The Elder Blood Chronicles – Book Three(34)

“Well over a hundred, all mounted,” Emily replied without hesitation. Normally the fact that he knew she was still around would have annoyed her into sullen silence, but somehow it didn’t bother her at the moment. Perhaps it was simply her preoccupation with the soldiers approaching, or maybe Jail was right and she was getting used to Neph’s personality.

“Did you see any banners?” Neph asked, his strides lengthening as they grew closer to the northern road.

A small crowd was gathering at that end of town. The soldiers were close enough now that the sound of hoof beats and clanking armor echoed through the streets.

“By the size of the dust cloud, I’d say we are looking at close to three hundred, if they were riding two abreast? Were they?” Neph said, a bit distracted as he shook his head at the gathering people. “Idiots, if it’s a hostile force they have lined themselves up for the slaughter.”

“I didn’t see any banners. They weren’t wearing red and gold like the Avanti. They wore silver armor and yes, they were riding in two ranks,” Emily answered quickly before they reached the onlookers. Once they were among the people she would have to fall silent again. After seeing Devony’s fear at her disembodied voice she didn’t care to think how the average citizen might react. Devony was Elder Blood and should have been used to the unusual simply from the amount of magic she had been subjected to in her life. The majority of Merro’s common folk had witnessed very little magic and had a plentitude of horror stories about the Blight infestation that would guarantee her a painful death if they found out about her.

Neph pushed his way through the crowd and came to a stop near the edge of town. “Bloody hell,” he whispered, though she wasn’t sure if he was actually talking to her or not.

“What? Are they hostile?” she asked, practically breathing the words in his ear to keep from being overheard by the closely gathered people. Neph absolutely despised it when she used a mind link with him. It didn’t seem to bother any of Jala’s other companions, but Neph hated it.

“Worse. They are Arovan. Why are they here now?” Neph grumbled in a disgusted voice as he watched the column shuffle to a halt just outside of town.

“Valor’s knights, I would imagine by the look of them,” Sovann said as he pushed his way through the crowd to stand beside Neph.

“So it would seem,” Neph grumbled.

A woman dismounted from one of the lead horses and handed her reins to her companion before turning to approach them.

“Brings a whole new meaning to breastplate doesn’t it,” Sovann said quietly as the woman drew nearer. Emily snickered quietly while Neph simply glared in response.

The woman was quite favored by the gods if the shape of her armor was any indication of her true form. Though covered with dust from the road the armor was obviously of fine make with intricate details tooled into the polished silver. She removed her helm and shook out long chestnut hair as she drew close. Stopping several feet away she bowed her head in greeting looking between Sovann and Neph as if she was trying to determine who to address.

“Welcome to Merro, Lady knight,” Sovann said, and bowed his head in return.

She smiled and seemed relieved that he had chosen to speak first. “Thank you. I am Bridgette of the Order of the Phoenix here to report to Lord Valor.”

“Sorry, he isn’t here.” Neph said curtly, his eyes scanning the knights lining the road behind her. “From what I understood, he was expecting a thousand knights. Are there more on the road behind you?”

Bridgette blinked, looking first to Sovann then to Neph, and shook her head slightly. “No, I’m afraid this is it. Pardon, but did you say he isn’t here? We were informed that Lord Valor left the city of Sanctuary for this land over a week ago. We set sail the very day the word was received.” She spoke politely, but Emily could hear dismay clearly in her voice.

“I’m afraid he is in hell at the moment. Who is in charge of the knights currently and why aren’t there a thousand?” Neph replied, ignoring her distress as well as the expression that crossed her face with his newest words.

“I suppose I would be in charge at the present time. Most of the division requested reassignment when they learned what our orders were to be and who would be in charge. Given the current state of unrest in Arovan most preferred to remain fighting at home. The three hundred and forty-seven left in this particular division are the less desirable, I’m afraid,” Bridgette explained, looking desperately toward Sovann as if she hoped he would show some sign of superiority over Neph and take control of the conversation.