The Raven Coven

by Emma Miles

  She woke and sat up with a gasp, looking quickly around to take in the rugged Borrow coast, their tethered ship, and their steadily burning fire. Her hand went to her chest and she felt her heart racing and her ribs expanding and deflating rapidly. Above her thin clouds ghosted across the stars.

  Jorrun stirred beside her and his eyes fluttered open. Azrael came to hover near them, the size of a raven with his long tail trailing behind him.

  ‘Are you all right?’ she asked Jorrun, her still tight muscles made her voice hoarse.

  He sat up slowly and turned to look at her. ‘I’m fine. It was fine.’

  ‘Wasn’t I supposed to be unaware of you though?’

  He took in a deep breath. ‘Yes. I’m used to dealing with anxiety dreams, they’re very common, but you did make me laugh.’ He grinned and she scowled at him. ‘Seriously, though, I used to be good at being undetected. Karinna has … he’s destroyed my confidence.’

  Azrael hissed and darted around his head. ‘Jorrun, even with your confidence sshattered you took down Dryn Dunham!’

  ‘But it nearly cost me everything,’ he said quietly, glancing at Kesta.

  Kesta swallowed. ‘You can practice on me if you like. If I’m aware you may be in my dreams, then it might be harder for you to stay undetected and make it challenging enough for you to improve again?’

  ‘If you’re sure? I don’t want to be too intrusive.’

  ‘Just don’t laugh at me!’ She jabbed a finger in his leg. ‘I can’t help what I dream!’

  He couldn’t help but break into a smile and he struggled for a moment to become serious again. ‘Thank you for having so much trust in me.’

  Kesta glanced up at Azrael. As much as she loved the fire-spirit it was sometimes inconvenient to have the elemental chaperone about all the time. ‘Shall we get some proper sleep or do you want to get going?’

  ‘Let’s sleep and let Azrael have a bit more time on land.’

  She nodded. Azrael replied by making himself huge, pulling a terrifying face, and shooting off across the island.

  ‘Be careful, crazy bug!’ Jorrun yelled after him.

  ***

  When Kesta woke again, Jorrun was quietly packing away their camp with Azrael bobbing along beside him. It was still dark and their fire had gone out. She stretched and then sat up.

  ‘Is everything all right?’

  Jorrun nodded and walked over to her. ‘Azrael spotted another boatload of Borrowmen landing on the other side of the island, he thinks they just stopped for supplies but it’s best if we go.’

  She hugged herself tightly, feeling a deep chill in her bones. ‘I’m more than happy to go.’

  ‘Blood magic,’ Azrael spluttered and spat. ‘I almosst want to be back on the ssea!’

  Kesta picked up her blanket and checked around her that they’d left nothing behind. She climbed up into the ship. ‘Are we not taking the small boat again?’

  Jorrun shook his head. ‘We’re going to sail into Navere.’

  ‘What?’ She stared at him.

  ‘Osun has everything arranged.’

  She clenched her teeth together at his name but went to the sail and prepared to set it when Jorrun was ready. ‘Don’t start keeping things from me when you’re back with your brother, Jorrun.’

  She heard him sigh. ‘I won’t.’

  She wanted to retort that it seemed he already was, but she bit her tongue.

  Chapter Eight

  Dia; Fulmer Islands

  Dia watched as Catya twisted and ducked, Heara’s stick whistling over her head and then slicing at the girl’s legs. Catya jumped, then danced back. As Heara swung the long stick again Catya backflipped then immediately cartwheeled to try to get past her instructor. There were several gasps and Dia found herself smiling. The audiences that stopped to watch Catya train were getting bigger. She hadn’t seen anyone this good since … well, since Heara and her desperately missed dead twin, Shaherra.

  ‘Icante!’

  She turned to see young Gilfy running toward her with two letters clasped in his hand. The boy scowled toward Catya.

  ‘Thank you, Gilfy.’ Dia took the letters and leaned back against a tree. One of them had the royal seal of Elden on it. The other was sealed with unmarked wax and tied about with twine. Her name was written in her daughter’s handwriting. She almost dropped the king’s missive in her haste to open Kesta’s letter.

  Jorrun and I will be away for a while. Please don’t worry.

  She tensed, holding her breath as she read it again. Her first thought was they’d absconded from Elden together, but if that were the case, then surely, they would have come here? There was nowhere else they could go excep–

  ‘Chem.’

  Tucking Kesta’s letter under her arm she ripped open the King’s, her eyes darting over his scrawling script.

  My dear Icante,

  I hope Vilnue has settled well on Fulmer Isle? I received his request for assistance regarding refugees from the Borrows. As you know I am still dealing with repairs to Mantu, Taurmouth, and the Taur valley, however I would be glad to help. Let me know what you need most urgently and I will endeavour to supply it.

  You may have heard from your daughter? She and Jorrun are presently travelling at my behest and dealing with some urgent matters. With my sorcerer gone I humbly request your choice of envoy be one that can serve in a magical capacity should the need arise.

  Your friend

  Bractius.

  ‘Humbly request!’ Dia folded the letter over roughly with one hand. No wonder he was so eager to help her with the refugee situation!

  But where was Kesta and what was she really doing?

  She glanced towards Heara and pushed herself away from the tree. Gilfy was still there, his arms folded across his chest.

  ‘Gilfy, go find Silenes Arrus and Worvig, tell them I want to see them at once in my room.’

  The boy’s eyes widened and with a nod he ran off.

  Dia made her way back to the Hold more slowly. It was hardly a new sensation to wish she’d never gotten involved with Elden. The irony of it was still bitter, they’d gone to Bractius for help but had ended up saving him.

  As she passed through the great hall, she spotted Pirelle seated at the table teaching Milaiya how to read and write. Despite their attack from Chem, despite the fact her daughter had been there to kill off their necromancer lord, she’d never before been curious about what happened in that country beyond the barricade of the Borrow Islands. Perhaps it was time to learn.

  She went into her room and calling flame to her fingers she lit a candle.

  ‘Doroquael?’

  The candle spluttered and the fire-spirit emerged like a butterfly climbing from its chrysalis. ‘Dia! I wasss talking with a Drake who has come up to vissit from the fire realm.’

  ‘I hope I didn’t call you away from anything important?’

  ‘We were discussing the blood cursse on the Borrowss.’

  ‘Anything?’

  ‘Ssorry, Dia, we don’t know enough about blood magic.’ Doroquael made himself small and flew a circuit around the room. ‘There has been a meeting of Drakes from Elden and Drakess from Shem.’

  Dia took two steps closer to the fire-spirit. ‘And?’

  ‘Shem is in chaoss. The Spirits there are very pleased, but I’m worried.’

  ‘Why, spirit?’

  ‘Many things can be born from chaos.’

  ‘Things?’

  ‘A multitude of outcomess. Chem’s fate affects us all, like a weight on a sscale.’

  She frowned, sitting on the edge of the table. ‘I thought destroying the Dunhams was a good thing?’

  ‘Potentially.’

  ‘But also, potentially bad?’

  Doroquael burned a dark, almost invisible blue.

  ‘And what of Elden?’

  ‘Azrael has gone.’

  ‘Gone?’

  ‘He left the Raven Tower and the Elden Spirits know only that he iss
with Jorrun and Kessta.’

  The door flew inward and Arrus strode in with his brother on his heels. They were alike in build but Arrus’s eyes held a hint of green and his brown hair contained more grey than Worvig’s. Dia stood and gestured for them to close the door behind them.

  ‘I saw a boat had come in,’ Worvig said. ‘You have news?’

  ‘Letters from Kesta and Bractius.’ She handed them to her husband and Worvig read them over his shoulder.

  ‘What does this mean?’ Arrus demanded. ‘Where has Kesta gone?’

  ‘I wish I knew.’ Dia sighed. ‘I intend to find out. It seems I will need to send Larissa to Elden as our ambassador after all. Worvig, I hate to ask, but will you go with her?’

  Worvig screwed up his face and looked down. ‘If I have to. I’d rather you chose someone else.’

  ‘The only other people I’d send to protect Larissa are Heara, and you, Arrus.’

  Arrus straightened up and opened his mouth to protest.

  ‘I’ll do it.’ Worvig raised his hand and sighed. ‘Spirits know I have no wish to leave the islands. I’ll only do it temporarily though, until you find a permanent escort for Larissa.’

  Dia nodded. ‘Agreed. I’ll have Heara start training someone up for the role, Catya will have to wait. In the meantime, I’ll be going with you just for a few days. I want to ask Bractius to his face what Kesta is doing.’

  ‘I should come,’ Arrus said, but Dia could tell by his expression he already knew she’d refuse.

  ‘Then who will rule the islands? I need to choose another Silene to replace Kesta.’

  None of them made eye contact. She’d been putting it off, not wanting Kesta’s absence to be something acknowledged and set in stone.

  ‘Who?’ Arrus asked.

  ‘Pirelle isn’t ready.’ She glanced up. ‘I’d go for Larissa if I didn’t need her to go to Elden. Everlyn proved herself against the Chemman, but she is a quiet woman who might not settle well into a command role.’ She shook her head and sighed. ‘I’ll see how Pirelle manages with you to guide her while I’m away.’ She touched her husband’s arm.

  Worvig snorted. ‘Give it a few years and I’d lay money on Catya being your best bet for Silene, though she’s no islander.’

  ‘She’s incredibly focused and determined, not to mention intelligent,’ Dia agreed. ‘Time will tell, but I think she has her heart set on being an Icante’s bodyguard!’

  And who will be that Icante with Kesta gone? Dia wondered.

  ***

  Those few of the Islanders who visited Elden normally headed for the closest large harbour, Burneton, however they’d learned that to get to the capital it was much quicker to head further east to Taurmouth and follow the river inland. They had taken one of their longships, giving Dia the excuse for bringing several warriors without it looking like she was either posturing, or felt she needed protection. In reality, it was a little of both.

  As they sailed across lake Taur, a raven came out to meet them. Dia watched as it circled them and flew back toward The Tower that peered over the trees at Northold. She was tempted to go there to get answers, perhaps Kesta’s friend, Rosa, knew something; however, knowing Bractius he would take some offense at her visiting there first. Several dark specks emerged from The Tower, growing in number. The ravens flew toward the ship, their guttural caws deafening. With a laugh, Dia raised her arms and several of the birds came down to settle on them.

  ‘They adore you!’ Larissa’s mis-matched blue eyes were wide and unblinking. ‘I’ve never seen a reaction like that before from a flock of corvids.’

  Dia sent her warmth and appreciation out with her knowing and tried to impress that she would visit them on her way back. One of the ravens pressed into her mind the image of a dark, fruit cake and quickly all the others tried to follow suit, fighting to sit on her arms and tell her their favourite treats. One of them showed her an eyeball and with a lurch of her stomach she lowered her arms and mentally pushed them away.

  ‘Soon,’ she called up to the circling birds.

  Dia looked down again to regard Larissa. It wasn’t just because she was a strong walker that Dia had chosen her as her envoy. Larissa was beautiful, her eyes not too strange, her red hair striking, her face small and delicate. She was used to getting a lot of attention and wasn’t easily fooled. She listened and observed and turned down advances in a way that left men still feeling good about themselves.

  ‘I think it must be their relationship with Jorrun that makes them particularly open to friendship with a human,’ Dia mused. ‘They love that I can communicate much more clearly. It might pay you to befriend them also.’

  Larissa nodded, watching them chase each other over the lake. ‘We should agree on a way for me to warn you of trouble in case my letters are read.’ She rubbed at her chin. ‘If I mention the ravens, then whatever I write directly after will be the opposite of what I say. On the next line pick out every other word.’

  Dia’s apprehension grew, at the same time she felt proud of Larissa for her cleverness and caution. ‘I hope there will be no trouble. We have no reason to fear Chem for the present and any scheming of Bractius’ will be no more than him trying to gain as much as he can while giving as little as possible in return!’

  Larissa laughed. ‘It’s going to be an interesting experience.’

  ‘Look after Worvig for me, he’s going to hate it.’

  Larissa’s smile faded. ‘I’ll help him settle as best I can. I’m glad you chose him, I feel safe with him to back me up.’

  As do I, Dia thought.

  ***

  The harbour was busy and they had to wait to let two supply ships out before they moved across to the landing dock that the harbourmaster waved them into. One of the King’s stewards was waiting to meet them and greeted them with a flurry of elaborate bows that made Larissa laugh and Worvig scowl. With eight of their warriors escorting them, pushing through the crowds to the castle wasn’t a problem. They were taken straight to the throne room, the warriors standing back as Dia, Worvig, and Larissa approached the King. Both Worvig and Larissa bowed, Dia just giving a polite inclination of her head. The Queen was seated in a smaller throne to the King’s right, Jorrun’s stark chair was glaringly empty. Dia met Ayline’s eyes and smiled at her. The young woman didn’t look well, her pale skin making the dark shadows under her eyes all the more striking.

  ‘Welcome!’ Bractius held out both his hands dramatically and stepped down from his throne to greet them. He kissed Dia’s cheek and shook Worvig’s hand.

  ‘Your majesty, this is my husband’s brother, Worvig Silene. You remember Larissa?’

  ‘Of course!’ Bractius beamed, showing his straight, white teeth through his beard. ‘You are to be our envoy from the Fulmers?’

  ‘I am, your majesty.’ Larissa smiled up at the king.

  Dia caught movement out of the corner of her eye and glanced up at the Queen. Ayline’s hazel eyes had narrowed and she all but glared at Larissa. There was no doubt Ayline was a pretty girl, but there was something almost artificial and forced about it. Would she consider an effortless beauty like Larissa a threat? More than likely. It would be a good idea to warn Larissa although her fellow fire-walker had probably already realised.

  ‘And how is the Queen?’ Dia asked.

  ‘Oh.’ Bractius looked over his shoulder. ‘Her majesty is well, aren’t you, my darling?’ He held out a hand toward her.

  Ayline forced a smile and pushed herself up from her throne. She held out her hand to daintily take the King’s, her other hand going to her belly. ‘Welcome again, to Taurmaline.’

  ‘How are you finding your pregnancy?’ Dia asked with genuine concern.

  Ayline’s eyes narrowed again and she looked up at Dia through her lashes. ‘I’ve had some sickness, but it is to be expected.’

  ‘Larissa and I have some skill with midwifery, if yo—’

  ‘I have my own midwife.’ Ayline’s eyes had hardened but her smile rema
ined fixed.

  Dia nodded, smiling in return, but she called up her knowing. She took a step back at the ferocity of the Queen’s emotions. Luckily only Larissa seemed to notice her reaction. There was anger toward the King that bordered on hatred, and resentment toward her and Larissa. Underneath it all was a nagging nausea that seemed to emanate from the Queen’s spine. Dia immediately felt sorry for the young woman. She wondered if, in all her ambition to secure the King and her lofty status, she’d truly realised what her life would be.

  ‘And your journey here was good?’ Bractius was still focused on Larissa.

  ‘It was,’ Larissa replied. She turned to the Queen. ‘How is the spirit of Elden since those awful attacks? It must have given the people so much courage to see how resiliently their Queen endured the siege?’

  Ayline’s eyes widened. ‘Oh, well, one must lead by example. It was quite terrifying but I trusted my husband to save us.’ She smiled up at Bractius and he patted her arm. Anyone watching would have believed there was real affection between them.

  Worvig shuffled his feet and Dia found it hard to maintain eye contact.

  ‘I’ve been collecting unwanted clothes and useful items for your refugees,’ Ayline went on, her enthusiasm growing.

  ‘That’s incredibly kind,’ Larissa said with seeming sincerity.

  Dia shut off her knowing, finding this deceptive dance depressing. Diplomacy was a part of an Icante’s job, but she certainly didn’t envy Larissa the task she’d assigned her. In a way it was as well Kesta had left and Larissa taken her place, she doubted her daughter would have had the patience to put up with Ayline. She had to bite her lower lip to stop herself smiling at the thought of it.

  ‘How is the refugee situation?’

  Dia realised Bractius was addressing her.

  ‘No more have arrived since my letter,’ she replied. ‘Not surprisingly they are reluctant, afraid even, to approach us for help. Those that do are incredibly brave, or terrified.’