From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(140)

Pulling her horse to the side, Jala watched as rank upon rank of her army moved forward to begin breaking camp. There were so many people and yet the Avanti still had more.

There will be Blights. You know there will, Emily whispered in her mind, her yellow eyes focused on the woods behind them as if she expected an attack at any moment.

The archers are all equipped with the glasses Sovann crafted. If there are Blights we will see them, Jala assured her. She had her own set of the glasses as well and briefly considered putting them on under the veil. With a sigh she shook her head slightly. It was hard enough to see clearly through the dark silk without adding shaded glasses to the equation.

Her gaze rose as a rider left her camp riding for the Avanti lines with a parlay flag tied securely to the end of his lance. It was a Soulreaver, she noted dryly. Jexon rarely even acknowledged the rest of her army, using his own men to do everything. She couldn’t really blame him, though. She was guilty of the same thing, she supposed.

“I highly suggest we attend that parlay,” Jail’s voice came from beside her and once again she jumped in the saddle. He smiled over at her from the back of his bay mare and bowed his head slightly.

“By the gods, you are sneaking up on me on horseback now,” Jala sighed and shook her head slightly. “I have every intention of attending that parlay, though I doubt my husband will approve.”

“On the contrary. I don’t think he will even notice,” Jail said with a wink.

“I’m so glad you are on my side, Jail,” Jala said quietly. Pausing she looked back at Jail and then glanced over to where the knights of Arovan were camped. “Jail, do you scan everyone’s mind?” she asked softly.

“Of course not. That would be an invasion of privacy and strictly against the Mind Mage strictures,” Jail replied looking a bit indignant at the suggestion.

He does too. Don’t believe him, Emily told her with a shake of her feline head at Jail.

“Lying cat,” Jail muttered and raised an eyebrow at Jala before glancing over to the Arovan camp. “You want to know if I scan Valor’s mind?” he asked quietly.

Jala chewed on her lower lip for a moment and then nodded slowly. “Does he hate me, Jail? He avoids me and the only time I’ve actually spoken with him since Seravae I pissed him off,” Jala said, her voice reminding her of a frightened child. With a heavy sigh she rubbed her temples and shook her head. “Forget it, Jail. I shouldn’t even have asked and I hate the way that sounded,” Jala mumbled and was glad the veil hid her embarrassment.

“Jala, I’m fairly certain that you could walk over there and kick Valor in the balls, call him any name you chose to use and stab his horse and he still couldn’t find it in himself to hate you,” Jail said with a shake of his head.

“I would never,” Jala gasped, her voice trailing off in shock at his suggestion.

“No, you wouldn’t, so we don’t have to worry about his hating you now, do we. However if you don’t want to take my word for it simply place a hand on his Arovanni. They are bonded creatures. What you feel through the horse is what Valor is feeling.”

“He hasn’t summoned Valorous at all that I’ve seen,” Jala said with a sigh. Every time she had seen Valor since they left Merro he had been mounted on Vanguard. She wasn’t entirely sure how he had gotten the horse back, but she hadn’t had a chance to ask him about it. As far as she knew Vanguard had been left in Sanctuary when they fled the city.

“He will before this is over,” Jail said as he nodded toward the field. “Our envoy is returning with an Avanti. Let’s leave the horses here and see what they have to say,” Jail suggested as he dismounted and waited patiently for Jala to follow suit. He took her hand in his as she moved over to him and carefully pulled her along after him as he headed for the commanders tent.

“Be silent until we leave and they won’t even know we were there,” Jail whispered to her as they drew closer to the tent.

Jala started to reply but fell silent as a loud roar split the air from the Avanti’s lines. Freezing in mid-step, she watched mutely as a massive form took to the air above the Avanti camp, its wings beating strongly as it gained altitude. Behind her the sound of panicked horses filled the air as the animals spooked. She couldn’t blame them in the least. The dragon was very large and at first sight she had felt the fleeting desire to run as well. “Five to one and a dragon,” Jala whispered.

“Don’t forget the Blights they doubtless have,” Jail returned softly.

“And Blights,” Jala agreed her hopes sinking a bit further.

What was it Havoc said about your Father’s name. They called him Badger because of how fiercely he fought. The greater the odds the harder he would fight. Something like that? Marrow asked, his words quenching the despair that had been growing in her chest instantly.

“Never pick a fight with a Dazzi,” Jala said softly, choosing to focus on Valor’s words rather than Havoc’s. Both had merit though and both bolstered her spirits enough to tug Jail along once more. Dragon or not, Merro didn’t have a choice here. It was either fight or surrender and she would not surrender.

They both paused at the entrance of the tent while Jail scanned the minds of the guards closest to the opening.

“And what exactly would the terms for that be?” she heard Jexon say from inside.