The Elder Blood Chronicles – Book Three(165)

“I have missed you, Val,” Jala admitted quietly, then cursed herself for an idiot when he looked away the moment the words were out of her mouth. “I mean I missed everyone of course, but I was so used to you always being there beside me,” she added, trying desperately to salvage the situation and failing miserably.

Valor’s mouth opened and then closed again and he slumped farther back against the counter. Raising one hand to his face he rubbed at his eyes and nodded slowly to her. “Missed you too, Jala,” he said at last in a voice that was barely above a whisper. She could tell there was more that he wanted to say, but he had apparently thought better of it.

The door opened once more and Ash leaned inside long enough to catch Jala’s eye. “Jexon is riding this way and he doesn’t look happy,” he warned her.

“Shit,” Jala hissed as panic seized her. Quickly she twisted her hair back into a semblance of order and clipped it back into place before frantically tugging the veil back on. Moving swiftly to the dirty glass of the window she did her best to use her smudged reflection to straighten her dress and ensure that the veil was on straight.

“That was fear,” Valor said quietly behind her.

Turning back, Jala shook her head slightly. “I gave him my word, Valor. He expects me to wear the veil,” she said in a voice that was far calmer than she felt. In truth, her heart was hammering so hard in her chest she was amazed Valor couldn’t hear it.

“There was a time that you never would have lied to me,” Valor said as he pushed off the counter and stood straight.

“That wasn’t a lie, Valor,” Jala objected.

“It wasn’t the truth either, Jala,” Valor returned as Tipton came bustling through the door once more waving papers in his hand.

“This is everything in the warehouse. Now if you will just sit with me we can mark off what you need and get it packed up for you,” Tipton began apparently oblivious to the tension in the room.

“If it’s edible or medicinal we will take it. I’ll send my men to fetch it,” Valor said as he turned and stalked from the store.

“What?” Tipton fairly yelped his eyes locked on Valor’s back as the door slammed shut behind him.

Jala watched the dust falling from the ceiling from the force of the door and glanced back at the merchant. “I don’t want to argue with him. Do you?” she said quietly.

Tipton shook his head slowly, his eyes still on the door then looked down at his list sadly. “Are you sure that you have enough wagons to haul this much?” he asked with a note of hope in his voice.

“If we don’t, I’d find more if I were you,” Jala said quietly, her attention focused once more on the window and the steadily approaching form of her husband. Ash was right. He did look angry, though she couldn’t begin to guess why. By all rights he should be pleased that she had managed to secure supplies. Without her intervention they would have had no choice but to return to Merro.





“The scouts say they aren’t more than two days off,” Badger spoke loudly enough for everyone in their small group to hear the words clearly. Jala glanced over at him and nodded faintly. She wasn’t sure if he had been speaking to her, or Wisp and Sovann who rode just behind them.

“My archers are ready and fully equipped, thanks to Sovann,” Wisp said with a quick look to Jala to ensure she had caught the full meaning of her words.

Jala nodded and bowed her head to Sovann. “Thank you for working as hard as I’m sure you had to,” she said as she straightened in her saddle once more and pulled the end of her reins from Legacy’s grasp. “We don’t eat leather,” she said softly as she leaned forward to kiss her son on the top of his head.

“Mothers are so bossy, eh kiddo,” Badger said with a grin and winked at his grandson.

“You didn’t let me eat leather when I was a child,” Jala pointed out calmly as she folded the reins back once more.

“Actually that’s what you teethed on,” Badger returned.

“What?” Jala demanded her head whipping back around to face him.

Chuckling softly, Badger nodded and pointed right at her. “And that was the exact tone of voice your mother used every time she caught you chewing on it,” he said with a wide grin.

We have issues, Jala. One of our scouts just returned riding like demons were after him, Jail said quietly in her mind. None of her other companions stomach riding in the front ranks for long with Jexon, but Jail had taken to it daily. He kept a very close eye on her husband and was quick to inform her of anything interesting that he heard or saw.