Finally you are whole! Marrow’s voice pulled her back from the memories. He sounded ecstatic and she could feel his joy washing over her. I felt it weakening and knew you were close.
I’m sorry it took me so long. Now we can face them with the courage I should have had,” she replied to him her mind still reeling.
“Jala!” Neph said, his voice frantic he shook her lightly.
“I’m fine,” she said, her voice a bit shaky. She pushed back from him and the world snapped back into focus. Valor was just now turning back to face her. It couldn’t have been long, and yet it had seemed like forever to her. “How long was I like that?” she gasped to Neph. Her emotions coiled inside her, the fear and insecurity melting away under the black cloud she knew so well and hadn’t even remembered was missing. It swelled inside her and she felt her teeth clench in response. Vaze had been right, it wasn’t gone, it had been building.
“Not long at all. Jala, are you OK?” Neph said, his expression growing concerned.
“Why are her eyes glowing?” Madren asked quietly. He still stood in the alley and the confidence he had shown earlier was fading quickly before her eyes.
“Oh Lutheron, you have no idea what you have unleashed,” she whispered quietly as she turned back to Valor. “Follow in my wake, do not get in front of me,” she warned and squared her shoulders. The anger and frustration built up over years fueled her mind as she selected her first target on the stairs. The hesitation that had plagued her in every fight since she had come to Sanctuary evaporated as her mind prepared for the fight.
“Jala, no. We must retreat or wait for the Fionaveir to reach the stairs. There are too many,” Neph protested.
The stones in her hands began to glow again as she drew from her reservoir. She could still feel the link with Finn. It was clouded with pain and shock but he still lived. She had time to reach him and heal him. All she had to do was kill everyone that stood in her way. A month ago that thought would have sickened her, now she felt a smile forming on her lips. Pulling her hand back she hurled a Windblade toward the first rank of Justicars. Blood sprayed as the spell tore through the men taking several down in its wake. Typically a Windblade was a single target spell. She had decided against limiting herself however.
The Rivasan guards broke rank and charged her with drawn swords and she felt laughter welling in her throat. So much easier to let the targets pick themselves. Drawing on her power once more she sent a volley of ice shards into their ranks and neatly dodged the few that did make it past her spell. Valor could handle them easily enough.
A wave of heat drew her attention back toward the stairs in time to see the ball of Hellfire rushing toward her from Devron Rivasa. The flames crackled with an eerie greenish blue light and Neph had warned her that Hellfire could not be countered. Lifting both arms in front of her, she called on her magic once more and the air surrounding her turned icy cold, forming a wall against the incoming fire. She heard Valor cry out as the flames washed over her. It might have been her name he yelled, she couldn’t tell through the roar of flames. She let the cold shield fall as the Hellfire passed and smiled coldly up to Devron who was staring at her as if she were a demon in flesh.
“Shouldn’t pick a fight you can’t win,” she hissed, echoing the words Finn used so often. The spell flew from her hands with scarcely a thought. Devron turned to run but stumbled instead as her magic froze the blood in his veins and worked its way through his flesh. She followed the first spell with a force bolt and watched in satisfaction as the Rivasan’s frozen body shattered on the stairs. A chunk of frozen flesh skittered down the stairs to land at her feet and she kicked it neatly back toward a Justicar. The man’s face paled considerably and he broke to run with several of his comrades close behind. “I have to get to Finn, Valor. Can you finish up here?” she called over her shoulder.
“Go, I’ve got this,” Valor replied, already moving forward toward the remaining enemies, bloody sword in hand. Neph and Madren joined him and she left them to the slaughter.
Marrow rejoined her as she made her way into the hall, expecting enemies at every corner. I don’t hear anyone. I think they may all be outside fighting, Marrow told her as he cocked his head toward the empty rooms ahead.
Jala you have to get up here now. Emily’s voice was frantic in her mind. While you were fighting, I went ahead to find him and he is hurt. I got rid of the one that struck him but I can’t do anything to help him. He isn’t healing like he normally does.
Where? Are there others in the hall? Jala responded, already heading for the stairs. Finn had said he was at the top of the Hall, She hoped he still was.
No it’s empty. Follow the stairs until you reach Kellis’s body and then take the hall to the left, Emily replied. Hurry, Jala, it’s bad.
The Blight’s last words had her running up the stairs taking them two at a time. She felt her heart thundering against her ribs by the time she hit the second floor. She wished she knew the layout of the building well enough to simply use magic. Swallowing heavily, she pushed herself to go faster praying to Fortune that she would be in time.
*
She could smell the blood from the room before she entered, and felt her heart sink. The link was still there, but it was weak. Finn was propped against the wall. The floor beneath him was stained red with his blood. His eyes fluttered open as she approached and she felt her throat clench. A dagger was buried hilt deep under his arm and his lips were flecked with blood.
He chuckled weakly, showing blood stained teeth and gave her his typical smirk. “I earned this, Jala. Time and time again, I earned this,” he told her in a voice so weak she could barely make out the words.