The Elder Blood Chronicles Bk 1 In Shades of Grey by Melissa Myers Page A

will never be
right again. It will be though. You can’t have the light without
the dark. And while it may seem the darkest right now, kid, you
will see light again. If you are Badger’s girl, you will be tough
enough to see it through. He never gave up, and always kept
fighting, no matter how dark it was.”
    She remembered her father racing down the
hill running straight toward the danger, and she felt her eyes mist
again. Not true tears only going glassy. She nodded slowly in
reply. She wasn’t sure if she could get words past the lump in her
throat.
    Havoc watched her and to her shock his eyes
were glassy, as well. “Badger was a friend. Not a close friend, but
he saved my life more than once. If you have need in the future,
Kid, look me up. Same for Victory. Be careful who you ask about us,
but if you are in true need, find us and we will help.”
    “You think he is going to leave me then?” She
asked in a whisper.
    He nodded and looked back toward the door.
“I’m not sure what Caspian said to him when they spoke last night,
but he has been back there too long for it to be otherwise. He
wouldn’t leave you in a bad place, though, kid. If you are staying,
you will be safe. Victory was closer with Badger than I was, and he
will do right by his child.”
    She frowned at his words. She hadn’t seen
anyone talk to Victory but perhaps she had been asleep. “Why do you
call Daddy that? His name was Toby, why do you call him Badger?”
She asked.
    Havoc shrugged a bit and gave another sigh.
“We have many names in life, girl. The first our mother gives us,
then as we grow we might get a nickname from family.” He looked at
her thoughtfully. “I’m guessing that yours was probably Curly.
    She gave a slight nod. “Daddy called me that
sometimes,” she admitted.
    “The last name you earn. Some never earn one.
Those that seek to change things, do. You gain a reputation, you
gain a name. My mother didn’t give me the name of Havoc. I earned
it through deeds.” He gave her a rueful smile. “As you can tell,
they were not the best of deeds, but I stand behind what I have
done in life. Your father earned the name Badger for his tenacity.
He never quit, and he never gave up, no matter the odds. He might
have been smaller than whatever he was facing, but that would just
make him fight harder, like a badger protecting its den.”
    The door across the hall opened and Victory
emerged, followed closely by the old priest. They both smiled at
her in that way adults had that was meant to reassure. She didn’t
feel reassured at all by it.
    “Jala, this is Father Belson. He is going to
look after you now. There are two other priests here as well, but
they travel often and aren’t here at the moment. He is the Speaker
for Fortune here, though, and he will act as your guardian.”
Victory motioned toward the old man, and he moved forward.
    “May Fortune bless you child, and you are
most welcome here.” He gave her another smile and looked to Havoc.
“I understand you have doubts of leaving the child here. I give you
my word she will have the best care I can offer.”
    Havoc raised an eyebrow at the old man and
snorted. “She best. I’ll check back and if anything is amiss
Fortune will need a new priest.” His words were not spoken with
anger, but words filled with facts
    Victory sighed and leaned over to give Jala a
light hug and kiss on the forehead. “Keep safe child and learn what
you can.” He stood and looked down at her with a sad smile. “May
our paths cross again in better times.” He looked back toward Havoc
and motioned to the door before he headed that way himself.
    Havoc looked away from the priest and down at
her. “I’m not the hugging sort,” he said gruffly and unbuckled a
small knife from his worn leather belt. “And this isn’t the sort of
gift one usually gives a small girl. But you keep it. It’s mine,
and I’ve kept it with me for long enough that it knows it’s mine.”
She looked down