The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 3 From the Ashes Read Online Free PDF Page A

arm.
    “Let me do that and you get dressed. And yes,
you can ask another. Even if it’s something I don’t want to answer,
at least it ends this damned silence we have been living in,” Valor
replied as he took the blanket from her and began to gather the
rest of their gear.
    “If you are disgraced in Arovan, why did Lord
Arovan give you a commission to lead a thousand of his knights?”
Jala asked.
    Valor snorted in what could have been
amusement. “That was Elijah’s way of flexing his political muscle.
He helps both of us that way while retaining the true power over
his troops. By giving command to me, he ensures they will never be
used against his land, not that Arovan knights would fight against
their home. He also gives me a chance to redeem myself out of sight
of those that would like me to fail in that. On the other hand, he
helps you without openly helping you. A thousand trained knights is
a handsome gift and will raise quite a few eyebrows. If a faction
that opposes me asks, he will say he granted them to you. If a
faction that doesn’t approve of you asks, he will say he granted
them to me,” He explained with a faint smile.
    “Clever,” Jala acknowledged with a nod. Her
mind worked over the logic as she tugged on the chain mail over her
leather tunic. “Does he give lessons in politics?” she asked with a
raised eyebrow.
    “He does within Arovan. I learned from him,”
Valor replied with a shrug.
    “What was the position you were in line to
receive, Val?” Jala asked, her curiosity pushing her to test his
limits.
    “I was being groomed to be Lord Commander of
the Knights of the Phoenix. I would have been second in command
within a year, and by now I would be the Lord Commander. It’s a bit
of a tradition in my family. My Brother is the Lord Commander of
the Knights of the Griffon, though he spends more time playing
bodyguard to Micah than he does commanding his knights. There were
certain difficulties, though, hence why I was in Sanctuary,” Valor
answered with a hint of tension to his voice. “It’s not a good
subject for now. Sometime I’ll explain it, but not now please.”
    “As you like,” Jala agreed, watching him for
a moment before returning to the buckles on her armor. With every
question Valor answered, he created two more in her mind. They
could wait though. She would have plenty of time to ask later.
     

     
    Ink black darkness enveloped the ground
before her. Jala inched forward, cautiously trying to ignore the
loose gravel under her boots. She could see no sign of the path
Valor assured her was there. Swallowing heavily she let out a long
slow breath and turned back to look at Valor. He was leaning
against the side of his horse watching her, though his face was too
shadowed for her to read his expression. By his posture he seemed
as calm and relaxed as he did in the gardens of Sanctuary.
    “I don’t see a path at all,” she whispered,
hoping her voice wasn’t quavering too much. The thought of dropping
down over the ledge into complete darkness had her throat dry and
her heart hammering.
    “It’s about three feet down, you should be
able to see it.” Valor replied as he pushed off the horse and moved
to stand beside her. Gravel skittered under his plate mail boots
sending small showers over the cliff edge. He glanced at Jala and
then motioned over the side once more. “Right there, see.” He
pointed below them and looked back at her.
    Jala frowned at him and leaned forward once
more. The same darkness greeted her. “All I see is darkness, Val.
If there is a path there, I’m not seeing it.”
    Valor seemed puzzled for a moment, then a
look of utter disbelief crossed his face. “By the gods, Jala, you
don’t have night vision do you?” he asked, his tone
incredulous.
    “What?” Jala asked, returning his look of
confusion.
    “You have been in here for weeks without
being able to see at all?” Valor asked, still sounding bewildered.
“I think I would have gone