From the Ashes (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #3)(88)
“Not even the gods can hear us now,” Neph announced as he nodded to her and took the seat to her left. Valor sat comfortably to her right with Wisp and Sovann closest to him while Jail, Madren, and Bridgette sat opposite. The lady knight shifted a bit in her seat and looked more confused than uncomfortable at being in the room. Joseph sat on the far side of her and if anything, the young man looked even more bewildered than the knight. He had been helping Sovann with every experiment the mage worked on, but as far as actual governmental work, he had no idea what was going on. It was at Jala’s insistence that the two of them were in attendance and she hadn’t bothered to explain to anyone why she wanted them present.
“Thank you, Neph. Before I begin, I’d like to thank Valor and Sovann for their gift to me,” Jala said as she looked at them both in turn. “I truly appreciate all of the work you both put into the staff and cannot thank you enough. It is a magnificent weapon.”
“I should have made one before now. I was kicking myself every day we were in the Darklands for allowing you to go in unarmed. Magic is useful, but you should have something to back it up with when it fails,” Valor replied.
“Most of the thanks should go to Valor really. All I did was lay the protections on it. The design is truly genius considering the difficulty you have with mana stones. The Barllen should leech the power from the stones when it’s uncovered and you can pull directly from the Barllen. The stones should keep the protection runes from being drained as well,” Sovann said quickly, his eyes alight with interest as they always were when he spoke of his Arcane works.
“Well, regardless, Sovann, you both have my sincere thanks. It is beautiful,” Jala said softly and let her eyes trail over everyone at the table once more before she leaned forward in her chair and folded her hands calmly on the table.
“Your hand Jala!” Wisp exclaimed in amazement. “It’s whole again!”
Jala smiled faintly and looked down at her newly repaired hand. Lifting it slowly she flexed the fingers and admired the smooth skin. “As good as I could make it anyway. You can still see the glitter from the focus gems in the skin, but at least it isn’t quite so hideous.”
“Your fingers were completely gone, though. Not even Rose replaces missing limbs. She says the magic is too taxing,” Wisp pressed her green eyes wide in astonishment.
“Rose knew how to replace bones. She told me how to do it. I suppose for the commons it might be too taxing, but I wanted my fingers back,” Jala explained as she lowered her hand back to the table.
“It was an honorable wound and you shouldn’t have seen shame in it,” Valor said quietly, his dark blue eyes locked on her hand. His expression, however, was one of relief.
“Not everyone sees it like that, Valor,” Jail said softly and nodded to Jala with respect. “I am impressed, Jala.”
Jala smirked slightly and nodded to Jail. “Now for the less impressive part of my day,” she began with a sigh. “As everyone in this room is aware, I just ordered the death of ten Avanti guards while their High Lord visited on parlay,” Jala began, her eyes moving past everyone at the table to lock on the map on the wall behind them. “Because of that, Avanti will come for us in the spring,” she continued, her eyes tracing over the faint smudge of green that marked the borders of the Greenwild. That single country was the only thing that stood between her people and the Avanti armies. The Greenwild itself had no armies or protections against the Avanti forces and, at best, crossing that land would only slow her enemies for a short time.
“The Avanti used magic first. I saw them from my perch,” Wisp objected with a shake of her head that sent her wavy black hair rippling down her back. “I would testify at the council that the High Lord used his magic first,” she added with a defiant expression on her delicate face.
“There won’t be a council to testify to in the spring,” Jail objected with a sigh and looked to Jala. “What do you plan to do?” he asked.
“First and foremost, I plan to clear a few things up, Bridgette,” Jala began and the knight sat sharply forward in her seat, her attention fully focused on Jala. “I have heard through a trusted source that rumors about Valor are running wild in the city. If you would, please try to have this stopped. I want everyone in this room as well as this city to know without a shadow of doubt that Valor has my complete trust and confidence.”
“As you say, High Lady Merrodin, though it is difficult to keep soldiers from talking,” Bridgette replied with a faint hesitation. She glanced quickly from Valor and then back to Jala once more and seemed to be waiting for something.
“Regardless, make the effort please,” Jala pressed gently.
“That isn’t necessary, Jala, I can handle the gossip myself,” Valor objected with a frown.
“It isn’t necessary for my people to know that I have faith and trust my General completely?” Jala asked with a raised eyebrow.
“General?” Valor exclaimed with a bit of shock. “You told me to build an army for you. You never said I’d be leading the entire bloody thing. I have experience with cavalry, not entire armies.”
“Your father is the Lord General of Arovan. You have more training than anyone else in this room. I didn’t have a chance to study anything remotely close to military strategy. I do believe that makes you the most qualified in this room, Valor,” Jala explained calmly in a voice that told him clearly the discussion was over.