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

“She doesn’t, and no, I wouldn’t. Not that she would ask me to, though. While she may not have honor, she certainly has pride and she would rather fight the duel herself than ask me to fight for her,” Finn replied.

Nodding, Jala walked on silent for a few moments, trying to rationally accept that this was what Finn did for a living, while the irrational side of her screamed in frustration that he was risking his life over Avanti and Rivasan squabbles. “Is it the black coin then? I suppose it is since you said you get to kill him again.”

Finn regarded her for a moment with a neutral expression and nodded slowly. His pace slowed a bit and she slowed her steps to match his. “Jala, people don’t hire me for first blood. They hire me so someone dies. I am not known for mercy in the arena,” he explained slowly, watching her as if he expected her to recoil.

“I won’t mourn Devron. Perhaps you should use the swords you used against Kithkanon this time, though,” she replied, drawing a startled expression from him.

“I uhh …,” he began and then chuckled slightly, shaking his head. “I charge more for using those blades and she isn’t paying that much. I have to admit you just shocked the hell out of me,” he finished, his tone matching his words perfectly.

“I can tell,” she said with a smile. Wrapping her arm tighter around his she glanced up at him and smiled. “Do you remember when Arjuna was explaining the marriage tradition to me?” she asked.

Frowning in confusion, Finn nodded and raised an eyebrow at her. “Yes, but it’s an odd time to bring it up.”

“When he told me of the Immortal divorce, he said that Immortals didn’t leave enemies alive. Killing him once created hard feelings. Killing him twice will make a mortal enemy, I think. I’m simply following your Uncle’s advice, don’t leave an enemy alive,” she explained, her voice oddly cool, considering the topic.

“Using a soul stealing sword when it hasn’t been paid for would make his entire family my enemy,” he countered. “If he dies in a duel his father will call him a fool for fighting me again when he is revived. If he can’t be revived, his father will do everything in his power to see me dead.”

“I hadn’t considered that aspect,” Jala admitted with a sigh.

Finn shrugged and smiled at her. “That’s the Rivasan way of it. If I killed a Delvay in that fashion it wouldn’t make enemies of the Delvay house. The Delvay outlook is survival of the fittest. If Neph dies in a duel, his family will write him off as being weak and won’t avenge him. Each house has their own beliefs about it. Some will revive others won’t.”

“That’s horrible. You mean they wouldn’t revive him?” Jala gasped with a tinge of anger in her voice.

“No, they wouldn’t, but that’s where we come in as his adopted family. I would avenge him while you revived him,” he told her with a wink. “He may be an ass, but he is family.”

She grinned at the words and nodded her agreement. “Although I don’t really think he is an ass anymore. I suppose I understand him better now. Actually, I consider him one of my better friends I think,” she said with a chuckle.

“Neph is a damn good friend to have. I think he is closer to you than he is to me but that suits me fine. Knowing Neph is at your back, actually reassures me a great deal. Despite what his father thinks, Neph is pure Delvay, and a Delvay won’t back down from a fight they believe in, for anything. If you need help, Neph will stand by you no matter the odds,” Finn informed her with a grin and stopped to open the Academy gate for the both of them.

“You know all of the houses fairly well don’t you,” she said, stepping through the gate quickly.

“Decently, I’d say. They all have their quirks and it pays to know them,” he answered.

“Did you know the Merrodin well?” she asked, watching his shoulders stiffen slightly as he closed the gate.

He turned back to face her slowly and nodded slightly. “Better than I ever wanted to. I had no love for them at all, Jala, and you are nothing like they were.” His voice was level, all humor drained from it.

Shaking her head slightly she sighed. “I think you misunderstand why I’m asking about them. I don’t want to know the history of my house. What I’ve read so far disgusts me. I’m no slaver and I don’t find joy in the suffering of others,” she explained, taking his arm once more. “It’s just that I’m having difficulty at healing. It’s not that I can’t do it well, it’s just very draining on me and Rose thought it might be from my Bloodline. She suggested I ask Sovann more about their magic but I thought you might know,” she finished, looking to him.

He nodded slowly and cleared his throat, looking down at the ground and then back down the road. “Sovann hasn’t told you anything yet, eh?” he asked quietly.

“Not so far, and until now I hadn’t thought to ask,” she replied.

“It seems everyone likes leaving the sticky subjects to me,” he sighed and gave her a slight smile. “OK. Well yes, I do know about the Merrodin magic but it’s a dangerous topic,” he began. She raised an eyebrow at him but he held up a hand before she could speak. “That, of course, doesn’t mean I won’t tell you. You know I will. The Merrodin had Djinn blood and were gifted with Wish magic. Or, what Sovann explains to me is simply a higher form of Entropy or Luck magic. The ability to manipulate fate in their favor. This is a potent gift and you are no doubt wondering how a culture that could manipulate fate was extinguished.” He glanced sideways at her and she nodded, her confusion obvious. “Well, while it is potent, it is risky as well. If the magic is not used with utmost caution, it can have unfortunate results,” he said and sighed.

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