The Raven and the Wraith Book 2 (Completed!)

The Raven and the Wraith 2 Chapter 10

The Raven and the Wraith 2 Chapter 10

"You believe your mate is unimportant?" Chan sounded quite appalled at this idea.

I sighed. "That's not what I said. But anyway, what was the point of that cute little misadventure in the Branch? Who is Melikah and who is the Hunter?"

At that Chan, and the others with him, all looked so shocked that I wondered if I had suddenly popped out a third eyeball on my forehead or something.

"You saw Melikah?" Chan's normally calm voice had an edge of barely repressed energy and excitement to it.

"Yup. We had a nice conversation. She asked unhelpful questions, and would only give vague answers to my questions. It was quite thrilling."

Chan opened his mouth, his eyes wide. After a long moment of silent suspense, I threw my arms up.

"Well spit it out already! Don't keep us waiting here!"

"You must speak with the Queen immediately!" He finally said, turning away.

"Ok, great. Does she have any answers for us?"

Chan didn't reply, instead striding along the branches quickly, his long stride effortlessly gliding him along. Kiera and I hurried after, and I noted Kiera was careful to stay on the center of the huge branch, and equally careful to keep her eyes locked on Chan's back.

"Don't much care for heights." She mumbled in response to my questioning glance.

"Good thing these branches we're randomly sprinting around on are so wide, then."

She nodded grimly, her eyes distant. I knew she was thinking of her mother. And the Hunter. She had seemed to master her earlier paralyzing fear, but I could still smell it on her. It was a sharp-edged scent, wrapped around her like an invisible cloak of the coldest dread. It was a fear that I suspected she would have to face sooner rather than later.

We walked for what felt like fifteen minutes, crossing from one tree to another through the complex weave of massive branches. Then we stepped into an open area, glowing with a soft orange hue from the twin suns, and Chan motioned forward.

"Our palace." He stated.

I couldn't help myself, I just stood with mouth hanging open like I was trying to catch flies. In the center of the clearing was a tree so incredibly huge that it dwarfed even the biggest buildings I had ever seen.

There were balcony's carved out of it, suspended walkways winding all throughout its countless levels, and curving, circular stairways carved onto its exterior.

Some  branches, hollowed out and large enough to easily hold hundreds of people, grew up and out, ending in sharp points far overhead, with hundreds of windows all along their sides. Through some of the windows I could see many, curving staircases, grown from living wood, joining the different levels.

"It's a living palace, tied to the surrounding forest, and the land itself." Chan explained.

"It's beautiful!" Kiera breathed, her eyes shining with excitement.

Chan smiled, clearly pleased with her reaction. He turned to me.

"And what do you think of it?"

"Just have one question. It's obviously the highest object around. So what happens when it gets struck by lightning?"

"Lightning?"

"Yes. You know, the bright, highly invigorating stuff that flashes down from the sky during storms."

Chan looked at me like I were either creatively swearing at him, or speaking in tongues.

I shrugged at him. "Soo...you guys don't have lightning here." 

"Nothing flashes down from the sky here."

"Got it. Well, let's go meet this queen and see if she can help us."

Chan smiled at that and guided us to a thin staircase that swooped out over the land far below. The steps were carved on top of a small branch, barely wide enough for one person to walk along, and there were no side rails, or anything else in place to keep one from falling.

"We will wait here. Follow this path, it will take you where you need to go."

Kiera took one look at the steps and her face turned an unlikely shade of pale green. She shook her head very slowly, not taking her eyes off the stairs.

"The only way I'm going out on that is if one of you fools dare try to knock me out." She whispered.

Chan and the others looked very perplexed, glancing at one another as if someone else might have a clue what she meant. Chan waved a hand at the steps.

"That's your only way to the palace. The living wards that surround it create pathways for all who seek entrance. Those paths are unique every time, selected specifically for those who enter."

"Well your wards either are sick and wrong, or have a vicious sense of humor. Either way, I'm not walking on that."

Chan narrowed his eyes at her. "Yes you are."

Kiera looked at him, her eyes flashing. "No. I'm not."

Chan growled at her, then looked at me.

"Order your mate to follow the path! The queen will not be kept waiting."

Kiera, and everyone else, looked over to me. All of the Cha'el had seemingly curious, and fascinated expressions. Kiera simply looked ready to chew steel and spit out nails.