Fortune sighed and dismissed the illusion with a frown. “This would have been Tyber’s call not Zachary, but no one has seen Tyber since the fall of Veir. I couldn’t even guess what the High Lord of Oblivion is about. There is simply no way of knowing with the information we have so far. We will simply have to wait for them to show a card. For now it is good to know, but not something we can do much with.”
“It’s a waiting game as Fortune says.” Cora agreed then smiled faintly and looked at her son with a meaningful expression. “We are almost to the end of our talk for now, but the next few things are going to make you want to act rashly. You cannot Neph, you are desperately needed here and you have to consider that fully before anything else.” She paused and waited for him to nod his agreement though he wasn’t sure he actually wanted to agree. “Rivasa is holding captives in several of their cities. Most are children, and some are Delvay. They likely intend to use them as slaves or breeders if their blood is strong enough.”
Neph’s expression darkened with her words and despite his agreement to not act rashly his mind was already flooding with possible ways to retrieve his people. Most were slim hopes, but a few of the fragmented plans had potential. He could feel both of their eyes upon him and decided it was best to remain silent for the time being. It wouldn’t do for either of them to believe he was going to blatantly ignore their advice and Cora was right, now was the time for rational thought. Knowing that his people were in the hands of the Rivasans wasn’t making it easy to think rationally however. The entire world knew stories and rumors about the Rivasan slave farms, and none of them were pleasant.
“Which brings us to the last bit of information I’m going to tell you today and it is the reason I want you to hold off on your plan of attack. You have visitors coming to Delvay Neph, and one of them happens to be the Black Bastard. He has declared Kevala’drin against Rivasa and it seems to me that it would be easier for you to kill two birds with one stone in this case. He wants them dead and so do you, so help him kill them and keep your hands clean in the process.” Fortune kept his voice low as if there was a possibility that they might be over heard despite the fact that the entire house was empty.
“So use Caleb as a tool then?” Neph asked without much enthusiasm. There were few people he liked or respected and while Caleb wasn’t a friend, he had earned Neph’s respect.
“No.” Fortune said flatly with a mildly irritated expression. “The Avanti use people as tools. What I’m suggesting is more of helping a friend. Caleb intends to die in Rivasa. You can prevent that if you assist him in his vengeance and you won’t have to leave your city to do so. He is strong enough to function as a conduit for your magic, as long as you don’t use the Forbidden sort he won’t suffer from it.”
“I don’t even know how to begin using someone as a conduit. It isn’t something I’ve ever attempted.” Neph objected with a heavy sigh. The thought of using anyone in the fashion Fortune was suggesting seemed a coward’s approach to him. It was as much as saying he was too frightened to go to Rivasa himself.
“Neph, you killed the dragon Nerath single-handedly during the last stand in Arovan. You are terrifying to most and many would rather agree than face an argument with you. You have powerful allies from several different lands, and you have more training in intrigue and politics than any other Delvay alive can claim. Your people need you. No one can replace you or even come close to replacing you. You are as important to the future of Sanctuary as Jala is.” Cora said quietly, but her voice was laced with conviction. She truly believed the words she was speaking and it showed in her voice as well as her expression.
“So I should just tell Caleb that my life is more valuable than his and he should shoulder all of the risk then.” Neph grumbled as he sank back in his chair.
“No Neph, you should tell him that you are going to help him get his daughter back despite the fact that your responsibilities in Delvay may require the power you will be loaning him.” Fortune corrected gently.
Neph looked up sharply and locked eyes on Fortune. “His daughter is there?”
Fortune nodded and glanced at Cora before speaking. “She is six and she has been a captive since Amdany fell. She is pure Elder Blood, and already showing potential in magic. I believe you knew her mother Evanell Khalia.”
Neph nodded as the memory of the slender dark haired Fae surfaced in his mind. He had never spoken directly to Evanell at the Academy, but he had seen her several times. She had been the sort that was difficult to miss in a crowd and even harder to forget. Evanell had possessed an otherworldly beauty and a serene grace that left most men begging for her company. Neph had never begged, but he had to admit he had taken every opportunity to watch her when she was around him. “She took healing and Alchemy classes at the Academy, neither were interests of mine so I wasn’t in her company much.” Neph mumbled as he considered how the Rivasan’s would treat a child of those lines. There was no doubt that Evanell’s daughter would have inherited her mother’s beauty, and with her genetics the child would become a breeder if she wasn’t rescued.
“I see by your expression that you know what future the child has if her Father fails.” Fortune said softly. His expression was grim as he leaned back from the table. He muttered something under his breath and two large leather sacks appeared before him.
From what Neph could tell they appeared to be grain sacks, and by the looks of them they were as full as they could be without bursting. They only held his attention for a moment however, and then his mind was focused once more upon the Rivasan captives. “I fail to see how my understanding of her danger should temper my desire to go to Rivasa. If my own people are captive there as well it’s more reason for me to go fight beside him rather than hide in the city while he attempts suicide in a very colorful way. Why exactly is he attempting suicide if his daughter still lives?”