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

“So we have a laundry we will never do anything with,” she concluded with a faint smile.

“Actually, Val and I were kicking around the idea of using it as an indoor practice area for the less destructive skills. It would be helpful when the weather turns bad,” Finn explained.

“That’s a wonderful idea,” she agreed, her smile growing. “I was wondering if we would move the practice to Sovann’s house. I can promise you I wasn’t enjoying the prospect of long snowy walks there.”

Finn shook his head at her adamantly. “Lady Merrodin will not be walking in snowy sludge anywhere. She has a horse and if the weather is too bad for that we will call a coach,” he informed her gently.

“A coach?” she stammered pausing to stare up at him. “Finn I’ve never rode in a coach in my life,” she said suppressing a laugh.

“I don’t think you have ever lived as a High Lady before, either. Things will change, Jala. There can be no help for it.” He motioned her ahead to the last door on the left as he spoke and she nodded once before walking past him.

The door opened before she could even reach for the knob and Wisp poked her head out. “Marrow was right, you are here, finally. We were beginning to worry,” she said as she pushed the door the rest of the way open. “Well, some of us were, anyway,” Wisp added quietly as Jala walked into the room.

The walls had been freshly painted a crisp white and the furniture was obviously new as well. Valor leaned against the wall closest to the door, a wine glass in his hand. His usual black and silver clothing had been replaced with a rich deep purple and white with silver trim. Raising his wineglass to her he nodded and smiled. “Welcome home, Lady Merrodin.”

“Thank you Valor,” she said quietly, her eyes roving across her friends. Jail and Neph sat at a table near the opposite wall and both were dressed similar to Valor in purple, white, and silver. Glancing over at Wisp, she realized the Fae was dressed in that fashion as well.

“Even Sovann is wearing your colors now. Did you like the sigil on the door?” Wisp said with a smile.

“It was beautiful,” Jala replied, her tone filled with amazement.

“Purple?” Neph demanded, his expression stormy. “I suppose I should be grateful I wasn’t forced to wear pink but bloody purple, Jala! Why would you do this to me?” he demanded.

Wisp snickered and shook her head at Jala. “Ignore him. He will get used to it.” Prodding Valor lightly Wisp motioned for him to push off the wall. “Show her your cloak, Val.” Jala raised an eyebrow at Valor and glanced back at Wisp. “You will love it. If he will ever tell me who his tailor is I’ll have one made as well,” Wisp assured her.

With a faint smile the knight pushed off the wall and turned for Jala to see the Bendazzi embroidered on the back, set perfectly center of the dark purple wool. Silver words surrounded the sigil and Jala frowned trying to read them.

“I don’t know that language,” she admitted, after a long minute and sighed. “It’s beautiful though,” she added tracing a finger down the silver silk border on the cloak. There were words embroidered there, too, but she was unable to read what they said, either.

Valor turned to regard her with a raised eyebrow and chuckled lightly. “Truly you don’t know the language?” he asked, sounding a bit bewildered.

Jala frowned and shook her head slightly. “No, should I?” she asked.

“It’s Merro, or at least the formal Merro. Court speak, if you will,” Valor replied with a shrug. “All houses have a motto, though most outside of the actual house typically don’t know it. House Hai’dia for example is

By the wind at my call and the clouds that darken thy sky,

you will know me and give way to the Storm that is my will.”

Overly dramatic if you ask me, but then Father never asked me,” he explained with a smile.

“So what does that say?” Jala asked, her curiosity peaked.

“Neph is the one that wrote it,” Wisp offered, grinning at Neph who shifted in his chair with a frown. “I think it’s very poetic. Valor, if you would.”

Valor grinned and cleared his throat.

“Through darkness I have walked,

through pain I have lived,

through courage I will thrive.”

With a slight bow to Wisp, Valor grinned at Neph. “Who would have ever guessed our sour Delvayon could be so eloquent.”

“I know where you sleep at night, Valor, and most nights you aren’t sober enough to evade me,” Neph warned.

Swallowing, Valor nodded slightly and looked back to Jala. “Should you ever happen to find a frog in my room, or a toad, perhaps, please check to ensure it isn’t actually me before casting it out of the hall,” he implored quietly.

“Neph wouldn’t turn you into a toad. Ashes perhaps, but not a toad,” Jala replied with a grin. Turning to regard Neph, she looked him over from his dark purple tunic to the matching pants with silver trim. “It really doesn’t look bad on you, Neph. I’m sorry you have such an aversion to purple. Truly I don’t think you can blame this on me though. While I favor the colors, I was in jail when this was decided,” she pointed out, her grin widening.

“Notice your adoring husband is not adorned in your colors?” Neph asked.

“Between being impaled on a sword and being worried sick about my imprisoned wife, I’m afraid I just didn’t find the time to drop by the tailors,” Finn replied dryly.

“Well, what do you think of everything? Your own hall, house colors, the orphanage is done. We are well on the way to putting House Merrodin back on track,” Wisp said, tugging Jala over to the couch.

Grinning, Jala dropped back onto the couch and shook her head slightly. “I’m amazed, shocked, and eternally grateful. Thank you all so much,” she answered and gave the Fae a light hug. “This time yesterday, I was worried about being executed and then when I’m released I see everything you have done in my absence. It’s as if you never doubted I would be released.”

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