The Elder Blood Chronicles – Book Three(2)

“Let’s discuss the first and then move on to the second,” War suggested, and motioned to the side toward a statue. “High Lady Veyetta. She was a remarkable woman. Beautiful, graceful, deadly, and completely and utterly insane.”

Jala gazed at the statue. Whoever had crafted the piece had been a true master. Lady Veyetta stood poised on a pillar overlooking her city, her posture looking both regal and elegant. The stone had been cut so cunningly that it seemed a strong wind would stir her long hair. “It’s beautiful,” she agreed, glancing back at him. He was watching her closely and the light shining off his dark eyes revealed their true color of deep purple.

“She is a lesson for you. That’s the reason I chose this place for our meeting. She wasn’t born mad. It wasn’t a genetic fault in her line, Jala. Lady Veyetta’s madness came from too much pain and too much power. She held every loss and every grievance close to her heart and over the years they took their toll. At the end, she was seeing enemies everywhere and punishing before crimes were committed. It was one of her own line that finished her finally. Ironically, I believe you travel with his son now.”

“What was it that broke her finally?” Jala asked, her gaze locked on the statue. Jala could understand the woman’s pain all too well. The night in Sanctuary after Finn’s death had been her own brush with madness. She couldn’t even guess how many Justicars she had killed as she vented her rage.

“I’m not sure if it was the strikes against her, or her own failures to stop them. The Veyetta were lords of darkness you see. They had a saying ‘The Shadows know all.’ That was actually House Veyetta’s motto. The shadows whispered to them and brought them news of their enemies. Despite that, Veyetta still suffered loss. Her son first, then later her husband. Despite her attempts, Death would not release their souls back to her, and unlike you, she was forced to accept their loss and her own failure. She never thought to challenge a Divine. She was arrogant, but not quite as arrogant as you.” He seemed amused as he spoke, despite the harshness of his words.

“You think I’m arrogant?” Jala asked, turning from the statue to meet his gaze.

“Undoubtedly, and more so than I’ve seen in anyone else in a very long time. You are truly a child of my line,” he replied with a grin.

“I call it determined,” Jala countered.

“Call it what you will. My question is a simple one. Can you win against Death? You’ve barely had time to train in your magics and while your skill is impressive, it is rough. She will not release his soul without a fight, Jala. You had guessed that, though, I’m sure.” There was no trace of scolding in his voice, simply a question.

“If I want Finn back, I suppose I had better win,” Jala replied softly.

“Not good enough. You risk three lives in this endeavor as well as an Arovanni, and while I’m not opposed to risks I am opposed to throwing lives away needlessly. Death is corrupt. You saw how the Rivasan boy returned, but others don’t. Death has either gone mad or has been seduced by your enemies. If you die, or Valor, or your unborn child, there is no retrieving the soul. You will be trapped here in the Darklands as countless other souls are. Death is not sending them back to the life stream or to their gods, as she should. There is no rebirth in death, only eternal darkness. Now I ask again, can you win?” He raised an eyebrow and waited for her answer.

“No, not alone, but with Valor I can,” Jala replied after a long moment’s consideration. The thought of being forever trapped in the Darklands was terrifying to her. She had, of course, known it would be dangerous to come after Finn, but the thought of actually failing hadn’t yet crossed her mind.

War nodded slowly and began to walk once more. “I suppose that will have to do. At least you have enough wisdom to know you shouldn’t attack a Divine in a fortified city alone.”

“Actually it was Valor that insisted on coming. Credit him with the wisdom. I was going to come alone,” Jala admitted.

“Jala, there are few enough people in this world that will give you a compliment. Accept them when you receive them, even if you don’t truly deserve them.” War chuckled at her with a faint smile. “Now, as to the second matter. Do you have any idea how much they have manipulated you, or are you only seeing the fringe of it all?”

“I’m not even entirely sure who you mean by ‘they.’ Are you speaking of the Fionaveir or the Aspects?” Jala asked. “If it’s the Aspects, I know they used magic on Finn,” she added with a bit of disgust.