“What? So they can shoot me in the back?” Shade objected as he watched Charm fumbling in his pockets. “What are you going to do, Charm, pay them to leave me alone?” he asked.
“Shut up and get out the window,” Charm snapped as he produced a small gem from his pocket. Kissing it lightly he leaned back out the doorway and cracked the stone. “I hope you are still pissed, sweetheart,” Charm mumbled as he pulled the door shut behind him and looked back at Shade. “The window!” Charm barked.
“Was that the Assassin lady I put in the storage stone?” Shade asked in disbelief.
“Yes, and I doubt she will hold them long. I was banking on the shock of a naked woman to slow them,” Charm hissed as he pulled his coat free and tossed it on the bed. With an incoherent grumble he shoved Shade through the window and followed quickly. “Run for your ship. If more catch us, I’ll hold them as long as I can,” Charm ordered, his hands busy at unlacing his ornate bracers as they ran.
In all of the time that Shade had known the rogue he had never once seen him without his bracers on, though he typically had them hidden beneath the coat he always wore. He had never seen the rogue fight directly, either. Charm was rogue through and through. He avoided direct confrontation like the plague.
Shouts erupted from behind them and Shade glanced back to see another group of Fionaveir running toward them. “Run!” Charm bellowed as he pulled the second bracer free.
Shade sprinted forward then faltered as he realized Charm was no longer behind him. His heart pounding he dodged into an alley as he tried to decide what to do. Charm obviously wanted him to escape, but he couldn’t bear the thought of the rogue dying on his behalf. Glancing back out the alley he stared in shock at the rogue.
Charm stood square in the middle of the road his arms held out to his sides with a pale sword in each hand. He had never seen the rogue with anything other than daggers before, but that wasn’t the most shocking part of it. Wings extended proudly from Charm’s back, the bright white feathers catching the afternoon sun with a rainbow gleam. Shade could barely see Charm’s face, but the rogue’s features seemed different, harsher somehow. Small curved horns rose from his forehead, barely visible through the rogue’s thick blond hair. Raising one hand before him Charm aimed his sword at the approaching Fionaveir. “You will not pass me,” he warned in a voice that didn’t even sound like the man Shade called friend. It was deeper and seemed to echo through the street. The Fionaveir slowed in their approach with evident caution. Apparently they had never seen this side of Charm either.
“And that is why Charm hides his true form. He can’t stand the looks of fear any more than he can stomach the sight of himself in the mirror like that,” Vaze’s voice broke from the Shadows and Shade whirled to look at the man, praying Vaze hadn’t come to stop him. If Vaze attacked, Shade knew he was done for.
“I’ve never seen a celestial before. I thought they were all dead,” Shade mumbled, his eyes on Vaze.
Vaze moved forward to stand beside him, his eyes on Charm’s back. “He is only half-celestial. His mother’s side, actually. She was raped by a greater demon during the war beyond the barrier. Charm is the result,” Vaze explained in a flat voice his eyes locked on Charm.
Shade stared at the man then slowly looked back to Charm. The rogue had lowered his sword and his wings had lost the pristine white coloring and seemed a dull grey to his eyes. “His wings change colors?” Shade asked in confusion.
“No. He has altered them to metal with magic. I’ve heard of that trick in stories about him, but I’ve never seen it. I’ve heard he uses them to fight with like extra blades and that every feather is razor sharp. I wish I had time to see it, though I don’t truly want him to use them on Fionaveir,” Vaze sighed. “Charm has worn the bracers since I have known him and I’ve never even seen his wings before,” Vaze said, a note of respect in his voice. “Seeing this has made helping you almost worth the trouble I’m going to get into for doing it.”
“You are helping me?” Shade asked hopefully.
Turning Vaze looked at him and smiled wickedly. “In a fashion. I’m helping you get out of the city, but I’m sending you to a place that I shudder to think of going myself. I would not want to be in the presence of the man you will be seeing for anything in the world,” Vaze said his tone low and ominous. The shadows began to rise as he spoke shrouding him in a dark fog.
“Remember when I called you scary, Vaze,” Shade mumbled and pointed a finger at him. “This is why. This right here. Your people skills suck, Vaze,” Shade said, shaking his finger at Vaze in further accusation.
“Your ship, Shade,” Vaze said as he tossed a storage stone toward him.
“You got my ship too? Wait, how did you gem it with the Barllen on it?” Shade asked his eyes flashing back up to Vaze as he caught the stone.
“Simple. I ripped the Barllen off,” Vaze said as his summoned shadows began to wrap around Shade. With a faint smile he waved to Shade in farewell.
“Wait! Where are you sending me? What do you mean a man you wouldn’t want to see?” Shade called frantically as the darkness rose around him. Vertigo washed over him as the transport faded. Staggering forward Shade rested his hand against a wall and looked around frantically trying to determine where he was.
“Shade. What are you doing here?” Madren asked from behind him.
Slowly Shade turned and looked at his old friend with a raised eyebrow. They stood in a small room furnished with no more than the basic requirements of a bed and a dresser. Shade stared at the rough furnishings then looked back to Madren and shook his head in answer. “I have no idea, Madren. Is this Goswin?” he asked dumbly.
“It is. This is one of the rooms for the Delvay refugees,” Madren replied, giving Shade a worried look. “Why did you leave Sanctuary if you don’t know why you are here? Did you intend to go somewhere else?” Madren asked, his voice filled with concern.
“I left Sanctuary to help the people of Glis, but Vaze sent me here instead. Wait, Madren, you mean there were actually survivors from Delvay? I had understood they were wiped out completely,” Shade said in confusion.
Smiling Madren nodded. “That is exactly what I wanted them to think. The Warrens Mercenaries moved a great deal of their soldiers from Northern Goswin to Avanti after the High Lord there signed a contract with them. So in their absence I used their tunnels and made a few modifications to get under Rivana without being noticed. I couldn’t get Kadan to retreat. He was stubborn to the last. I did manage to get most of the ones that were either too old or too young to fight as well as a decent sized escort of Spellblades to protect them, however. It isn’t much, compared to what Delvay used to be, but it is something,” Madren explained, his voice calmer than Shade could ever remember it being.
“That’s great, Madren. I can’t believe you saved Delvay and no one even realizes it,” Shade said with a shake of his head. Smiling, he nodded his approval at his old friend. “I’m impressed, Madren, and proud of what you’ve done.”
Madren blushed faintly and shook his head faintly. “I’d rather have your help than your praise Shade. If you want to help, that is,” Madren said without a trace of the nervousness that he had showed constantly in Sanctuary.
“I’d love to help, Madren. Show me what you need done,” Shade said with a nod. He would head for Glis as soon as he could, but for now Delvay needed him. That had to be the reason Vaze had sent him here. Perhaps the refugees were in greater need than Glis. Either way, Madren had asked him for help and as he had told Symphony, you couldn’t simply ignore a plea for help.
Chapter 33
Arovan
The sun was sinking in the sky as her small column turned off the main road and onto the cobbled lane. Slender trees lined either side of the road at regular intervals, their branches just beginning to show the first spring blooms. Beyond the trees were fields of open grass that spread as far as Jala could see in both directions.
“The last time I was here, the h
orse herds filled both sides of the road,” Valor said quietly beside her. His Arovanni walked sedately, its head held low as if he too was mourning the change in Arovan. They had arrived in Gaelyn the day before and had not encountered a single person on the ride north to Arovan. Every village they passed was deserted and filled with graves so fresh the spring grass had barely begun to show on the turned earth.
“Do you think anyone will be here?” Jala asked quietly, her eyes still scanning the deserted fields. The grass was waist deep from what she could tell and showed no signs that livestock had been in the fields since long before winter.
“If they have a southern base of operations, it will be here. This is the safest place anyone could hope for near the border,” Valor answered though his voice didn’t hold much hope.
“But you don’t think they will be here,” Jala concluded, her eyes watching his face.
“I think if they were here, riders would have already arrived to meet us,” Valor said with a sigh. He gave her a faint smile and shrugged. “At least we can use it as a secure base until we locate my people or the location of the Blights.”
“I’m not sleeping in a damned stable,” Neph grumbled from behind them.
“Neph, I’m sure the Arovan don’t truly share their homes with their horses,” Jala sighed glancing over at Valor for some sign of the truth.
“Every story I’ve ever heard about the Arovan says they keep their horses in their houses,” Neph said firmly.
Jala sighed and wondered once again why she had left the others behind and kept only Valor and Neph with her. Ash was with her too, of course, but he rode in the back with his small band of Soulreavers. Wisp, she had sent to Faydwer with a contingent of archers to help with the Blight troubles there. Jail, she had sent home with the main body of her army, and Sovann she had given the most important role. She had sent the mage into hiding with her family. Not even she truly knew where he had gone. They had both decided that was the safest course, given that she was going to be hunting Blights and the creatures scanned minds. The loss of her friends was hard. Leaving Legacy was almost unbearable. Other than the short trip to Goswin and then Kithvaryn she had never been from her son more than a few hours a day. Now it would likely be weeks before she saw him again.
“You are thinking about Legacy again aren’t you?” Valor asked, his words echoing her thoughts so perfectly she wondered if he had a talent for mind reading that he hadn’t yet mentioned.
“Is it that obvious?” Jala asked with a sigh.
“You do look pretty damned pathetic when you think about him,” Neph said and shook his head at her. “You get all sad faced and your eyes get glassy with motherly concern. I have to focus on how bitchy you were in Avanti just to keep from puking from the sight of the sweet sentimental side of you,” he added with a smirk.
“Why do I like you so much?” Jala asked dryly, though she could feel the smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
“You got me there,” Neph replied with a snort of amusement.
“I find myself confused by it as well,” Valor added, rolling his eyes at Neph. “Your mother must have been a harpy beyond compare for you to end up so callous and emotionally stunted.”
“Emotionally stunted,” Neph repeated with a grin. “I like that,” he added with a nod of approval.
“There is something wrong with you,” Valor said with a slow shake of his head.
“What is that?” Jala asked, slowing her horse as she stared at a massive stone archway rising from both sides of the road. She could see the faint glimmer of magic on the stones, but she couldn’t tell what it was from their distance.
“The entry gate to House Hai’dia,” Valor replied with a smile.
“What are the runes?” Jala asked, as she pressed her horse forward once more.
“Protection and obscurity. From this side of the gate you can see nothing of the manor house or the area surrounding it.” He motioned to the low stone wall that ran from both sides of the archway through the fields beyond. “Notice how both fields on either side of the stone wall look exactly the same?” he asked and glanced toward her.
“It’s grass, Valor. How different can grass look?” Neph asked dryly
Valor simply smiled and continued riding until they reached the arch. Holding a hand up he motioned for them to pause and then he rode forward. His Arovanni slowed to a stop beside one of the pillars and Valor quickly removed his gauntlet. Leaning over the saddle he pressed his palm flat against the pillar. “Alexander Hai’dia,” he said softly as he sat back in his saddle once more. The pillar flashed with a blue light that swiftly faded back into the stone. Glancing back, he nodded for them to approach. “The wards are down for now and will stay down until we reach the house. I can reset them from there,” Valor explained.
“Alexander?” Jala asked staring at him in confusion.
“My birth name. Alexander Valor Hai’dia. My mother chose my first name. My father chose my middle name. It shows their difference in priority clearly, doesn’t it,” Valor said with a smile as he led the way through the stone archway. “I never use my first name and I doubt anyone beyond my mother even realizes that I have a name other than Valor,” he said over his shoulder.
“I don’t blame you for not using the first name,” Neph muttered and Jala elbowed him and shook her head with narrowed eyes. Neph grinned back at her and shrugged one shoulder in response.
Rolling her eyes, Jala turned her attention back to the road and stared at the beauty of the land around her. Her eyes were drawn to the house and she realized why Valor hadn’t complained about the size of the Avanti estate. His childhood home was even larger by her guess. Pulling her horse to the side of the road she stopped once more and simply stared down the gently sloping hill, trying to guess what it must have been like to grow up in a place such as this. The house itself was ancient in appearance with worn stones covered in ivy and blooming vines. It rose four stories to tower over the lake that spread between the road and the grass covered fields beyond. Turning, she gazed down to the statue of a rearing horse near the edge of the lake closest to the road. The entire sight was awe inspiring and spoke clearly of the power of Valor’s house. This was not the home of a minor lord. House Hai’dia was a power to be reckoned with and their home showed it clearly.
“You have been staring for a while now. Are you OK?” Valor asked quietly and she looked over at him with a faint smile.
“The entire village I grew up in could fit in your entry hall, Valor,” Jala said softly.
“That isn’t my entry hall. It is my father’s. Mine is in Merro,” Valor corrected.
Her smile widened and Jala nodded. “I stand corrected,” she said with a slight bow of her head.
“I don’t know about you, but I could use a hot bath and a warm meal in either order. Do you mind if we press on?” Valor asked as he watched the small army they had brought pass by, a few casting curious looks in their direction.
Jala shook her head quickly and pressed her horse into a walk once more. Her eyes continued to trail across the various statues and flowers as they rode. “What was it like growing up here?” she asked after a long silence.
“When Honor and Chas were here it was fun. Then Honor married and moved to the capital and Chas moved to Glis and it was lonely. I’m the youngest child by quite a few years. Honor is close to sixty now and Chas…” His voice trailed off and he swallowed heavily. “Chas would be near forty this spring,” Valor finished quietly.
“We could bring her back,” Jala reminded him gently.
“Let’s wait and make sure we have something to bring her back to. From what I’ve seen so far it doesn’t look good. I’m afraid it might be too late to help Arovan,” Valor said, managing to keep most of the despair from his voice, but Jala could still see traces of it.
Jala watched him silently before turning her gaze back to the approaching house. She wished she knew something to say to reassure him, but she had to agree with his w
ords. It did look as though they were too late to save Arovan.
They caught up with Neph who stood waiting in front of the massive stone doors of the house. The mage looked over at them dryly and raised an eyebrow at Jala. “Point out the stables to me, Jala,” Neph ordered as he waved both hands toward the empty fields surrounding the house.
Jala turned in her saddle to look around as Valor dismounted and pressed his hand against the stone doors. “Alexander Hai’dia,” he repeated once more and the flash of blue light flickered across the doors as they opened slowly. Taking his reins in his hands once more he led Valorous through the doors and into the darkened hall beyond.
“You see! They do sleep with their bloody horses,” Neph said loudly as he followed Valor through the doors. Glancing over at his bay mare, he frowned. “I will not cuddle you no matter what you might think by this arrangement. I am not Arovan,” he said firmly.
Jala shook her head and sighed as she rode through the doors and stared silently at the stone stalls that lined both sides of the entry hall. It was a stable. There was no denying that, but the entire room was cleaner than most houses she had seen. There was no smell of horses or manure present in the air. Raising her eyes she watched Valor pull the bridle from his Arovanni and the large horse sauntered down the hall and walked into one of the stalls near the far end of the stable. She dismounted and gazed around the stalls wondering which of the countless empty stalls she should use for her gelding. A light tug at her reins brought her attention back sharply and she raised an eyebrow at Valor as he took her horse from her. With a speed she hadn’t yet mastered, he stripped the tack from the gelding and led him to one of the stalls a few down from Valorous and led him inside.
“Tie your mare to a post, Neph. I’ll handle her next,” Valor called as he finished with her gelding. Glancing up at her he smiled. “Magic keeps the area clean and provides them with food and water. It is a lazy approach but the horses never lack for anything this way,” he explained as he stepped from the stall.
The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 3 From the Ashes Page 52