The Elder Blood Chronicles – Book Three(152)

Jala moved closer to the rail and peered out across the rain covered distance in the direction he indicated. She could barely make out the rocky coast through the murk of the day, but what she saw wasn’t impressive to her. Glancing over at Ash she nodded and tried to force a faint smile onto her face. To her amazement Ash laughed at her expression.

“It isn’t much to look at, is it? It really doesn’t get any better inland either,” Ash said with the amusement still clear on his face.

“I’ve never seen you laugh before. Or even really smile for that matter,” Jala stammered, still staring at the Soulreaver in amazement.

Ash looked down at her and raised a pale eyebrow. “Did you think I was serene all of the time?”

“Well yes, actually,” Jala admitted, still staring at him.

Ash laughed again and shook his head at her. “I have a lighter side, Jala. I just try to be professional when I am working. Till this point, in every contact we have had, I have been working.”

“You considered it working? I’ve never once paid you for any help you have given me,” Jala replied, shaking her head at him slightly. It was a relief to see this side of him. She had pictured a marriage with him as being dull and lifeless. To see him actually laughing gave her hope, though. There was a possibility that their agreement could become friendship or possibly even more with enough time.

“Money isn’t everything, Jala. I often work for free if the task is a worthy one,” Ash replied with a smile. He leaned forward on the rail, his eyes locked on the distant rocks. “I won’t miss this place at all, after we have gone. I can’t think of a single pleasant memory from the islands,” he mused.

Have you left Kithvaryn yet? Neph’s voice broke through her thoughts like thunder and all thoughts of conversation with Ash vanished.

I have and you don’t have to bellow at me Neph. I can hear you just fine, Jala replied wincing a bit from the link.

Go home. Do not come to Seravae, Neph ordered in a voice that brooked no argument.

I can scarcely do that, Neph. I can see the shores of Seravae right now. What has happened? I thought everything was settled, Jala sighed, wondering if every plan she made in her life would become a mess in her hands. It seemed things could never simply go as she hoped. Everything had to be complicated.

Everything was worked out perfectly until last night. Now everything is a bloody mess. Do not come here, Jala, Neph said with frustration thick in his voice.

What happened last night? Jala asked wearily.

The Lord Reaver’s wife died. They are saying it was suicide and from the few times I spoke with the woman it might very well have been. Jexon has spent the last day arguing against Ash, however. It would seem the Seravae mourning period lasts approximately the amount of time it takes to roll a body into the grave. I wasn’t too concerned at first, but Jala, I think he is swaying the council. If you do marry Ash with the way things stand, you will be lucky to get a guard, let alone an army. Neph spoke quickly as if simply knowing she was near Seravae was reason for panic.

With a heavy sigh, Jala leaned back against the rail and closed her eyes. Swallowing heavily, she tried to govern her thoughts and decide the best approach. She needed Seravae, and she needed their shamans more than anything else. For what she had planned in the spring she would need all of the Spirit mages she could get.

“May I ask what is wrong? Your emotions went from hopeful to despair in a matter of moments,” Ash said softly.

“Neph just contacted me. The High Lady of Seravae has committed suicide apparently, and your father has been using every moment since then to sway the council against you,” Jala explained in a voice utterly devoid of emotion. It seemed this was going to be one of the moments that Vaze and War had been trying to prepare her for. As they had said, sometimes you don’t have any good options; you simply had to take the one you could live with.

Ash was standing silently beside her, his own expression thoughtful. Glancing down at her he shook his head slowly. “We should go to Merro. I doubt I can win against Jexon with the council,” he said finally in a voice that was already filled with defeat.

“I didn’t even know the Soulreavers had a bloody council,” Jala muttered as she raised her free hand to wipe rain from her face and returned to rocking Legacy on her hip.

“It is comprised of a master of each circle of training. However the High Lord himself has a voice there as well and his word is worth two votes. In order to win against Jexon cleanly, I would need all three of the Masters on my side and that won’t happen. The Master of Blades will side with Jexon. There is no doubt of that, and depending on who is control of the shamans right now he might have that vote as well,” Ash explained sourly.