A Raven's Choice (Book 2)

Chapter 14: Oanin's Banishment

Willow's Point Of View:

We walked for days. I picked at my tiger claw gloves. "Commander, do you even know where Oanin is?" Aaron took a breath. "My connections haven't steered me wrong yet." I sighed and rolled her shoulder. "Fine, but once we get there, I need to sit for a while." A few minutes later, I saw the castle. "Finally!" We proceeded to enter the castle and we made our way to his room, eventually finding him inside a healing mechanism. He stepped out when he saw us enter. His legs swung from the device as he stood, reluctantly. He put his weight upon his black raven staff. His dark black eyes and short blonde hair were contradictory to me. Originally from the Grosen Clan, but joining the Craven Clan, he had both spell power and fighting power. The wrinkles under his eyes aged him far more than his thirty nine year old self. He was about double Aaron's and I age. However, he was the only other man, aside from Dekari, to be known for marking people. "You'll have to excuse my condition. Once the marked one's queen dies, it takes a tole on one's body." Commander Aaron chuckled, his blind white eyes scanning the room. "I am not one for judging weakness, Oanin." Oanin looked Aaron up and down. "No, it seems like you understand perfectly." He paused, as his dark black eyes found my yellow ones. He was there with Cynthia when I joined their ranks. However, I betrayed the clan and ending up in Cynthia's cell. He ended up banished, likely for the same reason. "Willow, it's been awhile. How'd you manage to escape?" I rolled my eyes and played with my gloves. "It's not like I wanted to leave. I had a pair of goody two shoes come through." Aaron responded, "She means Princess Raven and her group were in the castle." He seemed to ponder this information. "This must mean you were in jail about the same time I was gathering her brother to my side." My yellow eyes locked onto him as Aaron uncomfortably shifted." Oanin chuckled. "Now, what brings you two here?" I sighed. "The Commander wishes for your help in the upcoming world war." Oanin flicked his hand. "Why not gather the Grosen Clan warriors then?" Aaron responded, "I am well versed in your abilities. I know you can also mark people, like Dekari. However, she is with John. We have no hopes of acquiring her aide, so we are seeking yours."

Oanin's Point Of View:

The two before me had no idea I was actually gathering the nullifying casters for that specific reason. Sure, I was a menace, but I wanted to be the only menace. "Well, Commander, the answer is no." He didn't seem fazed, almost like he was expecting my answer. "That's why I brought Willow." Willow casually extended her tiger claws outside of her gloves. "We have a plan on getting you to say yes." I scoffed. "Please, what could you possibly offer that I don't already have?" Aaron cleared his throat. "Your kingdom back." My eyes flew to his blind ones. "I was banished from my home. With Cynthia's death, it's now a life sentence." Willow butted in, "The barrier may prevent your physical body through, but what if you were almost dead?" I looked at her, pondering this. Yes, my illusions were able to go through the barrier. Therefore, there may be a loophole to my physical body. "Go on." Willow smiled. "John gave me a few things when he made me an animal." She retracted her claws back into her gloves. "One of those skills, is the rare ability to poison." I mulled over this. "So, you believe poisoning me will let me through the barrier?" Willow nodded. "Precisely."  Aaron continued, "If we help you in, you must promise to help us with the war." My eyes narrowed at Commander Aaron. He cannot see, yet he has the knowledge of the Outlanders. "Commander, explain your sight situation." Aaron uncomfortable shifted left. "Oanin, explain your banishment." We both were standing firm on not answering unless the other did. Willow walked between us with her paws up. "Come on guys, there is no need for this." She paused and looked at me. "Oanin was banished for protecting someone other than his Queen." She paused and looked at Aaron. "Aaron's sight is because he found a cure to us animals. However, in the process, it took his sight." My mind was on high alert. If there was a cure to John's animals, then I needed it.

Willow's Point Of View:

"That is why I agreed to help Aaron. I need the cure to rid myself of this power and of John's influence." Aaron remained quiet, placing his arms behind his back. Oanin's black eyes seemed to widen curiosity. "A cure you say?" Aaron cleared his throat. "It is possible, as I was cured myself." Oanin thought this over, as he grazed his chin with his finger. "Fine. I believe you, Aaron. Your sight is proof enough." He paused. "Get me into the Craven Clan, and I will help your cause." I excitingly yelped as Oanin responded, "However, I have one condition." I cautiously looked at Oanin as Aaron responded, "What is it?" Oanin slowly thought out his next words. "I need the cure." Aaron, confused, responded, "You are not a cursed animal. What use could you have with it?" I cautiously looked at Oanin as he looked away. "It's because of her, isn't it? Cynthia's fourth protector and the reason for your banishment?" Oanin's black eyes snapped to my yellow ones. "Yes, it is." He paused. "When I was banished, Cynthia placed her in a tomb of water as punishment for us defying her." My yellow eyes lit up. "What animal did John make her?" I felt like Oanin was more open with me, since I was an experiment. He adjusted his hand upon his Raven staff. "A whale." Confused, my eyebrows raised. "Don't whales need to come up for air?" Agitated now, he scraped his nail on the staff as I felt darkness surround me. "Help me in my clan to gain my trust, help me with the cure to gain my aid." Aaron responded, "That is a deal, Oanin." Oanin eagerly smiled as Aaron continued, "When you say water tomb, are you referring to the Raven Clan's prison?" Oanin paused and looked at Aaron. "Yes. You are well versed in your knowledge. It's a shame you couldn't foresee this." I felt Oanin's dark powers surround my body once more, but Aaron smiled. Oanin couldn't possess or control me and he didn't like it. "What's going on? John couldn't possibly have that much power." Aaron smirked, "Yes, Oanin, he does. Dekari serves him for a reason." He paused as Oanin huffed. "If he blocks my abilities, why do you wish for my aid?" Aaron smiled again. "He blocks dark abilities because he is darkness. However, you have more than that power." Oanin paused, as he finally understood why we needed him. "You want me to create allusions that even John can't see through." Aaron nodded. "Correct." Oanin chuckled. "Alright, Commander. I took you for granted and I won't make that mistake again. Poison me, and we can continue with this plan." I smiled as my claws poked out of my glove. "With pleasure."