The Elder Blood Chronicles – Book Three(120)

“Ash? You are going to marry the man that failed to raise your husband?” Valor gasped incredulous.

“I failed Finn, Valor. That was my failure from the start. And yes, I am going to marry Ash. For Merro and every person that is depending on me I will do whatever it takes to survive what’s coming,” Jala shot back, her own temper rising a bit at the mention of Finn.

“Do you know the Seravae laws at all, Jala? Do you actually believe it will still be your land after you marry a Spook? Women have no property in Seravae. They are property there. If Ash wanted to sell you it would be well within his rights.” Valor returned his eyes fully on her now rather than the storm or the ship.

Uhh. I know I’m not an expert on human concerns, but shouldn’t someone be sailing the ship, considering we are in the middle of a storm and most likely soon to be lost if he doesn’t guide us, Marrow cut in, his yellow eyes flicking back and forth between the two of them.

“I sincerely doubt Ash would want to sell me even if those laws applied. This is beneficial to both sides, Valor. His faction doesn’t agree with how things are done in Seravae and are seeking a new beginning. This could work if you would just try to open your mind a bit,” Jala pressed.

“Open my mind a bit? Do you have any idea what his people have done to our land for the past thousand years? They are murderers and rapists. They attack the coasts every year and kill whatever is not useful to them, Jala. Is that what you want in your country?” Valor snarled, the expression on his face suggested that he would like nothing more than to shake some sense into her.

“Did you not just hear me say it’s a different faction? Ash’s people are not raiders, Valor! You cannot judge them all by the actions of a few,” Jala replied, her voice gaining volume as her frustration grew.

So the glowing yellow light to our left means land right? Don’t your people keep flames on the coasts to warn ships about rocks? Marrow spoke again but the words barely registered in her mind. Every ounce of her focus was upon Valor who stood glaring down at her his back rigid.

“And you believe him? You are so damned na?ve, Jala. What makes you think Ash’s people are any different from the others, beyond his telling you so,” Valor snapped.

“Ash has given me no reason to doubt his words, Valor. He has always acted with honor when dealing with us,” Jala replied hotly.

“When dealing with you! I have had no dealings with the spook nor will I ever,” Valor corrected.

Yes those are definitely rocks. That is, if either of you care yet. I’m really not looking forward to a ship wreck, but then I wasn’t really looking forward to any part of this trip, Marrow said, his voice taking on a defeated tone.

“Wait what?” Jala snapped her eyes turning to the Bendazzi and then to the storm darkened sea beyond. It was a useless endeavor with her vision however and she could barely see beyond the prow of the ship. “Valor, are we about to hit rocks?” she asked, her tone switching from anger to panic.

Valor’s eyes snapped forward and he pulled hard on the wheel of the ship. “Yes,” he replied quickly as he bent his full strength to turning the ship. “Brace yourselves,” he mumbled as the ship lurched, its timbers screaming in protest.

“Why in the bloody hell are we going right for the rocks?” Sovann demanded as he staggered from the hold area.

“Am I the only one that can’t see in the dark here?” Jala demanded her eyes still searching the roiling sea frantically.

“Apparently,” Valor hissed as the wind around him rose once more, blowing hard into the sails. “Hold on to something, Sovann, this is going to get rough,” Valor commanded as he closed his eyes. Magic roiled off him as he called upon his elemental powers.

“What are you doing?” Jala demanded as the ship began to rise dramatically.

“Bloody buggering hell that’s a big wave,” Sovann gasped. The mage had taken Valor’s advice and now clung with a white knuckled grip to the railing, but the expression on his face suggested that he would much rather be back in the hold. “We are riding the crest of a wave, Jala,” Sovann informed her, his voice cracking a bit as he spoke.

“Valor, what are you doing?” Jala asked again a bit more franticly.

“Getting us to shore so you can make your deal with the damned mercenaries. Last warning, Jala, find something and hold on. This is going to be a rough landing,” Valor replied in hoarse whisper as the ship rose yet higher in the water.