From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(135)

“You are obviously mistaken, boy. You have never been to Seravae. Of that I’m certain and I have not left the isles aside from councils. You are drunk and it is about to get you killed,” Jexon said with disgust.

“It’s only a matter of time before your blood is on my sword Jexon. I will find you when you have nothing to hide behind and you will have no choice but to face me. With every insult you show Jala you bring that day closer. Remember that, you f*cking coward, and perhaps it will motivate you to treat her with respect,” Valor called, his hand finally moving from the hilt of his sword.

Silently, Jala pushed herself back away from the table, her eyes locked on Valor who looked ready to face the entire Seravae nation if need be. It wasn’t his friendship I sacrificed, Jala realized sadly. It was his faith in me.

Blind. So gods-be-damned blind, Marrow muttered quietly in her mind.





Chapter 27





Merro





The world beyond her window was one made of chaos. Everywhere she looked, people rushed by in preparation for the coming march. “I’ve had my people back for less than three months and now I’m sending them to war,” Jala said quietly.

And they are going willingly because none of them think too highly of life as an Avanti slave, Marrow replied smoothly.

Jala’s eyes settled on the dark form of her father and she closed her eyes. “What if Jexon refuses to let me go. How can I spare them from death if I’m not there?” The question had filled her mind since the first scout reports of Avanti movement had arrived. In her planning, she had never once guessed that she might be left behind. Jexon, however, didn’t even like to let her leave the house on simple errands.

Her contact with her friends had been limited as well by his command. Jexon didn’t like her male friends to visit the house and she had barely seen Wisp more than twice since her return to Merro. That part had been Jala’s doing, though. The looks Jexon gave Wisp made her skin crawl and she didn’t want to see her friend hurt. Jala knew full well how rough Jexon’s attention could be and the thought of the delicate Fae staggering away from one of his blows made her sick. She had kept her word, though, and remained obedient, despite how much she missed her freedom. Now she was watching as he kept his promise to protect Merro.

The soldiers that Jexon had brought with him were the only organized part of the army beyond. Each division was lined up in perfect ranks with their preparations for marching already done. But the Merro militia and the knights of Arovan were still struggling with the supplies. Not that they had much in the way of supplies. Most of what they were packing was spare weapons and feed for the horses.

The essential supplies of food and medicinal stores were being sent from Seravae. Merro quite simply could not provide those things. Her people had been on rations throughout the winter and even then it had been mostly grains. According to Jexon, ships would arrive in Brannaford with provisions and the army would march from there. That was, of course, if everything went as planned. Which, in her life, Jala had come to realize nothing ever did.

A flash of purple caught her eye and Jala watched in silence as Valor rode through the ranks, calling orders. It was the first time she had seen him since they had returned. Neph had visited her when he could spare the time and Ash was a constant presence when Jexon wasn’t home, but Valor had never even approached the house.

He has been working for weeks on that barding so that it was in your colors, Emily said quietly from the floor beside Jala. It had been quite a shock to return home and find another Bendazzi waiting for her. Though it was a bigger shock to Marrow she was sure. Both of them had gotten used to the new arrangement, though, and Jala had to admit it was rather nice to have a Bendazzi on either side of her when faced with an angry spouse. Jexon never raised a hand toward her when the Bendazzi were with her.

“He looks quite the commander. Leave it to Valor to be the best dressed in the army,” Jala said with a faint smile. The armor he wore and the matching barding on his horse did look quite striking. He stood out from the army like a songbird among sparrows. Even the Arovan knights in their fine silver armor seemed shabby next to him in the purple plate with the sigil of the Bendazzi blazoned across it.

They are all going, you know, even Wisp. As far as I understand, it’s only going to be a skeleton crew guarding the city, Emily said with a heavy sigh.

“And he will try to leave me here,” Jala mused as she let her head fall gently against the window frame, her eyes still searching the ranks of the army for familiar faces.

He can’t leave you here, Emily said.

“Why?” Jala asked, her gaze dropping to meet Emily’s golden eyes. Emily had chosen to keep the dark fur rather than alter it to match Marrow’s shining white coat which Jala was rather grateful for. Both Bendazzi were equal in size and had they matched in color it would have been difficult to tell them apart at a simple glance.

Because you aren’t with child yet and if you die while he is off pretending to be a warrior the land goes to Sovann. He can’t afford to risk that, Jala, Emily explained with a feline grin.

Jala’s eyes widened and she nodded slowly. That was actually logic that Jexon would listen to, she was sure of it. The only problem was how to relay it to him without it actually coming from her. He never bothered to listen to anything she said and this was too important to risk his inattention. “Jail,” Jala whispered with a smile. The Mind mage could slip the thought into Jexon’s mind so subtly that Jexon would believe it was his own choice.