Mark of the Raven

by Morgan L. Busse

  “I’ve heard the same thing. The people of Dominia support Commander Orion. He has brought wealth and prestige back to their empire. And he has done away with the old ways of monarchy and has set a new precedent: those who fight receive the spoils. So it’s not surprising that the Dominia Empire has its sights set on us. If the people conquer us, it’s more wealth for them.”

  “But hardly anyone is listening at the table. House Merek is siding with us, but House Luceras and House Rafel seem swayed by House Friere’s arguments.”

  Caiaphas quirked an eyebrow. “Interesting.”

  “They believe the wall between our lands and the Dominia Empire is doing exactly what it’s supposed to: keep the empire out. And that is enough.”

  Caiaphas narrowed his eyes. “What about the skirmishes some of the lesser houses of Friere are claiming? And House Vivek’s observations along their borders? And the small fleet that sailed for the Northern Shores?”

  Damien’s chest tightened as he remembered his most recent dreams and the ships he had destroyed. “Lord Ivulf denies any claims from the lesser houses within his land. And he went so far as to accuse House Vivek of provoking the empire along their own border.”

  Caiaphas pulled on his beard. “I expected some pushback from some of the other houses. But outright denial? That’s bold.”

  “House Ravenwood agrees with House Friere,” Damien said carefully.

  Caiaphas’s face darkened. “I’m not surprised.”

  Damien could hear his unspoken comments in his tone. “Is that why you wanted to meet? Does it have something to do with House Ravenwood?”

  “Yes. Partly. As you know, I cannot speak of house secrets. But I believe I can share some things that might help our coalition and give you answers to the questions you have. But you must listen carefully. Your father dreamed that one day all of the Great Houses would unite and work together as one nation. There are a handful of us who desired that as well, and we have been working together for many years toward that goal. My marriage into Ravenwood was part of that plan.”

  “Your marriage? Can you explain?”

  Caiaphas shook his head. “All I can say is that my union has brought forth fruit.”

  Damien wrinkled his brow. What did that mean?

  Caiaphas went on. “You will need every house on your side if you hope to stop the empire. That includes Ravenwood and Friere.”

  Damien curled his fingers around the arms of the chair. “I’m not sure how that’s going to happen. House Friere is adamantly denying any threat from the empire. And House Ravenwood agrees, which makes me ask why House Ravenwood is denying the encroachment of the empire. I would think Ravenwood would do anything to prevent the obliteration of another house, unless . . .”

  He frowned. Unless there was so much hatred within Ravenwood toward the other houses that the empire paled in comparison. Caiaphas’s words came back to him. Some houses would rather allow the empire to invade our lands than work with each other.

  Was that what the older man was hinting at?

  No other house came to the aid of Ravenwood hundreds of years before when the empire obliterated House Ravenwood. Even his own house held back until the damage was done, much to the chagrin of future lords of Maris. If only they had stepped in and led the charge toward saving House Ravenwood instead of hiding behind their borders and power. If there was one regret his ancestors held, it was that they allowed one of the Great Houses to fall.

  “Ravenwood hates all the other houses, doesn’t it?” Damien said quietly.

  “Yes.”

  The fact that Caiaphas could answer meant that Ravenwood’s hatred was no secret.

  “Does that mean that if the Dominia Empire continues their hostilities toward the border nations, Ravenwood will not step in and help?”

  Caiaphas’s face hardened. “I believe so.”

  Damien stared at him, a tangle of emotions. If that was the case, then there could be no unity. House Ravenwood would never work with the other houses. But did it matter? Ravenwood no longer possessed their gift. “So why did you bring me here? To tell me that Ravenwood will never ally itself with the other houses?”

  “Yes, and no.”

  “No?”

  “Lady Ragna will never work with the other houses. In fact, I suspect—” His lips moved, but no words came out. “Dart’an,” Caiaphas muttered. “Apparently that information is bound. Give me a moment.” He pursed his lips in thought. “Follow the murders,” he finally said.

  “Follow the murders?”

  “Yes. That is all I can say on the matter. Look into them closely.”

  Damien leaned back into his chair and rubbed his chin. He was already doing that, but he would look into them again, especially Lord Malrin Merek’s recent death.

  “And don’t discount House Ravenwood.”

  “But you just said Lady Ragna will never work with the other houses. Besides, you know that House Ravenwood no longer possesses their gift. I’m not sure how much help they can be.”

  Caiaphas shook his head. “Don’t give up on House Ravenwood yet. The Great Houses need Ravenwood, whether they know it or not.”

  “I’m not sure how that will happen, given what I’ve observed during the talks and what you’ve shared about Lady Ragna—”

  “Lady Ragna is not the only one who represents House Ravenwood. I believe my daughter, Lady Selene, could help us with our cause.”

  Damien flashed back to watching Lady Selene move with such grace and lethality in the bailey. Then again to this evening with her cold reserve. “How?”

  “She is . . . capable . . . of more than you know.” Caiaphas seemed to be choosing his words carefully, testing them to see if they were bound.

  Damien already knew that, having stumbled upon her this morning.

  “But we would need to approach her soon. Each day she is turning more and more toward her mother. Eventually, I fear she will be too far gone.”

  “You mean recruit her into the coalition? What can she do for us that you cannot?”

  Caiaphas looked straight at him. “There is more to her than I can reveal. But I can tell you that she would bring more to the coalition than I can. In fact, I believe she could possibly unite the Great Houses more than anyone else.”

  Damien looked at him, puzzled. Although she was intriguing, from what he had seen of Lady Selene, she ultimately had a coldness about her, not the kind of personality that would bring the Great Houses together. “I don’t understand how.”

  “And I can’t tell you. I am bound—body and soul—to House Ravenwood. But you must believe me when I say that the coalition needs my daughter. The Great Houses need my daughter. You need my daughter.”

  Damien narrowed his eyes, studying the man before him. There was an earnestness to Caiaphas. Was it real? Or was Taegis right in his warnings about House Ravenwood? “Why Lady Selene? Why not Lady Amara?” he asked.

  Caiaphas sighed and shook his head. “Amara is deep within her mother’s influence. She would never go against Lady Ragna. She is also ambitious and reckless. But Selene has been asking questions. She has a searching heart. I believe she could be persuaded to join us.”

  “You trust her?”

  “I do.”

  “But you still haven’t answered why Lady Selene could do more for us than you are doing already.”

  “I can’t share house secrets, not even on pain of death.”

  “And neither can Lady Selene. She is bound just as much as you are.”

  “But there is a way around that. . . .”

  “A way around . . . ?” Wait. Damien’s eyes went wide. Caiaphas surely didn’t mean . . . “You’re not suggesting a marriage between our houses, are you?”

  “It would be a way around the binding. House secrets are revealed when the vows are spoken. You would know what I cannot tell you. And you need to know. The knowledge she carries would not only help you, it would answer many of your questions.”

  “But you don�
��t have the authority to approve such a matter. And I—” Damien ran a hand through his hair and glanced away toward the window. He could barely make out the Magyr Mountains beneath the starry sky. Caiaphas couldn’t be serious. Marriage? Between House Maris and House Ravenwood?

  “And it must be a willing union, or else the house secrets would remain in place. By both of you. Then you will know all of House Ravenwood’s secrets. As the leader of the coalition, it has to be you she bonds with.”

  “You’re asking too much.”

  “Am I? Many of us have married for reasons other than love for the sake of our people and for the sake of the coalition. Would you do any less?”

  Tonight proved just how true Caiaphas’s words were. There was no love between him and Lady Ragna, Damien had seen that. And given what Caiaphas had shared earlier, the man married into Ravenwood to help the coalition.

  Caiaphas was right. Could Damien do any less than that?

  And yet something inside stopped him. He did not want a loveless union like Caiaphas. Unlike the other Great Houses, House Maris did not divorce. His would be a marriage unto death. Yes, knowing the Ravenwood secrets could help the coalition, perhaps. But if and when the nations united, everyone else would go back to their lives but him. He would be forever bound to Lady Selene.

  Could he marry a woman he did not love?

  “I can tell by your silence right now that marrying my daughter is not an option. So I will ask this of you: keep Selene safe. She must be protected at all costs.”

  Damien looked up and studied the older man. There was something going on, something Caiaphas couldn’t tell him. Something to do with whatever secrets House Ravenwood held. But the cost to know those secrets was too great. However, he could promise Caiaphas to keep his daughter safe. Perhaps that was what was driving the older man. “Yes, I can do that. You have my word.”

  Caiaphas gave him a firm nod in return. “Thank you. You have no idea how important that is. Perhaps in time you will come to see what I see: though Selene may appear cold on the outside, inside of her beats a strong and passionate heart. You could do worse for an arranged wife.”

  Damien stood. “Perhaps so, but I stand by my decision. I hope that she might join us in uniting the houses. But at this time, I will not marry her.”

  Caiaphas also stood. “Then that will have to do for now. I wish you the best with the rest of the negotiations. And I will see you tomorrow at the gala.”

  Damien frowned. “Gala?”

  “Yes. Did you forget?”

  Damien ran a hand along the back of his neck. “I did. My mind has been on the talks and nothing else.”

  “I will see you then. Use the gala as an opportunity to look into the deaths surrounding the Great Houses. And Lord Damien, thank you.” His grey eyes glistened in the candlelight.

  Damien bowed. “I wish I could have been more helpful,” he said. And he meant it. But like Caiaphas said, the marriage union would have to be willing, and at this point, he was not.

  “You and your family have done more for the people of these lands than most will ever know or realize,” Caiaphas said. “I’m glad I can be a part of it. If I find out anything more, I will send word in my usual way. Good night, Lord Damien.”

  “Good night, Caiaphas.” Damien turned and left the study. As he followed the servant back through the corridors to his rooms, his mind mulled over the last half hour. If Caiaphas’s hints were to be understood, then House Ravenwood, and perhaps House Friere, would never unite with the other houses, even if the Dominia Empire invaded their lands and wiped everyone out.

  He shook his head. He did not understand such hatred, the kind that would rather see the world burn than help others. But Caiaphas was adamant that there was a way around that.

  Lady Selene.

  House Ravenwood held many secrets within their house, secrets that held answers to the questions he had, secrets that could potentially help the coalition. They could be his if . . .

  He shook his head. No. Even if he were willing, it was not right to use Lady Selene in such a way. She would be bound as much as him. And he doubted Lady Ragna would concede to such a union anyway.

  Which left him the promise he’d made to Caiaphas. Damien would keep Lady Selene safe. He wasn’t sure what that would entail or what danger she could possibly be in, but if there was something he could do, he would do it.

  29

  Damien pulled the long blue tunic over his linen shirt and secured it around his waist with a black leather belt. The tunic was trimmed in silver thread, making the edges of his sleeves and waist look like sea waves were woven within the cloth. He completed his ensemble with a pair of dark breeches and leather boots. It was simple attire easily packed within his saddlebags but formal enough for the gala that evening.

  He glanced in the long mirror near the changing screens. The few bright rays from the setting sun glanced off the smooth surface, illuminating his room with yellow light. He straightened his tunic and belt, then ran a hand through his dark hair. It was longer now and would need a trimming when he arrived back at Northwind Castle.

  His heart twisted again at the thought of home. Tomorrow the final terms of the treaty would be discussed, then signed the following day. Then he would be heading home. Even though he had only been gone for over a fortnight from the Northern Shores, it felt much longer. And he was tired. He had been met with nothing but resistance and cold civility from most of the houses concerning any kind of unity. Most were content to stay within their borders and bury their heads where the Dominia Empire was concerned.

  In some ways, it felt like it had been a waste of an assembly, and secretly he wondered if the other houses viewed him as a young and foolish grand lord.

  He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. It didn’t matter. He would never have been able to live with himself if he hadn’t at least talked to the other houses about the impending war, even if they didn’t see it as such. He would enter into the treaty terms tomorrow with hopeful determination and stand alongside those who chose to be a part of it. Still, he couldn’t quite suppress a small hope that all seven houses would agree to help one another.

  He took another deep breath and opened his eyes, shoving aside his political thoughts. Tonight was a time to simply enjoy the company of the other houses. Something he planned on doing.

  The sun had dipped behind the mountains by the time Cohen stepped out from his own room, dressed in his long burgundy clergy robes, his thick wheat-colored hair brushed back. A broad smile filled his young face. “I am looking forward to this evening,” he announced as he crossed the room.

  Damien smiled back, his morose and depressing thoughts disappearing by the second. “I’m glad Lady Ragna chose to invite more than the Grand Houses. Do you plan on dancing?”

  “Well, no.” Cohen blushed and glanced away. “I don’t think it would do for a monk to partake in dancing.”

  “No, probably not.”

  Taegis exited his own room at that moment, followed by the second guard, Karl. Karl was the same age as Damien, with unruly black hair and a gruff personality. His dark eyes appeared guarded as he glanced around. Both men were dressed in House Maris colors, swords at their side.

  “Sten will be joining us this evening, and all three of us will be on guard duty,” Taegis said.

  Damien nodded and headed for the door. “Then let’s go.”

  Cohen joined him in the corridor, Taegis and Karl close behind. The men made their way through the cool stone corridors of Rook Castle. Candles were already lit for the evening, and the gentle hum of voices echoed throughout the hallways. Having been here for over a week, the castle had become somewhat familiar to Damien. The hall to the left led to the inner courtyard. The hall to the right led to the meeting and dining halls. And the hall in front of him continued toward the west wing.

  At the junction of the four main corridors, Damien turned right and headed for the dining hall. He spotted Lord Haruk Rafel and his daughter
ahead of him, along with a handful of guards and members of a lesser house who had accompanied the grand lord. All were dressed in various shades of green in representation of their house.

  Past House Rafel, the double doors that led into the dining hall were open and welcoming. Music drifted from the hall, combining with the sound of conversation. Damien and Cohen entered the hall while Taegis, Sten, and Karl took up positions on either side of the doors along with the other guards.

  The chandeliers were lit along the high-arched ceiling and dark candlestands were set around the perimeter of the room, casting the cavernous hall in soft candlelight. Chairs were set up along the walls, but the middle of the hall had been emptied of tables in order to accommodate the guests arriving for the gala.

  The hall was already full of people chatting quietly, slender crystal goblets in hand. Dazzling gowns, doublets, and tunics of every color filled the room, almost to a dizzying degree. The narrow windows set around the room were open to let in the cold mountain air, but the room still felt warm to Damien, and the scents of rosewater, sandalwood, lavender, cinnamon, and pine filled the air.

  Damien made his way to the closest window. He was not used to so many people and needed a cool breeze to clear his muddled mind. Cohen joined him, his eyes wide as he took in the room.

  “Amazing,” Cohen said softly. “So many people, so different from each other, and yet we are all connected, a part of one people.”

  “Yes.” Damien breathed in the mountain air, letting it relax his mind and body. The last time the seven Great Houses were together was hundreds of years ago. To see every nation here, now, under one roof, was exactly what Cohen had said: amazing. Damien smiled wistfully, wishing again that his father could see this. It had been his passion in life to see the nations together as one.

  But in reality, they were still fractured, and tomorrow’s treaty would reveal just how much.

  No. Damien gave his head a shake. He was not going to think about that tonight.