The Elder Blood Chronicles – Book Three(146)

Kithvaryn sat waiting in the same chair he had occupied the night before. Kithkara stood behind him, leaning against the wall near the weapons racks. The expression on the woman’s face suggested she would like to make use of those weapons as the group entered the room.

“Good morning, General Kithvaryn, Commander Kithkara,” Jala spoke the greeting politely and bowed her head to Kithvaryn with respect.

“You look more the High Lady today than you did on our first meeting,” Kithvaryn returned with a note of approval in his voice. He gazed at her son for a long moment before nodding her toward one of the empty chairs.

“I regret the condition I arrived in. I’m afraid under the circumstances of yesterday’s events that it couldn’t be helped,” Jala replied with a small apologetic shrug. Carefully she pulled the long silk skirts of her newly summoned dress out of the way and sat down in the indicated chair.

Kithvaryn waited patiently for Valor and Sovann to take places behind her before nodding toward her son. “Finn’s child, I assume. I had heard rumors that you were with child, but the news seems too fresh for a child his age.”

“I was in poor condition when I returned from the Darklands, so I used magic on my son to insure that he survived,” Jala explained, leaving out as many of the details of the event as she could. There was no reason for anyone other than her friends to know what bad condition she had been in.

“I see,” the general responded in a tone that suggested he didn’t want to hear all of the details any more than she wanted to speak them. Exhaling heavily, he leaned back farther into the cushions of his chair, resting his elbows comfortably on the arm rests. “I’ve considered your offer and I have a counter for you. As it turns out, I didn’t care much for Hexian’s offer and we couldn’t reach terms that we both agreed on. As for Morcaillo, I don’t like nor trust the man so I don’t plan to take contract there either. That leaves you. If we can reach terms that is.”

Jala struggled to keep the look of hope from her face and nodded slowly. “What is your counter, General?” she asked in a reserved voice.

“First, my company will keep any spoils of war that are gained in defending Goswin. That is the full and complete spoils. Goswin will not get a share regardless of whether they fight beside us or not,” Kithvaryn began in a formal tone. “Second, my son’s soul is to be returned to me before we move our troops to Goswin. If there is any deceit in that transaction, the contract between the two of us will be void. If it is not truly my son that I raise, I will not only void the contract I will remove the leash from Kithkara that is keeping her on such remarkably good behavior.”

“Understood and agreed upon,” Jala said with another nod when he fell silent once more. She had expected his terms to be much worse, but so far he had said nothing that she couldn’t live with.

“I’m not finished,” Kithvaryn said firmly and cleared his throat. “Third, you and I will exchange blood for safe keeping. If at any time you should move against me, I will not hesitate to use the blood against you. You will have a vial of my own blood as well, should I fail in the contract.”

“You are out of your mind,” Valor snapped, cutting Kithvaryn off before he could finish.

“Valor, please,” Jala pleaded and gave Kithvaryn an apologetic look. “Forgive him please. It is his duty to protect me and I fear I’ve made that a rather difficult chore for him. His nerves are on edge, which doubtless caused that outburst.”

“I would guess it has quite a lot to do with the Soulreaver waiting at my port for your company,” Kithvaryn said dryly before casting Valor a withering look. “The blood is not negotiable, Lady Merrodin. We will exchange vials and hold them until the end of the contract or there will be no contract. At the end of our contract, which will be the end of the war by your request, we will once again exchange the vials. Which, if we have both kept faith, should still be sealed. The fourth and final condition of the term is that you pay for the three goats your damned Bendazzi ate while you have been in my Fortress. I have not seen the hell-spawned creature myself but I know enough about you to know what it is preying on my livestock.”

You ate three goats! Jala exclaimed through a mental link with the Bendazzi while she nodded politely to Kithvaryn. “I apologize for my familiar. I expected him to be on better behavior.”

Kithvaryn glanced over his shoulder at Kithkara and nodded faintly with a tight smile. “How well do I know that pain. We always expect the best behavior of those we trust.”