From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(167)

“Love you, Valor,” Jala said sweetly as she started down the stairs. It was spontaneous to say it now and she knew it, but during the few days after Jail’s visit in her tent she had come to realize it was true. With all her focus on fighting and planning and, of course, dealing with Jexon, she had never closely examined what she felt for Valor. She had known that she loved him, but had considered it love for a friend. That simply didn’t apply, though, when she put thought into it. If Valor asked her for anything, she wouldn’t hesitate to give it. If he showed pain, she would do everything she could to heal him. The thought of waking in the morning without him nearby was unbearable. There was no other way to describe her feelings for Valor, other than love, and it was more than for a simple friend. She heard Valor stumble behind her, followed by Neph’s ringing laughter. Glancing back, Jala smiled at Valor and shook her head slightly as she continued to walk.





Chapter 32





Sanctuary





Shade watched in silence as Sebastian Blackwolf bowed before Symphony and turned to leave the chamber. The Blackwolf line was renowned for their dignity and pride and Shade had spent the past three days watching Sebastian sacrifice his as he pled with the Fionaveir for help.

“Be wise in your choice, Symphony. We have limited resources and we can hardly afford to squander them on nations that are as weak as Glis,” Faramir said gently.

“Glis and Arovan supported you. You can’t just ignore their plea for help,” Shade said quietly, earning a glare from Faramir for his words.

“This is not something you can be sentimental about, Symphony. You must set your emotions aside and think as a ruler,” Faramir said firmly. Standing from her chair the dark haired woman moved behind Symphony and rested her hands on the younger woman’s shoulders. “You must hold the city. We need strength here and you will lose the following of the commons if you put them on rations to send food to Glis.” Faramir spoke softly and Shade could see Symphony already surrendering to the older woman’s advice.

“What does your gut tell you to do, Symphony? What thoughts crossed your mind when you watched Sebastian humble himself before you and beg for his people?” Shade asked in a louder voice, desperate to stop Faramir.

“Shade, she is right. I have to keep my fighting strength here or I can’t hold against Nerathane. Morcath may have fallen before Oblivion, but they didn’t capture Myth and Queen Willameir is a very big danger,” Symphony said in a voice filled with sadness.

“Symphony, please don’t do this to them. They are your allies. Glis and Arovan have supported you since before you took the city. Don’t leave them to die,” Shade said as he rose from his seat and stood before her, his eyes filled with pleading. If Sebastian’s begging wouldn’t sway her, maybe his would. It was worth a shot anyway.

“Symphony, you cannot afford this no matter how much your heart bleeds for them. I want you to succeed here, love. You have to be ready to face the dragons.” Faramir spoke softly and Shade watched with a heavy heart as Symphony’s head bowed forward.

“She is right, Shade. I’m sorry. Glis will have to stand on its own for now. I will send them help when I can, I promise you,” Symphony said with grief thick in her voice.

“When you can, will be too late, Symphony,” Shade pressed, shaking his head at her. With a heavy sigh, he chewed on his lower lip as he made up his mind. “I can turn into anything, Symphony. With the Changeling blood, I can take on any form I want,” he began, his words drawing her eyes back up to him once more. Calmly he rolled the sleeve of his shirt up and stared down at the Fionaveir tattoo. “There is just one thing that I have never been able to be, no matter how hard I’ve tried.” Raising his eyes to look at her once more he smiled sadly. “I want to be the good guy for just once, Symphony, and seeing this has made me realize that I never will be as long as I follow others. I hope one day you follow your instincts. I’ve talked with you enough to know you are a good person, you simply have bad counsel,” Shade said, his gaze flicking to Faramir with the last words. “Good bye, Sym, and good luck,” he added quietly as he turned for the door.

“Shade, please don’t go,” Symphony called behind him. “Please, Shade, I don’t have many friends and I don’t want to lose the ones I have.”

“I’m sure the people of Glis feel the same way about their friends, Symphony. If you won’t help them, I will,” Shade said as he paused at the door.

“And just what exactly do you think one man can do to make a difference there?” Faramir asked in a mocking voice.

“One man’s help is a hell of a lot better than no one helping at all,” Shade said with a sigh as he stepped into the hall and closed the door behind him. He forced himself to walk down the hall without glancing back. It was tougher to do than he cared to admit. He had spent well over a month in Symphony’s company and he considered her a friend. This had to be done, though, and with luck it would be a wake-up call for Symphony. Silently he moved down the stairs and through the main entry of the Justicar’s Hall. A few Fionaveir watched him with curious looks, but no one spoke.

With mixed feelings welling in his chest, Shade made his way to the boarding house where he had been living, though he hadn’t truly spent much time there. Really the room was little more than storage for the few belongings he had other than his Spell Hawk. It might have been a better idea to leave his gear on his ship, but the boarding house had been closer to the Justicar’s hall than the Sky port was.