The Elder Blood Chronicles – Book Three(161)

Her contact with her friends had been limited as well by his command. Jexon didn’t like her male friends to visit the house and she had barely seen Wisp more than twice since her return to Merro. That part had been Jala’s doing, though. The looks Jexon gave Wisp made her skin crawl and she didn’t want to see her friend hurt. Jala knew full well how rough Jexon’s attention could be and the thought of the delicate Fae staggering away from one of his blows made her sick. She had kept her word, though, and remained obedient, despite how much she missed her freedom. Now she was watching as he kept his promise to protect Merro.

The soldiers that Jexon had brought with him were the only organized part of the army beyond. Each division was lined up in perfect ranks with their preparations for marching already done. But the Merro militia and the knights of Arovan were still struggling with the supplies. Not that they had much in the way of supplies. Most of what they were packing was spare weapons and feed for the horses.

The essential supplies of food and medicinal stores were being sent from Seravae. Merro quite simply could not provide those things. Her people had been on rations throughout the winter and even then it had been mostly grains. According to Jexon, ships would arrive in Brannaford with provisions and the army would march from there. That was, of course, if everything went as planned. Which, in her life, Jala had come to realize nothing ever did.

A flash of purple caught her eye and Jala watched in silence as Valor rode through the ranks, calling orders. It was the first time she had seen him since they had returned. Neph had visited her when he could spare the time and Ash was a constant presence when Jexon wasn’t home, but Valor had never even approached the house.

He has been working for weeks on that barding so that it was in your colors, Emily said quietly from the floor beside Jala. It had been quite a shock to return home and find another Bendazzi waiting for her. Though it was a bigger shock to Marrow she was sure. Both of them had gotten used to the new arrangement, though, and Jala had to admit it was rather nice to have a Bendazzi on either side of her when faced with an angry spouse. Jexon never raised a hand toward her when the Bendazzi were with her.

“He looks quite the commander. Leave it to Valor to be the best dressed in the army,” Jala said with a faint smile. The armor he wore and the matching barding on his horse did look quite striking. He stood out from the army like a songbird among sparrows. Even the Arovan knights in their fine silver armor seemed shabby next to him in the purple plate with the sigil of the Bendazzi blazoned across it.

They are all going, you know, even Wisp. As far as I understand, it’s only going to be a skeleton crew guarding the city, Emily said with a heavy sigh.

“And he will try to leave me here,” Jala mused as she let her head fall gently against the window frame, her eyes still searching the ranks of the army for familiar faces.

He can’t leave you here, Emily said.

“Why?” Jala asked, her gaze dropping to meet Emily’s golden eyes. Emily had chosen to keep the dark fur rather than alter it to match Marrow’s shining white coat which Jala was rather grateful for. Both Bendazzi were equal in size and had they matched in color it would have been difficult to tell them apart at a simple glance.

Because you aren’t with child yet and if you die while he is off pretending to be a warrior the land goes to Sovann. He can’t afford to risk that, Jala, Emily explained with a feline grin.

Jala’s eyes widened and she nodded slowly. That was actually logic that Jexon would listen to, she was sure of it. The only problem was how to relay it to him without it actually coming from her. He never bothered to listen to anything she said and this was too important to risk his inattention. “Jail,” Jala whispered with a smile. The Mind mage could slip the thought into Jexon’s mind so subtly that Jexon would believe it was his own choice.

Jexon won’t let Jail anywhere near him. The moment Jail enters a room Jexon leaves it, Marrow reminded her.

Emily rose from the floor and stretched, the feline grin still showing on her face. Get packed, Jala I’ll see to the rest. Jexon may avoid Jail when he notices him, but in all that chaos out there. I doubt he will see him and Jail doesn’t need to be close. Just within sight, Emily said with a flip of her tail as she turned to leave the house.

And Legacy? Marrow asked cautiously.

“Goes with me. Seth warned me once about leaving those I love behind. I do not need to be warned twice on that account,” Jala said firmly. It was risky, of course, taking her son along, but then her mother would likely be going with Nathan, and he was still young. The supply wagons and the camp followers wouldn’t be anywhere near the actual fighting. She could simply leave Legacy in her mother’s care during the actual conflicts. The rest of the time he would be with her and far safer than he would be if she left him behind in the city.