From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(161)
“Then there is nothing to worry about. If they don’t fight. We won’t kill them,” Valor assured him, though Jala doubted the words did much to ease Sovann’s concerns.
“Can you form a mind link with them and tell them to get out of the city?” Wisp asked hopefully.
Sovann shook his head with a frown on his face as they continued down the slope at a slow walk. “My mother is a ward of House Avanti. She wears a slave chain because the High Lord didn’t trust her to obey him when she arrived. She can’t leave the city or he will kill her with it. My father tried to sneak her from the city once when they were young, or so my mother says, and she nearly died from the punishment.” Sovann let out a harsh breath and shrugged.
“That explains why your father serves House Avanti. I had wondered about that,” Jala said quietly, her eyes moving to the forest once more. She wished she could offer him some solace, but the memory of how many she had mistakenly killed during the attack on Sanctuary kept her mouth closed on the matter. Less than a day and she would break House Avanti. Less than a day and Sovann might watch his family die. Shaking her head at the thought, she resisted the urge to gaze behind her to where her own family rode in the supply wagons. Her mother, her little brother, and her son all as safe as she could make them. If she were in Sovann’s place, could she still fight, knowing those she cared for would die if her spells brought down the wrong building.
You think too much, Marrow scolded gently.
Jala smiled faintly and her attention turned to the two Bendazzi that were ranging in the field beyond the horses. I don’t think I could do it, Jala admitted through the link.
The ones that truly matter to Sovann are riding beside him. He may love his mother and sisters, but he loves Wisp and his friends more, Marrow said firmly.
Jala glanced to her side long enough to watch Wisp take Sovann’s hand as they rode and smiled. You may be right, she told Marrow and let the mental link fade between them.
A deafening roar rose in the distance ahead of them, sending birds scattering from the forest ahead. Jala pulled her horse to a stop beside her friends and looked over to Valor. “What the hell was that?” she asked.
Valor frowned, his eyes on the distant horizon. Lifting one gauntleted hand he pointed toward the distant sky. “Dragon,” he answered quietly.
Jala stared in the direction he indicated and frowned at the tiny dark shape in the sky. “Are you sure that’s a dragon? Surely we couldn’t have heard it that loudly when it’s still that far away. If that little speck is a dragon it must be thirty miles from us,” she objected, then turned in her saddle at the sound of quickly approaching horses behind them. She recognized Nigel in the lead of the small group of riders, but the others she had never gotten a chance to meet. His small group had hid themselves among the camp followers in the guise of merchants and she had never sought them out personally.
“Dragon,” Valor repeated with a wink as she turned back in her saddle to stare once more at the quickly approaching threat.
Nigel pulled his horse to a stop beside the company of knights that rode behind her small group and Jala watched him dismount and casually toss his reins to one of the Arovan. Walking forward he stopped beside Jala’s horse and smiled up at her. “I believe this will be an issue that would best be dealt with by me and mine,” Nigel said with a tight smile.
“Margundrak,” another man said as he approached, his eyes on the distant sky. He was dark haired and tall with broad shoulders. The black suit he wore nearly matched Nigel’s fine clothes in appearance and looked more appropriate for a fine dinner in the city than riding to battle. Like Nigel, he wore the dark sunglasses to hide his draconic eyes. Raising a hand slowly to his jaw he ran a hand across his neatly trimmed beard and glanced over his shoulder. “Girls, I believe this might require your help as well. Vosha, you may stay and wait with the High Lady in the event that there is trouble here.” He spoke with calm authority and at his words, three beautifully gowned women approached. Jala stared in amazement at the jewel toned dresses they wore and wondered how they had managed to stay so perfectly clean.
Nigel let out a long breath and patted Jala on the leg lightly. “I was afraid something like this might happen when I fought at the last battle. I was hoping to keep the element of surprise until the actual attack on the city. Don’t worry though, this shouldn’t take long.” His tone was light despite the serious expression on his face.
“Do not underestimate Gun, he has served House Nerathane for a very long time,” the older man scolded gently.
“Of course,” Nigel said with a note of apology as he began to pull his jacket off. “Milady, might I introduce Lord Dresharn the Traitor,” Nigel waved a hand toward the dark haired man as he tossed his coat to the side and began to unbutton his vest.
“Well met, Lord Dresharn,” Jala said, her voice a bit off as she tried to fathom why exactly Nigel was apparently stripping by the roadside. A gasp from one of the knights drew her attention and she turned in time to see the three beautiful women shedding their clothes as well. Eyes widening she turned back in her saddle fully expecting to see Dresharn naked as well.
Dresharn smiled up at her and shook his head gently. “It saves on wardrobe replacement to shed the clothing. I have enough gold that I prefer to keep my dignity. I’d prefer we had more time for introductions, but there is a very large, very dangerous dragon winging his way in our direction.” His voice was low and held the tones of one well educated as he spoke. With a slight bow in her direction Dresharn walked forward well ahead of the horses and stopped.