From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(141)
“For a full surrender? Well, we will have to have prisoners to ensure your good behavior. Lady Merrodin, of course. Lord Avanti will insist on that I have no doubt,” the envoy returned, his Avanti accent sounding almost musical next to Jexon’s harsher voice.
“Naturally. I would agree that my wife must be among the prisoners, but I must insist that I keep the child. He is far too young for such treatment,” Jexon replied smoothly and she could almost hear the pleasure in his voice.
Turning quickly on her heels, Jala strode back toward their camp her fury growing with every step. She could hear Jail behind her but didn’t bother to slow her steps. Reaching up with one hand she tore the veil off and dropped it on the ground as she walked. “Stupid, cowardly, traitorous.” She snarled a word with every stride.
“What’s going on?” Neph demanded as he fell into step beside Jail at the edge of the camp.
“Arrogant, backstabbing, craven and worthless,” Jala continued, her words gaining volume with every syllable spoken. She could feel her magic coiling inside of her. The swish of wings drew her attention upwards and she watched as the dragon circled the field, the last rays of sunlight glinting brightly off its green scales.
“She is reciting all of the charming qualities her husband holds that makes her marriage such a blissful one,” Jail informed Neph quietly.
“Jala, is everything OK?” Wisp asked as she approached where they had stopped cautiously. The Fae was watching her. Jala could feel her gaze, but her eyes were still locked on the dragon as her mind worked together a plan.
“What the hell is that thing doing?” Jala asked as the dragon turned for another pass over their camp.
“Trying to intimidate our men, spook our horses, and generally cause chaos in our camp,” Jail explained.
“Are those things protected from arrows?” Jala asked Wisp as the rest of her friends formed a group around her. No doubt curious as to why she no longer wore the veil and had a look of pure fury on her face.
“Uh, no, but then an arrow can scarcely hurt one seriously,” Wisp said, her words faltering slightly as if she couldn’t quite believe Jala was truly that stupid.
Nodding slightly, Jala reached over Wisp’s shoulder and pulled an arrow from the Fae’s quiver then nodded toward the dragon. “Shoot it Wisp,” she ordered as she turned to face Ash. “Can your shamans pull a spirit from a dragon?” she asked as Wisp carefully bent her bow back, aiming for the dragon with an expression on her face that showed how pointless the Fae thought the endeavor was.
“They can, but it would be difficult,” Ash said cautiously.
The twang of the bow behind her brought a smile to Jala’s face and she nodded slightly to Ash. Turning she locked her eyes on Valor, holding his gaze for a long moment before speaking. “I need you, Valor. Jexon is negotiating a surrender. If we don’t strike now he is going to hand me over to the Avanti and Merro will fall,” she said carefully, her voice filled with her desperation. Valor always stood by her no matter what. If he refused her now, there was no doubt in her mind that the others would as well.
“Jala, we are outnumbered and they have a bloody dragon,” Neph protested with a shake of his head.
“I have to agree with Neph here, Jala. Our best course is to run,” Sovann said softly though she could hear the disgust in his voice.
Valor watched her silently, his dark blue eyes locked with her violet ones. Neither of them bothered to acknowledge the protests from the mages. “Valor, I whored myself to a man I despise for this army. I have sacrificed everything I have for my land. I traded Finn’s life for the people of Merro. I cannot walk away and I cannot surrender. Will you stand with me?” Jala asked
“Always,” Valor replied with a firm nod. Turning he looked to the others one by one and smiled. “And they will, too. They are just having a moment of scared little bitches right now,” His eyes settled on Neph and his smile widened. “What was that you said, Delvay? Did I hear you say retreat? When did your balls fall off, Neph?” Neph fumed at the words which just seemed to amuse Valor more. Turning slowly he let his eyes fall on Sovann and he raised an eyebrow. “Sovann, did you actually say you wanted to run from the bastards that had your brother killed? Surely I didn’t hear you right.”
“Valor, look at the odds,” Sovann protested feebly.
“I see a bunch of conscript slaves in pretty armor. Some green as hell knights that have more ambition than training. And one big ass lizard. The odds don’t look so bad to me,” her father said with a grin, his hand dropping lightly to his sword hilt. “I’ve never fought in an army before, Curly. I look forward to the experience.”
“My people will fight as well. Those that follow me, that is,” Ash assured her, his gaze flicking to the commander’s tent. They didn’t have long before the parlay was over. If they didn’t move before Jexon left the tent they wouldn’t be able to move at all.
Jala nodded at Ash in understanding and looked back toward Valor. “Move your knights forward as quickly as you can. Ash, inform your Shaman that they are to rip the dragon’s soul out on its next circle over the Avanti camp. I don’t want that bastard falling on us,” Jala said quickly as the shadow of the dragon passed over them once more. Holding her hand out to the side she summoned Wisp’s arrow back to her hand and glanced down at the point of it. Dark blood covered the very tip of the silver arrowhead. It hadn’t been a deep wound, but it was enough. “Nice shot, Wisp,” Jala said with a smile as she handed the arrow to Ash. “The blood should help with removing its soul,” she said with a wink as he stared down dumbly at the dragon’s blood.