The white walls of Avenesh gleamed in the morning light. The stone that had been used to build the city was heavy with crystal, making the entire place seem to shimmer before her eyes. “It’s beautiful,” Jala said softly, her mind reflecting back on the fallen cities that War had shown her. They had been beautiful as well. Now they were nothing but rubble, and soon Avenesh would join them if the Avanti chose defiance. “Wait here,” Jala ordered and kicked her horse forward. She stopped the gelding just out of arrow range and stared up at the gates of the city. Pulling on her magic she cast a simple spell to amplify her voice. “I give you one hour to surrender the city. If the gates are not opened within that time I will bring them down and any who fight will die. This is the only warning you will get and I will show no mercy to those who stand against me,” Jala called, her voice ringing clearly through the morning air. Turning, she rode back to join her friends.
“Why exactly are we giving them an hour to prepare?” Neph asked with a frown.
“They’ve had two bloody months to prepare, Neph I don’t think another hour is going to hurt us,” Jala replied dryly as she turned back to watch the city. If Sovaesh kept his word it was possible that Truce would surrender. After the reports she had received this morning she was really hoping he would. If he didn’t, she had no choice but to finish Avenesh as quickly as possible and that meant brutally. She couldn’t afford to waste time on a siege if her information was accurate. Delvay had fallen to the combined forces of Nerathane and Rivana and if she didn’t get to Arovan soon to stop the Blights they would fall as well. “Valor.”
“Hmm?” Valor moved his horse up beside her and waited patiently for her to continue.
“I need this city as quickly and painlessly as we can possibly get it. If they don’t open those gates in an hour we have to unleash hell on them,” Jala said quietly.
“Is there a reason for it?” Valor asked, his voice as low as her own had been.
“Shade sent me word from Sanctuary. Sebastian Blackwolf is there on behalf of Glis and Arovan. The Blights are beyond them in numbers and Seravae is raiding their coasts. They don’t have the strength to fight both and they don’t have supplies to feed their people. If we delay here, we won’t get there in time to save them,” Jala explained.
“Save them? Jala, if you take your army to Arovan who will defend Merro?” Valor protested, but she could see the glimmer of hope in his eyes.
“I’m sending Jail with the majority of my forces back to Merro. We will go to Arovan with a small specialized force and deal with the Blights. The Blights won’t face us in numbers so we won’t need an army,” Jala explained and smiled at him. “Did you really think I would leave your home to fend for itself?” she asked softly.
“Merro is my home and every other High Lord would and have left us to defend ourselves,” Valor replied with a faint smile.
“Your father was there for me when I needed him at the trial. Lord Arovan granted me the first of my army with his gift of your knights. I don’t leave friends to rot and I consider Arovan and Glis friends,” Jala said as she turned back to the city. “Come on and fold,” she whispered.
“I thought you said Margundrak would deal with them,” Cassia whined as she stared down at the summoned image of the army outside the gates.
“Shush, Cassy,” Donrey muttered, his eyes fixed on the tiny image of Jala Merrodin as she called her warning to the city. “Arrogant bitch,” he growled and let out a heavy breath. “Sovaesh, summon the reserves and tell them to prepare for battle.”
“Father, perhaps we should consider what she says. We have not fared well in any engagement against her forces,” Truce protested.
“You want to surrender?” Cassia snarled, whirling on her brother.
“I think it’s an option we should consider,” Truce pressed, his eyes flicking to his father’s face.
“Sovaesh did you not hear my command?” Donrey snapped, his eyes fixed directly on his son with a look of disgust on his face.
“I did.” The Assassin pushed from the wall and walked slowly to the desk. “There is something I think you should take a look at first though,” Sovaesh said as he dropped a folded parchment down in front of the High Lord. Truce leaned closer to get a look and frowned as he recognized the blue and silver seal of Morcaillo. The wax had been broken and it was obvious the document had been read.
“What is this?” Donrey demanded as he snatched the letter from his desk and unfolded it quickly. “Why wasn’t this brought to me before being opened?” he demanded. As his eyes scanned the document his expression turned to disbelief. “What is this?” he repeated, sounding confused.
“Every sin you have committed in my sight and enough poison to kill a horse,” Sovaesh answered calmly as he watched the High Lord spasm in his chair.