The Raven and the Wraith Book 2 (Completed!)

The Raven and the Wraith 2 Chapter 15

The Raven and the Wraith 2 Chapter 15

I had noticed Dallin's sad expression, too.

"I think he was hoping we would bring some entertainment to him."

Kiera shook her head. "No, it's more than that. I think...I think he understands what you're going through. And he had hoped to talk with you about it."

I thought she might be right. I glanced over at her as we walked. How did she read so deep into people so fast, so easily? It was uncanny. It made me wonder what she saw when she looked at me.

"Where do you wish to go? I am a scout, so I know many places."

Chan had stopped at the edge of the Cha'el city, his pale skin almost glowing in the thicker darkness beyond.

"You're coming with us?"

Chan smiled at my incredulous tone. "Yes. Is that so bad? You two are in dire need of a guide here."

I considered that. He had no idea how true that was.

"The thing is, we don't actually know where we need to go."

"That's fine. I've been a guide for many who do not yet know how to follow their Path."

"So...do we just wander about until something happens?"

Chan lifted one, delicate eyebrow at that, appearing to be fighting back a smile.

"That's one way of looking at it."

Keira smiled at me, clearly sensing my mounting frustration.

"He's not at all used to not knowing where he is or where he's going. So you and I will just have to show him how this wandering is done." She said to Chan.

We set off into the forest, moving through the wards that surrounded the Cha'el city and out into the heavy darkness beyond.

After an hour of walking Chan and Kiera glanced at each other, then stopped walking and pointedly stood to the side, staring at me.

"You must lead, now. Your instincts will guide you."

That wasn't what I wanted to hear.

"My instincts are so clueless here, in this strange world, that it's more likely I'll lead us to our deaths than to my Path."

Chan remained impassive. "Your instincts will always guide you, no matter where you may Travel."

"Didn't he say he was going to be our guide? I don't think he knows how being a guide actually works."

Kiera grinned at that. "Well, he's the one who knows how things work in this world. Sooo..."

I grumbled as I took the lead. For only the second time in my life I was moving without knowing where I was going. And for the second time I hated how empty, how open-ended, the way forward felt.

"Well, if I start marching us straight into the jaws of some foul creature, I'm trusting you two dolts to stop us."

Many hours later the twin, dull orange suns began to rise. They lit the land with a soft, subtly increasing glow, making trees and rocks look like smoldering coals.

Thin wisps of fog drifted lazily through the forest as the air warmed up, carrying such a potent smorgasbord of scents that I unconsciously stopped and carefully sifted through them every so often.

After the fourth time of me randomly stopping to sniff the air, I heard Chan and Kiera drop farther behind me, talking quietly. They were keeping their voices very low, but my ears were more than capable of tracking their conversation.

"What do you suppose he's smelling?" Kiera whispered.

"He's a natural hunter. He's becoming familiar with the land, and all that may be around us."

"Ok. As you're a scout, what actually IS all around us?"

"The forest. And all life that the forest is home to."

Kiera let out a displeased grunt at that.

"Well, don't be so specific. I might learn too much."

I resisted the urge to look behind me. It was hard, as I was sure Chan was wearing a comically confused expression. I didn't think that the Cha'el were very versed in sarcasm.

"You do not wish to learn the forest?"

"Not the whole forest. Just what's in it that wants to eat us. Or that we can and can't eat."

"Nothing in the forest will eat you. You would be inedible."

I stifled a chuckle at that. This should be interesting!

"What! Are you saying I need to bathe more? Or what?"

Kiera didn't disappoint.

"What does bathing have to do with the forest and the creatures within it? And I said nothing about bathing."

"Well, being told I'm not even edible to some random wild beast isn't exactly very confidence inspiring. Why, exactly, would I be so disgusting?"

"You are disappointed that you're not edible? I don't think I'll ever understand how different your world must be to mine."

"What...I'm not...ok, I give up." Kiera spluttered.

"Now you're giving something up?"

"Rahvin, help!"

I laughed at Kiera's frustrated plea, turning to face them.

"Chan, could you teach us the dangers of these woods?"

Chan looked between Kiera and me. Seemingly evaluating whether we had been intentionally confusing him.

"Someday were going to have to bring you to our world. It would be hilarious seeing you walking around in one of our bigger cities."

"I think I'm perfectly content to stay here, where things make sense."

"Ah, being content is boring. So do your forests not have beasts inside that view us as food?"

Chan furrowed his brow at me. As if I had just asked him why we don't just fly up to the suns and play a game of tag or hide-and-seek there.

"We are not food..." He said slowly.