The Raven and the Wraith Book 2 (Completed!)

The Raven and the Wraith 2 Chapter 28

The Raven and the Wraith 2 Chapter 28

"You remind me of a girl on my world. Her name is Genevieve. Rahvins friend." Kiera said.

Luna had brought me out to the center yard, where we found Chan and Kiera waiting for us. I saw Kiera's surprised look as soon as she saw Luna, and knew she must have been reminded of Genevieve.

Luna nodded. "Yeah, he called me Genevieve when we first met."

Chan was looking between Luna, me, and Kiera with a very concerned expression, his body language seeming like he was ready to flee at any moment.

"Scout, what do you see?" Luna asked him, clearly having noticed his discomfort.

Chan didn't answer immediately, his eyes flicking to me, then away. He cleared his throat and waved a hand at me. "This Traveler has a very...unusual Path, when it comes to his Mate..."

Luna lifted one delicate eyebrow and turned towards me. "Do you know what this Scout speaks of?"

I sighed. "He's unnaturally obsessed with the idea of my Mate. Has been ever since we met. I think he hit his head or something."

Kiera stepped closer to me, giving Chan a hard look. "I don't think who Rahvin's Mate may be is anyone's business but his."

Chan looked at me with a strangely sympathetic smile, then shrugged. "I'm sure he'll figure it all out soon enough."

Luna noted how close Kiera was standing to me, and I thought I saw a flicker of hurt cross her eyes before she turned away.

"Follow me. I can show you around for a bit, then you will be able to relax in your rooms before we all meet for dinner. Talia has sent out a Call, so many of the surrounding leaders will be in attendance tonight. They want to meet you two."

We followed Luna out of the central yard and down a smaller side hall. I had expected our tour to be very basic, to cover only the high-level operations and facilities, but instead I found her taking us into every aspect of the massive castle.

"Do we really need to go down there? I think we all already know how sewers work." Kiera said, her nose wrinkled up at the stench wafting at us from the steps ahead.

Our tour had led us all over, even to here, the lower levels where the sewer and water systems were. I had been enjoying the tour so far, finding many interesting similarities, yet with unique twists, to ordinary life between the two worlds.

"Rahvin must learn all aspects of operations here." Luna said.

Kiera didn't look convinced. "What? Why?"

"Talia ordered it. I'm not privy to her reasons. You could perhaps ask her yourself tonight, if you wish."

I noted how Chan seemed uncomfortable at this discussion, and it made me suspicious. I didn't like the combined undertones of both Luna's words, and Chan's expression.

"You promised to guide me on my Path. So if you know something about Talia that affects me, you need to tell me."

At this, Chan looked even more nervous. "I...I can't go before my Queen. She will explain much to you tonight."

That made my suspicion shift to nervousness. I didn't like the way this was all shaping up. Was this related to Talias declaration that I would take Kaviks place as Prince? Considering how different she was, I couldn't really begin to guess what she might have planned.

"Ok, fine. Let's tromp around in the sewer. At least I'll be prepared for handling her crap later on, if I gotta handle it right now first."

Chan and Luna's matching stunned expressions made both Kiera and I laugh.

"What? You're not used to people speaking of the Queen like that?"

"She would likely flay you where you stand for that." Luna said slowly.

I shrugged. "She'd try."

Chan's shocked look suddenly shifted as he struggled to hold back laughter. "Well, dinner tonight is certainly going to be interesting!"

Luna grinned at him and nodded. "Yeah, it won't be one of those painful, long, dragged out affairs like usual!"

"Nothing ever is with Rahvin." Kiera said.

I opened my mouth to retort, but then paused as a faint clicking sound reached my ears.

"Rahvin speechless? Now I've seen everything." Kiera said.

"Shh!"

Everybody held very still, understanding I was trying to listen to something. The clicking sound was getting louder. Whatever it was, it was moving quickly, if not very smoothly. The sounds were not a full rhythm, instead sounding like a broken, repeating pattern.

Luna heard it next. I knew the moment she heard it because her hand flew to the blades at her waist even as her eyes widened in horror.

"Fractured Kahlraugh!" She hissed, settling into a balanced crouch.

Chan instantly drew his sword, preparing for battle, but he also glanced back the way we had come. A warrior ensuring his escape route was clear.

"What's a fractured Kahlraugh? Why would it be down here?" Kiera asked.

"Maybe it's hoping the sewer will help glue it's broken pieces back together?"

Chan shot me an incredulous look, then shook his head. "Get ready, Traveler. What we face now is worse than a hundred Fenray."

That didn't sound good. I pulled my blades and stood next to Luna, letting a trickle of the Touch of the Cat begin to flow inside of me. Luna sensed it, shooting me a questioning glance. I simply smiled and shrugged, making her give me an exasperated look.