From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(52)

“Agreed and understood,” Jala replied weakly as she slowly drew her hand back from Finn and crossed it over her stomach. She felt the child inside her kick once again as if in protest to her ignoring him and braced herself for another spasm of pain. Her muscles seized and she let out a weak ragged breath as Ash closed his fingers around the tiny soul stone and began to chant in a language that was utterly foreign to her ears. “Soon,” she murmured once again. This time to her unborn child as well as Finn.

There was a sharp crack and a faint glow emanated from Ash’s pale hands. Carefully the Soulreaver lowered his cupped palms to the body on the table before him. With a touch as gentle as new falling snow, he brushed his fingers across Finn’s forehead and traced a path down the center of his face and neck to rest on his chest. The glow faded from his hands and seeped into the skin of the dead flesh. Ash continued to chant as he carefully raised his hands back away from the body. There was a long moment of utter stillness in the room and then the ever so faint rise of Finn’s chest.

Jala choked back a sob and forced herself to remain still. She wanted so badly to wrap her arms around him, but the signs of life were still so fragile that she feared disrupting the magic. His chest rose and fell again with more strength and she watched the color slowly seeping back into his smooth bronze skin.

“He lives. Now you go to the healer,” Vaze said sternly beside her.

“One more minute, Vaze, please,” Jala pleaded, her voice filled with desperation. She knew Ash said he wouldn’t awaken for a long while but she could swear she had seen his eyelid flicker. The motion came again and she held her breath as his eyes fully opened staring blankly at first and then blinking. “Finn,” she breathed, joy and relief rising so quickly that a wave of dizziness washed over her.

“Soulreaver?” Vaze’s voice sounded cautious, but she ignored him completely.

Finn turned his head slowly and looked up at her with his beautiful dark green eyes. “Jala,” he murmured, his voice thick and hoarse. He blinked and licked his dry lips with a growing expression of confusion on his face. “Jala, what have you done?” he gasped.

“I’ve brought you back, Finn. Everything will be fine now,” Jala promised, her hand reaching to take his. She felt his fingers wrap around hers lightly and the warmth of his hand was more soothing than anything she had ever known before. Tears coursed openly down her face but they were tears of relief. Every fear and pain that she had felt in the past weeks had been worth it simply to hear him speak her name once more.

“Jala,” Finn gasped as his body writhed on the table. His expression of confusion was replaced with one of agony and his grip on her hand became crushing.

“What’s wrong with him?” Jala gasped, her eyes flying to Ash who had been steadily working his magic despite Finn’s early awakening.

“Step back from him!” Vaze yelled as he took hold of her arm roughly and tried to pull her back.

Finn’s grip on her hand tightened again and she felt her bones scream in protest. “Finn!” she screamed, more in concern for him than her own welfare.

Finn’s back arched, every muscle in his body taut, then slowly relaxed. Still gripping her hand he slowly sat up, his green eyes locked on hers once more but no trace of warmth remained in them.

“What the hell is happening?” Vaze demanded trying once more to pull Jala back from the table.

“Jala, step away. This isn’t right. He should not be moving yet,” Ash’s voice called to her before breaking into another chant that held no trace of the soothing tones of his awakening spell.

“You stupid bitch. Do you have any idea what you have done?” Finn demanded, his voice filled with hate as his free hand caught her fully across the jaw in a backhanded blow. “Did you really think you could meddle with the Divine and win?” Finn snarled.

There was a flash of movement to her side and then Valor was between her and Finn, his fist crashing into Finn’s face with a sickening crunch. “Let go of her!” Valor commanded, his voice filled with fury.

Finn’s hand released her at once as he turned to face Valor fully, his eyes still cold and hate–filled, but a smile forming on his lips. “Brave protector, eh Val? You have never beaten me in a fight before. What makes you think you can now?” he asked as he flexed his hand and formed a fist.

“This is not Finn. She is soulriding him,” Ash called loudly with fear clearly written in his voice. “That is the Dark Lady herself. Move away from him quickly!”

Finn lunged toward Valor with the savagery of a hunting cat and Jala felt Marrow’s full weight pushing her farther back from the fight. Finn’s first blow caught Valor in the side and the breath exploded out of him as his ribs caved. Staggering back, Valor reached for the sword he always wore at his side, but it wasn’t there. The memory of handing it to Jala flashed through his eyes as he clumsily dodged Finn’s next swing and landed a glancing blow of his own across Finn’s jaw.

“Stop them!” Jala wailed as she struggled to break free of Vaze’s grip. “Finn, no! Fight her! That’s Valor you are trying to kill, your closest friend! Finn, please!” Her voice rose frantically, but her struggles against Vaze were as futile as her words to Finn.

Ash had retreated well away from the fight and she could see him preparing another spell. The look on his face was filled with doubt, however. She knew the fear the Soulreavers had for Death, even speaking the words Dark Lady made Ash nervous.