From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(40)

“I suppose, given the fact that you are here to help that I should forgive you,” Jala sighed, trying not to think of how she had pleaded with Victory and Havoc to take her with them. If not for Vaze’s plan they most likely would have.

“Jala, what did you fear most of all,” Vaze prodded gently.

“Losing Finn,” Valor cut in, his voice thick with anger.

Jala’s gaze snapped up to Vaze and her mouth fell open slightly. “Why? Are you saying I was feeding too much to Lutheron so someone eliminated my fear?” she asked.

“Jala what do you fear most now?” Vaze asked, ignoring her question.

“Failing at this quest,” Jala answered quietly, unsure where he was leading her.

“Lutheron didn’t want me to retrieve you from here. He was adamant about it. This might confuse you because when you bring Finn back you will fear losing him again, right?” Vaze asked.

“I know I will. If I lose him again there is no way I could ever get him back. Death will not be robbed twice,” Jala said, her voice filled with misery. “I am so bloody sick of manipulations. I would like to think there is at least one aspect of my life that isn’t a plot of some kind.” Rubbing her face, she leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. She wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to hear what else Vaze had to say.

“Do you know what happens when you are forced to confront your fears too often?” Vaze asked.

“You become apathetic to them,” Valor answered for her.

“Tell me Finn Sovaesh has learned his lesson here. Tell me that when you bring him back he will live a sedate life and retire as a swordsman.” Vaze looked to both of them.

“I can’t say that. I don’t think Finn would.” Jala said quietly.

“So you are saying she is going to lose him again?” Valor asked with a glare.

“I’m saying the possibility is so high that Lutheron wasn’t willing to gamble. If you do lose him, Jala, are you going to curl into a ball and cry yourself into oblivion or are you relentlessly going to go after whoever killed him?” Vaze asked.

“So I would be feeding War and Death but not Fear,” Jala surmised with a faint nod. Everything was clicking into place and she could see the manipulations War had hinted at, but hadn’t actually mentioned.

Vaze nodded slightly and clicked his tongue. “You got it, kid. It’s a balancing match between them. And you are a risky bet for Lutheron right now. Better to let you die here than risk your feeding War. He has been starving the hell out of War for years. A skirmish here or there is natural of course, but what’s coming…” Vaze paused and shook his head at both of them. “No, Myth got him good with this one. Lutheron wanted the threat of war. He wanted everyone scared, but he thought he could nip it in the bud before it bloomed. Then Myth hit him with the coup de grace of the Blights,” Vaze smiled bitterly. “The best part is, Lutheron helped raise Symphony for bloodless revolution. He has been planning this for years and Myth bent him over the table in one quick move.”

“Myth is in league with War then?” Jala asked cautiously. She wasn’t sure if she fully understood all of the strings being pulled yet, and if she was going to avoid being a puppet in the future she needed to know who was on what side.

“Nope, Myth has a little theory going and I think she is trying to test it.” Vaze began and turned the meat once more. “You see Myth believes that the Barrier surrounding this world is so strong because it feeds off all of us. We essentially power it by our existence. So if you kill us all off…” He trailed off and looked up at both of them.

“The Barrier falls and Myth is no longer a prisoner,” Valor finished, shaking his head slightly. “And I thought House Politics were complicated.”

“Ahh. You optimistic boy. It hasn’t gotten complicated yet. I’m getting to that part now,” Vaze said with a grin. “OK, Jala, you and I are of War's bloodline, right?” She nodded and he smiled and continued. “Offense is our specialty because of that. I know you have noticed that it is easier to hurt that heal by now. Me, I can’t heal at all. Frankly, I’m amazed you have the ability. Now the more we kick the shit out of others, the stronger our Divine blood grows. With me?”


“So, by War provoking me into starting a fight, he is enhancing my Divine blood which in essence makes my prayers to him stronger,” Jala said hesitantly.

“You got it. This makes the Divine sound like horrible manipulating creatures, I know, but you have to look at their nature. They aren’t evil. They aren’t good. They represent their namesake. Don’t hate them for prodding you. Understand that it is their nature to do so, and make your own decisions. In essence they have the mentality of a child when it comes to their Aspect. They want more candy. That’s all there is to it,” Vaze said and shrugged at her.

“The way War explained it, though, I really don’t have a choice in the matter if I want Merro to survive,” Jala protested.

“Jala, they will always make it sound like that. They are bullies. Sit back and look for other options. Sometimes they will be telling the truth and there really is no other alternative. Other times they are just trying to weasel more candy from you.” Vaze smiled at her and gave her another wink then turned to Valor. “This is where you come in, pretty boy. I am Fionaveir, and because of that I won’t be around often. You need to be her confidant on these matters. If she can’t see another way out, look for one for her. This cannot become common knowledge or the Divines will get pissy, and a pissed off Divine is an ugly thing. Keep this between the two of you.”