From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(147)

“Legacy is fine I promise. This is just something I think that requires your attention and I don’t want Jexon there,” Wisp assured her quietly.

Jala nodded, her body relaxing once more. Silently she followed the Fae through the mass of the army to the outskirts where the camp followers had settled the supply wagons and were already beginning to set up tents in the rain soaked grass. Wisp dismounted and nodded for Jala to do the same. Still without a single word of explanation, Wisp began winding through the wagons, her path leading toward the small stand of trees beyond.

I don’t like this, Emily objected, her golden eyes scanning the forest ahead.

It smells like Wisp but I have to agree with Emily. This isn’t right, Marrow said cautiously as he moved closer to Jala’s side.

Wisp paused beside a large oak and looked back at Jala. Her dark hair was plastered to her head from the rain and her green eyes were wide. “We captured him trying to approach the camp. I haven’t let him anywhere near the main army until you had a chance to speak with him. He claims he knows you, Jala, but I don’t see how he could. He is from Nerathane,” Wisp said quietly as she nodded for Jala to continue into the trees.

Silently Emily pressed ahead with Marrow close behind her and the two Bendazzi led Jala toward the secluded camp the scouts had set up to hold their prisoner. Jala recognized two of the three men seated at the sputtering campfire as rangers that Wisp had trained over the winter. The third took longer for her to place. He was dressed finely in a knee length Black coat with gold trim and a matching vest. Mud was splattered across his knee high boots as well as his dark trousers and it was obvious he had been traveling in the weather for a while. His dark hair was pulled back from his face revealing the high cheekbones of noble blood. He turned to look at her, a few rain spots showing on the dark glasses he wore.

“I doubt you remember me, Lady Merrodin. We only met once and I’m sure your mind was occupied on other things at that time.” The man’s voice was smooth with no trace of accent to it at all.

I remember him. He was the one that placed the bet with Finn outside the Academy, Marrow said slowly, confusion in his voice.

The man carefully sat the bowl of stew he had been eating on the ground and stood bowing to her. “My name is Nigel. I regret it taking me so long to arrive,” he said as he stood once more.

Jala blinked in confusion and shook her head slowly at him. “Why would you apologize and why are you even here?” she said in complete bewilderment.

Nigel laughed and a wide smile appeared on his handsome face. “Finn never told you?” he asked through his continued chuckling.

“Told me what?” Jala asked still utterly confused.

“About our bet. You recall I bet against him in the duel with Kithkanon. That day when you saved the Goswin boy from Cassia,” Nigel began and sighed when she nodded. “I should have known to always back Finn, but Kithkanon was formidable. Finn didn’t wager money with me Lady Merrodin. It was a much larger wager than that.”

“What do you mean?” Jala asked with hesitation.

“If he lost you were to be mine. At that time everyone had a price on your head and there was the gold blood to consider as well,” Both Bendazzi stiffened at his words and Emily dropped into a low crouch ready to attack. Nigel held up both hands in a peaceful gesture though surprisingly he didn’t look the least bit worried about the two Bendazzi. Most people would have been terrified at the sight. “If he won, I was to support you if the conflicts went to war. He won, Lady Merrodin. I am here to fulfill my debt. It took me a bit of time to gather the ones that I could to help, hence my delayed arrival.”

“You’ve brought soldiers with you?” Jala asked, her hopes rising. If she had another army backing her she didn’t need Jexon quite as desperately as she thought she had. All she truly needed was the shamans and she knew many of them followed Ash.

“I’ve brought five with me,” Nigel said with a smile.

“Five? I scarcely see how five soldiers will help me. I’m sorry that you have come all of this way,” Jala said with a sigh and started to turn back toward the army.

“I think you misunderstand Lady Merrodin,” Nigel began as he stepped in front of her once more and dropped his glasses down forcing her to meet his eyes. Jala paused in mid-turn and stared directly into the man’s dark eyes. There were no whites showing at all and the pupils were shaped like that of a serpent rather than a human. “I’ve brought five dragons, Lady Merrodin, not soldiers,” Nigel continued, once he was sure that he had her attention once more.

“Dragons,” Jala mumbled, her gaze dropping to the bowl of stew he had been eating. Her mind flew back to the first battle and the decision she had given the Arovan knights. She didn’t even know which they had chosen to harvest meat from, the dragon or the horses. Now didn’t seem to be a good time to mention it though.

“One of which is Dresharn, formerly known as Dresharn the wise. He was at one time High Lady Wilameir’s advisor. He is known as Dresharn the traitor now since he turned his back on Nerathane,” Nigel continued, seemingly oblivious to her distress. “I’ve brought rations as well. Meat, medicines, grain, and the like. The standard fare for an army of this size,” Nigel added as he relaxed back against one of the smaller trees and crossed his arms over his chest. “I have only one request, Milady,” he added as Jala continued to marvel over this turn of events.