head and let out a long sigh. “I really wish you would help us ease her fear of you a bit, Emily,” he said softly as the door closed.
“Sometimes fear is healthy, Sovann. That child should be terrified of the unknown,” Emily replied in her customary whisper and moved silently to another perch in the room.
“The unknown, yes, but you, no. You are one of us, remember?” Sovann pressed gently and lifted his pen once more. A book lay sprawled in front of him, filled with random marks that Emily had never been able to decipher. Every time she had so much as glanced into the pages the ink seemed to writhe on the paper and made her head ache.
“If you say so,” she agreed in a skeptical voice. With Jala and Marrow here, she had felt as though she belonged. Now, though, it was harder to believe. She felt no connection with these people, not even with Jail who had helped her work through some of her more base instincts with his mind magics. They were one thing, and she was quite another. They are prey and you are predator, a small voice whispered inside her and she hushed it quickly. It had been whispering things in her mind for days and she wasn’t entirely sure if it was another’s words, or her own thoughts that she had been repressing.
“I do say so, Emily. I know you are out of sorts right now. We all are. The loss of Finn, and then Jala and Valor, combined with trying to get things started here, and we are all under tremendous stress. We have to work together and rely on each other now, though, and it is important to remember you are one of us,” Sovann said, his gaze locked on the book his hand, moving quickly as he added more notations.
The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 3 From the Ashes Page 4