A World Hidden

Chapter Five: A Bad Omen

It had been several days since the Cullen's had arrived and they had been shown around the whole castle and city. Ravenna, for first time, had two people to lean on and experience what so many others got to experience. 

Ravenna was walking the hallways with Carlisle and Esme when a guard came to her, panting. 

"Oscena! Report from the outer wall," the guard said. The outer wall being miles to the north of the castle along the edge of the Oscen's territory.

"What is it, Levi?" Ravenna asked, worried. Reports weren't due for another week as they had just come in. 

"The Banshees have been spotted close to the northern wall. Along with the Nova Regiment," Levi said, handing her a folded paper. 

"Have my generals called to the war room," Ravenna ordered and the guard took off once more. Ravenna turned to Carlisle and Esme and ducked her head. 

"Is it bad?" Esme asked. Ravenna sighed and nodded. 

"They only ever show their faces to cause trouble. Hopefully we can keep the fighting out of the city but that will depend if they get through the outer wall. The Banshees are crazed Oscen with ear bleeding screeches that want to harm everything and everyone. The Nova Regiment are just deserters that think they should be living here."

"What will you do?" Carlisle asked as Ravenna turned and they followed after her.

"That will be decided upon meeting with my generals. Five generals in total. One for each wall and one for the castle and city." Ravenna turned down several corridors before stopping at double doors.

"I would say you can't enter but as my mates you technically can," Ravenna said, "Only if you want to. It is a war room."

"We're with you," Esme said, taking her hand. Ravenna smiled and nodded before pushing open the doors.

Five Oscens stood in the room with a table between them. Two females and three males.

"Carlisle, Esme, these are my generals," Ravenna said and began to point to each general.

"Eldridge," the tallest male stepped forward and bowed. He had long dark hair, parted down the middle. A bow was along his back and arrows at his right hip. Dark wings fell to the floor. North wall leader

"Niam," the next male stepped forward and gave a slight nod of his head. He had blonde hair up in a bun. A sword hung at his hip. Off white wings pulled up and close to his body. Eastern wall leader. 

"Aldea," the female looked up from the table at her name and nodded at the two Cullen's. A lance was strapped to her back. Her dark green wings falling over her form as she looked over the map. Western wall leader. 

"Evora," the second female curtsied briefly and went back to looking at the map with Aldea. Twin daggers were strapped to her thighs and her blue wings were pulled close to her body. Southern wall leader  

"And Duncan," the last male merely stared at the two Cullen's before speaking. He had dark red hair and had two swords attached to his hips. Castle and city leader

"They shouldn't be in here," Duncan said, standing to his full height drawing his dark red wings back. 

"They are here at my request, Duncan. They have all the right to be here as I do," Ravenna said firmly. Duncan sighed and then nodded his head. 

"Very well, Oscena," Duncan said. 

"Now Eldridge what's the situation at the north wall? I just got a brief word of Banshees and Nova being there," Ravenna questioned. 

"The Banshees have started to come close to the wall. They haven't attacked but they keep leaving little pieces of their feathers there. You know what that can do to our people," Eldridge said. Carlisle and Esme looked slightly confused so Eldridge explained further. 

"The Banshees are what you would call infected. Everything about their person is sick and dying. If a piece of them is left then when it disintegrates, the wind could catch the ash and blow it to our people on the wall. Thus the ash would make them a Banshee and we would have to kill those infected to prevent mass infection," Eldridge said.

"The Banshees aren't smart enough for that kind of plan. The coincidence of Nova being there can't be just that. They have to be working together," Niam said. 

"A good theory but Banshees hate to work with anyone other than their own kind," Aldea said. 

"So what do we do?" Evora asked. 

"Have another regiment of troops go to the north wall. If the Banshees keep getting close, volley them with arrows. Don't hit them. Just warning shots," Ravenna said.

"And the Nova Regiment?" Duncan questioned. 

"The Nova Regiment is camped close to the wall, but not close enough for us to fire upon them," Eldridge replied. 

"Keep an eye on them. They start to attack send word back here and I'll come with troops. Try to see what they're up to without letting them know," Ravenna said. 

"Yes, Oscena!" the generals said and saluted with their arm over their chest. The generals nodded to the Cullen's and then left the room. Ravenna sighed and leaned against the table. 

"Of course they choose now to mess with us," Ravenna murmured, looking over the map of her territory. 

"We'll help," Esme said.

"No. With the dragons fire, it's too dangerous for you," Ravenna countered. 

"There must be something we can do," Esme continued.

"There is. Stay here where you're safe," The winged female said. 

"Not with you out there fighting," Carlisle said. 

"I won't be out there until there is actual fighting," Ravenna said, "I've fought and trained for fifty thousand years. I think I know what I'm doing."

"We know that. We just don't want you hurt," Esme said. 

"I won't be," Ravenna said, placing her hand on Esme's cheek and leaning into Carlisle.

'At least I hope not.'