The Blessed Curse (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #4)(12)

“So the spikes in your armor are your focus, aren’t’ they? Pain as a focus; that’s pretty clever,” Shade murmured with interest and patted Neph lightly on the shoulder before stepping around him. “Well said, Neph, you should have explained it that way last night. We are wasting time, you know. The Witches have been ready to open the portal for about twenty minutes now. I’m sure they are tired of waiting,” Shade called over his shoulder as he strolled off toward the center of camp.

“If the Rivasans don’t kill him today, I’m going to kill him myself,” Neph growled as he followed after the rogue, trying desperately to ignore the jaunty tune Shade was whistling.





*





“How long can you hold the shroud over us?” Shade asked softly, his eyes locked on the distant Rivasan forces.

“For as long as I need to,” Neph replied quietly. The relief at seeing the Rivasan forces still preparing for their assault had been so overwhelming, he had nearly smiled. Given his current company, though, that would have been a horrible idea. Both Madren and Shade would have gotten the wrong impression and likely not even the Divine could have silenced their chatter had he shown anything resembling good humor.

“Look at how many there are. I have to admit, I’m terrified,” Madren whispered from his other side. Madren fidgeted in place and turned to look at Neph. “Aren’t you scared?” he asked.

“No,” Neph answered firmly and let out a sigh. From what he could tell the Rivasans were about to make their first charge. That, in itself, would be a blessing. He’d much rather be fighting than listening to either of his companions. He tried his best to ignore Madren’s stare but finally sighed and looked over at the smaller man.

“Truly?” Madren asked, once he knew he had Neph’s full attention. His gaze locked on Neph with an intensity that was unnerving.

Madren shook his head in amazement when Neph answered with a simple shrug. “If I were you, I’d be witless with terror. I mean you are a complete and total *, Neph. I don’t know anyone that is a bigger ass than you. Even the Rivasans are nicer. There is no way you will escape penance in hell. There are probably demons in the Darklands that have committed fewer sins than you. If you die, you are going to be condemned for decades. I mean, I’ve seen you kill people for getting in your way. Hell, you killed two people last night and I don’t even know why. I will probably just pass on through the life stream and begin a new life, but you are completely screwed, Neph. I can’t believe you aren’t terrified. To think of the endless torments you will face in the afterlife makes my skin crawl. I mean, they say you have to serve five years penance for every drop of innocent blood you shed. If that’s true, you will never see sunlight again, Neph.” The sincerity in the man’s expression and voice was so overwhelming that Neph couldn’t decide if he wanted to laugh or choke the little bastard in response, so he settled for simply glaring at Madren.

“Uh, Madren, you are getting kind of loud with your tirade,” Shade broke in and it was obvious from his tone he was struggling to contain laughter.

Neph continued to glower at Madren for another long moment before turning his attention back to the Rivasan forces. They were sending front lines forward and by the look of the soldiers, they were planning to open with Hellfire. It was a typical Rivasan attack, and Neph had no doubt that Valor would have Jala more than prepared for the tactic. His muscles tensed as the first wave of fire washed through the valley to pour over Jala’s forces. “That’s it, when they move for the third wave we hit them hard on the flank,” Neph said firmly as he turned back to join his own forces. A long wavering note faint on the wind gave him pause and he turned his head to stare in the direction it had come from. The noise was similar to a wolf’s howl and it brought a smile to his face.

“What in the name of the Divine was that?” Madren hissed, his gaze moving from Shade to Neph.

“Glis battle horns. The Shifters will be here soon and I’d wager Arovan rides beside them. Help is on the way, girls, so you can quit your trembling,” Neph answered, the satisfaction clear in his voice. With the smile still firm on his face he swung up onto his snow cat and glanced back at his ranks. For a Delvay force, his numbers were pathetic. Kadan had sacrificed nearly everyone in Delvay trying to hold the capital. Neph couldn’t blame him for it, though. Without their Capital, Delvay had no hope whatsoever.

“Good luck on the ground,” Shade said with a sigh and turned to leave the small stand of trees they had chosen as cover.

“You aren’t fighting with us?” Madren asked, turning to watch Shade go with a look of bewilderment.

“There are dragons on the field. I’m going to be fighting where I function the best,” Shade answered as he tossed a storage gem into the air and caught it. Looking back at them he smiled and winked at Madren. “I will be looking out for you from above,” he promised as he tossed the gem once more and caught it lightly.

“I’ll be praying a dragon manages to swallow your ship,” Neph replied, his gaze already back on the battlefield. From what he could tell, Jala had managed to keep the Hellfire from reaching any of her forces.

“And I’ll hope like hell that if that happens the bastard chokes on my ship and falls on you,” Shade called back faintly, his form already disappearing into the ranks of waiting soldiers.