The Blessed Curse (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #4)(49)
“Then consider this: Perhaps Jala has secrets of her own that are fueling her, but perhaps, like yourself, she is unwilling to speak of them. Listen to what she says with both ears, Lord Delvayon, and consider how well you know Jala. Watch her face when she speaks and ask yourself what is motivating her right now,” War said with a wink and turned to follow after Jala who was already sitting down at the small table near the back of the temple.
The memory of the fear in her eyes earlier that morning returned to him and Neph sighed heavily. He didn’t need to watch her now to determine what was motivating her. He’d already seen a brief glimpse. Now all he had to do was figure out what was scaring the most powerful mage he had ever seen. Though, in all honesty, he wasn’t quite sure he wanted to know what scared the Lady Bendazzi.
“Zach, Havoc I hope you don’t mind if Neph joins us. He is a bit clueless as to what is going on right now and I’d like to go over everything with him here,” Jala began, her violet eyes moving from Zach to Havoc.
“It would be more efficient,” Zachary Dark said agreeably and nodded to Neph. “Join us, please,” The candlelight flickered across the black enamel of his gauntlet as he motioned toward an empty chair. Neph nodded with a faint smirk as he realized Jala was the only one in the temple that wasn’t armed or armored. Lord Dark wore his plate mail as always and Havoc was geared in the leather and chain armor that was favored by the Flame riders.
“Have you figured out how they were being controlled, Vaze?” Jala asked, glancing toward the shadows behind her as Neph took his seat.
“Yes, but you won’t like it,” Vaze replied calmly. The darkness that had been cloaking the temple lightened, revealing Vaze sitting perched beside the altar to Death. Sovaesh sat on the opposite side of the altar, leaning back against the wall. Both men wore solemn expressions and Neph felt a chill down his spine at the sight of it. These two men were not known for fear or insecurity.
“Tell me anyway,” Jala pressed. All smiles and laughter were gone from her demeanor now. She was the High Lady of Merrodin and nothing else.
“It’s not through devices as we thought. It’s through Blood magic. The Blights are subject to obey those of a certain bloodline,” Vaze explained, his frown deepening.
“What Bloodline?” Jala asked quietly.
“Morcaillo,” Sovaesh answered with disgust evident in his quiet voice.
“So anyone with Morcaillo blood can control them?” Jala asked, her expression growing thoughtful.
“Shade could through his link to Myth. Sovaesh can’t. His line is through Kiernan and he is too far removed from Myth. It seems to only work for Myth’s direct line. We tested it earlier and Sovaesh nearly got his face ripped off for it by a Blight in Glis,” Vaze explained.
“Pity the Blight failed in that,” Havoc growled. The Firym shifted in his seat and folded his hands on the table, looking directly at Jala. “I want to work with you, Jala, but I won’t tolerate that man being in my presence much longer. He killed my Aunt, if you care to remember, and it is taking every ounce of will I have to keep from drawing steel.”
“Avanti killed your Aunt. Sovaesh was the knife they wielded. I understand how difficult it is to accept that logic, however, and I appreciate the restraint you are showing,” Jala said calmly, her eyes moving from Havoc to Sovaesh. “Kill them,” she said in a voice that was nearly as cold as the words she spoke.
Neph watched her for a long moment frozen in shock. The idea that Jala Merrodin had just ordered death by Assassin was difficult to grasp. Jala hated hired knives and yet she was sending one out herself.
“I cannot condone this path.” Zach leaned back from the table and started to rise from his chair but paused when Jala raised a hand.
“Please, allow me to explain why I gave that order.” Jala glanced back at Sovaesh and nodded and the Assassin rose quickly to leave the room. Turning back once more she looked at Zach and then to Havoc, her eyes finally coming to rest on Neph. He stared back at her and he knew his expression must have been painful to her by the look in her eyes. He couldn’t help it, though. Assassins were the coward’s way, and he had never considered Jala a coward before now.
“I’d love an explanation,” Neph said quietly, his eyes searching her face for any remorse for what she had just done.
“The Morcaillo are Changelings,” Jala began, her eyes following Sovaesh as he disappeared through the temple door. “I don’t harbor ill will toward them for that sole reason, however. As I say, often I judge by merit, not by blood. These Changelings, however, have proved themselves enemies with their manipulations. I would face them in honorable combat or challenge them directly if I could. They won’t face me, though, and everyone in this room knows it. They have existed the entire war in hiding and they will remain in hiding. The Blights failed to kill us off so they will find another way to attain their goal.” She paused and dropped her hand firmly to the table. “I cannot allow them to stab us in the back again. The only way to stop them is to kill them and the only way I have to do that is Sovaesh,” Jala finished, her eyes moving from man to man once more and then settling on Neph again. “It is cowardly in your eyes to use an Assassin and I regret that I may have lost your respect by doing so, but as far as I see it, I have no choice. You are the one that taught me magic, Neph. You drilled it into my skull for countless hours that you use the most efficient magic to preserve your strength. I could waste my own time attempting to find these creatures and then pray that I would be able to pin them down in a fight, but I can’t waste the strength. Sovaesh is the most efficient way.” “Vaze found them,” Havoc pointed out with anger still lacing his words.