The Elder Blood Chronicles – Book Three(83)

“Truly, and I promise you she is safe. I don’t know how much longer I can promise that though. My country is weak and I have many enemies. Until you are settled, though, I will do everything in my power to keep her protected,” Jala said quietly.

“You give me my life and then my daughter and ask nothing in return?” Sebastian asked cautiously his eyes searching her for any sign of deceit.

“As I told Micah, I ask for nothing more than a kind smile the next time we meet. I came here to help not to buy favor,” Jala explained as she carefully untwined her hand from his. “Really though, I must be going now. I did not explain to my friends that I was leaving and I know they will be frantic for my return.”

Micah rose from his place beside the bed and gave a quick nod to Sebastian. “I’ll see Lady Merrodin back to her escort and then I will return,” he promised as he moved to open the door for her.

Jala nodded gratefully and stepped out onto the stairs on shaky legs. Placing a hand firmly on the railing she made her way slowly down the stairs wishing with every step that healing didn’t drain her so thoroughly.

“I don’t care what you say about not wanting favor. If ever you are in need of anything you need only ask and if it’s in my power I will grant it,” Micah said as they reached the bottom stair. “I don’t even know how you knew he was ill, but there is no doubt in my mind that he wasn’t long for the world and now…” His voice trailed off as he looked back up the stairs in wonder. “I’ve never seen such healing, Jala. Not even from Rose in Sanctuary. He looks as he did in spring. Full of life without a single hint that he has been ill.”

“Death wove magic upon him. I saw the strands leading to him when I fought her. I came so suddenly and without warning because I wanted to save him before she recovered from the wounds I gave her,” Jala explained.

“You what?” Micah gasped his eyes widening at her words. “You truly went to the Darklands then? I thought they meant you were dead by that tale, but they didn’t, did they? You literally went to the Darklands?”

Jala nodded and let out a breath slowly. “In hopes of returning with Finn,” she said sadly.

“I hadn’t heard of your loss, Jala. I’m so sorry. As I said, we had heard that you and Valor were in the Darklands. We assumed you had both died in the battle for Sanctuary, but we hadn’t heard of Finn’s fall,” Micah explained. “I didn’t know Finn well, but you clearly loved him dearly if you went to such lengths to save him.”

Blinking back tears, Jala nodded and looked away. Swallowing heavily, she nodded once more and wiped at her eyes with her good hand. “I did and I do. He is gone but my love for him is not,” she replied in a hushed voice and crossed to the door that led to the main room of the house. “Good luck to you, Micah. I look forward to our next meeting and hope we may call each other friends,” she said with a slight bow of her head.

“Trust that we can, Jala. For what you have given me tonight, I will always consider you friend and ally,” Micah replied and bowed his head in return.

The room beyond was empty aside from Blue who sat cross-legged by the fireplace. She looked up quickly as Jala entered the room a questioning look on her face.

“He is as well as I can make him and is awake and talking if you would like to see him,” Jala said, her gaze sweeping the room for any sign of Valor.

Blue rose to her feet quickly, hope dancing in her dark eyes and then seemed to notice Jala’s loss. Pausing she motioned back to the door. “He is outside with Honor near the eastern gate. Follow the road out front straight that way,” the bard offered, pointing toward the far wall of the house as she spoke. “I hope you understand why I don’t offer to guide you.”

“I do and I don’t blame you. Thank you for the directions. I’m sure I can find him,” Jala said with a nod. She watched the woman hurry past her then wrapped her coat tightly around herself and stepped out into the frigid winter night. Her breath fogged before her as she made her way quickly down the stairs and down the street in the direction Blue had indicated. The town was silent and still aside from a few sentries on the wall.

She found the two brothers standing just beyond the gate with their backs to her as she approached. Both men stood of the same height and held the same powerful frame. If not for the difference of Honor’s shorter hair and earrings she would have been hard pressed to tell them apart from this view. She cleared her throat as she grew closer and they both turned to regard her in surprise.