From his pocket, he pulled out a small jar and proceeded to pour the contents onto the man’s face and wounds. The honey would attract ants to massacre the body and distort any distinguishing features, making it impossible to know whom the victim was and what had happened to him. It would be days before someone crossed paths with the corpse, and by that time, the cause of death would be indiscernible. The casualty could be written off as just another death in the slums, added to the number of those who had been drunk and caught up in the wrong sorts of trouble.
While he walked away, Sytravious was overcome with a mixture of emotions. He paused and peered back at the dead man. Killing the stranger was his redemption, but he was still unsure if it was the right thing to do. He shook his head, as if to shake the thoughts away. It was what he had to do to keep their secrets.
Chapter 11
A Surprise Guest
In the late evening Raiven sat at the edge of the pond, dipping the tips of her fingers in as she sent enchanted flickering sparks through the water. She giggled as the fish swam to the dazzling flashes of light. She was in her personal garden that had been given to her in an attempt to grant her privacy within the temple walls.
An overlay of various flowers blanketed the ground and tall weeping trees, with low hanging branches, created a sense of isolation. This was the place she would often seek refuge when she needed to escape her busy life. Raiven loved this area in the evening because she could relax and enjoy the night sky.
“You know you are just teasing those poor fish with your magic. At least give them some bread if you are going to lure them to the surface. It is what I would do.” Sytravious emerged from behind the draping trees.
She jumped up in shock of his sudden appearance, and inspected their surrounding with a nervous glance. Her heart began to beat fast when she saw him.
“What are you doing here?” Raiven demanded in a whisper. “Have you lost your mind? You are in the temple’s gardens! How did you get past the guardians?” She tried to hide her anxiety, but it was futile.
“Guardians? I did not see anyone.”
He did not give anything away in his expression, making it hard for Raiven to tell if he was being truthful with her. She watched him take a seat next to the pond and pull out a small box from beneath his cloak. He set it on the ground, and then motioned for her to join him. This was preposterous. She could never imagine that he would actually come here, to her garden.
“I told you to be patient. I was going to send word to you in a few days, requesting the dagger be delivered.” She sat down next to him and exhaled slowly as she tried to settle down.
“Raiven, it has been nearly two weeks, which is too long without seeing you. How can you expect me to just wait?”
“I know. I have been very busy. My lessons have been consuming all my time and energy. Master Vienken has been introducing some new types of studies to me, making it hard to get a moment away from the temple.”
“Do not worry about it, my priestess. That is why I have taken it upon myself to deliver it to you.” He nudged the box nearer to her.
“You did not have to risk your freedom to bring me this.”
“I know. Just look at it.”
Upon opening the box, she saw the dagger shine in the moonlight. It was in pristine condition, more beautiful than ever before. She slid her finger over the knife-edge with care. “You even sharpened the blade.”
“Yes, I finished it the day after you left. I hope it meets your standards. I even tested it out myself,” he said with a smirk.
She could not break her stare away from him. His icy blue eyes made her stomach writhe with excitement. Raiven bowed her head as a gesture of appreciation, and placed the box on the ground. “It is perfect, thank you.”
An awkward silence began to grow between them. Unlike when she had seen him at the forge and spring, Sytravious now seemed a little uncomfortable. He was in her territory now and she could feel his uncertainty, though he did his best to conceal it.
“So…you have the dagger now. I guess I will be leaving,” he said, then stood up.
“Wait!” She reached up and grabbed his hand to pull him back down. “But, you went through the trouble to deliver it to me. Why not stay a while longer?”
“Are you sure you do not mind the intrusion?” He raised an eyebrow.
She smiled and shook her head. “I would love for you to stay and tell me more about yourself, seeing as all I know about you is your name and occupation. That is, if you are okay with the possibility of being imprisoned for jumping the temple walls to see me.”
“Raiven, men have been proudly hanged for less noble causes, and I will offer no apologies or bear any shame for coming here to see you.”
She was elated to see him sit back down next to her again. The possibility that she may be caught was in the back of her mind, but she was so enthralled with Sytravious, she disregarded her better judgement. He made her feel alive and she felt her body bubbling with energy.
He clasped her hand within both of his. “I am not sure what this is between us, or where it may lead, but I am willing to jump the temple walls every night to see you if that is what it will take.”
She inched closer to him. “I too would like to explore the connection we are building, but I do not want any harm to come to you because of me.”
“Raiven, I have spent my entire life feeling like something is missing, and thinking that there has to be more for me than what I was handed. Growing up, I was instilled with strict instructions regarding how to conduct myself in society and keep my true self hidden, lest I offend the wrong person.”
What he was saying resonated with her, and as she listened to this confession, she found herself nodding because she understood exactly how he felt. As a priestess, all the same teachings had been given to her as well.
Sytravious continued, “But then I saw you swimming, and I felt a fire begin to burn deep inside of me. Seeing you made me feel radiant, it was as if you had shined brightness into my dark, empty, meaningless life. Until I met you, I was barely living. You have given me a reason to look forward to each day.”
Raiven was caught off guard by his willingness to share his personal feelings with her.
Never had she met anyone who felt this way about her. It was exhilarating and puzzling at the same time. She noticed he leaned in and stares at her, awaiting a response, but she was speechless. She turned toward the pond to dip her fingers into the water again. What could she possibly say after everything he had just told her? She wanted to be honest with him, but the thought of divulging her deepest emotions frightened her. “I do not even know how to respond to that.”
His expression transformed from hopeful to crestfallen, which made her distraught.
“Do you know how difficult it is to admit how I feel about you? I came all this way to see you, and you cannot even give me a glimpse into your heart. It is just you and me here. I know you are more than just what the temple has molded you to be. Please tell me who you really are and how you feel.” He placed his hand on her shoulder and gave her a small nod of encouragement.
It was the first time anyone had actually cared enough to ask her about what she felt about anything. As nervous as she was to talk to him about herself, a strong desire to become more deeply connected with him urged her to speak.
“I am glad you snuck into my garden to see me, however reckless it is for the both of us.” She stared into the pond, trying to avoid eye contact with him. “It is careless to keep meeting up with you, but I do it because I enjoy the way you make me feel and I wonder where this could lead. Being trapped in the temple world is like a prison. I was blessed with this gift, and though I am grateful for it, I never asked for the life that would come with it. Being forced into the temple took away my freedom. I am confined in every aspect of my life, but when I am with you, I feel set free. Something as small as the way you look at me, makes me hopeful about the future. I do not know of this is making sen
se to you. How can I properly put it into words?”
She stopped to think for a moment and faced him. “It is as if you are the wings I need to escape all of this.” Raiven gestured to the temple and its surroundings. “You take me away from the life I have known, and open my eyes to the world around me.”
Sytravious beamed at her, and she returned the smile before saying, “Now that I have opened up to you, I believe that entitles me to a little more information about the mysterious man that is ensnaring me with his charm.”
He chortled before responding. “Whatever makes you happy, my priestess. What is it you would like to know?”
“Anything, besides the fact that you are a smith.”
“Alright…” He hesitated and seemed to be trying to figure out what he wanted to tell her. “Well, there is a lot more to me than just being a blacksmith.”
“Like what?”
“I have a few other talents.”
“What sorts of talents?”
“I am actually quite gifted with a polearm. In his youth, my stepfather practiced the art of combat arms as a hobby. I have been told he was rather skilled in his day. Thankfully, he has been passing his knowledge on to me since I was a child.”
“You are also his apprentice at the shop, right? It seems your stepfather cares a great deal for you, seeing as he has equipped you with a unique set of useful skills. Only someone who cares about you would spend the time to teach you what they know.”
“That is true. He helped my mother raise me and has always treated me as if I were his own blood. I never knew the man who brought me into this world, so as far as I am concerned, Onyx is my father. My mother tells me not to worry about who the man was, but sometimes I still wonder.” Sytravious fixed his gaze upon the moon and appeared to reflecting on what he had just said.
She was interested in how deep she could probe into details about his life, before he shut her out. “What is your mother like?”
“My mother?” His face was expressionless when he sighed at the mention of her. “She…is very strict and has always been hard on me. She has high expectations for me that border on neurotic, but we can talk about her another day. I do not really want to discuss her right now.”
“Oh, I see. That is alright, you have shared more than I thought you would.” Raiven felt the need to touch him, and reached out to run her hand down his cheek. It was rough and covered with stubble. Her heart began to race when he placed his hand over hers and closed his eyes.
“You know, Sytravious, I never knew my parents. They both died when I was very young. I do not remember anything about them. All I know is that they were not from here. I came from a city by the name of Sorrento. Have you ever heard of it?”
Sytravious shook his head. “Where is that?”
“That is the same question I asked myself. As I got older, I began to think more often about my origins, so I did some research. I found out that it is an old city in the northeast region of the kingdom, where long ago, thousands of the kingdom’s priests and priestesses resided. However, instead of everyone believing in Vesalys, they were free to practice different types of religions and magic. One would think that this would be cause for chaos, but amazingly, everyone respected each other. It was a holy city, dedicated to spreading the array of magic and faiths throughout the land. Can you imagine a place full of people with a variety of beliefs who were all able to get along and appreciate one another? Sounds wonderful, huh?”
He gave her a kind smile and agreed.
She continued her story, “It is thought that those born in Sorrento are more magically inclined, and therefore blessed with gifts, like mine. But when I delved into what happened in Sorrento, I discovered the other religions and beliefs had died out, and only those who worshipped Vesalys remained.”
“So why is the temple of Vesalys here in Havencrest, rather than Sorrento?” he asked.
“I do not know. I cannot find anything written about what transpired, but it is an abandoned city now. I imagine my family was one of the last ones there. No longer do the people of Valcrest, or anyone for that matter, inhabit it because it is all ruins now.”
“That is unfortunate, I wonder what happened.”
“I know. Maybe one day we can find out what took place there.”
“Yes of course Priestess, if it will make you happy.”
Raiven felt her nerves melting away with each word she spoke. The barrier she had felt between them was dissolving as they shared different parts of their lives with each other. They laid down in the garden and carried on, talking about an assortment of topics. She told him about the temple and its history, her training, and life as a priestess because it was all she knew.
“I am sorry. This all must be boring to you. What could you care about the activities a priestess must participate in?”
“No you are wrong. I love to listen to you. You are so passionate and knowledgeable about what you believe in, it is fascinating to me, even if you think it is mundane.”
The early morning birds began to chirp in anticipation of the morning light that crept up on the horizon.
“Wow, it is already morning! You must get going,” she advised.
“I do not even feel the least bit tired, but you are right, I need to leave before the sun comes up.” He got on his feet, and reached under his cloak.
“Thank you for staying with me, Sytravious. I enjoyed spending time with you and hope to see you again soon.”
“There is no need to hope, I will definitely be back soon. That is a promise.” He surprised her when he leaned in and placed a light kiss on her forehead. “Be well my priestess, until we meet again.” He placed an object in her hand, before he turned and vanished into the perimeter of weeping trees.
Raiven could still feel the kiss on her forehead. She was bursting with happiness and hugged herself before recalling he had given her something. She opened her hand and saw a small pouch in her palm. Inside she found a golden necklace with an orb shaped, amber colored locket attached. Her mouth dropped open in shock. How could he afford such a beautiful piece of jewelry? Thinking about how he must have used his entire savings to buy her such a gift made her heart ache.
She popped open the locket and noticed a small piece of parchment tucked inside, which she took out and read. “You are the light in my darkness.” Raiven pressed the jewelry and note to her heart and squealed with delight.
Chapter 12
Dark Revelations
It was a cooler night than usual in Havencrest. The chilly sea breeze blew through the city and many people had lit fires to keep warm. The Dew Drop Inn was no exception. Sytravious sat closest to the fireplace while he sipped his drink. Tonight Bryce and Elric joined him so they could all catch up. Even though he preferred to be a loner, Sytravious had come to know the brothers well over the past few years. Ever since the day he decided to help them out during a street scuffle, the trio had become close friends.
“You would think old man Ross would clean out the chimney once in a while.” Bryce coughed. “The smoke from this damn fire is killing me. Why is it even on? It is not that cold.”
Elric mumbled, “Not everyone is well insulated with layers of muscle and hair like you. Looking like that, you could easily be mistaken for a womach.”
“Oh you have got jokes, huh?” Bryce reached over and punched his brother in the arm. “Compare me to those beasts all you want, at least I have the strength to take one on.”
Sytravious smirked as he swirled his liquor around his glass. He was used to the brothers’ bickering, but rather than join in the jests, he chose to use this opportunity to gauge Elric’s progress with the investigation. Though the warden had previously announced the likely suspects of the killings were womachs, during their last meeting, Elric had brought up the fact that the case was still open.
“Speaking of womachs, have you finally closed that case involving the attacks from a few weeks ago?”
“Listen, we all know womachs are a
threat to the kingdom, especially here in Havencrest. With the mangy creatures prowling around the Foxfire Woods, it is easy to blame such a horrific act on them.” Elric paused to furrow his brow and shake his head. “But I do not believe it was them. Something is amiss and I am trying to understand what it is because Kenshiro has been badgering me about my findings, and I have yet to come to a satisfactory conclusion.”
The fact that Elric was adamant about unearthing the underlying cause of what had happened, worried him. He knew his friend was smart and persistent, it is how he rose to the rank of Constable, but this was not the time for Elric to demonstrate his intelligence.
“Wow, the general must be ready to close the case by now. I just figured since it has been a while, you would have been done with it already. Everyone already believes it was womachs anyways,” Sytravious explained, trying to hide his concern.
“I know, but with all the evidence we have discovered, along with another mysterious murder only days ago, I do not know what to make of it.”
“Another death?”
Bryce nodded, while his brother responded. “I take it you are wise enough to keep this information to yourself, because you know I am not supposed to discuss an open investigation with you.”
“Of course, you have my word.” Sytravious’ ears perked up, and he was ready to take note of every detail his friend was about to share.
Elric spoke in a hushed voice, “You know as well as anyone that a death in the slums is not anything unusual, and I would not have been suspicious if the man had not been killed in the exact same bizarre manner as one of the men from the Foxfire murders. The murderer tried to cover up what happened, but there is no hiding the crime. The victim even had the same piece of skin cut from his arm as the other five from the woods, which links them to each other. Then add in the fact that I found legionnaire coins on the first five men, which tells me they are from Moruz. Deductive reasoning would imply all six men were soldiers from there. What I am having trouble figuring out is why a group of legionnaires would be wandering through the Foxfire Woods, and later in the slums.”
Sytravious: The Lost Warlock Of Moruz (The Oathbreaker Book 1) Page 10
