The Elder Blood Chronicles – Book Three(103)

The High Lord shifted and looked around slowly, a smile widening on his handsome face. “Little girl, you are surrounded by whores, gutter rats, and dysfunctional knights that were so worthless Arovan wouldn’t even let them die for their country. You have a single Delvay and a Han’shy beside you. Delvay is at war and I hold the country of Han’shy in my power. How long do you think they will stand by you, given that knowledge?” He paused long enough to smile wider as he regarded Valor. “Then of course, there is the rapist that wasn’t allowed back in his country. I suppose that one might fight for you, given proper incentive. So you aren’t entirely alone, are you?”

“That is the one and only time you will insult my people without paying for your words. Choose what you say with more care Lord Avanti,” Jala replied coldly, her expression shifting from amused to dangerous in a breath.

“Father, this is not what we came for. We are not here to insult the High Lady,” Truce cut in, earning a glare from his father for the effort. To his credit, Truce did not flinch away from his father’s displeasure, but held his ground with a calm expression.

With a disgusted sigh, Lord Avanti turned back to regard Jala and nodded slowly. “My son is quite right. We are not here to insult. It seems that both of my sons are cursed with soft hearts.” He paused and cleared his throat before smiling once more, though there was no warmth in the expression. “You can’t stand alone, Lady Merrodin. You are too weak. Surely you are not na?ve enough to believe otherwise. My son, however, finds interest in you, so I offer you salvation. Ally yourself with house Avanti through marriage and you will survive the coming war.”

“She is in mourning, you ass. You know her husband just died. There is no way you couldn’t know your daughter had him killed,” Neph snarled.

“I’m quite sure Cassia had no part in that unfortunate incident. As I heard it told, he died in the battle for the city. It truly is a pity and I do sympathize with your loss, Lady Merrodin, but these are difficult times that demand action now,” Lord Avanti said in a mockery of her own honey sweet voice.

Jala stared at the High Lord for a long moment in silence before looking away. Sovaesh drew her attention for a breath and she noticed the faint shake of his head as her eyes settled on Nathan. “You believed I was a peasant whore a scant few months ago and now you wish to marry me?” she asked her tone incredulous.

“Your identity has been proven and you have been acknowledged as the High Lady of Merrodin,” Nathan answered with a smile that might have been charming if she had never met him before.

Jala nodded slightly and looked back to the High Lord. “I am in mourning and I have no interest in marriage,” she answered flatly with as much courtesy as she could muster.

The High Lord’s lips twitched slightly and he straightened his shoulders. “Little girl, put your feelings aside and truly look around at your people,” he urged her. A faint wash of magic poured from the High Lord as he spoke and she heard murmurs spread through the crowded streets as her people slowly began to drop to their knees facing the Avanti. The magic pulsed again and she felt Valor relax beside her followed quickly by Jail. “They know what I offer you. They see salvation at hand. Look at them and learn, child.”

“Perhaps we should listen to him,” Jail suggested in a quiet voice as his head bowed forward in respect toward the High Lord.

“We have no proof that it was Cassia,” Valor offered and his voice sounded very off to her ears.

Raw fury surged through Jala as she glanced between Jail and Valor, her eyes lingering on the knight. Valor had accompanied her through hell, and to see him enchanted by someone like Avanti pushed her temper well past reason. Turning back, Jala willed her vision to see the threads of magic and stared at the strands of magic that enshrouded her people willing them into submission. With the exception of herself and Neph, Lord Avanti’s magic held sway on every visible person as far as she could see.

“Cute,” Neph said softly and flexed his hands. “I wasn’t aware that magic was smiled upon in parley. May I show off my own?” he asked as he glanced over his shoulder to look at Jala, his expression dark and filled with anger.

“I give you this one single chance to remove this from my people before I lose my temper completely,” Jala warned. She could feel the magic humming through her veins and the desire to release that power on the Avanti was nearly overwhelming.

“You are quite good at tossing threats about, child. Do you not realize how precarious your position is right now? Their loyalty is to me at the present,” the High lord said in a silky voice as he motioned casually toward the citizens of Merro.