The Blessed Curse (The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 4)(40)

Her voice trailed off and she shifted in her seat. “I know you all think they are monsters, but they aren’t. Before the Barrier, I was in Arovan for the sole purpose of killing them all. But I understand better now and we can’t. They aren’t all monsters.”

“Tell that to the widows and orphans of my land. Tell that to the souls of the young women who died birthing creatures spawned of rape. Tell that to my people that have no home now Lady Merrodin,” Nicoli hissed. Every muscle in the man’s body was tense and Neph slid his chair back from the table just enough to rise quickly if needed. Shifters were not known for rational behavior when angry and Nicoli Blackwolf looked well beyond angry.

“We are all linked to the Barrier. Each creature living has a strand of magic connecting them to this world. I planned to kill them all, once I realized it connected them. It was the perfect path past their immunity to magic. I simply bypassed their flesh and targeted their souls and minds directly with my power,” Jala explained.

“Then why didn’t you?” Nicoli demanded, his voice booming over hers and drowning out all other noise in the room.

“I think she was getting to that if you would shut up,” Neph snarled in return. He had been doing his best to keep silent. All of the years in the Academy had honed his mind for politics, but he could only stomach so much.

“Please,” Jala’s voice rose and she held up both hands her gaze moving between the two of them. Slowly she lowered her hands once more and sighed. “I was about to unleash the magic, Lord Blackwolf, when I brushed against the mind of one of the creatures. It wanted safety. It wanted rest and peace. It was the same frame of mind I would expect to find in any of our people. It was not the mind of a monster. I tested each strand then and I did eliminate those that held darkness in their hearts, but I left the ones that were innocent to live.” Her eyes roved the table once more and settled on Arjuna. “In Merrodin, it is said that the Firym steal children from other lands and feast upon their flesh. There are stories about the Beastmen of Glis that gave me nightmares as a child. I was told that the barbarians of Delvay throw their weak or sickly children to their cats. We are all monsters depending on who you ask and while the Blights have qualities that I despise, that is not their fault. They can’t help the way they reproduce. They were created that way by no choice of their own. We have to find compromise with them.” Her words poured out from her and the room remained silent while she spoke.

“They have invaded my land and I will kill them all. You may think you know them, child, but I doubt you have the knowledge of them that I do. They are unthinking bloodthirsty brutes. If you try to reason with them they will devour you.” Nicoli’s voice had grown cold and by his expression Neph guessed the man was hoping she would insist on visiting a Blight Hive herself.

“Emily, show them,” Jala spoke so softly that Neph almost missed her words. The black Bendazzi stared up at her impassively and yawned. “Emily, your entire race depends on you now,” Jala’s voice rose a bit as she stared down at the Bendazzi who simply regarded her with indifference. “Emily!” Jala snapped as she kicked the Bendazzi lightly in the butt.

A snarl erupted from the cat as it moved back from the table and shifted to the human form Neph had so rarely seen. On the few occasions he had managed to spot her, Emily had been ragged to say the least. Typically the Blight was dirty and naked, but today she was clean and well dressed. Emily glowered at the assembly who simply stared at her in dumbfounded shock.

“Emily has lived with me since I attended the Academy. She is Blight and she is not a monster. They can be reasoned with and they are intelligent creatures, not bloodthirsty brutes. If not for Emily, I would have been dead long before I ever marched against Avanti,” Jala informed the room quietly.

“You brought a Blight into this council room?” Nicoli roared as he rose from his chair.

“Actually, I didn’t. I left my Bendazzi at home. I didn’t bring them until Lord Faydwer requested to see them,” Jala replied loudly as she rose from her own chair, her expression filled with resolve. “I don’t want to fight you, Lord Blackwolf, but if you take one step toward Emily, I will kill you,” she warned.

“Both of you sit down. You are in my home and you will not behave like hot headed fools while you are here,” Elijah Arovan commanded and Nicoli had the grace to look at least a little chagrined.

“You have my sincere apologies,” Jala said with a bow of her head to Elijah before she once again took her seat. “Emily is under my protection as much as I am under hers. I asked her to reveal herself and I will not allow her to be hurt because of it.”