“As you say Lady Bendazzi. I swear it will be so,” Sovaesh said with more formality that she had expected. Standing, he bowed deeply to her and smiled. “Finn chose well when he chose you. You have my respect for what you are doing and that isn’t something given lightly.”
Jala smiled faintly and nodded to him. Turning back to the others she let out a long breath. “I would like a few minutes alone with Valor, please,” she asked quietly. Neph rose and moved to her wrapping his arms around her in a firm embrace. “Delvay will always stand by Merro, Jala. I promise you. You are like a sister to me and you are asking the hardest thing you possibly could of me by telling me to leave. I will, though, and I promise you I will hate myself for doing so, but I will,” he whispered in her ear before pulling back from the embrace. Leaning forward, he kissed her lightly on the forehead and let out a ragged breath. “Kick nine colors of shit from the bastards, Jala,” he said as he backed away, his gaze moving to Valor. “Good luck, Arovan. I hope you get your vengeance on the bastards. I promise you I will never let Rivasa forget this day. Delvay will punish them eternally for this.”
Valor nodded and watched them leave before turning to Jala. “I truly hope you aren’t going to try to send me away as you did the others.”
“You said you would always stand by me. Why would I even bother trying to send you away,” Jala said softly as she met his gaze.
“Always,” Valor promised.
Shaking her head, Jala crossed the short distance between them and rested her head against his chest. “I don’t have orders for you, Valor. I just need you by me to see this through. Having you close gives me strength, I think.” She let out a ragged breath and buried her face farther into his tunic. “I am so terrified right now. Everything was falling into place so beautifully, and now…” Her voice trailed off as her throat tightened. “We almost had it, Valor. We were so close to happily-ever-after,” she whispered.
“I had it for one day, Jala. For one single day everything was perfect. That’s more than some get,” Valor replied softly as he kissed the top of her head. “You have soldiers waiting to hear you, Jala. Do you feel up to facing them?” he asked softly.
Jala nodded slowly and pulled back from him to wipe her eyes. “I love you, Valor,” she whispered as she turned toward the entrance of the tent.
“I love you, too,” Valor returned softly as he followed her out.
Jala stopped just beyond the entrance and let her gaze travel over her people. The soft murmurs in the crowd fell silent as they all watched her in expectation. Jala nodded once and cast the amplify spell on her voice once more. “You’ve all seen what awaits us. We are outnumbered so badly that it’s almost laughable. The Rivasans must have been truly terrified if they gathered that many to face two thousand.” Jala forced her tone to be light as she spoke and nervous laughter rippled at her words. Taking another step forward she raised her chin, her expression clearing and the tears fading from her eyes. “I won’t run,” she announced, her voice filled with defiance. “I won’t turn my back and say what they have done is OK. It’s not! They have invaded our ally and butchered our friends and I won’t simply walk away as if I don’t care!”
Jala paused again as War’s last words returned to her. It certainly seemed as though darkness was closing on her now and she smiled at the memory of the dream. “Not so long ago my son asked me if I planned to fix the entire world,” Jala said, her smile growing as she spoke. “I told him, no. I told him that I was building a road to a better world and once the path was set, others would follow our lead. With this stand, we lay the last stones on the road I spoke of. By refusing to back down to their brutality, we show the rest of Sanctuary what they can accomplish if they stand together. Nations that never would have considered each other as friends are represented in my forces. Never before has an army such as ours existed.”
She paused again and looked at each faction in turn. “We won’t win the battle tomorrow, but we will show the rest of the world that differences can be set aside for a common goal. I will not command any of you to die beside me. You may flee if your heart is not in the fight. I will not command you to fight, but I will ask you to help me. Help me buy Arovan the time it needs. Help me show Sanctuary the road we have built. Take one final stand against the corruption of this world.” Stepping back once more, Jala canceled the amplify spell and watched as the expressions of despair changed to defiance on the faces of those before her.
“Lady Bendazzi!” A voice rose from the crowd and others picked up the call until it became a steady chant.
“Do you mind if we add another nation to your roster?” The deep voice caught her completely off guard and Jala spun to face Zachary Dark. The lord of Oblivion stood just beyond her tent, an expression of amusement on his normally emotionless face.
“Lord Dark. This is the last place anyone in their right mind would wish to be,” Jala whispered, wondering how the man had managed to make it past the Rivasan mages.
“I have never once claimed to be in my right mind,” Zachary returned with a faint smile. “Oblivion will stand beside you tomorrow. I will do what I can to help you,” he said as he started to turn.
“Thank you, Lord Dark,” Jala whispered, her shock at the sight of him slowly fading.
“Apparently they have started to follow your road,” Valor said softly beside her as he watched the Lord walk away.
“May more follow,” Jala whispered.