“Well then, you will be the first that I smite,” Finn returned and dropped into the grass beside her. Leaning over, he gave her a quick kiss and then sat back, wiping sweat from his face. “You don’t want me too close right now, I don’t think. Ode to swordplay isn’t a pleasant smell,”
“I don’t mind,” she replied, leaning over against him. Grinning up at him, she rested her head against his shoulder. He smelled strongly of sweat and the oil he used on his swords, but it was comforting to her. Both were smells that she had grown used to in her time with Finn.
“And that’s it, no more coherent thoughts from her today,” Neph broke in and stood, quickly shaking his head and frowning at Finn. “Congratulations, Finn, your presence kills brain cells, but then I was saying that long before you met Jala.”
“But they are so happy when they die,” Finn replied with a grin.
“Happily dying brain cells,” Neph said dryly, shaking his head again. “I’m leaving. I have better things to do than witness the cooing and cuddling. Come see me this evening without your cretin, Jala, and we will work on magic.” Turning, Neph headed out of the garden, striding quickly for their hall.
“Completely asexual,” Valor said quietly drawing the words out as he watched Neph leave. Turning back to Jala, he smiled. “We are going by Arovan’s holdings today before we head to the Merro district. I have a surprise for you,” He said with a smile and then sniffed the air lightly. “But first, I’m going to bathe and change. I think I might possibly smell worse than Finn,” With a slight bow of his head, Valor turned to leave and Finn rose to follow.
“Have to excuse me for a bit. Having Valor say I stink is the last straw. I’m going to bathe too. I’ll be back shortly. Jail, keep her company for me would ya,” Finn said, brushing grass off of himself quickly. “Val, wait up,” He called over his shoulder and jogged off after the knight.
Jala smiled, watching Finn playfully smack Valor in the shoulder as he caught up and then looked back at Jail. “I’m going to revise my answer,” she said with a faint smile.
Raising an eyebrow Jail nodded. “To what?” he asked.
“To me, Finn really does hold the most power. His opinion, his mood, his desires, they all mean more to me than anyone else’s. Therefore, he has the most power over me. It falls back on priority I suppose. To an Avanti, a banker likely has the most power. to Valor, it’s his father. To a common, it’s their ruling High Lord. Power is judged by the individual looking for it, and every answer will be different,”
“Do you really think Finn holds power over you?” Jail asked.
Smiling, she shook her head slightly. “Not in the sense you are implying. I do not exist on his whim, but in a sense, yes, he does. It is a mutual power, though. My feelings hold as much sway over him, I think,” she answered and sighed. “I’m not sure if I’m explaining myself well,” she admitted.
“No, you are. I understand you. What you are saying is that there are different degrees of power and motivation and the power you answer to is Love,” Wisp said, sitting back up and turning to face them. Grass stuck to the front of her dark green tunic but she didn’t seem to notice. “Valor answers to his father for the same reason, love. Whereas the Avanti look to the banker out of greed and most commons look up to their High Lords out of fear or respect. You are saying emotions are connected with who we see as powerful.”
Nodding slowly Jail smiled. “That is an answer with thought behind it, much better than a simple High Lords answer,” he said with approval. “Not necessarily the correct answer, but the questions I ask generally don’t have a correct answer. Here is your next question. You can have all afternoon to think up an answer,” He paused until she met his gaze. “Why did the Guardians make Sanctuary the way they did?” he asked.
“Bugger, glad you play the question game with him rather than me. I’d strangle him,” Wisp said, shaking her head slightly. “I think the first step we should do for Merro is find healers to work there, by the way. If you like, I could do some checking around while you are off with Val and Finn,”
“Thank you so much, Wisp. I’d truly appreciate that. From what I hear, healers are desperately needed there. I’m afraid I haven’t had the chance to look around in that district at all. I’m not really sure what to expect,” Jala said and sighed.
“Think of the worst possible slums and the most poverty and sickness you can imagine. That should have you braced well enough for when you see how bad it really is,” Jail said quietly. “The last winter was really hard on that district, as well as the Greenwild district. Plague hit with a vengeance and starvation hit not long after. Shade did a bit to improve it, but it wasn’t enough.”
“Maybe Sovann’s moving his warehouse there will help a bit. At least people will have a chance to make some money that way,” Wisp offered.
Jala nodded, not wanting to speak. These were her people they were talking about. The ones Symphony and the rest of the Fionaveir expected her to lead. How much hate must they have built up for the High Lords by now after living in filth for so long? From what she had learned at the Academy, her Bloodline had been a cruel one. Frowning, she wondered what reaction her people would have when they learned the Merrodin Bloodline wasn’t truly dead.
*
“So, are you going to give me any hint as to why we are going to see your family?” Jala asked.
Valor cast a glance back at her and smiled, shaking his head. He was walking a few feet ahead of them and seemed in a much bigger hurry than Finn who paced beside her, idly twisting branches from the garden plants as they walked toward the stables.
“I take it you don’t get along with his family?” Jala asked looking over at Finn with a raised eyebrow.