The Elder Blood Chronicles – Book Three(151)

Victory nodded slowly and began the spell silently, his gaze never leaving the child.

“Can I ask why, now, Vic? We’ve been through a lot of shit together. Why are you cutting ties now?” Havoc asked, amazed at the pang in his chest at just the thought of going separate ways. They had been friends since the Academy, only Zach had been with them back then. Then the fall of Veir, and it was just the two of them after that. Now it looked like it wouldn’t even be that much.

“Because I don’t want to watch you die, Havoc, and I think for the first time since I’ve known you that it might actually happen. You’ve always been invincible in my eyes, but you never know when to back down, Havoc. After what I’ve seen in the past few weeks…” Victory’s voice trailed off as his magic washed over them. The rest didn’t need to be spoken aloud, though. Havoc knew all too well what he meant.





Chapter 26





Seravae Isles





Cold wet drizzle washed over them in a steady fall that had lasted all day. Jala glanced toward Valor who sat alone at the prow of the ship. She couldn’t prove he was causing the weather but she had a good suspicion that he was. He had been silent since they had left Kithvaryn and hadn’t said so much as a word to her the entire ship ride. With a sigh she glanced over to where Ash stood by the rail, staring out over the ocean. He had been quiet too, but then from what she had seen of the man so far, Ash was always quiet. He would speak if you spoke first, but he rarely initiated the conversation himself.

You should have brought Sovann with you if you wanted social company, Marrow said as he moved forward to sit beside her.

“I needed him to go with Kithvaryn,” Jala sighed as she pulled the blankets closer around Legacy. With the weather, she should take the child below, but the holds of the ship were stifling and held the overwhelming odor of rotting fish. “I wish we could have gone home first,” Jala added in a wistful voice.

I wish we had just gone home. I don’t understand why you must marry Ash. He isn’t right for you, Marrow grumbled.

“We’ve talked about this. I’m not getting married for love. I’m getting married for power. I need the armies he will bring to Merro,” Jala said in an exasperated voice. No matter how many times she tried to explain the concept of political marriage to Marrow he simply didn’t understand.

He cowered from the Divine, Marrow pointed out in a disgusted voice.

“We’ve talked of that too. The Soulreavers have a superstitious fear of Death. They believe her to be the only god and not a very nice one,” Jala repeated the words for what felt like the hundredth time.

Just saying, if you don’t cower you should have a mate that doesn’t cower, Marrow grumbled.

“I did, and his lack of cowering got him killed!” Jala snapped and instantly regretted raising her voice as Legacy began to squirm in her arms. He was always fussy when he woke early from a nap. “Shh. I’m sorry, love,” she cooed, rocking the child in her arms.

Perhaps you should try for one that is brave and thoughtful rather than rash and fearless, Marrow suggested. The Bendazzi had been harassing her with this line of conversation since they had set sail. No matter how carefully she explained her plans to him he ignored her.

“Know any of them that have a very large army on standby?” Jala asked with sarcasm lacing her voice.

Do you even know you will need a very large army? You are Divine with the blood of War in your veins. Maybe you are a one-woman army and simply don’t realize it, Marrow said with an indignant sniff.

“Please stop, Marrow,” Jala pleaded as she continued to rock Legacy who was at the verge of tears. Slowly she stood up and began to pace the deck, hoping the movement would help soothe him. He was growing so fast due to her magic it was possible he was beginning to teethe. That would only make his fussiness worse. She had considered removing the magic and allowing him to age at a normal pace, but in light of what was coming, it seemed a better plan to let him grow enough to be less dependent on her. It was a morbid path to follow, but she didn’t like the thought of her son suffering if something happened to her.

Ash stepped up beside her as she turned back to the rail once more. The Soulreaver smiled faintly at her and nodded his head toward the ocean. “You can make out the edges of Seravae now. The smaller shapes are uninhabited islands but if you look past them you can just make out the coast of the Sword Isle.” His voice was soothing and even Legacy stopped fussing as he spoke.