The Raven Coven

by Emma Miles

  She kept her knowing open, sending out her own calm to the women. Girls of the Fulmers were taught how to meditate and seek to open their magic, if they were able, from an early age. She remembered her own excitement when she’d felt that first rush of power. It had been nearly a year later that her eyes had slowly changed their colour.

  She let flames dissipate and closed down her magic.

  ‘That’s enough for now,’ she said gently. ‘It’s all right to try to practice, but please, please only do so when I’m here.’

  The women nodded, she felt disappointment from several of them.

  ‘What is it you normally do with your day?’ she asked.

  ‘We have weaving and sewing to do,’ Vilai said, uncrossing her legs and moving her long skirt to sit more comfortably. ‘But there is not much to do with so few children to care for.’

  Kesta stood up and looked around the room. There were a few books in a case against the wall, two small looms, and a spinning wheel.

  ‘Hmm. I have a little project we can take up if we can get hold of the materials.’ Kesta grinned. ‘In the meantime, who wants to learn how to kill someone with a dagger?’

  ***

  Kesta was sat quietly listening to one of the women reading aloud from a book when she heard footsteps in the hallway. She leapt up and went to the door, Azrael at her shoulder. Her heart swelled and she took in a sharp breath when she saw Jorrun making his way toward her with Cassien. Several servants followed behind them bringing their evening meal. Cassien glanced away as Kesta reached up to push her fingers through Jorrun’s dark hair and kissed him fiercely.

  ‘Did you miss me, by any chance?’ He raised an eyebrow and the ghost of a smile creased the skin around his eyes.

  She flushed slightly, recalling he didn’t like to show affection in public. Instead of apologising she raised her chin. ‘Not at all. What’s been happening? Come in and meet everyone.’

  Jorrun raised a hand. ‘I’ll catch you up on everything shortly. Cassien has come up to keep watch with Azrael and give you a break. Osun is trying to get some sleep and being guarded by Jagna and two Drake—’

  Kesta opened her mouth to protest but Jorrun raised a finger. ‘It’s fine!’ His eyes widened to emphasise his words. ‘We need to get some sleep ourselves as there is a lot to do tomorrow. And every day after.’ He realised they were holding up the servants and nodded at them to go on in. ‘Introduce us, then.’

  Kesta had to refrain from taking his arm or hand as they stepped into the room. Glancing up at him she saw he’d stilled the muscles of his face and closed off the emotion from his eyes. She sighed, but she couldn’t blame him for wanting to keep his emotions in check on meeting these women. All but the servants stopped what they were doing at once, the palace women scrambling to their feet and then kneeling to bow their heads.

  ‘No!’ Kesta waved her hands at them. She grabbed Vilai’s arm and tried to pull her up. ‘You don’t bow anymore! This is my husband, Jorrun, and Osun’s bodyguard, Cassien. Cassien was a slave until just a few days ago. Please.’ She went over to stand before Calayna. ‘Treat them as you have me. Talk to them, talk in front of them, and for goodness’ sake get up!’

  Calayna looked up, her breathing rapid and her eyes wide as she got to her feet. The other women followed and Kesta introduced them all, pleased she’d been able to remember all the names. Jorrun gave a low bow and Cassien quickly copied him.

  ‘I’m honoured to meet you,’ Jorrun said. ‘I apologise, but I must borrow Kesta for a while. Cassien and Azrael will keep you safe.’

  Cassien smiled nervously.

  ‘Go take a seat, Cassien,’ Kesta prompted him. ‘But not too far from the door.’

  Kesta realised several of the women were staring at Jorrun. Calayna opened her mouth, but stepped back rather than speaking.

  ‘Please speak,’ Kesta prompted her.

  Calayna swallowed. ‘You are a Dunham, Lord?’

  Jorrun nodded. ‘My father was Dryn Dunham, although I prefer not to think of him as such. My mother was Naderra.’

  ‘I’ve heard that name.’ Calayna frowned. ‘In stories from women now long gone.’

  Jorrun looked away and his nostrils flared, Kesta could see the speed of his breathing had increased. ‘If you will excuse us then.’ She smiled at the women and nodded toward Azrael and Cassien before backing out of the room, trying hard to appear as though she wasn’t hurrying.

  She chose not to push him into talking about anything difficult. ‘So? How has poor Osun been getting on?’

  He started, looking down at her with narrowed eyes and she realised she’d expressed empathy toward his half-brother. ‘It’s not been easy.’ He gave a shake of his head as they reached the top of the stairs. ‘We’ve taken a look at the accounts of the palace and there’s barely enough to feed everyone. It seems several city officials absconded with the tax revenues on hearing of Dryn’s death. The palace and city have had little income but for what Cepack looted and sold.’ He gritted his teeth. ‘Money we’d hoped to use to buy and free women of blood will have to be used to get Navere back on its feet I fear.’

  Kesta’s heart sank. She sighed. ‘It was never going to be easy.’

  ‘Osun … he is good though, he is already restoring order and begun appointing people from the Rowan Order to strategic places.’ He glanced at her as they passed the once luxurious rooms of the coven members and continued down the stairs. ‘We might need to make a few more shows of power though, to keep other covens away and give the less cooperative element of Navere reason to obey.’

  Kesta nodded. ‘I’ve already had to make a demonstration or two of my power. I’ll start working on winning over the servants first thing tomorrow.’

  ‘How’s it going with the women?’

  She wasn’t surprised when he led her toward the library. ‘Slowly, but that’s to be expected. They’ve never had the luxury of deciding whether to trust someone or not before. Jorrun, I know our resources are limited, but because of us their children were killed or sold away, can w—’

  ‘Kesta.’ He stopped to look down at her, touching his long fingers to the side of her face and stroking her jaw with his thumb. ‘We’ll try, but we have to prioritise making this place safe. I’ve had the palace genealogy and slave sales brought to the library so we can have a look and try to trace people’s families. We might have to bide our time until we can get them back though.’

  He pushed the library doors open, lanterns spilled their warm glow across the central table. Some pillows and blankets had been dropped haphazardly across the chairs and several large ledgers waited on the table. Jorrun went straight to them, moving a lantern closer and seeming to forget she was even there for a moment as he leafed through the pages. He paused, his hand raised above the yellowing paper. Holding her breath, Kesta stepped closer to look past him.

  On the top of the page was the name, ‘Naderra,’ with details of her parentage and blood lines. Beneath were two names followed by the words, ‘sired by Dryn Dunham’. Dinari and Jorrun.

  ‘Dinari?’ She looked at him, he didn’t seem to be breathing.

  ‘I had an older sister.’ He turned from the table and sat heavily in one of the chairs. ‘I don’t even remember her. She was sold when I was six, I think.’

  ‘But … but Osun said your mother was very young when she had you.’

  He nodded, his eyes distant. ‘She must have been about fifteen when she had Dinari.’

  ‘Fifteen!’ Kesta felt her magic rise and her fingers locked into claws.

  Jorrun looked her up and down and a little life came back to his eyes. ‘We can’t kill Dryn again, Kesta, calm down.’

  ‘Calm down?’ Her eyes widened even more.

  He stood. ‘Yes, my little volcano. Save your anger for when we can use it.’ He turned back to the window before glancing at her. ‘Even in Chem it’s unusual for a man to sleep with a woman so young. Not for her sake, sadly, but because there would be a high ch
ance of losing their property if her body isn’t developed enough to safely carry a child. Dryn … he was obsessed with my mother. I’ve sometimes wondered if he even knew she could perform small feats of magic. Seeing Calayna has made me wonder again. My mother’s eyes were mis-matched and yet he never had her tattooed.’ He sighed and touched the edge of the table. ‘These ledgers should tell me what happened to Dinari.’

  She turned to the table and began checking the spines and front covers. Jorrun moved to stand beside her although his own search was more cautious.

  ‘This looks like a sales book.’ She held a large, blue bound ledger toward him.

  He frowned over the pages. ‘No, this is for palace slaves and servants.’ His hand went to a smaller book with a dark-red cover. She watched him as his eyes moved over the letters and numbers. ‘This is it.’

  Kesta bit her lower lip and waited, leaning with one hand on the table.

  Jorrun had to clear his throat to loosen the muscles enough to speak. ‘He sold her to Karinna.’

  ‘What?’ The strength went out of Kesta’s knees at the same time as Jorrun dropped the book. They were both well aware of what a brutally cruel man Karinna had been before Kesta had killed him. He’d murdered Osun’s mother for fun and tortured Jorrun when he’d caught him dream-walking.

  Jorrun stood staring up at the beautiful stained-glass window that took up a large part of one of the library walls.

  ‘What …’ Kesta tried again, forcing more volume to her voice. ‘What city would that be? Is there any way to see their records?’

  His shoulders sagged and he glanced at her over his shoulder, she could see in his eyes he had no hope his sister lived.

  ‘Karinna held the seat at Mayliz.’

  Her voice came out in a whisper. ‘We can try.’

  He turned and stepped toward her, enfolding her in a hug that was surprisingly gentle and resting his cheek against the top of her head. ‘We can, although it can’t be a priority. Come on, we were supposed to be getting some rest.’

  He picked up the blankets and pillows, taking them over to the secret passage. ‘Take out that large, dark brown book, then feel behind it for the lever.’

  Kesta did so, jumping a little as her fingers caught in a spider web. A section of the bookcase sprang toward her and she gave it a tug to widen the gap. Going back to the table she fetched one of the lanterns, turning down the rest, before following Jorrun up the narrow stairs.

  ***

  She awoke to complete darkness; a sense of unease having crept into her dreams. She strained her ears to listen but no sound filtered through the thick stone of the palace. She reached out a hand to reassure herself Jorrun still lay beside her. She gasped, sitting up quickly. The skin of his chest was hot to touch and wet with sweat.

  ‘Jorrun?’ She called up her knowing and carefully reached out again to touch his cheek with the back of her hand.

  She recoiled, scrambling up into a crouch with her back pressed up against the solid balcony. The emotions she’d felt left her nauseous, the taste of blood was in the back of her throat. She drew fire to her fingertips, convinced she’d see a stranger there, someone like Karinna. She let her breath out, almost panting and feeling the slow trickle of sweat down her own back. It was Jorrun, lying so still that had she not felt his heat, she’d have thought him dead. The fire dancing across her palm barely gave colour to his face.

  ‘Jorrun?’ She was afraid to touch him again but told herself off for being foolish. She shut off her knowing, her stomach still turning backflips despite the tight knots in her muscles. Forcing herself to relax she called his name again and shook his shoulder.

  He sat up so quickly she flinched and banged her head against the balcony.

  ‘Kesta, what’s wrong?’

  She looked into his bright, stormy eyes and sagged in relief. It was her Jorrun. She shook herself, feeling stupid for her irrational fear. ‘I’m sorry, I think you were having another nightmare.’

  He lifted the blanket and she let her flames go out, wriggling beneath the fleece to lie bedside him. He reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear. ‘Yes, I think I was having a nightmare, but I don’t remember it now.’

  She moved to lay her head on his chest and he pulled her closer. She could hear his heart, loud and fast, within his ribs. ‘You haven’t been dream-walking have you?’

  ‘No, not here. Although I’ll have to sometime, with Osun here we have no one out gathering information.’

  ‘We have the Rowen Order, I think we can trust them. They would have a lot to lose if they were exposed so they are unlikely to double cross us.’

  ‘Even so, we should both consider using our walking to keep ahead of our enemies; we have many now.’

  She nodded against his chest.

  She listened as his breathing slowed and he drifted back into sleep, but she couldn’t find sleep for herself. The iron smell of blood wouldn’t leave her.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Dia; Fulmer Islands

  Dia stopped to lean against the wooden pillar and watched the group gathered around Temerran. They were mostly children but Milaiya and Pirelle were also there. She was hardly surprised that he’d won over the women with his pretty face and his charming words, but he had proved equally good at making friends with the warriors, including a couple of late nights drinking with Arrus. She supposed it was all a part of what he was, a bard, but now and again she felt the subtle buzz of his magic behind his words and she found that she couldn’t trust him.

  The bard seemed to be teaching them how to play a counting and rhyming game with sticks, whatever it was there was a lot of laughing. Taking in a breath, she made her way across the hall to the outer door, not looking up as Temerran’s green eyes followed her. Several women sat at a long table, singing as they pounded at the wool they were dyeing. Taking the narrow path away from the Hold, she made her way to the clearing where Heara trained. The shouts and whoops told her that her best friend had attracted an audience again. She knew Heara loved nothing better than showing off, but she worried she was putting too much pressure on the reserved and defensive Catya. She decided it was past time she should intervene.

  Heara had set up an assault course out of logs and ropes but it wasn’t Catya she had running it, but herself, two Borrowmen, and Merkis Vilnue’s warrior. Catya and several Fulmer warriors were throwing clumps of turf at them to try to throw them off balance. Dia sighed. In some ways it was good to see the warriors mixing together, but there was every chance it could end badly. She groaned when Arrus pushed forward out of the crowd to jump up onto one of the logs. With a shake of her head, she strode forward, calling up wind and sweeping them all off of the course and into the mud.

  ‘Hey!’ Heara protested, sitting up and pushing her hair back from her face. ‘I was winning!’

  ‘Come back and win later,’ Dia scowled. ‘I need you and Arrus. Now.’

  Dia moved away from the crowd to wait for them, already several people, including Catya, had clambered back up onto the logs. Heara sauntered toward her, brushing down her trousers and flicking back her long plait.

  ‘Trouble?’ Heara asked, her face serious.

  Dia drew in a deep breath. ‘Potentially. Do you think it’s wise to get the warriors competing against each other like that?’

  ‘It’s just a bit of fun, although I’m guessing you don’t think so.’ Heara frowned. ‘I built it for Catya, but they wanted a go. I need to find somewhere more private to train Catya.’

  ‘I’m just concerned it might turn into the Fulmers verses the Borrows.’

  ‘Ah.’ Heara’s eyes narrowed a little. ‘I hadn’t thought of it like that.’

  ‘Luckily I don’t think it’s occurred to them either.’

  ‘What’s up?’ Arrus put his arm around Heara’s shoulders.

  ‘A letter has arrived from Rosa of Northold.’ Dia regarded the two of them. ‘There’s no news still of Kesta and Jorrun but Rosa’s sent a book from the R
aven Tower, a book about blood magic.’

  ‘Any help?’ Heara asked.

  ‘I don’t know yet, but as you know our two weeks are up tomorrow.’ Dia glanced over their shoulders at the laughing crowd of warriors. ‘Let’s take a walk.’

  ‘You’re not seriously thinking of going are you?’ Heara asked as they made their way deeper into the forest.

  Arrus turned to stare at her.

  ‘Actually, yes I am.’

  ‘What?’ Arrus and Heara both responded at once.

  Dia raised a hand. ‘I’m going.’

  ‘Then you’ve thought of a way to remove the curse?’ Heara stopped to look at her. ‘I thought you’d decided there was nothing to be done?’

  Dia gave a slight shake of her head. ‘That’s probably still the case, but I’ve weighed up the consequences of me going and failing against those of my not going at all. Sheltering the Borrow refugees has begun a step toward friendship – or at least away from animosity – that refusing to even try to help with the curse might destroy. Even if I fail, they’ll continue to be beholden to us, to owe us a debt. If I succeed … well, then no person of honour on the Borrows would even consider ever attacking the Fulmers again.’

  Arrus snorted. ‘You’re assuming they have honour. You don’t even like Temerran!’

  ‘It’s not a matter of liking him.’ Dia frowned. ‘I don’t trust him. He uses a magic and a skill that manipulates people. This isn’t about Temerran, though, this is about securing the future of the Fulmers.’

  ‘Have you spoken to the other walkers?’ Arrus asked.

  She felt a moment of guilt. ‘No, only Everlyn. She’ll be the one to take my place with Pirelle until I return.’