The Blessed Curse (The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 4)(135)

“Or that she can kill him with a touch when he annoys her enough?” Neph offered quietly.

“Not to mention the Blight that is no doubt beside her planning on how best to get rid of his competition,” Valor added with a snort of amusement, then fell silent as Jala and Vaze entered the room.

Jala smiled at them and glanced back at Vaze before clearing her throat. The room fell silent at once with all eyes on her. Her eyes lingered on Neph for a moment and he smiled in response. “All preparations have been made and everyone has been briefed on this mission. This may look difficult at a glance, but I have faith that we can accomplish this,” Jala began in a clear voice. Gently she lifted her amulet and kissed both sides paying homage to War as well as Death with her action. “Victory for us in battle and death to our enemies,” she intoned quietly and looked to Vaze. “Ready when you are.”

Vaze nodded sharply and moved to her side. “I will be taking us in near the bottom of the city. I will also be in front when we move. I know how to scout, the rest of you don’t,” he paused and looked at Jala with narrowed eyes. “If you try to move past me I will stab you in the ass,” he warned in a lower voice then smiled at her and winked.

“Feel free to attempt to stab my ass. I’m confident in my armor,” Valor replied with a smirk.

Turning slowly, Vaze regarded the knight dryly for a moment before motioning everyone forward. By his expression, it looked as though Vaze wouldn’t mind making the attempt regardless of armor. “Closer to me, so the shadows can reach you all,” he ordered.

Neph waited for a breath and watched as Zoelyn moved without hesitation to stand at Jala’s side. He still couldn’t believe the girl was truly going with them. She hated violence and yet she looked eager to go to battle. With a slight shake of his head, Neph moved to join the rest of them and watched in silence as the shadows thickened around them.

Mixed feelings rose in his chest as he considered the outcome of the day. He had no doubt that they would win the fight and recapture his city, and part of him was elated with the thought. The other part wanted to run screaming back upstairs and lock himself in his room, refusing to move. Once today was over, he was High Lord Delvayon rather than simply Neph, and he wasn’t at all sure he was ready to face that.

Vertigo washed over him and he pushed his doubts away as Merro faded to darkness. The stones of Delvay loomed around them as the shadows parted and he stared in silence at his childhood home. It had been so many years since he had stood in these halls. He felt eyes on him and glanced to his side to find Jala watching him with a knowing look in her eyes. She smiled faintly and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

“Temporary,” Jala whispered as Vaze stalked toward the stairway door. “Temporary,” Neph agreed softly with a nod.

“For Delvay,” Valor said with a smirk and moved forward with Foster to stand behind Vaze. Both knights drew their swords as they waited patiently for Vaze to signal the advance.

Vaze glanced back at them with a scowl as they approached and pointedly looked toward their metal shod boots. His eyes narrowed and he shook his head slowly in disgust as he motioned for them to hold back. As silent as the shadows he summoned, Vaze pulled the door open and slipped up the darkened stairwell to scout.

Several minutes of silence passed before a concussive boom echoed from the floors above. Neph’s eyes snapped upward as dust floated down from the stone ceiling. Whatever had just detonated had been massive and he wasn’t sure if it was a spell or mundane explosives.

“Move!” Valor bellowed as he sprinted up the stairs. Foster followed without hesitation, taking the steps two at a time in an attempt to reach Vaze and support him.

Jala watched them both with a worried expression before glancing at Neph. “They never should have spotted Vaze,” she said with concern lacing her words before she moved quickly to the staircase.

“You think they were expecting us, then?” Neph asked as he fell into step beside her. “I don’t see how they could have known,” Jala replied with a quick shake of her head.

Another explosion shook the building and Jala’s pace quickened to a run in response. Neph could see the fear on her face and knew it was for her companions and not for herself. He had never seen Jala fear for her own life as much as she did for others.

The door ahead of them still swung loose on its hinges from where Valor had passed through and Neph could see fire filling the room beyond. The ring of sword blades echoed back to them with a frequency that spoke of brutal combat.