|The Red Raven|

Chapter Seven

"Through here" Will's voice pierced the darkness of the narrow corridor that he pulled me through, I wasn't even sure where we were anymore, I lost track of that a while ago.
"Through where? I can't see anything" I retorted, he squeezed my hand reassuringly and I let out a sigh. "I didn't know anyone here doubted Cephenrene"
"Not many know the details. Most of these men are just hunks of muscle who do the dirty work" Will told me, then we stopped, "here we are"
He pushed the wall and it opened up into a dark room, I tried to get my bearings but was hugely lost. Will switched on the lights and I gasped.
All four walls were plastered with maps, the maps showing parts of the country and other countries that I had never seen. I gazed around in amazement, the floor was a shiny marble and the ceiling was more maps. Slowly, I approached the closest wall, tracing the Living River with my finger until I saw Direhill and my smile fell and my heart lurched.
Home.
"It's beautiful" I choked out, Will had thrown himself into one of the two plump armchairs in the corner, a cigarette hanging out his mouth.
"It's forgotten." He corrected me, "No one ever comes down here anymore"
"Why?"
"It's a map room. Built for the general and we don't have any of those so it's worthless"
"It doesn't have to be" I told him, glancing at the ceiling map and grinning.
"How?" He asked.
"Cephenrene will need a general to lead her army when she's queen right?" I said, ideas flowing through my mind and Anya's engagement lost in the madness.
"I guess so" He replied, a look of pure confusion plastered on his chiseled features.
"It should be you" I smiled, lowering myself into the seat next to him, his expression changed to something else, he looked embarrassed but also angry.
"We came here for you not me" Will pushed, "What do you plan to do about Anya?"
"I'm not sure" I ignored his quick change of subject, "What if she's happy?"
"With the future king? I don't think being queen is quite what your sister would want" Will added.
"You've been listening." I giggled, "You're right, Anya flies under the radar and this is like being in the centre of the radar. I don't know what her plan is."
"Love? That's rarely a plan" Will interjected and I shrugged.
"I'm not sure, Anya wouldn't do this if it wasn't for love or something more important" I frowned.
"I know you probably don't want to think it's possible but what if he threatened her?"
"With what? It's not like she's a rich daughter of a neighbouring kingdom" I grumbled, suddenly embarrassed by our real lack of importance in this world.
"We can't know until we find Anya" Will explained and I nodded along.
"I just feel as if I don't know my own sister anymore" I sighed and leaned back, admiring the details of the maps around me, trying to forget the mess that my life seemed to become.
I had definitely lost my job now.
"When I joined Ceph, I joined alone without Zina." Will began and I turned my head quickly to face him. "I knew it would be dangerous and she was only twelve when I joined so she would be a nuisance more than any help."
One day I came home to check my family were alright and when I travelled back, she had stowed away in the motor."
"Sounds a lot like Zina" I chuckled and he nodded solemnly.
"I trained her myself and tried everything I could to keep her safe but like you, she's reckless and it's hard to stop her from following her gut." Will looked at his hands, entwined together in his lap, the cigarette forgotten in the glass ashtray that sat on the oak table between us. "Everyday I worry that my efforts are pointless and I'll lose her. I understand more than anyone Drea."
"You do?" I asked, leaning closer.
"Zina had a sister, a twin in fact. Diana, she was sweet and kind and innocent." Will stopped and ran a shaky hand through his hair.
"Cephenrene said you and Zina came from a town that was ruined" I stated, he looked up at me with sad eyes.
"I had already joined, when Zina stowed away the army hit and took down the town. I found Diana's body sleeping peacefully in her bed. It didn't hurt but it took away her future, I think about it all the time. What if Zina hadn't followed me or I went a different day, I would've lost my entire family. Drea, she's all I have left as Anya is for you."
"I'm so sorry" I reached over and gripped his hand, he breathed heavily and shakily. "No one should have to lose their parents or their siblings"
"But they do. That's the world we live in" Will murmured, "Zina talks about the future because she wants to live it for Diana, she thinks it's her duty to do all the things Diana would've wanted to. It's a burden for her as well, she left Diana and look what happened"
"My parents were taken away in the night. I never saw their bodies and a part of me is glad about that" I explained, he watched me intently, "But as a child, part of me was convinced they would come home one day and rescue me, fix everything. Funnily enough they never did"
We both sat in silence, our hands wound together, both thinking about our sad pasts.
"This has been depressing" Will cut the silence with a knife and stood up, shaking himself off.
"Why did you join?" I asked quickly, Will stopped and his shoulders dropped a little. "I'm not sorry but I'm only curious. How did she convince you?"
"She didn't" Was all he could say, I stood up to face him or the best I could, he was incredibly tall and sadly I was not.
"But you said" I began but he wasn't finished, he waved me off and continued.
"The monarchy is a mess and I knew if I was close to Cephenrene then I could help and offer advice." Will began to pace and I watched him intently.
"What do you mean?" I replied in confusion, my hands flew to the complex braid that Zina had constructed for me that morning, it was several braids twisted into one that lay along my back. It reminded me of Anya and the way she kept her hair, my mind flicked to the footage where her hair was loose and flowing. Oh how we've swapped places.
"Drea, you can't seriously believe that anyone who is born to be royalty is actually smart enough to do it successfully" He sneered and I jumped back a bit but he broke into laughter.
"You don't support Ceph?"
"I support her as a figurehead but not as a ruler."
"Democracy" I stated bluntly and Will raised an eyebrow. "You believe in democracy"
"No, I believe that Daisy, myself, you and even Marco could rule the kingdom better than Cephenrene. Maybe a few more intellectual folk"
"So... democracy?" I chuckled, folding my arms across my chest.
"Not all of us got a proper education Drea, explain" Will grumbled, gesturing his hands crazily.
"Neither did I but my father did and he talked about politics constantly, not that I remember much of it, but I do remember democracy. It's when the kingdom is ruled by a group of elected people, not a single monarch."
"Ah so democracy sounds good" Will grinned excitedly.
"So what was your plan for this?" I wondered out loud, I half expected him to shrug and admit it was all his imagination but he didn't look fazed.
"Once she has the throne, I can start whispering in her ear"
"Good luck with that, she seems pretty stubborn"
"Oh I know but that's where Daisy comes into the plan"
"Daisy? Cephenrene won't listen to Daisy"
"But she will"
"I don't think so from what I overheard the other day" I pursed my lips nervously, I wasn't usually a gossip but Will needed to know.
"Just because they're not together romantically, doesn't mean Daisy isn't important to Cephy. She loves her and that's her weakness" Will explained and I sighed a little.
"Love is a weakness?"
"Depends on who you love"
"Understandably." I nodded solemnly, "Anya's made that mistake"
"You don't know that" He reminded me. "Besides, you won't make that mistake. I can tell you're too smart for that" He took my hand gently, I smiled at him as nicely as I could.
"I'm not sure that's on the cards right now" I told him slowly, but he pulled me closer.
"And what is on the cards?" Will asked, I gulped and stared up into his hazel eyes, my heart thumped and my hands grew sweaty.
"You tell me" I whispered, I felt him shudder just a little and I nibbled my lower lip.
Slowly, he leaned down and placed his hands on either side of my waist. I put my hands in his dark curls, letting the soft strands run through my fingers. I took a deep breath as he brought his lips to mine, everything in me sparked and I felt like I was on fire as I deepened the kiss by bringing him in closer.
Suddenly a vibrating alerted us both and we pulled away, embarrassed.
"Sorry" Will murmured and pulled out the device, holding it flat between us, a familiar voice came out of it.
"Will? Is Drea with you?" Daisy asked, her husky voice almost identical to what it sounded like in person.
"Yep she's right here" Will smiled at me and I felt myself blush.
"Cephenrene has called for you and Drea, it's about the announcement and the new base visit"
"Right. On our way" He responded quickly and clicked off, turning back to me and smiling nervously.
"We should go" I whispered and he nodded, taking my hand again and placing a light kiss on my lips.