The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 3 From the Ashes

by Melissa Myers

  Neph frowned, his expression growing serious as he looked around the table and then slowly back to her. “What?” he asked cautiously.

  “I need you to arrange a marriage for me. I cannot do it myself because of the laws of the land. I’ve tried marriage for love. Now I have to accept marriage for politics. I need an army, Neph, and I need one by spring. I know Valor is building one but they won’t be seasoned and they will be affected by the Avanti enchantments,” Jala said softly, her throat growing tight as she spoke. She had discussed her plan with Ash already and it was a solid idea, but the thought of another marriage made her almost physically ill. She couldn’t imagine lying next to someone else while her heart still screamed for Finn.

  “With Seravae?” Neph said, his eyes moving from Jala to Ash and then back.

  Jala nodded slowly and let out her breath. It was a force of will to keep her eyes from growing glassy as she spoke. “I’ve talked it over with Ash and I believe it is my best option. Every other nation is either already fighting or my enemy. Seravae is the only neutral country left aside from Nerathane and I fully expect Nerathane to side with Rivana very soon,” she explained.

  “Lord Jexon is married to a girl from Rivana at the present. Therefore any marriage arrangements will fall to the next worthy man in line. Any who qualify as a Warlord in my land would be an option, though some are more fitting than others for this. The rings of mastery they possess determine how many they are fit to lead. So the more trained they are, the more soldiers they have available,” Ash said softly.

  “Ash has twenty-eight rings,” Jala added quietly.

  “You are going to marry Ash?” Neph choked the words and stared openly at Ash who simply smiled in return.

  “Once you make the proper arrangements for me,” Jala agreed with a nod. “As I said, we have discussed it. As it turns out it is quite beneficial to both of us. Ash cannot gain more status in his lands due to the fact that the current High Lord fears him. So he needs a land other than Seravae to call home. I have land and he will have soldiers. We will both win in this.”

  “And I understand that Jala is grieving and I expect nothing from her in the ways of a wife. I simply see our marriage contract as a way for both of us to attain our goals. I will be free of my father’s rule and she will have the army she needs,” Ash said with a faint smile.

  Neph looked between them once more and leaned back in his seat, rubbing his chin thoughtfully with one hand. “You know Arovan despises Seravae, right? And you have three hundred Arovan knights living here.”

  “I’ve considered that. Ash assures me that there are different factions in his land and the one that he is allied with are not raiders. I’m hoping that fact might reduce the pending hostility a bit,” Jala said with a sigh and shrugged. “It is the best option I see, Neph. I regret that there will be difficulties from it, but it is better than losing to Avanti.”

  “When do you plan to do this?” Neph asked still skeptical.

  “As soon as the curse on Goswin is lifted,” Jala answered softly. “When we go to Goswin, you will leave for Seravae if you agree to help.”

  “I can’t believe you are sending me instead of Jail for this,” Neph said, shaking his head slightly. “I am scarcely a diplomat, Jala,” he objected mildly.

  “I trust you, Neph,” Jala said bluntly and searched his face for some sign of his answer.

  Neph let out his breath in a heavy sigh and rubbed his face. “I don’t like this. I know a few of the laws from Seravae. Wives are property there, Jala. If it was anyone but Ash, I would be trying to shake some sense into you right now.” Neph stared at Ash for a long moment and sighed again. “He has shown honor, though, so I will do as you ask. I’m not responsible for anyone I might kill while playing ambassador, though. If they annoy me, I will get rid of them,” he warned her.

  “Speaking of killing. That was Death magic you used earlier wasn’t it,” Jala said with a faint smile.

  Neph nodded slowly and his frown deepened. “I don’t think I would admit that to anyone else. Death magic is forbidden in every land and simply having the knowledge of those spells is enough reason for execution in places,” Neph said cautiously.

  “I always wondered why you kept your room so dark when you read and now I finally understand. If anyone actually does manage to scry on you they can’t read what you are studying between the darkness and the glow from the light runes you have on your walls,” Jala said and nodded slowly. “Clever, Neph, and you know I won’t tell anyone. I do however expect you to teach me.”

  Neph shook his head at her slowly and smiled. “You don’t want much do you, Jala? Ambassador and teacher of forbidden arts,” he grumbled.

  “And that is just the beginning, Neph,” Jala promised him with a bitter smile as she stood from the table. “Thank you for agreeing to help,” Jala added and nodded to Emily then Ash. “I’m going to go spend time with my son now. I think my time for simply relaxing is coming swiftly to an end and I want as much time with Legacy as I can manage,” she said as she crossed the room and slowly opened the door.

  “Jala,” Neph called before she could step through the door. Turning she looked back at him with a raised eyebrow. “Are you planning to tell Valor what you are going to do?” he asked softly.

  “I am. I’m simply trying to figure out how to do it,” Jala assured him. She knew quite well how much Valor despised Seravae and had absolutely no idea how to tell him her plans. The fact that she was keeping the secret from him was bad enough, but the thought of telling him the truth was even worse. It was a topic she would have to broach very soon, but not today.

  Chapter 17

  Goswin

  Snow covered the landscape in a pristine white blanket for as far as she could see. Jala turned slowly in a full circle, looking over the tree covered hills with a sense of wonder. Not even animal tracks disrupted the perfect beauty. It was completely untouched aside from the small patch of ground her group stood upon. “It’s beautiful,” she said softly.

  “And cold,” Sovann added as he watched his breath fog in the air. “I prefer our lands by far.” The mage rubbed his hands together briskly and then tucked them under his arms as he studied the area. It had been his magic that had brought them here, despite his reservations about the fluxes in the magic.

  “Should we inform Anthe that we are here?” Valor asked quietly. He stood to her left, fully clad in the shining armor he had been working on for days. Jala watched him for a moment, her eyes lingering on the engraved Bendazzi that stood proudly on the dark purple breastplate. The colors of Merro suited him well and he was an impressive sight.

  “I believe she knows we are here,” Jala replied and turned her attention to the large trees that marked the beginning of the Tolanteer forest. There was no sign of movement there yet, but her gut instincts told her the witches of the forest knew what was happening.

  “Anthe the Seer,” Madren reminded them all. “There is nothing that happens that she doesn’t have foreknowledge of.”

  Jala nodded her agreement and shifted her staff to rest in the crook of her arm as she let out a long slow breath. “It might be best if you all stand back from me. I’m not sure exactly how this is going to go,” she advised as she pulled her gloves free. The chill winter air bit at her bare skin, but she ignored it. She heard the sound of footsteps as Sovann and Madren retreated to a safer distance, then looked to Valor who hadn’t moved an inch.

  “I’m fine where I am,” Valor informed her as he caught her glance.

  “The magic, though, Valor. I’m going to be channeling a lot of it and I’m not sure if it’s safe beside me,” Jala pressed her voice filled with concern.

  “And I’m fine where I am,” Valor repeated, folding his arms across his chest and staring down at her stubbornly.

  Letting out a sigh, Jala shook her head and wrapped her hand firmly around her staff. Neph and Sovann had both spent the past two days filling the Barllen inside the staff with as much magic
as it could hold. That, combined with the mana stones Madren had crafted, should be more than enough magic to accomplish what she needed to do. “I’m nervous,” she admitted softly, her voice just loud enough for Valor to hear.

  “I know. That’s why I’m right here,” Valor whispered back and gave her a reassuring wink.

  “If this succeeds, do you think Ash will be strong enough to keep Death from claiming the souls in Merro? I don’t think she believes our deal still stands, considering I attacked her.” Jala turned to look at him, her eyes desperately searching for reassurance.

  “We don’t know that Oblivion will release them the moment the curse is lifted. If they wait until you return, I have no doubt that the souls will remain in Merro. Ash may not be strong enough, but you are. Perhaps Death will be appeased with the offering from Goswin and won’t even try to seize the souls of Merro. There are quite a few dead here that are trapped from her domain,” Valor answered with confidence filling his voice. She could see no doubt in his blue eyes. He had more faith in her than she had in herself, apparently.

  “I’m not giving her the dead of Goswin, Valor. I will do everything in my power to keep from giving her anything ever again. I’m not releasing the souls today, I’m raising them back to life,” Jala corrected softly with only a faint tremor in her voice. Life magic was more taxing on her than anything else she had attempted and she was about to perform more of it than any other mage would even consider.

  “Are you sure that is wise?” Valor asked cautiously, a bit of concern showing on his face at last.

  “My father didn’t name me Wisdom,” Jala replied with a faint smile and returned his gaze. “Do you believe I can do it?” she asked in a softer voice.

  Valor shifted where he stood and uncrossed his arms. Carefully he removed his gauntlet and smiled at her. “I have faith that you can do anything you set your mind to, Jala. If the stones and the staff are not enough then take magic from me. I’ve seen you perform miracles before and the only thing that has caused you difficulty was magical energy. You shouldn’t have a problem with that today,” he said and offered his hand to her.

  Jala smiled faintly and shook her head at his offering. “Only if there is no other choice. I don’t like siphoning magic from friends. Sovann informed me how painful it is when I do.” She let out another nervous breath and nodded to Valor. “Well then, I suppose I should get started.”

  Closing her eyes she willed her mind into focus for Weaving and slowly opened her eyes once more, her gaze traveling across the land and then slowly to the sky above. Threads of magic covered everything as far as she could see. The trees themselves hung heavy with strands of magic while the sky above was nearly blinding to look at between the Barrier and the remains of Anthe’s failed magic. Her mind reeled at the sheer amount of magic before her. There was so much to repair and remove that she wasn’t sure if she would have energy for the raising of the dead despite the provisions she had brought.

  Find a starting point first. She decided silently and her eyes roved across the land and settled on the Tolanteer. If she could release the witches, then perhaps they could help her with the raising of the dead.

  Are you certain of this? Marrow asked her softly. He kept his words gentle in her mind so he wouldn’t disrupt her focus, and she didn’t need to look down to know his yellow eyes were searching her for doubt.

  “Quite,” she answered softly as she raised her hands and began to undo the damage Anthe had wrought on her land so long ago. She could now see the intent of the spell Anthe had cast. The broken weaves and strands told the story clearly enough for her to know exactly what Anthe had attempted. Wish magic. Had Jala not already held trepidation about her family’s gift, the ruined magic of Goswin would have guaranteed it. Anthe had wished for her people to stand forever in the defense of Goswin, or something close to those terms. The edge of the sword was the curse that blanketed the land. Jala’s hands moved swiftly as she removed the strands of the curse and repaired the damage to the innate magic of the land. As Sovann had once told her, everything on Sanctuary held magic. Even the slender blades of grass hidden below the snow. Anthe’s magic had disrupted it all. Not a single weave in Goswin was undisturbed no matter how small it was.

  Jala had barely managed to finish the edge of the forest before she was forced to drain power from her staff. At this rate she would be siphoning from not only Valor, but Sovann and Madren as well. Grinding her teeth in frustration she refocused her magic and searched frantically for a way to use it more efficiently.

  “Is she all right?” Sovann asked from behind her and his voice seemed a hundred miles away.

  “She is fine. Jala knows what she is doing,” Valor assured him calmly and Jala nearly laughed at his words.

  Ahh. But I wish I had your faith in me, Jala mused silently as she began her repairs once more. She could work with less raw power she discovered, but it took twice as long to do. It was that or siphon though, so she was in for a very long day. Focusing her mind once more she pushed herself further into the trance and let the world around her fade away. She had Marrow and Valor beside her and Madren and Sovann barely ten feet away. There was no need for her to pay attention to her surroundings. They would keep her safe and she knew it. Her world narrowed to the strands of magic surrounding her and she felt the movements of her spells becoming rhythmic, almost hypnotic in their patterns.

  “Jala,” Valor’s voice was barely a whisper in her mind and Jala stubbornly pushed it away.

  She could see the dead now. Their blurred forms were barely visible against the snow shrouded landscape, but she could see them. The dead of Goswin lined the hills surrounding her in tight unmoving ranks held firmly by her magic. There were so many of them that she wanted to sob in frustration. Her staff was drained of power, as were the mana gems that she had brought, and she hadn’t even reached the difficult part of her task.

  Repairing the strands should have been simple. She had counted on most of her reserves going to raising the dead. What she hadn’t counted on, however, was the sheer magnitude of the damage to Goswin. She had thought she would be removing a spell that blanketed everything rather than removing strands of shattered magic from everything. A single spell would have been so much simpler. A few strands pulled away and the remaining threads would have simply faded.

  “Jala,” Valor hissed again his voice louder and more demanding.

  “Has the lady gone Mage blind?” The second voice broke her from her focus and she nearly lost her grasp on the spirits surrounding her. Jala knew that voice, and Zachary Dark was the last person she had expected to hear today.

  Slowly her eyes came open and she winced at the lance of pain that shot through her skull. The hours of focus had taken their toll on her, and she would be suffering for days for her efforts. “The lady is not Mage blind, whatever that is,” Jala said in a hoarse whisper. She felt as though she had been awake for days, though judging by the daylight remaining it had simply been the afternoon. Dusk was settling over the land now, and it would be night soon.

  Zachary Dark stood looming a dozen feet from her. The black armor he wore stood out against the snow like a scar. His ragged black cloak was pulled up over his head to guard from the chill wind but she could still see the deathly pale face beneath. His cold blue eyes were locked on her and his face utterly devoid of emotion as he watched her. “It is what happens when a Mage pushes themselves beyond their capabilities. You can become lost in the magic, or shatter yourself. You, however are apparently stronger than I gave you credit for.” His voice was deep and monotone. Even the dead in the Darklands held more warmth in their voices.

  “It seems to be a popular trend to underestimate me,” Jala replied softly, her voice sounding almost foreign to her ears. It had a serene quality about it that she couldn’t remember ever possessing before. Tilting her head slightly, she looked up to meet Zachary’s cold stare. “May I enquire as to what you are doing here, Lord Dark?” she asked politely.


  “I told you, that should you manage to break the curse on Goswin, I would help you raise the dead. I keep my word,” Zachary answered bluntly.

  Relief surged through her though she did her best from letting it show on her face. “I had thought you meant the dead in Merro. I didn’t realize you meant both lands,” Jala admitted cautiously.

  “I had thought you only meant to raise the dead in Merro. After watching you today though I have seen what you intend. Do you wish help here Lady Merrodin or do you believe you can finish this task alone?” The expression on his face was enough to tell her that he knew the truth. Somehow Zachary could see how drained she already was though she didn’t think she had let her weakness show.

  “I would welcome the help,” Jala said quietly and hoped her gratitude wasn’t too obvious. It wouldn’t do to be too humble to one of the lords of Oblivion. They were a lot like Delvay in their regards to strength, and would write you off quickly if you showed weakness.

  Zachary nodded slowly and turned to look toward the waiting spirits. “I used to be quite the healer before the fall of Veir. I trained with Rose while I was at the Academy. They called me a Paladin then. Imagine that, me a holy knight,” he said softly and his voice held the faintest hint of sadness.

  “You were a legend in Sanctuary. It took me years before they stopped comparing me to you. I’m not sure if I finally proved my worth or if they simply realized I would never measure up,” Valor said, his voice filled with respect.

  Zachary turned his head to regard Valor and the edges of his mouth turned up in what might have been a smile. “We are worlds apart, Arovan, then and now. It wasn’t right to even compare us. You are a Stormlord. I was simply a knight with a knack for healing.” Pulling his cloak back he removed a flask from its pocket and handed it to Jala before turning back to face the waiting spirits. “Drink. By the time you finish that flask the Witches of Tolanteer should be here.”