The journey through the fortress of Kithvaryn seemed more like a death march than a trip to a parlor. Their escort marched them through winding halls and upstairs in complete silence with weapons bared. Jala glanced back toward Sovann once more and frowned. The mage had finally awoken after being drug between two of the guards for most of the way, but he was still too pale. She had tried to heal him but Kithkara wouldn’t allow them to stop for anything.
“Where does he keep his bloody parlor, on the roof?” Valor grumbled as they turned down yet another hallway, their path heading directly for another set of stairs.
“Silence,” Kithkara snapped, her tone as irritable as her expression implied. Jala had no doubts whatsoever that had the woman been given a choice they would have been heading to the gallows instead of the parlor.
“Was he your lover or husband?” Jala asked softly and had to fight back a smile as the woman nearly tripped.
“I said silence,” Kithkara hissed, her grip on Jala’s arm tightening.
“Either way if you want him back then you had better pray for my success with your general,” Jala continued, ignoring the woman’s growing fury completely. With a sigh she began to climb the stairs and wondered if the night would ever be over. Her body ached, her head throbbed and she was more exhausted than she could ever remember being. Even with the rest on the ship and nearly a full day without using any true magic she still hadn’t recovered from her efforts in Goswin.
“He was my son and I do not forgive as easily as his father does,” Kithkara said in a low dangerous voice.
“Not really meaning to insult you by pointing out the obvious, lady, but you do realize Kithkanon died in a duel against Finn, right? Jala had nothing to do with it and your son was the one stupid enough to fight Finn in the first place,” Valor said loudly from behind them on the stairs.
“My son was twice the warrior of that gutter rat exile. Finn cheated in the duel and drew upon magic. That is the only way he could have survived the wounds Kanon dealt him,” Kithkara returned, her voice outraged. Her dark eyes sparkled with malice and Jala could see the faint hint of glassiness that spoke of unshed tears. Slowly she began to realize just how offensive their company must be to everyone on this island. They didn’t just blame Finn for Kithkanon’s death. They blamed everyone he was friends with as well.
“Finn could barely cast a light spell. His proudest accomplishment with magic was figuring out how to cure a hangover. Beyond that he had no use for it. I’m sorry if that was the thin thread that you were clinging to, but you are wrong,” Valor continued in a casual voice despite the growing mutters of anger from their escort.
“Why don’t you just kick them in the balls directly, Valor,” Sovann sighed, his voice sounding as weak as he looked.
“He cheated!” Kithkara repeated her voice nearly a screech as she whirled to face Valor. “And you will not speak ill of the dead. I will not allow it. My son is dead because of you people and you have the nerve to come here? I will see you dead before the sun rises, Arovan. You killed a scout on the beach and that is reason enough for Kithvaryn to spike your head on the battlements.” Whirling once more she faced Jala, her face twisted into a mask of hatred. “And you…” Kithkara began her voice dropping to dangerous tones. “You come here offering me my son back and think I am fool enough to believe it. I will see you die slowly and you will tell me where the cowardly little gutter rat is hiding before you die. I can promise you that.”
“Valor will not die and neither will I, Commander Kithkara. I’m sorry for your loss I truly am. I know how painful it is to lose one you love, but I will not allow you whatever twisted sense of vengeance you believe you will achieve by killing us,” Jala replied calmly. She kept her expression as calm as her words despite the tension of the moment. It wouldn’t take much to provoke Kithkara into a fight. She had seen that much downstairs before Kithvaryn’s intervention.
“I can’t wait to peel that confidence off you,” Kithkara purred as she grabbed Jala’s arm roughly once more and continued up the stairs, nearly dragging Jala behind her as they went.
“I highly suggest you treat Lady Merrodin with more respect,” Valor warned and Jala turned quickly shaking her head at him. His dark blue eyes narrowed slightly and he shook his head at her in defiance.
“Silence,” Kithkara bellowed, her breath coming in uneven gasps.
It was obvious the woman was close to breaking and Jala dreaded even looking at Valor. She wasn’t sure if he was intentionally trying to sabotage her chances or not. Killing the mother of Kithvaryn’s only child would certainly guarantee that no arrangement could be made, and if Valor didn’t stop goading the woman that would be the only choice she had.