The Elder Blood Chronicles – Book Three(187)

Jail nodded in agreement. “And he has shown no interest in another woman since the day you arrived back from the Darklands,” he added softly.

“Why in the bloody hell are you just now telling me what the earring and shorter hair mean, Jail?” Jala demanded, her voice rising. “Why in the bloody hell did you wait so long to mention those two very important things to me?”

“When should I have told you, Jala? While you were grieving for Finn or during your wedding to Jexon? There wasn’t much time in between the two events,” Jail shot back, his tone filled with irritation. “It wasn’t my place to tell you, Jala. It was Valor’s, but he was waiting for you to heal from Finn, and then he was waiting for Jexon to die, and frankly I’m sick of watching the poor bastard wait.”

Jala leaned back in her chair and rubbed her face. Legacy let out a soft cry from the bed and she stood from her chair, slowly shaking her head at Jail. “Not now, Jail. I can’t focus on this now. I have too much before me already,” Jala said, sweeping her hands toward the reports for emphasis before crossing the room to her son.

“Love is not something that exists in measurements, Jala. You aren’t born with a set amount to divide among those you care for,” Jail said as he rose from his chair. “It comes in different forms, too. What you had with Finn was passionate, but fragile. I watched you sit by the window waiting for Finn to come back so many times. You had love between you, but not trust,” Jail said quietly. “Admitting you love Valor is not betraying what you felt for Finn, and Valor will never leave you sitting by a window waiting. What you have with Valor is deeper and you know that, Jala. You just won’t admit it,” Jail finished and turned to leave. He paused at the tent flap and glanced back at her. “If you only focus on the dark side of life, eventually you will be nothing but dark yourself.”

Jala listened as the tent flap swung shut behind him and continued to rock Legacy against her shoulder. Her son was so big now it was getting difficult to cradle him in her arms. With a heavy sigh, she kissed him on the top of his head and tried to keep her thoughts from straying to Valor. Turning, she paced back toward her desk, rocking Legacy lightly as she walked. The sound of the tent flap opening once more brought her gaze upward and she froze as her eyes fell on Valor.

Valor smiled at her and nodded once. Jala returned the nod and raised an eyebrow at his armor. When she had seen him in his tent he had been wearing a simple tunic and breeches. Jala motioned him toward a chair and watched as he moved silently to accept.

“I couldn’t sleep,” Valor said quietly, his gaze on her son as she continued to pace.

Jala smiled faintly and nodded her head once toward the small cabinet behind him that held the few liquor bottles she owned. She watched him rise from the chair and select a bottle and glass. Her eyes locked on the bottle for a long moment before she slowly crossed the room and carefully placed Legacy on the floor beside Marrow. Standing straight once more she placed herself between her son and the man at the table and cleared her throat. He turned to look at her and frowned at the expression on her face. “Valor hates Firewater,” she informed the imposter in a cool voice.

The man smiled faintly and his form shifted, the armor fading into clothing as his body grew leaner. In moments a tawny haired man in a black trench coat sat where Valor had a breath before. He watched her with dark green eyes just visible over the black half mask he wore. “I wanted to see how you treated the Arovan. There were rumors of course. I just wanted the truth of it,” Sovaesh said calmly with an apologetic shrug.

“With respect and kindness,” Jala informed him, her eyes still narrowed. She had only seen the man once before, but she knew his reputation well. Finn had spoken of his father often, and of course there were the rumors in Sanctuary about the Avanti’s pet Assassin as well.

“So I see,” Sovaesh agreed with a slight nod. “May I see him? You don’t have to allow me to hold him, but would you bring him closer,” he asked hesitantly as he motioned toward Legacy.

“If you will tell me why you are here,” Jala said calmly as she reached down to pick her son up once more.

“As far as my master knows, I am here to kill you. That is, after all, what he sent me from the city to do. I’m pleased to inform you, however, that you are going to manage to thwart my attempt. That shouldn’t be difficult to believe, though. By our reports you never seem to stay dead,” Sovaesh said as he pulled his mask down and lifted the glass of Firewater to his lips. “In truth, the only reason I left the city was to see my grandson and speak with you.”