“Your Grace!” Jala called after Symphony in obvious dismay. The Empress paused and turned to look at her with wide eyes as Jala took another step toward her. “Empress Symphony will you not take command of your High Lords in defense of your city? We stand ready to fight on your behalf.” Jala called loudly and Neph could see how much she was struggling to keep the anger from her voice.
For the course of the entire war the lords assembled around him had fought to give Symphony her throne, and she had rewarded them with disappointment after disappointment at every turn. With every given opportunity to lead Symphony had failed, and now she was not only failing she was proving herself a coward as well as far as Neph saw it.
Faramir whispered into the Empress’s ear once more and Symphony nodded before turning her attention back to Jala. “I give you the honor of protecting my city Lady Merrodin. I know I will not be disappointed by your efforts on my behalf.” Symphony called before turning on her heels to retreat further into the palace.
“The Empress is much too valuable to risk in such an endeavor Lady Merrodin, it was wrong of you to suggest she might place herself in harm’s way.” Faramir scolded and glared at Jala before turning to hurry after Symphony.
“Far be it for us to suggest our leader should lead.” Neph said dryly as he glanced at Jala before turning back to gaze up that the sky once more. “Well do we fight?” he asked softly.
“We have no choice but to fight.” Jala returned firmly. “If we do not fight we are damned. We must face them together or die alone in our own lands when they come for us.”
“So we fight.” Madren said with a nod as he moved forward to stand beside Jala. The witches that had accompanied him as his entourage spread themselves into a semi-circle behind their lord and Madren smiled confidently. “So we win.” He amended and gave Jala a firm nod.
“We win.” Jala repeated and her eyes narrowed as she struggled to gauge the distance of the approaching forces.
“But first we send the ones too young to fight to safety.” Valor pointed out with a smile as he hefted Legacy gently in his arms. The child had been so quiet and well behaved during the council that Neph had almost forgotten he was present until Valor brought attention to him. “I believe Avanti has a son here as well that is too young to fight.”
“You’re mad if you think I will entrust my heir to you.” Truce snapped defiantly.
“Would you entrust him to his Grandfather?” Jala asked as she waved a hand to the crowd near the palace doors and motioned Sovaesh forward. The Assassin moved swiftly to her and bowed before turning to regard Truce.
The High Lord’s face fell in defeat as he nodded to Sovaesh and gave his wife an apologetic look. “I will.” He relented as he gently pushed not only his son, but his wife forward as well. “Please Sovaesh if you would see them to safety I would be grateful.”
“I would rather stand with you!” Nallia Avanti protested and tried in vain to cling to her husband’s arm.
“And I would rather you were safe.” Truce countered as he carefully handed his loved ones over to Sovaesh.
“Take Legacy as well Sovaesh and keep them all safe no matter what the outcome of today is.” Jala commanded softly. Turning back to the sky she gripped the holy symbol around her neck and Neph heard her begin muttering to beginnings of a prayer.
A snort of amusement rose from the crowd behind him and Neph turned to regard one of the priests who had been utterly silent till now chuckling softly as he moved away from his fellows to stand at the edge of the stairs for a better view. Shaking his head Neph tried his best to ignore the man as he began his own silent prayers. With the odds they were about to face they would need all of the Divine intervention they could get.
*
Shaking with outrage Zoelyn rose from her chair to stare at the scry and then glared at her mother. “This is what must happen?” she demanded fiercely and pointed a finger at the assembled lords. “My brother must stand like a lamb for the slaughter against the combined forces of Rivana and Nerathane?” she added in an incredulous voice.
“Morcath too, they haven’t noticed the forces approaching from behind them yet.” Cora replied in an apologetic voice.
“And you expect me to stand here and watch as my Brother and friends bleed for an Empress that is so cowardly she flees in the face of her enemies?” Zoelyn snarled as she pushed back from the table and shook her head at Cora in disbelief.
“It is not something I wish to witness either Zoey, but it must happen.” Cora said sadly and carefully moved Syrah from her lap to a chair as she rose to her feet. “You and I are both powerless in the matter. What else can we do but watch?”
“Is my Daddy there?” Syrah asked softly and Zoelyn could see the terror written in the child’s eyes.
“I am not powerless.” Zoelyn growled to Cora and then turned to Syrah and tried to think of anything she could say to the child that might reassure her, but she couldn’t think of a single word that seemed appropriate. The sad truth was her father likely was somewhere in the city and the odds of Grim escaping the assault on the city were slim. “I promise you Syrah, if I see him I will do everything I can to send him back to you.” She said at last then shook her head sadly at her mother. “How could you ever expect me to just watch this.” She asked sadly as she paced as far from the table and scry as she could.
“What other choice do you have Zoey? Be reasonable.” Cora said in pleading tones.