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

at the small knife he offered and wondered how a
knife could know anything. It was pretty in design with a large red
gem set in the worn hilt. “You ever need us, a decent mage can find
me by that knife. Keep it safe and keep yourself safe.” She took
the knife from him with a slight nod and he ruffled her hair and
turned to follow Victory out into the bright sunlight. “Don’t
forget my words, Priest, I won’t,” he called over his shoulder as
the door closed behind him.
    Outside the Temple, Victory waited already
mounted Avalanche. He was watching the Temple with an expression
that made Havoc pause mid step. “You look like you just did
something very bad Victory,” Havoc said cautiously. “What did you
just do and will I have to kill you for it?”
    Victory looked over at him and shook his
head. “I’m not really sure what I just did, Havoc, and I don’t know
if you need to kill me yet or not. Only time will tell on that
matter.”
    Havoc’s eyes narrowed and he looked back to
the Temple doors before turning his gaze back to Victory. “You will
explain that before I even think of getting on my horse.” His hand
had dropped to the hilt of his sword, and his tone was dangerous
and quiet. “You know I hate priests and this wasn’t something I
liked to begin with.”
    “It’s not the priest, Havoc. I found nothing
wrong with Father Belson. It was Caspian. When I spoke with him in
the mind link last night, I explained everything. I showed him the
girl and told him of the mark. He was so quiet I thought I had lost
the link. When he did speak again, he told me to bring the girl
here and leave her. He told me to have the priest keep her well
away from the troubles of the world.” He rubbed his jaw and
frowned.
    “Can’t say that’s a bad thing considering
what the world is. There are times I’d rather if left me alone as
well,” Havoc replied, his tone cautious. “Out with the rest of it,
though. That’s not the whole of it or you wouldn’t be
bothered.”
    Victory’s frown deepened. “He told me to
leave coin enough for the girl to be well provided for, and to
leave instruction with the priests. When she reaches age, she is to
be sent to the Academy in Sanctuary for first circle training.”
    Havoc’s expression changed from caution to
confusion. “Why would Badger’s daughter need first circle
training?” he asked.
    “Exactly!” Victory agreed. “So you see my
difficulty. I’m not sure what I just did to that child’s future or
why I did it. But I have my orders and must follow them.” He turned
his horse and with one last glance rode away from Bliss. Havoc
frowned and mounted his own horse. “Bugger orders, Caspian will
explain this when we get back to the fortress,” he grumbled and
followed after Victory, ignoring the nagging feeling in his guts
that he wouldn’t like the explanation.

Chapter 3
Bliss
    Ten years later.
     
    Jala woke with a start and fought off the
last hints of the nightmare. It had been a long while since she’d
had one and the experience left her a bit shaken. She rubbed at her
eyes with the back of her hand and noted by the light streaming
through the window that she had overslept. She sat up with a groan
and wondered why Gretchen hadn’t banged on her door yet. The surly
housekeeper was never shy about waking her up. Her breath fogged in
the early morning air and she cringed at the thought of leaving the
warm quilts or putting her bare feet down on the cold tiles. Bits
of her dream crept back to her as she sat there. Unlike the ones
she’d had as a child, this one had been more from memory than
fantasy. It had been forever since she had remembered that day. She
had tried to push it to the back of her mind. It still hurt to
remember. After all this time, even the bark of a dog was like a
razor if the memories were too close.
    She swallowed the lump in her throat and
crawled out of bed. As she had expected, the floor was icy beneath
her bare feet. She quickly