The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 3 From the Ashes by Melissa Myers Page B

them to the direction
Victory had gone. “The truth. Jala didn’t say to be silent and I
don’t see that they can do anything now. I told him Jala was in the
Darklands on a quest and if he wanted to speak with her I’d be more
than happy to send him to hell for the meeting.”
    “No wonder he looked so out of sorts.” Jail
sighed.
    “Nah, I think he got that expression when I
told him the Fionaveir have no rights to order Jala, regardless. If
not for her, they wouldn’t have the bloody city. That, and if it
were up to me, they would hand the city back to her upon her
return,” Neph said as he raised the cigarette to his lips and took
a long drag.
    “The truth can be painful, especially when
you are the one delivering it, Neph,” Jail said quietly.
    “I support Jala. If she decides that she
wants that city rather than letting the Fionaveir keep it, I will
help her win it back,” Neph said bluntly and nodded his head to
Jail as he turned to go. “At least I watched her fight for it. I
wonder where their nominee for Empress was. I’m afraid I didn’t see
her at the fight.”
    Jail watched him go and let out a long sigh.
“Many more are going to share that sentiment as this continues. I
hope Lutheron and Caspian know what they are doing, for all of our
sakes.”
    “None of you know what you are doing,” Emily
said with a chuckle. “You are worried about who is going to lead
your world when this is all over. At this rate, it’s going to be
the Blights that will be leading, because the rest of you will be
dead for ignoring them in favor of your other enemies.”
    “There is more truth to your words on that
than I care to admit, Emily,” Jail agreed softly and then tugged on
her arm. “Come on, let’s see what we can do about taming your wild
side again. Perhaps if you have time I can teach you a few card
games. Madren is nearly driving me mad with cards and it would be
nice if he had someone else to play a game or two with. Without his
library, I’m afraid he is as lost as you are without Marrow.”
    “They are coming back, aren’t they, Jail?”
Emily asked quietly and tried to ignore how much her voice sounded
like Devony as she spoke the words. I’m not a scared little
child anymore , she reminded herself sternly.
    “I think right now we all qualify as scared
children to a point Emily, and yes they will return. Keep faith in
them,” Jail said with another gentle squeeze to her arm.
    “Faith,” Emily echoed softly as she followed
after him. Faith was one of the human concepts she had the most
difficulty with. The entire concept was lost on her, but it seemed
to mean a great deal to her companions. “I’ll try to,” she
offered.

Chapter 3
     
    Sanctuary
     
     
    The metal panel opened with a loud crack and
Shade staggered forward as the pressure he had been applying gave
suddenly. Straightening slowly, he wiped sweat from his brow and
surveyed his spell hawk with mixed feelings. On one hand it looked
only slightly better than a wreckage heap at the present. On the
other, it would keep him distracted from the ruin of the city for
several more days while he repaired it.
    Tossing his crowbar down beside the panel, he
moved closer and examined the welds on the ship. The frame itself
was still solid. It was simply a few panels and the view screen
that would need to be scrapped and replaced. He leaned farther into
the hole he had created in the side of the ship and examined the
neighboring panels closely. Two more on this side and three on the
other, he decided, and reached to pick up his crowbar once more and
frowned. It wasn’t on the ground where he had dropped it.
    Looking up, he found Charm sitting
cross-legged on top of the ship with the crowbar balanced neatly on
his lap. The rogue was dressed plainly today in a simple green
tunic and brown breeches. The change of attire made him seem oddly
normal. With the exception of his long blond braid and the delicate
features of an Elder Blood, Charm