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

“Oh, bugger. What about Oblivion, then, will they show up?” she asked, realizing if she needed seven out of twelve votes she would need everyone she had met in Firym to attend.

Jail shook his head slowly. “The Darks never leave their land. We can’t count on them for a vote,” he replied with a frown. “Still if Nerathane and Seravae don’t show that brings the total votes down to ten, and if Neph sits in for Kadan we have six out of ten votes,” he said hopefully.

“That’s if Micah is still in the city. If Arovan doesn’t vote, we only have five,” Neph countered and moved to the door, cracking it open to look down the stairs. The sounds of angry voices rose from below and Neph nodded slightly closing the door once again.

“What about Valor. Can he sit in?” Jail asked, eyeing Neph.

“No, he isn’t a direct line of the ruling house. His father is a proxy council member. General Hai’dia could sit in but not his son. Honestly, I don’t think the General will show for this. With the Blights infesting their lands he will stay in Arovan. We need Micah.”

“What about a Truthfinder?” Jail asked slowly and raised an eyebrow at Neph.

“Do you know one that you trust with Jala’s life?” Neph asked.

“No,” Jail said with a resigned sigh. “An Oathkeeper?” he asked sounding hopeful once more.

“Won’t work. Oathkeepers hold power with temples and most high lords do not recognize their authority,” Neph said and leaned back against a wall, eyes distant.

“What if Nerathane and Seravae do show up?” Jala asked quietly drawing the eyes of both men.

“Then we break you out of jail and get you out of the city. It is extremely doubtful that we will have either of their votes and if the council votes that you are not a Merrodin they will execute you,” Neph answered with a frown.

“Wonderful,” Jala grumbled and began to pace once more.

“Avanti will be against us, there is no question of that,” Jail said with a sigh. “Morcaillo and Rivana along with them. But that is only three that I know for certain Neph, this could go our way.”

“I don’t like this situation at all,” Neph spoke quietly and stared up at the ceiling in frustration.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs behind them and the door opened a moment later as Arjuna stepped into the room followed by two guards and a figure in black steel plate. Glancing briefly at Jail and then Neph, Arjuna crossed to Jala’s cell.

Jala watched him approach but her gaze was drawn back to Zachary Dark who was pale with rage, his expression stony. “High Lord Arjuna, Lord Zachary, how good to see you both,” she said with a faintly rueful smile.

“We will have you out of here shortly, child. This is ridiculous. I can’t believe they have you locked away like a common criminal,” Arjuna assured her, his expression looking disgusted.

“I had thought it was agreed that your identity would be concealed until you attained proper strength. Have you achieved proper strength in the two short weeks it has been since I saw you last?” Zachary asked as he approached.

“I didn’t have much choice in the matter, Lord Dark,” Jala responded and managed to keep most of the bite from her words. “They were rather intent on killing my Familiar and possibly my Faydwer companion as well,” she added and turned her attention back to Arjuna. “Finn is dueling Kithkanon in less than an hour. I’m worried sick for him,” she said her voice quieter.

Nodding grimly, Arjuna let out a long sigh. “I heard as much. I wanted to check on your welfare, though. Dueling is nothing new to Finn. I’m sure imprisonment is new to you. I see that Nephondelvayon has things in order here, however.” He nodded respectfully to Neph as he spoke and turned his attention back to her. “I will see that the council meets tomorrow morning. By afternoon you will either be free or the Hall of Justice will be rubble.”

“Just curious, Neph. When you were in trouble as a child, did you mother use your full name to yell at you?” Jail asked quietly.

Rolling his eyes at Jail, Neph moved closer to the two high lords. “The sooner we get the vote called the better. If we can have the council tomorrow as you say we should have the votes to clear her name. If it takes too long others might find interest in this,”

“The exact conclusion I had reached. You have been studying politics,” Arjuna replied with a smile and nod.

“Someone in my family should. It’s obvious my father hasn’t,” Neph grumbled. Turning his attention to Jala, he nodded toward the two lords. “The fact that Lord Dark is here changes things, Jala. We will have the vote and you will be out of here tomorrow. I’ll do what I can to make sure Kadan doesn’t return. With luck, my father doesn’t even know what is going on yet and the council will be over by the time he does.”

She nodded her understanding. She watched the lords as they continued to discuss the council for a moment, and then moved back away from the bars. With a deep breath she opened a small scry on the Arena and watched as Finn lit a cigarette his gaze focused on the sandy ground. His expression looked calm and confident but she could see worry in his deep green eyes. Glancing up from the sand he gazed around the area his eyes searching. His eyes flicked back behind him as Valor approached. Slowly Finn stood stretching his muscles. “Any sign of her?” he asked.

“You aren’t going to like this,” Valor said slowly and leaned against the wall beside Finn.

“Don’t tell him now. Valor shut up. Don’t tell him,” Jala whispered urgently to the scry though she knew they couldn’t hear her.

“What?” Finn asked, his expression growing concerned. He stood slowly, eyes locked on Valor.

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