From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(75)

“Oh, that’s right. You had a bit of a rivalry on that account didn’t you?” Symphony asked, flicking her gaze in his direction.

“Not much of one, really. I was witness to the whole damned thing and there is no way it could have been that deep a relationship. Finn was too shallow a person for anything that deep,” Shade answered stiffly.

Symphony nodded in a mockery of agreement and then looked back to Vaze. “Is she truly as wounded as they say? Should we have her brought to the city for healing?”

Vaze raised an eyebrow and shook his head faintly. “She took serious wounds but she will recover of that I am certain. You show more interest in her than you do any other lord. Do you realize that, Sym?”

Symphony sighed and gave a nod of her own. “I feel responsible for her troubles and I suppose I relate with her better than I can the others. Elijah Arovan, Arjuna Firym, and Jaradon Faydwer all know exactly what they are doing and how to do it. Jala Merrodin is different. She knows what she wants to do but not how to do it,” she said softly.

“Exactly like you,” Vaze agreed with a nod.

“I have a council, though, and she has a court of those who are just as clueless as she is. So I worry about her,” Symphony continued, a frown creasing her full lips.

“Nephondelvayon is not what I would call clueless. That one is easily as formidable as his elder brother,” Vaze objected. Moving ahead of them quickly he took the stairs to the Justicars hall two at a time until he reached the door and then held it open for the pair of them as they walked through.

“I’m so glad Morcath doesn’t have names like that one. Can we call him simply Neph so I don’t tie my tongue in a knot?” Shade asked, glancing at Symphony hopefully.

She chuckled in response and the frown on her face disappeared as she nodded. Shade let out a dramatic sigh of relief and found Vaze watching him with an approving expression as he turned back toward the hall.

“I’ve heard he is difficult to deal with,” Symphony said to Vaze as she returned to their discussion.

“Neph is like dealing with a rabid bear that has been doused in ice water, beaten with a stick, and called dirty names. He snarls, growls, and if you get too close, he bites,” Shade offered helpfully.

“You know him then, personally?” Symphony asked turning back to face him once more.

“I went to school with him. Of course I know him. He has been the Spell champion at the Spring Games for so long they might as well just hand him the trophy at the beginning of the contest and spare everyone the embarrassment of losing to him. He was first in his class on all his magic studies as well as most of his other classes. He is talented, frighteningly intelligent, cunning, and has the exact personality that I described with the bear analogy. And for some reason he latched onto Jala after the Rivana trip and shows her more courtesy than I’ve seen from him in four years of association at the Academy,” Shade explained quickly as they turned down the last hall before the council room.

“Any idea why he did?” Symphony asked looking over to Vaze with a raised eyebrow.

“Her blood. The Delvay are religious,” Vaze explained quietly.

“I see,” Symphony agreed with a nod and smiled at Shade. “I’ll see you after the meeting, then,” she said with a quick smile as Vaze opened the council door for her.

“You might as well come in now and hide. The room is still empty and it will spare you having to sneak in later,” Vaze said as Shade started to leave.

“What?” Shade asked freezing in place and then slowly turning back to look at Vaze, an expression of innocence painted on his features. “I wouldn’t sneak in…” he began but Symphony held up a hand to silence him.

“Don’t even try. As I said you are a horrible liar and Vaze is scary smart,” Symphony said with a grin.

“So scary,” Vaze agreed with a smirk as Shade frowned at both of them as he ducked into the room.

Symphony laughed softly and dropped into her chair at the head of the council table. “So are the rest of her court as talented as Neph. Should I rest easier and not worry so much for her?” she asked Vaze as he sat down beside her.

“Jail Han’shy has worked with the Fionaveir in the past. He relayed information to our contact in the Justicars. He is terrifying with his Mind magic and is one that I keep a close eye on for that very reason. Valor Hai’dia was the shining star of Arovan until an unfortunate incident when a rival sabotaged him. He is quite possibly the most valiant one she has beside her and has sworn a blood oath to protect her. His loyalty is such that he accompanied her on her quest into the Darklands.” Vaze paused and tapped the table, his eyes looking back and forth, then rose once more. Moving to a cupboard he produced a decanter and two glasses. “Wisp Faydwer is an Earth mage with enough power to single handedly rebuild most of the northern portion of Merro by herself in a little over a week. She is fully trained in court politics and was briefly considered for raising to Heir of Faydwer until she found out and sabotaged herself,” he continued as he poured the glasses and sat one down before her. Taking a small sip of his own, he dropped down into his chair and smiled at her. “Sovann Sovaesh is an Arcanetech genius. If he can dream it, he can build it. He was considered too advanced to bother with the Academy at age fourteen. He also has too much integrity to side with the Avanti, despite the fact that he was raised there.”