Blood, Honor and Dreams (The Elder Blood Chronicles, #2)

“What is it?” she asked, expecting to see Justicars filling the hall beyond him.

“I closed the door when I came into the hall, it is standing open now. I’m afraid we are not alone here and I’m not sure who has stopped by for a visit,” he said quietly. He drew his sword and moved his other hand out in front of him. Jala watched in silence as his hair began to move as if in a gentle breeze. In moments the wind in the hall was whipping at his face and pulling his long silver hair free of its throng. As graceful as a dancer Valor stepped into the hall, his sword sweeping left and then right, faster than she had ever seen him move against Finn. Blood sprayed from the shining silver blade and she stared in awe as the bodies of two Blights fell to the thick carpet of the hall. Each had been felled by a single blow to the neck and the heads were nearly severed. The creatures were naked with smears of dried blood on their talons, one had been male, the other female. They were rangy in build with an emaciated look to them.

“How did you know where they were?” she asked as she approached the door. The Blight Finn and Valor had killed at Sovann’s had nearly been butchered. Both of these were clean precise kills. Her eyes lingered on the delicate features of the creatures, if not for the tangled hair and filth they could have passed as half-bloods easily.

He took her quickly by the hand and pulled her down the hall after him. She allowed herself to be pulled along, only glancing back once to make sure Marrow followed. The Bendazzi nodded for her to hurry and kept his yellow gaze on their surroundings. She knew how much Marrow hated not being able to sense the creatures and guessed he was furious right now.

“I’m sorry, Jala, but I don’t know if there are more than two and that trick won’t work outside.” Sword still held at the ready, he ushered her quickly toward his horse. It was a tall elegant mare rather than Vanguard, she noticed, as she climbed onto the saddle. Valor mounted quickly behind her and turned the sleek chestnut toward the paths. With a light kick to her sides he urged the mare into a run. Marrow paced alongside them easily, his attention shifting from side to side as they left the garden paths.

“How did you find them with the wind?” she asked again, unsure if he could hear her words at the speed they were moving.

“I am the Stormlord’s son,” he replied, his words barely more than a whisper in her ear.





Chapter 23





Avanti





Truce paced the room, pausing at times to watch the children at play near the windows. His son turned eight this year and his young sister-in-law was barely ten. Glass blocks lay scattered between them on the carpet with the beginnings of what looked to be the walls of Avenesh near his son’s leg. Lucias was reaching for more blocks, his dark red hair falling down over his face.

“No you get the red ones,” Dahlla corrected, setting the red blocks out in front of Truce’s son with the superior air of an elder. Her light brown hair was pulled up neatly and she sat cross-legged in a fashion that spread her wide green skirts around her. It wouldn’t be long before Dahlla no longer had time for such games, Truce mused, as he watched the girl hastily smooth her skirts once more.

“But I want the blue one,” Lucias protested pointing meaningfully at a shining blue block. Truce paused and regarded his son for a long moment, noting how the boy’s jaw was set. It seemed it was never a good idea to tell an Avanti, “no,”’ regardless of how old they were. His eyes lingered on the glass blocks the children had scattered. He had spent countless hours playing with those toys as a child. They were mage created of course, and each block had a different purpose. The red ones were best for building walls and castles while the blue ones were more pliable and better for shaping. His son’s green eyes had narrowed as he regarded the blue blocks and Truce cleared his throat.

“Mind your manners, Lucias,” he warned, and continued his pacing. His words drew the attention of Nallia, who rose from the small table to approach the children. Truce smiled at his wife and shook his head slightly. “The blue ones are the most fun. Who can blame him,” he said quietly, earning a beautiful smile in response.

“And he can share with his Aunt today. It’s not often we get such visits,” Nallia replied and winked at her younger sister who was watching them now.

Nodding silently, Truce looked back to the table where Nallia had been sitting and gazed at the delicate form of his mother-in-law. She was staring out the window, her face drawn with worry. It was true, visits such as this were very rare. He was curious about why his father had summoned them all to this room, but was wise enough to know he would get no answers until Lord Avanti himself arrived.

“Would you like some more wine, Lady Davahni?” he asked quietly and paused once more in his steps as he awaited the woman’s reply.

She shook her head slowly in response and then forced a faint smile onto her face. Normally, the woman had a healthy glow about her bronze skin. Today she seemed pale. “No, but I thank you for the offer, Truce,” she said, her voice soft. Her gaze once again went to the window and he assumed she was seeking Sovaesh. Truce could understand her worry, he was rather curious himself as to where his Father-in-law was.

“She is so worried, Truce, can’t you reassure her?” Nallia whispered quietly as she came up beside him. She looped an arm through his and stared up at him with pleading clear in her dark green eyes.

“I wish I could, love, but I’m as clueless as the rest of you as to why we are here,” he replied softly. “I would hate to offer her false condolences. From what I’ve seen this morning, Father is in a temper and I do not know why.”

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