The Elder Blood Chronicles – Book Three(90)

“Neph is like dealing with a rabid bear that has been doused in ice water, beaten with a stick, and called dirty names. He snarls, growls, and if you get too close, he bites,” Shade offered helpfully.

“You know him then, personally?” Symphony asked turning back to face him once more.

“I went to school with him. Of course I know him. He has been the Spell champion at the Spring Games for so long they might as well just hand him the trophy at the beginning of the contest and spare everyone the embarrassment of losing to him. He was first in his class on all his magic studies as well as most of his other classes. He is talented, frighteningly intelligent, cunning, and has the exact personality that I described with the bear analogy. And for some reason he latched onto Jala after the Rivana trip and shows her more courtesy than I’ve seen from him in four years of association at the Academy,” Shade explained quickly as they turned down the last hall before the council room.

“Any idea why he did?” Symphony asked looking over to Vaze with a raised eyebrow.

“Her blood. The Delvay are religious,” Vaze explained quietly.

“I see,” Symphony agreed with a nod and smiled at Shade. “I’ll see you after the meeting, then,” she said with a quick smile as Vaze opened the council door for her.

“You might as well come in now and hide. The room is still empty and it will spare you having to sneak in later,” Vaze said as Shade started to leave.

“What?” Shade asked freezing in place and then slowly turning back to look at Vaze, an expression of innocence painted on his features. “I wouldn’t sneak in…” he began but Symphony held up a hand to silence him.

“Don’t even try. As I said you are a horrible liar and Vaze is scary smart,” Symphony said with a grin.

“So scary,” Vaze agreed with a smirk as Shade frowned at both of them as he ducked into the room.

Symphony laughed softly and dropped into her chair at the head of the council table. “So are the rest of her court as talented as Neph. Should I rest easier and not worry so much for her?” she asked Vaze as he sat down beside her.

“Jail Han’shy has worked with the Fionaveir in the past. He relayed information to our contact in the Justicars. He is terrifying with his Mind magic and is one that I keep a close eye on for that very reason. Valor Hai’dia was the shining star of Arovan until an unfortunate incident when a rival sabotaged him. He is quite possibly the most valiant one she has beside her and has sworn a blood oath to protect her. His loyalty is such that he accompanied her on her quest into the Darklands.” Vaze paused and tapped the table, his eyes looking back and forth, then rose once more. Moving to a cupboard he produced a decanter and two glasses. “Wisp Faydwer is an Earth mage with enough power to single handedly rebuild most of the northern portion of Merro by herself in a little over a week. She is fully trained in court politics and was briefly considered for raising to Heir of Faydwer until she found out and sabotaged herself,” he continued as he poured the glasses and sat one down before her. Taking a small sip of his own, he dropped down into his chair and smiled at her. “Sovann Sovaesh is an Arcanetech genius. If he can dream it, he can build it. He was considered too advanced to bother with the Academy at age fourteen. He also has too much integrity to side with the Avanti, despite the fact that he was raised there.”

Symphony nodded slowly as she digested the information and took a small sip from her drink. Eyes widening, she looked down at the glass and then back to Vaze with a questioning look. “What did I just drink? It tingles,” she demanded.

“Essence wine. One of Sovann Sovaesh’s inventions. Not only does it get you drunk it restores your magic at the same time. Not the best idea in my opinion but a popular drink among the Elder Blood,” Vaze explained with a grin. “She has youth surrounding her Symphony, but she has the cream of the crop. The ones that fled the city with her were the most talented of this generation. With the exception of Shade whose high moral standards unfortunately left him out of that particular group.”

Symphony raised an eyebrow and looked to Shade who simply nodded in answer. “High moral standards?” she asked skeptically.

Shade frowned at her and pursed his lips. “The part that Vaze didn’t tell you, then, to clarify for you. Jail Han’shy will use his Mind magic on anyone for anything that he wants. He has no qualms whatsoever on using it for a dark purpose – say to have someone kill someone else so that Jail himself has no blood on his hands. Valor Hai’dia is a drunken womanizer that I have personally witnessed kill someone for the offense of spilling wine on his tunic. Wisp Faydwer is a manipulator of the top degree. She will bat her eyelashes and blow you a kiss even as she is deciding where to plant the knife in your back. Neph doesn’t even require an offense such as spilled wine to kill you. All you have to do with that one is look at him the wrong way. So there is the other side of the coin,” Shade explained with a dark glance toward Vaze.