From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(146)

“A good General doesn’t send a cavalry charge uphill on muddy ground,” Badger growled behind her and Jala smiled at her father’s words.

“That could go both ways. Perhaps I was testing Valor’s leadership to see how foolhardy he is,” Jexon began, a cold smile forming on his lips. “I’m afraid you won’t have your knight to hide behind much longer,” he added in a softer voice as the Arovan cavalry turned toward the hill and the waiting Avanti.

“Can I kill him now, please, Jala?” Neph asked, his gaze locked on Jexon. “If you let me, I swear I will be nice for the rest of the year. Consider it an early name day gift.”

Shaking her head slowly, Jala smiled and turned back to watch the knights as their horses broke into a slow gallop with Valor at the lead. “Valor will take the hill and I will have the banner as well as the commander within the hour,” she said smugly.

“You are just a big a fool as he is if you believe that,” Jexon said with a shake of his head and then fell silent as Valor’s company of knights divided into two columns. Bridgette led the division that turned to the east while Foster seemed to be in command of the western riders. Valor himself remained in the center, his Arovanni dancing under him as his riders took their positions.

“What the hell is he doing?” Neph muttered beside her.

Jala shook her head slowly but remained silent as she watched Valor lift one hand toward the sky. The steady rain began to slacken as the wind grew stronger and the sky above darkened. To the east, Jala could see several of Bridgette’s riders holding hands outstretched toward the distant hill while in the west Foster and several of his knights mirrored them.

Lightning cracked through the sky as the wind above the hill began to increase. She could see tents breaking loose from their stakes and horse lines scattering as the animals panicked. Valorous rose on his heels, slashing at the air with his front hooves. A cry of challenge burst from the Arovanni’s throat as Valor increased his magic, urging the wind to greater speeds. The clouds above the hill continued to swirl faster until the barest tip of a funnel could be seen dropping from the sky. Magic surged from the knights on the east and west and the entire hill trembled as they sent their magic into the earth itself. Lightning flashed again, illuminating the massive wind funnel as it settled to earth directly in the center of the Avanti camp. The sheer destruction of the storm was awe inspiring and Jala sat in mute fascination as horses, men and wagons were all ripped from the earth to disappear into the tornado Valor had called down. The faint echo of screams could barely be heard over the roar of the wind. Another loud crack shook the air, but this time it wasn’t thunder. Once more the hill trembled, as cracks in the earth broke open around the encampment.

With the combined efforts Valor had effectively cut off all means of retreat the Avanti had. They were left with only two options. Face the wind or the chasm below them. Unless, of course they had mages among them, and if they did Jala had seen no evidence of their magic. As far as she could tell they had eliminated all of the mages from the Avanti forces in their first conflict. There had been no Blights at the first battle so Wisp had used her archers to good effect on anyone that even attempted a spell.

The entire assault lasted only minutes, but when Valor finally allowed his arm to drop the hilltop was clear of anything living. Turning his horse, Valor rode back to her, stopping just before he reached her. With a faint smile he held his hand up above his head and Jala watched in amazement as the Avanti banner fluttered down to his waiting grasp. She could just imagine the sort of control it required to guide the wind currents of a storm such as he had summoned enough to carry a banner to an exact location. Lowering his arm he held pushed his horse forward another two steps and held the banner out to her.

Jala stared at him with a smile and slowly shook her head. To everyone watching, Valor looked as fresh as he had before the fight, but she could see the exhaustion in his eyes. She knew exactly how much the display had cost him. Closing her hand she summoned a mage stone filling it with her own power as she took the banner in her other hand. Leaning forward she grasped his hand in thanks and as subtly as she could she slipped the mage stone into his palm. “Thank you, Valor,” Jala said as she sat back in her saddle once more, the Avanti banner resting across her leg.

“I’ll have what is left of the commander delivered if you like. You never specified you wanted him alive,” Valor said with a smile.

“No that’s quite all right. I’ll have Ash find his soul and see what we can gain that way,” Jala said, quickly shaking her head at the suggestion. Above them the clouds were beginning to clear as the storm clouds dispersed.

“There you go, Neph the rain is gone,” Valor said with a faint smile and glanced back to his knights. “I have to see to my men, Jala. I will catch up with you soon,” he said as he turned to rejoin the Knights of Arovan.

I told you that you didn’t need Seravae’s help, Marrow said smugly. Glancing down, Jala shrugged at the Bendazzi and smiled.

I need them to keep the spirits of our dead from crossing to the Darklands, Jala reminded him.

Let Valor lead every battle and we won’t have any dead, Marrow pointed out, a feline grin on his face.

“Jala, I need to speak with you,” Wisp called from closer to the main force.

Turning in her saddle, Jala raised an eyebrow at the Fae and then turned her horse to ride back to her. “What’s wrong?” Jala asked as she grew closer. The last she knew Wisp had been with her family among the camp followers.