The Elder Blood Chronicles – Book Three(14)

Jala released her spell just as the creature’s jaws opened to bite. Everything blurred together as the Shifter’s huge clawed hand hit Valor full in the chest. Despite her wish for him to ignore her, he had been distracted. His boots dug trenches in the ground as he was forced back, but he managed to keep his feet as their combined magics took effect. The shifter staggered back clutching its skull as her spell unleashed and the roots holding her hostage crumbled beneath her. She began to plummet, the black rocks racing up to meet her. A sob broke from her lips as the wind whistled in her ears and then she was slowing. The wind cradled against her, easing her plummet to a gentle descent. Jala forced her eyes open once more as she dropped gently to the ground beside Valor. Her ankle gave at once and his arm was around her supporting her weight in an instant.

“Nice catch,” she whispered, the spots once again dancing in her eyes. The pain was making her light-headed and nauseous.

“Nice, whatever the hell you did to him.” Valor replied motioning feebly toward the still twitching Shifter that lay sprawled on the ground several feet from them.

“I healed him,” Jala gasped with a faint chuckle at the bitter irony of that. It didn’t seem fair that her healing was sporadic when she tried to use it to help her and Valor, but she could use it to kill with. Valor gave her a puzzled look but didn’t question her. The countless bruises and pains were fraying her wits and it must have shown on her face. Hoof beats sounded faintly as Valorous returned snorting his displeasure at both of them. Valor motioned him closer and Jala grabbed onto the saddle to support herself. Nodding his thanks, Valor stepped back and bent, bracing his hands on his knees, his shoulders shaking with his ragged breathing.

“Are you OK?” Jala asked ducking her head a bit to try to get a look at his face.

“Broken ribs. Breast plate is bent back on them. Rather uncomfortable,” Valor replied, his words choked. He stood once more, slowly, and she could see the aftermath of the last savage blow the Shifter had delivered. His breastplate was caved in as he had said with jagged holes punched through it where the talons had found flesh. Blood seeped from the holes, though he didn’t seem to be paying any attention to his wounds now. His gaze was focused on the figure approaching them, dressed in white plate mail and a mottled white cloak. Long dark hair showed from under the hood as well as a delicate pale face.

“Symphony?” Jala whispered as the woman drew closer. It made no sense whatsoever for the future Empress to be in hell with them, but this woman was a mirror image of the girl she had met in Firym. The white armor looked battered and the cloak wasn’t mottled she realized suddenly, it was bloodstained.

“Fiona Veirasha,” Valor breathed as the legendary knight of House Veir continued to approach in deathly silence.





Chapter 2





Merro





“But I don’t want to go in here, it’s haunted,” the little girl objected, bracing her hands and feet against the door frame. Her silver hair hung in beautiful ringlets around her pale face and her blue eyes were wide with terror. Despite the tantrum, Devony was the same as all immortals Emily had met so far – perfect and beautiful, even at her tender young age.

Emily started to object to being referred to as a ghost but she wasn’t sure if pointing out that she was, in fact, a Blight, would make the child feel any better, so she remained silent and simply watched. Wisp was behind the child trying to force her through the door, with little success. The small Fae was barely bigger than Devony, despite the fact that the Arovan child was only six or seven. Emily wasn’t exactly sure on the child’s true age. For all she knew it might be closer to five. The Immortal children were difficult for her to judge. They grew so slowly in comparison with the Blights.

“It’s not haunted, Dev, that voice is Emily. We have talked about this before,” Wisp assured her. The Fae had managed to pry one small hand loose from the door frame and was working on the second. “I need to talk with Sovann and I can’t leave you alone,” Wisp insisted, redoubling her efforts on the second hand as Devony scrambled to secure her hold better.

“Devony, it’s perfectly all right in here. I promise. Emily is a friend and is helping me with an experiment. She is not a ghost and this house is not haunted. How could it be haunted? After all, we just built it, remember?” Sovann said gently, his voice filled with patience. “Maybe you should show yourself, Emily. That might make her feel better,” Sovann suggested, turning to look in the direction he thought Emily was in.