The Dawn of the Raven Omnibus 1: Episodes 1-5

by J. L. Blackthorne

  Zorin took her to a two-story building built around the base of a thick tree trunk and told her that she would find a bed up on the second level that should suit her fine. He introduced her to Feyen, a young woman who lived on the level below, and Feyen told her to let her know if there was anything she needed at all. With that, Zorin bid Kiella goodnight, and left. Kiella climbed up a rope ladder to the second level, and found the bed very comfortable and warm. The second level had no walls except for the tree trunk behind it, and so Kiella had a perfect view of the night time forest. She couldn’t believe where she was, and what a strange and wonderful day it had become. She thought of Raveena and said a short prayer for her. Then, she thought again about how horribly the day had started, and about the woman who had come to her aid.

  When Kiella awoke, the town was already in full swing. From her spot up in the tree house she could look right down on the town center. It was full of Elken people going about their business, and now the people no longer seemed wary of her presence. She saw an Elken man moving large pieces of firewood into a pile with just a wave of his hand, levitating them from one spot to another effortlessly. She saw a young girl happily planting seeds along the edge of the town square. Once each seed had been planted, she would point her finger over the spot and a flower would grow to full bloom within seconds. As Kiella sat mesmerized by the wonderful scene below, she was suddenly shocked by a greeting that came from just a few feet beside her.

  “Hello!” yelled out a little voice.

  Kiella looked to her right and saw a happy little grinning face floating just off the edge of the second story. It was little Efrik!

  “Hey! I heard you’re not supposed to be up this high!”

  “Oh shoot! Don’t tell!” Answered little Efrik, as he floated up over the edge and landed next to her.

  “Oh, I won’t. Zorin told me you’re still working on your landings?”

  “Yes, I am. But I think I’m getting the hang of it. I’m Efrik!” He grinned and held out his tiny hand. Kiella happily shook it.

  “I’m Kiella. It’s a real pleasure to meet you!”

  Efrik was very pleased by this, and then, getting his courage up, couldn’t keep his curiosity from peaking.

  “I’ve never seen an outsider before.”

  “I’d never met an Elken until yesterday either.”

  “I’ve never even been outside of the village. What is it like out there? What’s it like beyond the forest?”

  “Oh. Well, there’re lots of things out there. Some of it’s really nice. Other parts are not so nice. But I must say, I think you’re lucky. This is about the nicest place I’ve ever seen.”

  Efrik really liked this notion. He got an ear-to-ear grin as he looked out at his village. Then, he continued.

  “I’ve heard that your people don’t like us. Is that true?”

  “Well . . . I don’t think my people really know you, or understand you. I like you. I like you a lot.” She mussed his hair playfully, and Efrik seemed content. He then got ready to try and float back down to rejoin his friends, but Kiella talked him into taking the ladder, since they were at quite a significant height.

  Kiella had just reached the bottom when she heard Zorin’s voice greet her. She turned and found him chatting with Feyen, enjoying some morning tea. He gave Efrik a slightly suspicious look and told him “Now Efrik, I do hope you remember what we discussed about your floating. We wouldn’t want you to fall and get hurt.”

  “Yes sir. I will remember.”

  “Good.” Said Zorin, as he patted the boy on the head.

  Efrik ran off to play, and Kiella sat down with Zorin and Feyen and Feyen poured her a nice cup of tea. Again, like with the stew the night before, the flavor was totally new to her, but it was delicious. Once she had finished, Zorin asked her if she was ready to go check on her friend, and so they got up, Kiella thanked Feyen for her hospitality, and they were on their way.

  When they entered the hut where Raveena was being treated, it was obvious right away that her condition had improved dramatically. Her skin was a very healthy tone now, and her breathing was regular. She now just appeared as a normal, healthy person in a deep sleep. Osthra gently pulled back the bandages from Raveena’s wound to show them that all signs of infection were gone. The wound appeared to be clean and healing properly now. She gently replaced the bandage so as not to disturb Raveena’s rest, and then they all stepped quietly out of the chamber.

  “She’s doing much better.” Osthra told them. “She just needs to keep resting, but the worst is over. I believe that your friend will be fine.”

  Zorin beamed.

  “Oh, great work my love. Tremendous. Now please, dear, go get some rest.” He gave Osthra a kiss on the cheek. Then, he turned to Kiella. “See? What did I say? She is the best. A miracle worker.” He was so proud and so happy that he couldn’t help but laugh. Kiella was very grateful, and thanked Osthra graciously. Kiella watched as Osthra headed back to the same house that Zorin had pointed out as his own the night before.

  “She is your wife?” Kiella asked.

  “Oh yes. Of many many years.” He turned and gave Kiella a wry grin. “Oh, you think our age difference is quite scandalous, do you?” Kiella was a bit surprised. After all, Zorin appeared at least thirty years older, if not more. “You think I robbed the cradle, eh? Well, I don’t suppose you’d believe me if I told you it was the other way around?”

  Kiella didn’t know what to make of this. Zorin explained.

  “You see, Osthra’s gift, her natural power, is to heal. Her whole being is naturally infused with a healing force. As a result, she is constantly healing herself, and her body ages at an unbelievably slow rate. Even I, just by being near her, have seen my rate of aging decrease monumentally since we’ve been together. She is, as far as I know, the oldest being in the realm. Oh, the things she’s seen, the life she’s lived. You’ll have to talk to her someday. But, for now, she must rest. Your friend was very close to the other side. Very close indeed. She was very close to being out of even Osthra’s reach to save. And she worked on her all night long. Healing such as that is a great tax on Osthra. She may sleep for days now.”

  It took Kiella a while to grasp all of this. She was so grateful to Osthra, and so intrigued by their story. Finally, she broke the silence.

  “She’s really older than you?” she grinned as she said this.

  “Yes! I kid you not!” Zorin’s old eyes sparkled with joy as he gave a hearty laugh, and led Kiella back into the center of the village to pass the day.

  When her eyes opened, Raveena had no idea where she was, and no recollection of how she’d gotten there. She combed her memory for any clue, but found nothing. The Gekken and their battle with the Raganeans was the last thing that came to her. Everything after was in a fog. She looked about the small, quaint room. Eventually, her gaze found the door, and a young woman who sat next to it. The young woman suddenly became aware that Raveena was awake, and she came and offered her water. She spoke in a kind, warm voice.

  “It’s okay. Here, drink some of this.”

  Raveena drank, though she was beginning to feel a sense of panic since she was so disoriented. “Where am I? Who are you?” she asked.

  “I am Lorith. You are in our village, among the Elken.” Lorith saw Raveena’s eyes turn to fear. “Oh no, don’t worry. You are our guest. Your friend, she is here. I will go get her. Just relax.” With that, Lorith stepped out the door and disappeared.

  Raveena was completely confused. She wasn’t even sure who the friend could be that Lorith had referred to. It took incredible effort, but she was able to get to her feet. The beauty felt a terrible pain in her lower abdomen, and examined the wound that she found to be the source of the pain. She lifted the bandages and saw that it appeared to be healing well. Visions of the end of the battle with the Gekken returned. She remembered the leader. She remembered the sting of his sword, and the look on his face as his head sailed through the air following he
r lethal blow. Then, she remembered her people, and the threat of the Gekken that only she could warn them of. She gingerly made her way to the door and stepped outside.

  Raveena was shocked by what was out there. A perfect, ideal village. Children giggled and played, and adults appeared to be happily going about their daily work, all in a setting that seemed in unison with nature and the forest itself. She was amazed by it, yet her mind was set to a single purpose: she knew she must return to her home as quickly as possible to save her people from being destroyed by her grave mistake. It was all coming back to her now; how she had gone first to the Raganeans, how they had detained her, how she had now lost more time, who knows how long, while recovering from her wound. As impressive and idyllic as the setting around her was, Raveena knew her focus could not stray from what she needed to do. There was too much at stake.

  Lorith returned, with Kiella, Zorin, and several other Elken in tow. Lorith tried to take her back to bed to rest, but Raveena refused. She interrupted the greetings that the others offered.

  “I’m sorry. Thank you so much for letting me rest, and for helping me recovery. I sincerely appreciate all of your aid. But there is no time to spare. The Gekken have returned. I must get back to my people to warn them. And please, you must help us to drive them back.”

  Zorin’s look turned to sadness.

  “Oh, please. Please take your time and rest. Your wound has barely knit. You need much more rest.”

  “No” Raveena insisted. “There is no time. The rest I’ve had will have to do. Thank you. I really appreciate all you must have done for me. But the threat is real. The Gekken are coming. Please, you must help. It will take all of us to stop them.”

  Zorin’s look turned from sadness to scorn.

  “You want us to fight for you?”

  Raveena’s mind was still on only one track.

  “Yes. You must. If the Gekken aren’t stopped, no one in the realm is safe. We are all in danger.”

  “My lady, do you know where you are? Do you know who we are?”

  Raveena thought carefully. She began to remember heading towards the Forbidden Forest. Were these really the exiles, then? Still, she couldn’t let it matter.

  “I’m sorry. I mean no disrespect. You are the exiles? If so, I apologize for violating the truce. Still, you must see that it was necessary. Our whole realm must unite. If the Gekken get a foothold, if they bring their entire army, all will be lost.”

  Zorin could see both the fear and the anger in her eyes. He knew there was no reasoning with this human. It had been a nice, refreshing visit with Kiella, but he knew that would all be over soon. He insisted that Raveena at least come get a good meal in first. They could discuss everything else after.

  The meal was, again, amazing, but Raveena never even noticed the taste of her food. Her mind was too focused, too obsessed with what needed to be done. As soon as the meal was over, Zorin gave her a forum for discussion, and Raveena wasted no time pleading her case.

  “I have seen them. I have faced them. They are here, and they are stronger and more dangerous than ever. What I faced was just a small party. There will be more, and they will be powerful. They will sweep the entire realm if we do not stand together and stop them.”

  Zorin could see the sincerity in her eyes. He knew she believed this to be true. He paused for quite a while before he responded.

  “I am sorry. I don’t know what it is you want or expect from us. Your people banished us over one hundred years ago. We are not welcome outside of this forest. Your people have chosen lines, they have proven that they are serious about enforcing them. Elken have crossed in the past, and they have been killed for it. And now, you expect us to go out and protect your people from the Gekken? How do we know if we cross the line, we will not be seen as the threat? No, no. We will not break the truce. We have finally embraced it. We are happy here. We are at peace. War? No. No more war for the Elken. We have fought as much as we care to fight.”

  Raveena’s pulse pounded. Rage clouded her judgment.

  “You are a fool.” She stated as she looked Zorin straight in the eye. “The Gekken won’t stop with the humans. All in this realm will fall in their path. You may be safe here until the humans have been wiped out, but then they will come for you too. We need an army. You must compel your people to come with us and fight.”

  “Oh my dear” Zorin smiled and laughed. “You clearly don’t know anything about the Elken. I am too old to go to war. I am in my twilight. This is my time to rest, to enjoy what time I have left sitting back, watching the young ones, teaching whatever I can to whoever has the patience to listen to an old man. As far as the others, I could command no army to follow you. It does not work like that. The Elken are a free people. They live by no one’s rules but their own, follow no command but the will of their own heart. We have no army. We never have. And I may seem like a leader of sorts, but I assure you, my position is ceremonial in nature only. I have no real power, except that which they choose to give out of respect. No, I cannot and will not command any Elken to join your cause. If an Elken chose to follow you, likewise, I could not stop them, but that choice would be theirs to make. I can dictate nothing.”

  Disappointment and sadness filled Raveena’s heart. Yet, she did find it within herself to thank him again for the aid she had received. She asked Kiella how soon she could be ready to leave. Kiella was shocked, and hated the thought of leaving, but she still felt that her place was with Raveena. She knew how scared Raveena was for her people, and she felt guilty because of how her people had treated her, and felt responsible to help her reach her people as soon as possible. Kiella thanked Zorin and the Elken for their graciousness and generosity. Raveena grabbed her belongings, and then announced to Kiella that it was time to go. With a heavy heart, Kiella waved goodbye to the Elken as she headed back into the thick woods. She had enjoyed her time in the Elken village so much. She wondered if she would ever return.

  They were not making good time. Raveena clearly needed more rest, but she was too stubborn. Her pace was not great, but it was relentless. Still, as dusk drew close, they had covered little ground. They finally stopped to make camp, with Raveena finally giving into her limitations. They had only been settled for a few moments when they became aware of the sound of steps behind them. Both Raveena and Kiella’s heads swiveled back immediately, for fear of an oncoming attack. Instead, they saw a cloaked woman. Kiella grew hopeful, and when the figure reached their camp and pulled down her hood, Kiella’s hopes were realized.

  Shyrea stood before them. Without a word, she sat down with them, and began putting together kindling for a fire, as she knew that with the darkness would come the cold. Raveena recognized that she must be an Elken, and could tell by Kiella’s reaction that she likely was not to be feared, yet she was still uneasy. Kiella broached the silence.

  “Thank you. Travel has been hard. We can really use the aid.”

  Raveena remembered what Zorin had said. She stared at the beautiful young Elken woman as she worked the fire, but the Elken woman’s eyes stayed steadfastly to task. When the fire was completed to her satisfaction, she finally sat back and relaxed, and spoke.

  “I know of the Gekken. I have seen them. I heard what you said in the village. I will join you, if you’ll have me.”

  Kiella smiled. Raveena nodded. Shyrea prodded the fire with a stick and it spit out sparks and grew intensely bright and warm. Before long, they all laid back to go to sleep. They would need their rest: a long journey lay ahead.

  To Be Continued

  In

  Episode 4:

  Strange Bedfellows

  The Dawn of the Raven

  Episode 4:

  Strange Bedfellows

  When Raveena awoke, she still felt exhausted. Her gut still ached where her wound was. She checked it to make sure that the pain wasn’t a sign that infection had returned, or that she hadn’t suffered a setback in its healing. It still appeared to be healing well. She would
just have to push through the pain.

  As she prepared to leave, Kiella was still sleeping, but the Elken woman was nowhere to be found. “Perhaps she changed her mind,” Raveena thought to herself. She wasn’t sure about her. She knew that they would need any help they could get, but the woman was a complete stranger to her, and an exile. Raveena wondered if she could really trust her, but reminded herself that they were not in any position to refuse aid. Raveena nudged Kiella, and Kiella stretched and rubbed her eyes. Once it appeared that Kiella had her wits somewhat about her, Raveena asked her if she knew where the Elken was.

  “Oh. No, no idea. She’s missing?”

  “There’s no sign of her.”

  Kiella looked around, still blinking, trying to get her eyes to focus properly.

  “I’m sure she’ll be back. She’s a hero, you know. She saved us. If it wasn’t for her, I would have been picked apart by wolves or vultures. Both of us would have. And if she hadn’t taken us to their village you would have died of your wound for sure.”

  Raveena focused on sharpening her blade. Her face grew stern, though it wasn’t clear whether it was in response to her misgivings regarding the Elken woman, or if she was just concentrating on her work. Finally, she paused and looked Kiella in the eye.

  “Are you sure we can trust her?”

  “Of course. Like I said, she saved us. She took us to her village and they healed you, welcomed us, outsiders, in. If they’d meant us any harm they certainly would have done it. No one from outside these woods would have ever been the wiser.”

  “What’s her name?” Raveena asked, as she continued to sharpen her blade.

  “Shyrea.”

  Just then, the sound of soft footsteps just outside the clearing could be heard. Raveena readied her freshly sharpened sword, still the one she’d taken off the body of a dead Raganean soldier, just in case. She relaxed her grip on the blade only slightly when she saw that it was the Elken woman.

  “Good morning” spoke Kiella.