The Raven and the Wraith Book 2 (Completed!)

The Raven and the Wraith 2 Chapter 21

The Raven and the Wraith 2 Chapter 21

"I don't have your...abilities. So I didn't have the options you did, when I was just a 7 year old orphan girl. In the first caravan I joined, things were...bad. Very bad. But I overcame them, I left and found a new family. I created my own set of skills, and I've used them to help others. I've been happy."

I knew what she meant. She wanted to encourage me, to show me that it could be done. That I didn't have to live alone. She clearly saw my abilities as a positive thing, not understanding that they were the core reason I had stayed alone for most of my life.

We ended up talking most of the night. It was strange, to sit and open up and just talk about whatever came to mind. It was strange, yet freeing. I fell asleep as the twin, dull orange suns just began to climb into the sky.

"Rahvin. You might want to wake up."

I lifted my head, blinking at the brightness, my mind immediately trying to calculate how long we had been sleeping. It had likely only been a few hours. I was also reaching for my knives, the soft warning in Kiera's tone more than enough to make me feel like it was time for weapons.

We were surrounded by the black skinned Cha'el. Their piercing, violet eyes were as unreadable as ever, but the bared weapons spoke volumes. A quick glance showed me they had tied and gagged Chan. I could also see that two of them were sporting fresh lumps on their faces. Chan hadn't gone down without a fight.

I was beyond confused how these Cha'el could have snuck up on me, fought Chan, and surrounded us, all without waking me. My senses should have warned me many times over.

"They're unsure what to do about us. Because they know you and I lit the fire." Kiera said.

This group of Cha'el looked a little different than the ones at the tree city. Their matching outfits, almost like uniforms, were different, but it was more than that. It was like these ones were even more primal, even more savage. Like they burned from within by the fiery, red glow of Life.

"They think we're great sorcerers, using fire so casually, hm?"

Kiera nodded, then sat up, very deliberately adding another stick to the fire. I watched the surrounding Cha'el faces closely. Yes, I could see the tension, the hidden wonder, in them.

"Who, and what, are you two?" The Cha'el closest to me spoke with the calm authority of long held power.

"I'm Rahvin. This is Kiera. We're...strangers."

"This Scout claims you are sent by Melikah."

I flicked a glance at Chan. He nodded at me. I hadn't considered that we were sent, exactly, by Melikah. But if Chan thought this was how I should explain things, then I would.

"Yes. I met her in her Branch. She sent us out, on our journey."

The group all glanced at each other. It was a simple thing, over in a mere second, but I immediately felt they had just silently completed a thorough conversation with each other.

"You will come with us."

I didn't care for the flat tone, the direct order, but considering Chan was tied up and we were outnumbered, and most likely outmatched, I just shrugged.

"Ok, sounds good. Gonna take us to meet your spellweavers? Or your king, maybe?"

They didn't deign to answer, instead they began to herd us along like reluctant cattle.

"Shall I let out a nice loud "moo!" at them? Or bleat like a goat?" Kiera grumbled next to me as we walked in the middle of the group.

"Probably better not. At least not yet, anyway."

For some reason this group seemed far more dangerous than Dak and his group. With their jet black skin and fiercely glowing purple eyes they reminded me of magic-born shadow creatures, seething with unknown power.

We walked for three days, where we were allowed to speak to each other, but none of the group spoke to us. Chan had been untied the first day, but he wouldn't answer our questions, only seeming to be continually lost in what looked like deep concern.

Then, we crested a hill and I saw the Cha'el city. It spread out to the edges of my vision, many times bigger than any city I had ever seen, or even heard about. It was also gloriously curved. Archways of white stone with intricate vines and flowers carved in, delicate bridges high overhead, often interconnecting to other bridges, forming a spider web overhead.

"The Tol'khan dall." Chan's voice was a hushed whisper of awe.

"The greatest of all Cha'el cities. This is the heart of our power. I never dreamed I would be here." He explained.

Before I could start asking the hundreds of questions I had, one of the Cha'el hauled Chan away. The taller one, who I had come to understand was like the captain of this group, turned to Kiera and I.

"I will bring you before the Queen. You will recount everything Melikah has said and done with you. If you disrespect her in any way, you will be killed where you stand. Understand?"

"Yup. This is all pretty familiar, actually. Especially the "kill you for disrespect" part."

The Cha'el didn't look exactly pleased at my response, but he wordlessly turned and marched towards the city. Kiera and I followed him, both of us wearing out our necks as our heads swiveled constantly, at the never ending stream of new, strange, and fascinating sights surrounded us.