Silently Emily pressed ahead with Marrow close behind her and the two Bendazzi led Jala toward the secluded camp the scouts had set up to hold their prisoner. Jala recognized two of the three men seated at the sputtering campfire as rangers that Wisp had trained over the winter. The third took longer for her to place. He was dressed finely in a knee length Black coat with gold trim and a matching vest. Mud was splattered across his knee high boots as well as his dark trousers and it was obvious he had been traveling in the weather for a while. His dark hair was pulled back from his face revealing the high cheekbones of noble blood. He turned to look at her, a few rain spots showing on the dark glasses he wore.
“I doubt you remember me, Lady Merrodin. We only met once and I’m sure your mind was occupied on other things at that time.” The man’s voice was smooth with no trace of accent to it at all.
I remember him. He was the one that placed the bet with Finn outside the Academy, Marrow said slowly, confusion in his voice.
The man carefully sat the bowl of stew he had been eating on the ground and stood bowing to her. “My name is Nigel. I regret it taking me so long to arrive,” he said as he stood once more.
Jala blinked in confusion and shook her head slowly at him. “Why would you apologize and why are you even here?” she said in complete bewilderment.
Nigel laughed and a wide smile appeared on his handsome face. “Finn never told you?” he asked through his continued chuckling.
“Told me what?” Jala asked still utterly confused.
“About our bet. You recall I bet against him in the duel with Kithkanon. That day when you saved the Goswin boy from Cassia,” Nigel began and sighed when she nodded. “I should have known to always back Finn, but Kithkanon was formidable. Finn didn’t wager money with me Lady Merrodin. It was a much larger wager than that.”
“What do you mean?” Jala asked with hesitation.
“If he lost you were to be mine. At that time everyone had a price on your head and there was the gold blood to consider as well,” Both Bendazzi stiffened at his words and Emily dropped into a low crouch ready to attack. Nigel held up both hands in a peaceful gesture though surprisingly he didn’t look the least bit worried about the two Bendazzi. Most people would have been terrified at the sight. “If he won, I was to support you if the conflicts went to war. He won, Lady Merrodin. I am here to fulfill my debt. It took me a bit of time to gather the ones that I could to help, hence my delayed arrival.”
“You’ve brought soldiers with you?” Jala asked, her hopes rising. If she had another army backing her she didn’t need Jexon quite as desperately as she thought she had. All she truly needed was the shamans and she knew many of them followed Ash.
“I’ve brought five with me,” Nigel said with a smile.
“Five? I scarcely see how five soldiers will help me. I’m sorry that you have come all of this way,” Jala said with a sigh and started to turn back toward the army.
“I think you misunderstand Lady Merrodin,” Nigel began as he stepped in front of her once more and dropped his glasses down forcing her to meet his eyes. Jala paused in mid-turn and stared directly into the man’s dark eyes. There were no whites showing at all and the pupils were shaped like that of a serpent rather than a human. “I’ve brought five dragons, Lady Merrodin, not soldiers,” Nigel continued, once he was sure that he had her attention once more.
“Dragons,” Jala mumbled, her gaze dropping to the bowl of stew he had been eating. Her mind flew back to the first battle and the decision she had given the Arovan knights. She didn’t even know which they had chosen to harvest meat from, the dragon or the horses. Now didn’t seem to be a good time to mention it though.
“One of which is Dresharn, formerly known as Dresharn the wise. He was at one time High Lady Wilameir’s advisor. He is known as Dresharn the traitor now since he turned his back on Nerathane,” Nigel continued, seemingly oblivious to her distress. “I’ve brought rations as well. Meat, medicines, grain, and the like. The standard fare for an army of this size,” Nigel added as he relaxed back against one of the smaller trees and crossed his arms over his chest. “I have only one request, Milady,” he added as Jala continued to marvel over this turn of events.
“What’s that?” Jala asked finding her voice once more.
“That we keep quiet the fact that your new arrivals are dragons. I do not trust the man you have married and I’d rather he did not know what we are. I lived as a merchant in Sanctuary as you recall. Let him believe that my retainers and I are simply here to handle the supply issue for now,” Nigel said cautiously as if he was afraid of offending her.
“Of course. I would prefer that as well,” Jala agreed with a quick nod. “Finn truly bet me?” Jala asked not sure how she felt about that knowledge.
“He had to, for what he asked. He had nothing else that would equal the value of my assistance,” Nigel answered with a smile, then cocked his head meeting her eyes once more. “Did you watch the fight, Lady Merrodin?” he asked softly.
“I did,” Jala admitted. She could still picture the awful moment when Kithkanon’s sword had plunged through Finn’s chest.
“I was a frequent guest at the Arena. I believe I watched nearly every fight Finn ever fought. Never before had I seen such tenacity in him. Within the first few blows of his sword I knew my bet was lost. Finn was phenomenal with swords on any given day, but not even the Divine of War himself could have bested him that day. He had too much riding on the bet to lose,” Nigel said with a smile. Standing straight once more Nigel adjusted his coat and bowed his head to her. “If you will permit me, I will gather my companions and see that the supplies are distributed to your army.”
“Of course. We are running low and I would greatly appreciate it as would my men,” Jala said with a smile.
“I’m sure they would,” Nigel said as he glanced back down at the bowl and looked up at her with another smile. “Dragon meat tastes terrible,” he said with a wink as he turned to walk off.