The Raven Coven

by Emma Miles

  ‘Each bard would choose an apprentice from out of the clans, a boy who could be trusted, one without ambition to rule. Most importantly, one who could learn the magic.’

  He was using it now, Dia realised. It wasn’t like the magic of a walker, or the elemental magic used by Doroquael and the Chemmen. With their magic she could feel the air charge as though lightning were about to strike. Temerran’s magic was a subtle tingling sensation deep within her chest. He looked at her, his eyes wide and bright. ‘It’s magic of the soul.’

  She drew in a sharp breath, had he read her mind?

  ‘Of the soul?’ Pirelle cocked her head. ‘My understanding is magic is of the elements or of the blood.’

  Doroquael drifted higher, burning brighter. ‘He referss to magic of the sspirit, I think. Like a fire-walker’s knowing.’

  ‘Ah, of course.’ Temerran gave a slight bow. ‘You think of spirit as one of the building blocks of the universe, like fire or water. We bards think of the spirit, the soul, as something else, something divine.’

  Dia frowned. ‘I think I understand. So; you have been away from your people?’

  Pain crossed his face. ‘A vain adventure and costly to the Borrows, it seems.’

  ‘No!’ Grya scrambled onto her knees to touch his arm. ‘You are not to blame.’

  Dia swallowed, looking away, Temerran’s guilt was crushing. ‘Would you have had the power to defend the Borrows from Chem?’

  He looked up. ‘Magical power? No. But I might have united the clans to make a stand.’

  ‘Then they would have just taken longer to die,’ Heara muttered.

  ‘You may be right,’ Temerran reached out to touch his flute. ‘Icante, would you sail with me to the Borrows?’

  ‘What?’ Arrus demanded. ‘You appear from nowhere, with magi—’

  ‘I’ll consider it,’ Dia said quietly.

  ‘Dia!’ Heara stepped forward almost hissing in her ear.

  She stood, glaring at her husband and her friend, before turning to address Temerran. ‘If we do, we’ll take our own ship. Grya and her people will remain here as our hostages until my return. We will wait, though, until I hear back from my friend in Elden. She may obtain information to help us with the blood curse. You, and you alone, will stay within Fulmer Hold until we sail, but you will go nowhere but your own room without one of my warriors. Is that acceptable?’

  Grya looked from her to Temerran, her eyes wide.

  Temerran stood. He took in a deep breath and held out his hand. ‘I accept.’

  Chapter Fifteen

  Ayline; Kingdom of Elden

  Ayline winced, Adrin’s exaggerated laugh seeming to jar her bones. She’d found him charming and exciting at first, but it soon wore off when she realised how shallow and narcissistic the man was. She glanced up to see both her husband and Adrin fawning over the red-haired witch who was seated between them. Worvig was sat to Ayline’s right and when she looked at him, she saw he was as fed up as she was. There was water in his cup, rather than wine, and he tore a crust of bread in two, his jaw muscles moving. She had to admit he’d proved to be more pleasant to talk to than she’d assumed. He was quiet but knew a surprising amount about a large range of subjects and he listened to her. Really listened.

  She started as a soft voice spoke close behind her. ‘Your tea, your majesty.’

  The sound of Inari’s voice set pins and needles dancing inside her chest. She refused to turn and look at him, lifting her hand off the table slightly in acknowledgement. She watched as his muscled arm, with its soft dark hair, reached past her to leave the cup. She held her breath, wondering if he’d gone but refusing to look around.

  She’d stayed away from the lake tower since the day he had massaged her shoulders, her daring and desire crushed by fear of the consequences. If she were caught being inappropriate with any man it was very likely she’d face execution. Likely her child’s legitimacy would be put into question as well, and therefore its life. It hadn’t stopped her dreaming of Inari, though, dreams that left her feeling hot and set her heart racing. Despite avoiding The Tower, she seemed to bump into him everywhere. He always behaved with perfect propriety, unlike Adrin. Bractius seemed to find it amusing when Adrin turned his barely hidden, bawdy flirting on her, it was as though her husband thought it were impossible anyone would really find her attractive now she was over four months pregnant. Bractius certainly had no interest in her himself, not that he had for quite some time.

  ‘Are you well, your majesty?’

  She looked up to see Worvig was watching her and realised she was glowering. She forced a smile and rubbed at her belly. ‘I’m fine, it was just kicking a bit.’

  Worvig shifted in his seat, watching her hand.

  ‘Do you have children, Silene?’ she asked.

  ‘I don’t.’ A frown settled over his dark-hazel eyes. ‘I guess I never got around to it. My niece was child enough for me.’

  ‘You’re close?’

  She tried to keep her expression pleasant as she thought of the demon-eyed woman who had stolen Jorrun.

  ‘Yes.’ Worvig’s face broke into such a warm smile she couldn’t help but genuinely respond in kind.

  She gasped as Bractius’ hand came down heavily on her shoulder. ‘Ayline, Larissa would like to visit the Raven Tower tomorrow, I’m busy, would you take her?’

  She opened her mouth, trying to find a good excuse to say no. The last thing she wanted was to spend time with the witch.

  ‘I’ll take her, I used to serve there, remember?’ Adrin grinned at Larissa.

  For a moment the Fulmer woman looked annoyed, but she hid it quickly.

  ‘I can go,’ Ayline found herself saying. With Jorrun away on some secret trip, would they let her up into his forbidden tower? She shivered.

  ‘Good.’ Bractius slapped her on the back a little too hard. Worvig smiled at her in sympathy.

  ‘Will you come to The Tower also, Silene?’ she asked politely.

  He shrugged. ‘I guess I may as well see it and it would be good to be out in the countryside for a while.’

  She picked up her cup and sipped at the tea. It was chamomile and sweetened with honey. She forced aside her sudden longing for the green-eyed servant.

  No one stopped her when she excused herself, claiming tiredness; at least her pregnancy was good for something! Lerra immediately darted forward from where she’d been hovering at the back of the hall.

  ‘Lerra, I want to take some fresh air. Go to my room and fetch a warm cloak, meet me in the gardens.’

  ‘At once.’ Lerra curtseyed.

  Ayline waited until the girl was out of sight, but instead of heading for the gardens she turned down the corridor that led to the lake tower. It was harder to take the uneven steps upward than the last time she’d done so and she wondered how much longer she’d be able to manage them before her ungainly shape and extra weight made it too difficult. The thought of not being able to go to the tower room actually hurt, despite the fact she’d been avoiding it.

  She opened the door slowly, the candle on the table by her chair had been lit but as far as she could see there was no one there. Her eyes widened when she saw the bed and her skin flushed and her muscles tightened. The old, sagging mattress had been replaced by a new one and clean, soft, blankets were stretched neatly across it. The floor had been swept and a soft fur rug lay before the fireplace. There were still cobwebs in the corners and around the glass of the window. Ayline smiled. She took slow, careful steps toward the window and looked out over the lake. The sun had almost set, lighting the clouds in gold and red.

  ‘It’s a beautiful evening, your majesty.’

  She spun around to see Inari standing in the doorway, his basket of candles balanced over one arm.

  ‘You changed the bed.’ She nodded toward it.

  ‘You asked me to clean the room, your majesty.’

  She raised her chin. ‘I did.’

  ‘You haven’t been for a while.’ He
stepped into the room, letting the door close behind him.

  ‘I’ve been busy.’ She took a step back.

  His eyes ran slowly over her, from the hem of her long dress up to her eyes and hair, she felt herself blush but didn’t look away.

  ‘You are always beautiful, but the evening glow from that window really suits you.’ Inari moved to the foot of the bed and put down the candles. ‘Someone should paint you, right there, with a crown upon your head and Taurmaline below your feet.’

  She held her breath, her heart beating fast. He stalked closer and she tensed leaning back a little as he lifted a hand to touch her cheek with his long fingers. ‘You forget your place!’ Her voice came out with no conviction, even to her own ears.

  ‘Oh, I know my place.’ His green eyes were very, very close. ‘It is under your command, your majesty. I’m your most loyal subject. My fate is yours.’

  ‘Our fate will be the executioners block.’ She drew in a breath and stepped away, meaning to get past him and leave. He was faster.

  ‘You have more courage than that, my queen. Besides, who will know but us?’ He put his hands behind his back and moved aside. She looked toward the door, but couldn’t seem to bring her feet to move.

  ‘Not tonight.’ He leaned forward, his breath tickling her ear. ‘Lerra will be panicking about where you are. Come late at night, I’ll watch for you.’

  She stared at him wide-eyed, shocked and thrilled by the boldness of his invitation. She grabbed a handful of her skirt and hurried to the door without a word, clumsily fumbling at the handle and darting outside. She sucked in air, leaning against the wall as she descended, forcing herself to slow down and not risk a fall.

  How could a servant be so daring? She needed to find out more about him, but who could she ask without stirring suspicion? She stopped.

  Was she really considering this?

  She could lose everything, including her life. It hardly seemed worth it. And yet …

  An ally, a place to start, someone who treated her as she deserved. She placed one hand on her abdomen and continued down the stairs.

  ***

  Worvig held out his hand and Ayline didn’t hesitate to take it, letting him steady her as she stepped down the gangplank and onto the narrow wharf. Her former lady-in-waiting, Rosa, stood waiting to greet her, her rough-looking husband at her side. Larissa seemed to know them, and she recalled the Icante and her party had insisted on leaving the luxury of Taurmaline castle to come here and wait for Kesta to return from Chem. Rosa didn’t bat an eyelid when Larissa kissed Tantony on the cheek. She winced at the vulgar familiarity, no lady of Elden would great a man not of her family in such a way.

  ‘This is Worvig Silene,’ Larissa introduced the large Fulmer warrior.

  Merkis Tantony’s face broke into a wide, toothy grin. ‘Silene, I’m honoured to meet you at last.’

  ‘Is that so?’ Worvig looked genuinely confused.

  ‘I owe you thanks for ensuring Kesta and I got on and off of Mantu in one piece. She accredited her rather unorthodox fighting style to you.’

  ‘Oh!’ Worvig smiled uncomfortably. ‘Well, yes I guess I did teach her a move or two.’

  ‘Your majesty.’ Rosa gave a curtsey. ‘Please come inside and have some refreshment?’

  Ayline glared at her through narrowed eyes and she was pleased when the older woman’s face reddened. The woman had been away from court for a while and Ayline felt a need to assert her dominance and remind the plain, dull woman who she was.

  ‘Actually, I want to see inside the Raven Tower.’ Ayline gritted her teeth angrily when Rosa and Tantony glanced at each other.

  Rosa opened her mouth to speak, ‘Oh, wel—’

  ‘I’m not making a request.’ Ayline all but snarled. How dare they question her!

  ‘Your majesty.’ It was Tantony’s turn to redden a little. Neither Worvig nor Larissa lifted their gaze up from the ground. ‘Thane Jorrun commands tha—’

  ‘Thane Jorrun does not command the Queen!’ Ayline clenched her fists and took a step toward the Merkis.

  He glanced at Rosa again, but nodded quickly. ‘This way, your majesty.’

  Behind her she heard Rosa invite Larissa and Worvig into the Hold. The two ladies-in-waiting who had accompanied her started to follow their queen, but Tantony halted.

  ‘I’m sorry, your majesty, but your ladies will have to wait outside The Tower, them I cannot allow.’

  She felt a moment of outrage, followed by concern at going into The Tower alone with the Merkis, but she waved a hand to dismiss the ladies.

  Tantony pushed the door open and gave a slight bow. Ayline swallowed, looking into the darkness. She straightened her back and walked quickly past the Merkis, her shoulders dropping and her feet faltering when she saw the room. It was disappointingly empty, just a table and a stone stairway leading up.

  Tantony looked at her expectantly. Clutching the front of her dress to lift it a little she ascended the steps. It was ridiculously dark, only three candles lit in sconces along the entire length of the stairway. She wondered if Tantony had done it on purpose to scare her, but then she remembered he hadn’t known she’d wanted to come here.

  ‘What’s in here?’ she demanded, stopping at the first door.

  ‘Jorrun’s library, your majesty.’

  She tried the door and found it unlocked. It was even darker within the room than out on the stairway, there didn’t even seem to be a window! She refused to be afraid and stepped in, running her hand along the spines, although in truth she could barely make out what they said.

  She didn’t even glance at Tantony as she spun about and went back out to the stairs. She began to climb again and couldn’t help but think of the Lake Tower back at Taurmaline. Would Inari be waiting tonight?

  ‘That’s the rest of Jorrun’s library.’

  She realised she was standing outside the next door. She narrowed her eyes at Tantony, sure there had been some sarcasm in his voice. He really was a scruffy looking man. She went into the room and a smile of malice crept to her lips. Rosa really did deserve a husband as dull as she was.

  She snorted, at least this room had a window, although it was as uninteresting as the one before. Tantony kept his eyes lowered and his head bowed as she passed him again.

  As soon as she opened the third door a mixture of scents wafted out to greet her. Now this was more interesting. Her eyes widened, taking in the shelves of jars and bottles and the hundreds of carefully carved drawers that no doubt hid interesting things. She completely forgot about the Merkis as she peered at labels and opened drawers. She picked up a jar that contained a beautiful crimson powder that seemed to shimmer despite the darkness. She pulled out the cork stopper and bent her head to sniff the contents.

  Tantony cleared his throat loudly. ‘Best not, your majesty, you don’t know what it might do.’

  Her lip curled upward and she had to stop herself snarling at the impertinent man. She put the jar down though, not bothering with the stopper.

  ‘So, the last room is the Thane’s?’ She raised her eyebrows.

  ‘Yes, indeed.’ Tantony shifted his weight from one foot to the other. ‘Jorrun is an extremely private ma—’

  ‘Show me!’

  Tantony opened his mouth, then quickly closed it again and swallowed. He gave a small bow. ‘This way.’

  She almost pointed out to him there was only one way to go, stupid man, but she bit her tongue.

  She took the last few stairs quickly, but when she reached out her hand to open Jorrun’s door she saw it was shaking. She pushed the door open and blinked at the light from the three leaded glass windows. Most of the room was taken up by a table and the fireplace, a small bed was pushed awkwardly against the curved wall beneath one window. There was still a faint trace of the jasmine and cinnamon soap Jorrun used, but her nostrils also caught the musty, reptilian smell of the ravens up above. She could hear their claws as they skittered about in their loft, the sound made
her skin itch. She went over to the table and shoved at some of the scrolls there. She felt disappointed, she’d expected something more … well, more exciting.

  She picked up a couple of the books, leafing through them without actually reading them, not wanting Tantony to know what a waste of her time this had been. Not the potion room, though, she would like to see more of that.

  She screwed up her face and gave a dramatic shudder. ‘However does he stand the stink of those creatures and that awful noise they make? Take me back to the great hall, Merkis.’

  ‘At once.’ Tantony bowed.

  ***

  Her temper didn’t improve when she entered the great hall, it was so rustic and plain. The Hold women were darting about, clumsily laying out food that she no doubt wouldn’t be able to stomach. She couldn’t understand why Jorrun didn’t employ proper servants. Her own ladies-in-waiting had seated themselves with Larissa and Rosa, all of them were laughing and appeared far too comfortable together for her liking. Worvig sat a little apart from them and it was he who noticed her first. He got quickly to his feet and bowed, at least one of the fools here had manners, even if it was the rough Fulmer man. Her ladies-in-waiting almost fell over their own skirts scrambling to their feet. She chose to ignore them and made her way to the high table where she sat in Jorrun’s seat.

  Lunch was intolerable. Rosa tried to entertain her with dull talk of Northold and questions about court she couldn’t be bothered to answer. Worvig and Tantony went off together, talking about Mantu. Had the King been here they wouldn’t have dared wander off without permission.

  ‘Would you like to take a walk around the ward and see how Kesta’s projects are coming along?’ Rosa asked.

  Ayline realised she was talking to her. ‘No, I would not. I have no interest in cabbages and potatoes.’