From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(4)

“What about Oblivion?” Jala asked.

“They might stir, but let’s look at the full picture there as well. Oblivion is actually worse off than you are. Zachary and Tyber are the only living occupants of the country. Beyond them there is nothing but tainted souls in their population,” War explained and tossed two petals down onto the bench in front of her.

“You didn’t mention house Merrodin in that, at all. Who is going to kill me off, then, if I don’t prepare? Couldn’t I simply surrender like Han’shy?” Jala countered.

“Could you surrender to Avanti?” War asked with a look of amazement on his face.

“No,” Jala hissed and had to calm her emotions once more. Perhaps if he would have named any other house she would have considered it, but she would rather die than bow before an Avanti.

“Well, if you don’t prepare, it will be Avanti that eliminates your house. They have a large enough population to roll across the Greenwild and crush the little settlement that represents all of Merrodin right now,” War explained.

“So how do you suggest I prepare?” Jala asked with a sigh.

“First, you defeat Death and retrieve Finn. He has strong ties with the Firym, though I doubt they will be much help in times to come. Then you remove the curse on Goswin, but don’t release the souls back to Death. Break the curse but hold the souls there and raise them. That will take immense amounts of power. Go prepared. Place Madren in control of them. As the last high lord of Goswin he is the rightful heir. Then have him swear an oath to be ally to you.” War spoke slowly, though she could see the excitement building in his eyes. “Ensure that Arovan sends you the knights that were promised to Valor. A solid cavalry is the foundation to a fighting force. Begin training militia the moment your people are fit for it. Expect a third of Merrodin’s total population to be returned to you. Train what you are able to from that number. Do not allow your commanders to be sexist on this. I’ve seen women that can outfight most men. Sort the best from those ranks and train them for true military. By the end of the spring, you should have close to twenty thousand under your command if all goes well on the raising of the dead.”

“Aside from placing Madren in control of a country, that sounds exactly as I had planned to do. Care to explain why I should place him in charge of Goswin and not Anthe?” Jala asked, genuinely confused by his logic. While Madren was the rightful heir to Goswin, Anthe had actual experience in leading.

“I said put him in control. I didn’t say let him lead. Give him the country and give Anthe the role of Advisor and they will be fine. Madren has been crippled by fear and insecurity. Give him purpose and watch him shine,” War corrected mildly.

“To me, control implies leading,” Jala returned dryly.

“Well then, you have a lot to learn on politics, don’t you? Simply because someone’s name is on the desk, doesn’t mean they are in control,” War chided.

“I suppose, though, I can’t say that I’m looking forward to that aspect of leading,” Jala agreed with a sigh. “If what you say is true about the Fionaveir, should I really help them gain power?” she asked after another long pause.

“It’s politics, Jala. You choose the lesser of two evils. The Fionaveir are the lesser evil here. Symphony is not corrupt yet. She is just being kept as a mushroom. The only other alternative is that you step forward. Do you really want to do that?” War watched her closely and smiled as she shuddered at the thought. “That’s what I thought.”

“What do you mean, she is a mushroom?” Jala asked finally.

“Kept in the dark and fed shit. She doesn’t know half of what is going on right now. If she is truly going to lead, she will need to step forward soon. At this point she is as much of a puppet as you were,” War explained with a grin.

“Crude, but accurate I suppose,” Jala said with a slight shake of her head. “Any other advice or warnings?” she asked.

“Pages and pages, but nothing that we have time for. For now, take this as my guideline to you. Defeat Death. Build an army. Remember calm heads prevail, and above all else, don’t die.” He paused in his words and his expression sobered. “One more thing, Jala, remember this well. Life is full of difficult choices. You are going to reach many crossroads in days ahead where no path looks good. In some there will be no happy choice. You simply have to make the choice you can live with.” War stood as he finished speaking and smiled down at her. “If you don’t wake soon, Valor is going to start funeral arrangements for you.”

“What if I need to speak with you again?” Jala asked as she stood.

“I suggest you learn to Dream walk. It’s not so hard. It’s best that I don’t approach you in flesh. If I do, they will watch you more closely. They have written you off for now. Let them continue to do so. It will give you an element of surprise.” War reached a hand out hesitantly and touched her cheek lightly. “You show more of my Blood than any other child of my line. Remember that and kick her ass, Jala.” War dropped his hand back down slowly and winked as the city faded around her.





Chapter 1





The Darklands





War’s words rang in her mind as her eyelids fluttered open. She had expected to awaken on the horse as it trudged through the bleak landscape, but instead she was lying flat. Lifting up on her elbow she looked down to the cushion of air she lay on. At a glance it seemed as though she was hovering inches off the ground, but she could feel the solid shape beneath her. Her armor lay in a tidy heap beside the make-shift bed, neatly folded and freshly oiled. Just beyond it stood Valorous, his head lowered as he rested. The Arovanni watched her as she moved, but made no sound.