From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(138)
Slowly, Jala reached up and pulled her veil free, revealing her face and hair. With her other free hand she unclasped the pin that was holding her curls in place and shook her head letting them fall free before locking her gaze once more on the merchant. “Actually, I am High Lady Merrodin,” Jala said softly, allowing the man to stare blankly at her face and eyes. There was no mistaking her for anything other than Elder Blood and she knew it. Her days in Sanctuary had taught her that much. “I apologize for any offense that Neph may have given in my absence. He is Delvay and they are different from us in their manners.”
The man was still staring at her, his expression caught somewhere between shock and anger. Slowly he nodded, though what he meant by the nod she couldn’t guess. It was possible that he was simply agreeing that Neph was rude.
“I have an army outside of Brannaford’s walls. I’m sure you have heard rumor of it,” Jala said as the silence stretched between them. The man nodded once more his expression still one of utter bewilderment. “Our supply ship has been delayed and I’m in need of food and medicinal provisions for my soldiers. I’ve been told that you are the one to speak to about such orders.”
“I usually supply ships, but I might be able to handle enough to last you for a while if the price is right,” Tipton said cautiously his interest returning again.
Jala nodded and exhaled slowly. “My finances are in Sanctuary’s bank, actually. I can offer a promissory note with my signet upon it, but I cannot offer hard coin,” she explained in a quieter voice. This was the difficult part. In most other cities they would have had a bank or a money changer to handle such things, but Brannaford wasn’t large enough for such things.
“You expect me to hand over supplies enough for an army for nothing more than a piece of paper with your mark on it?” Tipton demanded, the volume of his voice rising once more.
“I had hoped you would be willing to accept a note of credit for the supplies. The gold is there, Sir. You simply have to cash it in. I’m sure that the short trip to Sanctuary would be more than worth the gold you will charge me for supplies,” Jala returned in what she hoped was a charming voice.
“Sanctuary is held by rebels right now, or had you forgotten that. I’ll not do business for paper, lady. Either bring me coin or find some other fool to deal with,” Tipton declared loudly as he crossed his arms over his chest.
The sound of the door rattling open drew both of their attention. Valor stepped through the door silently and closed it behind him before crossing the room to the counter. With a faint nod to Jala he dropped his bridle down heavily on the counter and looked up to meet Tipton’s eyes. “Those are real sapphires and that is truly a golden bit. Give the lady what she wants and be grateful she offered to buy it rather than simply taking it with her army,” Valor said quietly.
“Yes sir,” Tipton agreed hastily with greed lighting his eyes. Quickly he snatched the bridle from the counter before Valor could change his mind and looked to Jala. “Food you say and Medicines. Of course. Give me but a few moments to check my inventory and I’ll bring you a list of what is available.” He nodded to them both again and swiftly disappeared through another door into the warehouse itself.
Jala watched him go and turned her eyes back to Valor. “You didn’t have to do that, Val, but thank you,” she said softly.
Valor nodded and smiled faintly at her as he leaned back against the rickety counter. “I was getting sick of the golden bit jokes anyway. You owe me another bridle though,” he replied his eyes tracing across her face.
“I have missed you, Val,” Jala admitted quietly, then cursed herself for an idiot when he looked away the moment the words were out of her mouth. “I mean I missed everyone of course, but I was so used to you always being there beside me,” she added, trying desperately to salvage the situation and failing miserably.
Valor’s mouth opened and then closed again and he slumped farther back against the counter. Raising one hand to his face he rubbed at his eyes and nodded slowly to her. “Missed you too, Jala,” he said at last in a voice that was barely above a whisper. She could tell there was more that he wanted to say, but he had apparently thought better of it.
The door opened once more and Ash leaned inside long enough to catch Jala’s eye. “Jexon is riding this way and he doesn’t look happy,” he warned her.
“Shit,” Jala hissed as panic seized her. Quickly she twisted her hair back into a semblance of order and clipped it back into place before frantically tugging the veil back on. Moving swiftly to the dirty glass of the window she did her best to use her smudged reflection to straighten her dress and ensure that the veil was on straight.
“That was fear,” Valor said quietly behind her.
Turning back, Jala shook her head slightly. “I gave him my word, Valor. He expects me to wear the veil,” she said in a voice that was far calmer than she felt. In truth, her heart was hammering so hard in her chest she was amazed Valor couldn’t hear it.
“There was a time that you never would have lied to me,” Valor said as he pushed off the counter and stood straight.
“That wasn’t a lie, Valor,” Jala objected.
“It wasn’t the truth either, Jala,” Valor returned as Tipton came bustling through the door once more waving papers in his hand.
“This is everything in the warehouse. Now if you will just sit with me we can mark off what you need and get it packed up for you,” Tipton began apparently oblivious to the tension in the room.