From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(100)

“If you can’t calm him down, will you at least knock him out? Maybe if he is unconscious the damned storm will die down,” Sovann pleaded and she noticed the pale green tint to his skin for the first time. Finn had spoken of being a sailor in the past, but apparently his younger brother didn’t handle ship travel as well. By his appearance, Sovann was quite sea sick.

“I will calm him down, Sovann,” Jala promised as she climbed from the shelter quickly and crossed to the rail of the ship. Lightning filled the sky as she crossed to the rail and the crack of thunder that followed was nearly deafening. Blinking quickly, Jala tried to clear her eyes of the momentary blindness as she seized the rail of the ship in a death grip.

“Get back below!” Valor bellowed from somewhere to her right and she began to creep in that direction, moving both hands along the railing as she walked. Another wave crashed against the boat and her breath caught as the icy water drenched her. Gasping, she searched the deck until she located Valor at the wheel of the ship and glaring at her with an expression she had never before seen on his face – pure fury.

“I need to talk to you,” Jala called back, hoping he could hear her through the wind.

“Get back below!” Valor repeated with more force in his voice.

In hindsight perhaps you shouldn’t have gotten drunk on Essence wine while you had a guilty conscience, Marrow offered softly in her mind in a voice filled with utter misery. She could barely make out the Bendazzi’s form where he crouched behind Valor. From what she could see of him, the cat was drenched and shivering.

What did I say to him? Jala pleaded as she continued her slow approach to where Valor stood.

You told him of your plans to wed Seravae. Wait, no, I think “confessed” is a more appropriate word to use there, because I’m positive you were seeking forgiveness. As a side note, judging by the weather, I don’t think he has forgiven you, Marrow explained.

“Valor, I need to talk to you,” Jala repeated as she drew closer to him.

Valor shifted his hold on the wheel and glared at her, his blue eyes filled with anger. “If you are washed overboard it is not of my doing. It seems no matter how hard I try to keep you safe, you do everything in your power to make it impossible. You are like guarding a child with a hatchet. Sometimes the aim is true and other times you aim for your own foot.”


“Valor, I’m sorry,” Jala pleaded as she released her grip on the rail and crossed the last stretch of deck separating them. The roar of another wave rose on the air and she braced herself for the impact of the water. Icy sheets poured down over her back and she felt one of her feet slip under her, then a firm hand on her arm.

“Impossible to protect,” Valor snarled as he pulled her over to where he was standing and returned his grip to the wheel.

Jala frowned and brushed tendrils of soaking wet curls from her face as she stared up at him. “Valor, I’m sorry,” she repeated her eyes searching for any change in his expression.

“Sorry for what exactly? Sorry for the arrangements you have made, or sorry that you didn’t tell me sooner? When exactly where you planning to tell me? As you returned for Merro with an army of Spooks?” Valor snarled.

“Spooks?” Jala asked in confusion. It wasn’t a term she was familiar with and this was the first time she had ever heard Valor use it.

It is the derogatory term the Arovan use for Seravae. Spooks, wraiths, paleys and a variety of much less flattering words. I’ve learned all of them while we have traveled. I must say I envy your talent for drinking more than you should and passing out, Marrow informed her.

“The gods-be-damned Seravae, Jala. When were you going to tell me?” Valor demanded and his voice held as much hurt to it as it did anger. “You ask me to trust you and then you keep something like this from me,” he added bitterly and shook his head as he turned his attention back to the raging sea.

“I wanted to tell you, Valor. I just didn’t know how to tell you. I would have found a way before I left for Seravae,” Jala said desperately, her gaze still locked on Valor’s face. “Please, Valor, please understand I can’t do it any other way. I have to do this to keep Merro safe.”

“And what you said about building you an army, what was that, Jala? Just some feeble attempt to make me feel important? You certainly don’t seem to think it will do anything to help protect our home,” Valor snapped, his eyes flashing once more.

“No, Valor, I need the army too. Don’t you understand? Avanti has us outnumbered twenty to one. Even with the army Ash will receive, we will be outnumbered. We need every last soul we can manage fighting for Merro or we will all be Avanti slaves,” Jala explained, her voice desperate. She needed Valor to understand. She had too much to face without him. He had become her anchor in the past few weeks and just the thought of facing what lay ahead alone terrified her.

“Ash? You are going to marry the man that failed to raise your husband?” Valor gasped incredulous.

“I failed Finn, Valor. That was my failure from the start. And yes, I am going to marry Ash. For Merro and every person that is depending on me I will do whatever it takes to survive what’s coming,” Jala shot back, her own temper rising a bit at the mention of Finn.

“Do you know the Seravae laws at all, Jala? Do you actually believe it will still be your land after you marry a Spook? Women have no property in Seravae. They are property there. If Ash wanted to sell you it would be well within his rights.” Valor returned his eyes fully on her now rather than the storm or the ship.