From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(77)

“Have either of you considered that you act like rabid dogs when you are in the same room?” Jala asked with a sigh. “No, Neph I didn’t, and I should have. Valor, he has a right to question me because he is my friend, the same as you do. If I choose to listen or not is another matter entirely. “She rubbed her face and tried her best to force a smile. “ Neph, I love you, I truly do, and I appreciate all that you have done for me beyond what words are capable of expressing. But I’m begging you by all that is holy in this world, let me sleep now and yell at me when I wake up. I swear before you both on my Father’s grave that I will go nowhere until you have had your fill of cursing and snarling.”

“Swear to me that you are actually going to sleep and I will consider it,” Neph snapped his eyes narrowed.

“As deeply and soundly as I possibly can, considering the current situation. I’m too exhausted to do anything else,” Jala replied.

“Fine, then. Before I go, though, let me leave you with something to think on,” Neph said as he stood. Reaching into his pocket he produced a pair of glasses set with colored lenses that reminded her of the ones Shade had worn in Sanctuary. “Sovann made these. He was eager to tell you about them but you seemed so weak he decided to wait until morning to bring it up. They allow the wearer to see Blights. He spent weeks working on it. Had we known you were going to Glis you could have taken these and allowed their mages to duplicate the runes on them,” Neph said quietly and set the glasses carefully down on her nightstand.

Jala stared at the glasses, not even looking up to watch Neph leave the room. Carefully she reached over and picked them up to examine the runes closer. “I feel like such a fool now,” she whispered.

“And that is exactly the reaction he wanted from you,” Valor replied quietly. “Neph likes to be right. Neph loves being in control, and above all else Neph adores being superior.”

“He is right on this. Had I told them, I could have given these to Micah and helped them end the war with the Blights in a matter of weeks,” Jala said sadly as she set the glasses carefully back down on her table.

“Then send them in the morning. Or form a mind link with Micah and show him the runes. They are not fighting the Blights tonight so a delay of one night will make no difference. Thank Sovann when you wake. Apologize to all of them and explain why you did it and forget about Neph’s bitching. Neph will always have something to bitch about. He is Delvay,” Valor said as he stood straight once more and headed for the door.

“Goodnight, Jala,” he called over his shoulder.

“Goodnight, Val,” Jala replied softly and watched him leave. She patted the bed beside her and Marrow jumped up and lay down with a yawn. “It seems like no matter what I do, I do it wrong,” she sighed and scratched the Bendazzi behind the ears.

You are doing it wrong. Scratch more to the left, Marrow told her with a faint chuckle.

“You are not helping,” Jala sighed.

I wasn’t trying to help. I was trying to mock you. If you must kick and berate yourself, do it in the morning. I’m tired tonight, Marrow informed her and punctuated his words with yawning in her face before dropping his head down flat to stare at her.

“What could you possibly be tired from? I did all the work tonight,” Jala grumbled as she shimmied under the blankets and pulled them up to her chin.

Hmph. Healing. All that required was your sitting on your ass. I, in the meantime, tormented the large ugly bear. Marked the territory of most of the town just to annoy the Shifters. They have very sensitive noses, you know, and well, Bendazzi musk is potent. That, and I kept watch on the knights from time to time. Oh, and I ate a few small animals I found around the village. With luck they weren’t actually Shifters. Just in case they were, however you might want to hint that you believe Blights might have been in the area. Marrow’s voice was soothing in her mind and she felt herself relaxing until he reached the last of his recitation of his night’s amusement.

“Wait,” Jala began as she propped herself up on her elbow and locked gazes with him. “While I was sowing good will between our nations you terrorized their guard, pissed on their town, and possibly ate some of their citizens?” she demanded.

When you say it that way, is sounds horrible. If they comment on the guard, say I’m curious. If they comment on the marking, tell them the Blights fear Bendazzi and I was helping them. If they mention missing relatives, gasp and say, “How awful.” How hard is that? Marrow said in a clear logical voice and shook his massive head at her before laying it down once more. Really you are over reacting.

Dropping back to lie flat on her back, Jala stared up at the ceiling and let out a long breath. “I probably am,” she agreed. Turning her head to look at him once more she frowned. “Unless you ate Sebastian’s Aunt or childhood friend,” she added dryly.

He is a Shifter. He should understand the nature of survival of the fittest. I was fitter and now I’m fatter. Blessed are small furry creatures that are slower than me and tasty, Marrow sighed in contentment and rolled onto his back.

“Glutton,” Jala sighed as she turned her head back to stare up at the ceiling. She gave another sigh and lifted her arm to stare at the tattoos that still lined her wrist and arm. Tracing a finger lightly down the gold lines she swallowed heavily. “I miss him so much Marrow,” she whispered and felt the first of the unshed tears gathering in her eyes. “I told myself not to grieve, that I would have him back. I told myself that everything we faced in the Darklands would be worth it, because I would have him back, and now I’ve failed and I don’t get another try. I wanted him back so badly that with my impatience I threw away my one chance to get him. How can I live with that knowledge without the guilt driving me mad?” The tears were coursing fully down her cheeks now and she sniffled as she wiped them away. Rolling over onto her side she buried her face in Marrow’s thick fur shoulders, shaking with the grief she had been holding back for so long.