From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(85)

“Is something wrong?” Jail asked softly as he rose, his eyes flicking from her face to the window.

“There is a Spell Hawk approaching and it’s coming from the north. The only Sky ports in that direction are Brannaford which no one uses,” Jala said, her voice trailing off as the Spell Hawk grew closer. There was no doubt that it was headed for this town. There was simply nothing else in this direction.

“And Avanti,” Jail finished for her. “Well this should prove interesting. Perhaps they are bringing you a welcome back home gift,” Jail said dryly as he turned toward the door.

“Marrow, Emily, watch Legacy please,” Jala ordered as she quickly followed after Jail.

No one will get in here that doesn’t belong, Emily promised, her voice holding only a hint of drowsiness to show that the Blight had been resting. As far as Jala could tell, today was the first day that Emily had actually allowed herself to rest since the baby was born.

“I suppose it’s a good thing you decided to actually get dressed and fix your hair today. That, combined with the staff and you truly look like High Lady Merrodin,” Jail teased as they made their way quickly down the stairs.

“Bloody hell,” Neph snarled from the open door. Glancing back over his shoulder he spotted Jala and Jail as they descended the last few stairs. “Avanti approaching. Do you want to allow them to land?” Neph asked, his expression showing clearly that allowing them landing was the last thing he wanted.

“A single ship?” Jala asked as she approached the door, glancing once more at Neph and taking note of the specialized glasses he wore. They were identical to the ones he had left in her room that allowed the wearer to see Blights. If he was wearing them now then he must be expecting Blights to be on the Avanti ship. I probably should have thought of that myself and worn mine, Jala scolded herself mentally as she turned her attention back their approaching enemies.

“Their flag ship. That will be the High Lord himself or one of his sons,” Neph replied as he stepped back to allow her past him.

Jala nodded faintly and moved out onto the porch of the house her gaze locked on the circling Spell Hawk. “They have a flag of parlay up. Allow them landing,” Jala ordered, her gaze moving quickly from the ship to sweep over the crowded streets. Everyone had stopped work to watch the approaching ship and it was clear whatever Avanti had come to say, they would have an audience for it.

“I don’t think you quite heard me. That ship has their High Lord on it. This is a golden opportunity. The bastards have served themselves up,” Neph growled softly, his fingers twitching slightly with the urge to cast magic.

Jala smiled grimly and glanced over at him. Reaching up slowly she patted his cheek and sighed. “And no one wants to kill them more than I do, Neph, I promise you, but they are flying a flag of parley.”

“Fine,” Neph grumbled and stepped quickly from the porch to clear room in the crowded streets for the Spell Hawk.

“Why do you think they are here?” Jala asked softly as she heard Jail approach her from behind.

The Mind mage paused just beside her and glanced down. “Because we are weak and they want to try to spook us into submission,” Jail offered with a shrug to show he was simply guessing.

“I’d rather die than submit to them,” Jala hissed. Her eyes narrowed as she watched the ship slowly descend toward her city.

“Be sure of that before you speak to High Lord Avanti. They have us outnumbered and out-equipped. It may be prudent to listen to whatever they have come to say and then make a choice,” Jail warned softly.

“Their numbers are mainly slaves, Jail, and equipment doesn’t mean everything,” Jala returned softly as the ship landed fully and the door began to open.

“It means a lot,” Jail pressed, his expression concerned.

“But it doesn’t mean everything,” Valor broke in as he pushed his way through the door and moved to stand beside Jala on the opposite side of Jail. As usual, Valor was dressed perfectly in fine clothing and a long dark purple coat that nearly matched her dress in coloring.

Jala smiled and glanced up at the knight with gratitude clear on her face. “You cut your hair. Now I won’t be able to tell you apart from Honor at all when your back is turned to me,” she observed quietly.

“Look for the one wearing your colors and it’s a safe bet it is me,” Valor said with a smile and glanced toward the Spell Hawk as the first of its passengers started to disembark. “Wisp is on the roof with her bow in case we need her and Sovann is with Legacy,” he informed her softly as he turned back to look at her once more.

“You have an earring now too,” Jala said, her eyes locked on the shiny black hoop in Valor’s right ear rather than the approaching delegation from Avanti.

“Avanti here, remember?” Jail reminded her softly. The big mage shifted slightly beside her and nudged her a bit sharply with his elbow.

“Mm. Hmm. I remember. They are simply farther down my priority list,” Jala said as she studied the earring closer. It was shining black metal on both sides of the hoop closest to the ear with silver near the center and a decent sized violet gem at the exact center. “What warranted the change, Valor?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Can we discuss this later perhaps? You might not be concerned, but there is an approaching High Lord as well as his two sons,” Valor said with a faint smile.