The Elder Blood Chronicles – Book Three(21)

The sound of the door closing drew Lutheron’s gaze off Vaze and onto Charm. The rogue brushed past him and smiled at Lutheron whose glare softened to mild displeasure. “Sorry it took me so long to bring him back,” Charm offered and dropped down in the seat beside Victory.

“It would seem things have changed a bit more than I had expected. I had planned for you to help the Fionaveir in another way but that apparently can’t happen,” Lutheron began, his voice close to a growl.

“Oh, really? How so?” Charm asked, his tone bright as if everything was perfect in the world.

“It’s true, here they are,” Vaze spoke up, his voice sounding monotone and distant. Lutheron’s eyes snapped that direction and he crossed the room quickly and leaned over the other man’s shoulder to peer into the dark glass.

“What the hell?” Shade whispered to Charm who shrugged and looked to Victory for answer.

“Jala has gone to the Darklands to retrieve Finn’s soul,” Victory said softly, his voice filled with misery. “Lutheron sent me to bring her back to the city. Merrodin isn’t strong enough to stand on its own, but she was already gone.”

“Bloody, buggering hell.” Lutheron growled, his face turning a darker shade of red and one vein standing out on his forehead. “Is that Troyelle’s boy with her?” He snarled.

Vaze nodded slowly, apparently unfazed by Lutheron’s display of temper. “It is, though I don’t know the Darklands well enough to tell exactly where they are. I believe they may be near the Forgotten. It’s impressive that they are still alive thus far.” His voice was slowly regaining its usual pitch.

“It’s true then, and not some line of bullshit as I had hoped.” Lutheron let out a long sigh and paced back to the table. Plucking a bottle from the center he opened it and began to pour a drink as he locked his gaze on the three men across from him. “This knowledge does not leave this room. Is that understood?” He spoke in a flat voice that brooked no argument, but Shade could see Victory squirm in his chair.

“I will have to tell Havoc. She is his family.” Victory began but fell silent as Lutheron’s dark gaze locked on him once more.

“You will not tell that hot-headed fool a thing.” Lutheron growled slamming the decanter back down on the table. Silence fell across the room once more as Lutheron raised the glass to his lips.

Shade stole a glance at Charm and found the rogue looking uneasy. That was certainly not a good sign. Of all of them in the room, only Vaze seemed at ease. Shade flicked his gaze to the warrior and watched him, hoping to get some sort of sign as to how to act.

Vaze had lowered the globe and was watching Lutheron with a thoughtful expression. “I could go after her,” he offered finally. “I know the Darklands better than anyone living that I know of.”

“Absolutely not. She has made this mess. I can’t risk losing you over it as well,” Lutheron grumbled. His temper seemed to be cooling.

“Actually, whoever killed the Sovaesh boy started the mess,” Vaze corrected, his dark eyes locked on Lutheron.

“Ridiculous. People die. That doesn’t mean you go traipsing off into hell to collect them when they do. Chances are if they go to hell when they die they don’t bloody well need to be brought back to life,” Lutheron snarled.

“That is a very good point,” Shade agreed quietly, drawing the eyes of everyone in the room.

“Shade, shut the hell up,” Charm hissed, eyes flicking back to Lutheron with a meaningful look.

“She has very little chance of success alone,” Vaze pointed out quietly.

“Then we have to factor her out of future planning. I regret it, Vaze, I truly do, but she made the choice,” Lutheron said in even tones. His anger had apparently passed as swiftly as it had risen.

“What do you need of me that is more important than Jala Merrodin?” Vaze asked, his voice level, but holding a hint of warning in it. His posture had changed too, Shade noted silently. The warrior no longer lounged. Instead, he stood rigid with every muscle coiled as though he expected a fight.

“I expect you to secure the city. There are Blights running loose within the bounds of Sanctuary. I expect you to kill them. I’d give the task to another, but they would die,” Lutheron replied with faint smirk. He knew he had won the argument with those few words.

Letting out a long sigh, Vaze nodded slowly and relaxed against the wall once more. “As you say, Lutheron. Do we have a location for them?”