The Elder Blood Chronicles – Book Three(53)

“Of course there would be,” Valor muttered behind her as he turned his horse toward the center of town.

“Would be wha…” Jala began but her words died as she realized what he had been speaking of. Ahead of them, rising above the rest of the city, loomed what was no doubt their destination. The palace stood looming above the rest of the city, its high roof crowned with crystal-peaked spires. The spires were the source of the glow she had seen from beyond the walls. Forms circled the palace in the air, though she couldn’t tell what they were, between their speed and the blinding glow.

“Of course there would be dragons,” Valor repeated, his voice filled with disgust. “If they land for a fight, continue on. I’ll deal with them alone while you get Finn.”

“Out of the question,” Jala snapped, the words out of her mouth before she had considered what she was saying or what tone she was saying it in.

“If we both stop to fight, we waste time, Jala. Vaze said to move quickly before the Forgotten are defeated,” Valor reminded her gently.

“Bugger the Forgotten and the dragons and the demons and Death her bloody self, I’m not leaving a friend behind,” Jala growled daring him to object again. “You promised me, Valor Hai’dia. We come in together, we leave together with Finn,” She reminded him firmly.

“Damn, nearly my full name. I feel like my mother is here suddenly. Well, we are running out of time to argue. What do you propose if they land?” Valor asked with a heavy sigh.

“I propose we make quick work of them together, and continue on together, and rescue Finn together, and leave together!” Jala replied angrily.

“Sounds perfect. Let’s hope it goes that way,” Valor agreed.

“It will,” Jala snapped, her eyes following the path of the creatures above the palace. They didn’t seem to show any inclination to land, which seemed a very good sign to her. Unless, of course, they landed after Jala and Valor entered the building, thus trapping them inside with Death.

“I will have to dismiss Valorous when we reach the doors. I can’t leave him alone out here,” Valor informed her as they neared the front steps.

The spirits were thicker in this area and Jala shuddered at the thought of passing through them on foot. Valor was right, though, they couldn’t leave the Arovanni alone. “How about you dismiss him on the stairs,” Jala suggested as the spirits began to move toward them.

“Deal,” Valor agreed without hesitation as he reined his horse directly toward the palace with no indication that he planned to slow from the dead run before they reached the stairs.

Icy hands grasped at her legs and arms as Valorous plowed through the spirits. With a massive push the Arovanni launched himself toward the stairs clearing more than half in the single leap. His hooves skittered on the stones as he scrambled for purchase on the too narrow stairs and she felt him sliding back as he lost his balance. Valor dropped quickly down from the saddle and pulled her down beside him as the Arovanni’s hind legs lost their purchase. The massive horse let out a squall that echoed through the city as he crashed down to the stone stairs.

“Valorous be gone!” Valor bellowed as he pushed Jala toward the double doors at the top of the stairs.

Jala barely glimpsed the Arovanni fading before her attention was focused on the doors themselves. She knew there would be protection wards lacing them and she didn’t have time to unweave them gently. Drawing her power in, she held a hand up for Valor to wait as she prepared a blast of raw magic. Lifting her hands before her she ignited the magic in the focus gems Sovann had given her and held her breath. Focusing her gaze, she pulled her hand back to release the magic as the doors opened silently, revealing a soft glow of firelight beyond them. Jala let the power slide from her grasp and stared in disbelief at the obvious invitation before them.

“Well done! That was much neater than what you did to the gates in Sanctuary,” Valor said quietly with an impressed look on his face.

Jala blinked and then looked over at him in annoyance. “That’s because I didn’t open the doors. She did,” she explained dryly.

“Ahh. Well, then, that’s unsettling isn’t it?” Valor said hesitantly. He placed one hand on his sword hilt as he moved forward cautiously to take the lead.

“Valor, no, wait. Let me go first in case there are spell traps,” Jala said quickly as she moved in front of him.

“I don’t like the idea of your being in the lead,” Valor protested.