“Then you’ve heard more than I have about him,” Caspian said calmly and looked up to Symphony. “If you care to gamble I’ll send someone to speak with him.”
“Given that Fortune himself is on his side I’d say I’m willing to gamble,” Symphony replied with a smile. “Who do you intend to send to negotiate?” she asked, though in her gut she already knew the answer. This would take finesse and charm and she could think of only one man who had ample supplies of that.
“Remedy. I hate risking a council member, but with his mental skills as well as his charm he has the best chance of success,” Caspian replied.
“I’ll let him know then,” Symphony said quietly. “I had plans to go riding with him this afternoon. Better that he heads to Rivana as soon as possible, I think, though, if we are going to have any chance at all of stopping this.
Caspian nodded and watched her rise from her chair. “If we get any new reports I’ll have you summoned. I expect Lutheron will send me word by evening about the spell hawk.”
“Thank you Caspian,” she said with a smile and turned to Faramir. “Sword practice later then, since my ride is apparently getting cancelled?” she asked hoping Faramir would say yes. With Vaze out of the compound Faramir was the only one with close enough skill to spar with aside from Caspian himself. And Caspian was always far too busy.
“I should be able to, unless something comes up,” Faramir said, a bit distracted.
“Is everything OK, Faramir?” Symphony asked with concern, pausing on her way to the door.
“Yes, of course. Well, as right as it can be, given the situation. I was just concentrating on this mess and trying to figure out how to set things right,” Faramir assured her, and waved her toward the door. “Better get Remedy on his way. We are short of time on stopping this war and with how dangerous travel is right now, he will need all the extra time you can give him to arrive safely.”
“It’s Remedy. I have no doubt he will arrive there safely. I’m sure he will be able to talk them out of war as well. I’ve never seen Remedy fail at persuasion,” Symphony replied with a smile and gave them a final nod before leaving the room.
Chapter 14
Sanctuary
Night had fully fallen by the time she walked from the council room. Pausing on the steps, Jala glanced back at the Hall of Justice and sighed. Her mind was churning with a hundred thoughts as she made her way down the stairs and up to the fountain of Caspian.
“I was beginning to think they had changed their minds and decided to keep you.” Finn’s voice broke through her thoughts and she spun around, her eyes finding him instantly as he approached.
“I don’t know if I want to slap you or kiss you,” she said quietly, her attention fixed on his chest where a sword had been lodged the last time she had glimpsed him.
“Slap, then kiss,” he suggested. “If you kiss and then slap, passersby will get the wrong impression about me,” he added with a charming smile.
“How did you live?” she whispered, moving forward to wrap her arms around him. “Was it the dragon blood?” she asked looking up at him.
“Dragon blood?” he repeated in confusion and met her eyes.
“You turned into a dragon in Rivana, remember?” she prompted, unsure why he seemed so confused.
“Shit, Shade didn’t tell you anything did he?” he asked, and shook his head in disgust. “Come on, I’ll explain, but not here. Let’s get you home before Marrow paces a hole in the carpet.” Wrapping his arm around her waist he began to guide their steps back toward the Academy. “I suppose we can speak of other things while we walk, though. I’m sure you are curious about Isador.”
“She is awake then, and talking?” Jala asked hopefully. It was by far the best news she had in the past twenty four hours, aside from the knowledge that Finn had won his duel.
Finn nodded slightly. “It turns out she was waiting there to talk to Sovann. We aren’t really sure if the creature followed her or it was waiting for Sovann ,as well,” Finn explained.
“What did she want to see Sovann about?” Jala asked curiously.
“To leave a message for you, actually, but it isn’t a good one,” he warned and let out a long sigh. “The temple you grew up at in Bliss is gone. We aren’t entirely sure who did it but everyone there is gone …” His voice trailed off and he glanced at her again.
“Gone, as in dead?” she asked, though she wasn’t sure why she bothered. In her heart she already knew the answer.
“Yes, they are dead. Isador came to warn you because she believed they had been killed in an attempt to gain your true identity. Not that it matters now.” His hand squeezed a bit tighter around her waist and he kissed her on the top of the head. “I’m sorry, Vezradesh. I do have brighter news for you, though. The boy you kept me from killing is safe and staying with Sovann now. He has agreed to help as much as he is able and is rather impatient to see you.”
“Joseph. His name is Joseph Walker. He couldn’t have been much older than I when Merro fell. Did he happen to explain how he survived?” Mentally she could see him as he once was - a tousle-headed boy with hair the color of straw and bright brown eyes. He had been one of the only Walker children she had enjoyed playing with. He had never teased her or called her names.
“He apparently went with an older brother and sister to Brannaford. By the sounds of it his family had more children than the Merro district has gutter rats,” Finn replied and pushed open the gates to the Academy for her.
Smiling she stepped through and nodded her agreement. “I’m not sure if there were quite that many but it was close. Ten boys, I think it was, and seven girls. Mrs. Walker always acted like Mother was an invalid because she only had two children. As if it were a crime to keep a small family.”