The Crow King's Wife (The Elder Blood Chronicles #5)(112)
Nodding slowly she rose from her chair and looked to Syrah. “Will you keep an eye on your Father until I return?” She asked hopefully and sighed with relief when the child nodded. “If he wakes find me at once alright?”
“I will.” Syrah promised as she moved to the chair Zoelyn had just vacated and settled into its cushioned depths.
Stifling a yawn Zoelyn stretched her back and followed Dray from the room. The knots in her stomach didn’t seem inclined to loosen and she had the unsettling feeling they would only get worse as the day progressed.
“When I came to fetch you Jala had just arrived at the front gates. If we hurry we might be in time to hear everything that is said.” Dray explained as he picked up his pace.
Wordlessly Zoelyn nodded and quickened her own steps to match the Blight’s. The halls of the city were empty as they practically ran toward the Great Hall, but she could hear the buzz of conversation echoing toward her. Everyone was already gathered, and by the sound of it something big was going on. It might be the return of the children or the arrival of the High Lady, then again it might be something Shade had done and they had already missed it.
She was practically breathless when they finally reached the door and barely managed to slip inside and press herself back against a wall as Jala entered from the main doors. The High Lady was dressed like a queen in a long purple gown and wore a serene expression on her beautiful face. Valor walked easily at her side with a faint smile creasing his lips while the two Bendazzi trailed behind them both like royal guards.
“She looks more like the Empress than the actual Empress does.” Dray whispered and Zoelyn had to nod in agreement.
Zoelyn’s gaze shifted to her Brother who wore the same battered leather armor that he always did. Neph’s face was lit with a scowl that was softening as Jala approached, but Zoelyn could see the tension in his body that spoke of contained anger. It didn’t take much to determine the source of Neph’s fury. Shade lounged near Neph looking perfectly relaxed and rather insolent by the way his boots were propped so casually on the small table that rested in front of Neph’s throne. There wasn’t even a trace of the grief she had seen on him in Grim’s room and even his color seemed to have improved. He no longer looked pale and weary, if anything he seemed amused. A faint smirk pulled at Shade’s lips as he watched Jala draw closer, and Zoelyn could see the flicker of hesitation on Jala’s face as she caught sight of it.
Jala didn’t falter in her steps though despite the confusion in her violet eyes. Her gaze never left the dais Neph was seated on until she drew to a stop a few feet in front of him. Her head bowed forward and her wine colored curls fell over her face as she gently released Valor’s arm and dropped to her knees before Neph’s throne. The gentle murmur of the room faded to silence as the High Lady of Merrodin humbled herself before the Delvay throne. Neph’s scowl faded completely in his shock and he leaned forward quickly to stare down at Jala in disbelief as she lowered her head to rest on the stone floor.
“I come to Delvay for several reasons today, but the foremost is to beg your forgiveness High Lord NephonDelvayon. I turned my back on Delvay in anger and I spoke words that I regret more than I can say. I ask your forgiveness for my childish behavior and beg that Delvay will once again consider Merro as an ally, though I know I have no right to ask such things after my unforgivable behavior in your own city.” Jala’s words rang through the Great Hall and Zoelyn could see mouths dropping open around the room. The High Lady couldn’t have stunned the people of Delvay more had she paraded into the room naked and clucking like a chicken. Such things were simply not done in Delvay. No High Lord they knew would beg anything of anyone no matter the situation.
“I’d accept that apology, Neph. Do you know how many men in Sanctuary would give their left nut to say Jala dropped to her knees before them? Of course no one will blame you if you embellish the story a bit when you retell it. A person could add so many tawdry details to that kind of story.” Shade observed in obvious amusement.
The silence of the room deepened at his words and Neph glared daggers at the man before rising from his throne to move quickly to Jala’s side. Still silent he took her gently by the arm and pulled her to her feet. “Never feel you have to grovel before me again, Jala. I deserved your treatment and there is nothing to forgive. You accused me of a crime I was guilty of, nothing more can be said of it.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into an embrace as he spoke. “Merro will always be considered an ally of Delvay. If not for the actions of High Lady Merrodin we would not be sitting here today.” He declared loudly to everyone in the room as he stepped back from Jala and smiled down at her.
Neph seemed to notice Valor for the first time then and Zoelyn watched as the gentle smile on her brother’s face slowly withered. Letting out a deep breath he bowed his head in Valor’s direction. “Lord Hai’dia I know you are expecting me to return the children of Arovan to you today, but I regret to inform you that two of the ones rescued are not in my keeping. I would be happy to tell you where they are, but Shade has refused to explain that to me. He left the city with them as well as some two hundred rescued slaves and did not bother to bring them with him when he returned.”
All eyes moved to Shade at Neph’s words and Zoelyn could see the furrow on Jala’s brow even from the distance she stood at. To his credit Shade looked perfectly relaxed despite the attention that was now riveted on him.