From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(49)

“Does she live?” a woman’s voice asked distantly. Anthe, a small voice in the back of Jala’s mind informed her.

“She lives and it’s no thanks to you. What were you thinking, sending her into the Darklands?” Vaze demanded, his voice sounding furious.

“I was thinking if I don’t help her she will attempt it herself and likely die in the process. I dropped her at the fringe of the Darklands, Vaze. I gave her plenty of time to reconsider her choice.” The woman spoke again her voice low and calm.

It’s Anthe speaking, the voice informed her once more, louder. Marrow brushed roughly against her leg and she looked down to meet his yellow eyes. Did you suffer a head wound or something? he demanded, his voice rising in her mind.

Every other wound but that, I think, Jala replied, the effort of forming the words seeming nearly impossible. “Finn, need go Merro,” she gasped, her words sounding thick and clumsy even to her ears.

“Jala, you are in no condition to raise him now,” Valor replied sternly, then turned to scan the grove jostling her in his arms as he did. Jala fought back another wave of nausea and pain, inhaling deeply. “Where is Chastity? Did you leave her there, Vaze?” Valor demanded his voice rising.

“I would have brought her had I seen any sign of her. She was gone, Valor. I looked,” Vaze replied, his voice defensive.

“Ash’s magic. Finn, I need Finn,” Jala gasped again, hoping they would hear her. Each word was a chore and she hated him for forcing her to speak so loudly. “Death is just weakened. Needs done before she has strength again,” she managed and clutched her throbbing hand closer to her chest. The wound in her stomach burned like fire, but she didn’t allow herself to look down at it. That would draw attention to how severe her wounds were. Freeing herself from Valor, she stood wavering beside him and drew the hood of her borrowed cloak over her head. She could feel the blood running down her collar bone from the claw marks on her neck, but she only needed a little longer. Just enough time to see Finn raised and then she would submit to any healer they found.

“You need a healer, Jala,” Valor said gently as if she needed the obvious pointed out to her. Carefully, he took her arm once more and tried to steady her on her feet. White fire lanced through her as his arm brushed the stomach wound and she had to clench her teeth to keep from gasping.

“Finn first,” Jala insisted stubbornly. Her last magic hadn’t been directed at Death. She had cast the spell for a different purpose and she knew she had limited time before Death was at full strength again. Pushing feebly away from Valor, she glared at Vaze. They were running out of time to act. Time traveled so much faster in the Darklands that Death could already be recovered. “I don’t have much magic left but I will take myself if you won’t help me,” she mumbled, her words barely audible.

“Calm yourself, I never said I wouldn’t take you. I simply had the audacity to try to speak reason to you,” Vaze sighed and the shadows rose around them once more. “We will have words about this later, Anthe,” he promised as Goswin faded to shadows.





Chapter 9





Merro





Jala staggered forward as the shadows released them once more. Her vision wavered and the world seemed to tilt drastically below her feet.

“Damn it, Jala, unwrap the cloak let me see how badly you are hurt,” Valor demanded softly as he grabbed her arm once more and steadied her.

Judging by the amount of blood I smell on you and the way your thoughts are processing, I’d say there are pigs hanging at the butcher’s shop that are in better shape, Marrow observed in a level tone as he sat down in the street in front of her, his yellow eyes holding a note of disapproval in them.

Jala ignored them both, her gaze sweeping across the town instead. When they left, Merro had been little more than a scattering of half-built houses. Now there were buildings everywhere. Footsteps sounded beside her and she glanced over to see Vaze staring down at her with narrowed eyes.

“What if we raise Finn and you are so injured that you die shortly thereafter? Do you suppose he will go on a quest to rescue you? Perhaps the two of you can take turns at this for the next year or so,” Vaze said his tone thick with sarcasm.

“I doubt that would happen,” Valor muttered and let out a long sigh.

“It won’t happen. I’m not going to die,” Jala replied as fiercely as she could, which, judging by the expressions her three comrades gave her, was not fierce at all. “Just help me find Ash, please,” she mumbled. Another pain ripped through her stomach and she bowed her head to hide the expression of agony. She’d seen a late-term miscarriage once in the Bliss temple and the woman’s screams had been terrible.

That is a horrible thing to remember at the present. Is that the agony you expect to come? Marrow asked as he stood once more and pressed his broad head hard against her leg.

“Find Ash, please Marrow. Can you detect his scent anywhere?” Jala pleaded, her hand clutching at the thick fur around his neck.

The Bendazzi turned his head slightly and lifted his nose to the air. His ears swiveled as he surveyed the town and then shook his massive head. I don’t smell him but that means nothing. I’m a cat, not a hunting hound. There are too many scents here for me to pick a single one out easily. There are horses approaching however.