The Raven and the Wraith Book 2 (Completed!)

The Raven and the Wraith 2 Chapter 48

The Raven and the Wraith 2 Chapter 48

Riva clearly sensed my tension.

Riva's voice in my mind was warm and comforting. "It's ok, kitten. Your Path is tied to this evening meal, you have nothing to fear."

"Easy for you to say, you're not the one who has to talk to everybody."

Conner snickered. I knew he couldn't hear Riva, so I couldn't imagine what I sounded like to him. I wondered if he was really beginning to think I was nuts.

We crossed the field and began to walk up a carefully maintained stone path towards a massive, 3 level log cabin.

"This is your house?!" I asked incredulously.

"Yes." Conner said simply, holding the steel-banded front door open for me.

The log cabin was not just rough hewn logs stacked together. I could see the touch of many, extremely skilled craftsmen and artists everywhere, even to the fine, lacy engraving curling around the black metal bands on the door.

Noise and scents flooded out of the front door, so potent I rocked back on my heels, one hand reaching out to brace myself on the doorjamb.

"It's ok, we're just normal people." Conner didn't try to hide the laughter in his voice as he saw me hesitate in the doorway.

"I'm just not used to being inside, with so many people all around." I said quietly, stepping in and carefully scanning the room.

I found myself checking for entrance and exit points, places where I could duck and cover, and places I could move to where I wouldn't have attacker's coming from more than two sides. It was an old, well-practiced instinct, something I did in a few seconds. I scanned the people in the room next.

I found twelve adults and four teenagers staring at me. The adults were all seated at the wooden table that dominated the room, their plates full of steaming food. I scanned them all in one glance, noting weapons, scars, alertness, and most importantly, who was scanning me back.

There were two men at the table who I knew in one glance were the most dangerous in the room. They had the shoulders, scars, and look of seasoned warriors. And they were both eying me with unmistakable caution.

I could see their confusion, their curiosity, as they struggled to understand why their battle-honed instincts were telling them I was dangerous. I was a short, slim 16yr old boy, after all, certainty not normally someone to view as a threat.

The four teens were staring at me with faces as white as snow, their eyes bulging like a fish out of water. I half expected them to start making silent, gasping fish lips at me. There were two girls and two boys, all right around my age. It took me a long moment to understand why they were so shocked, so terrified, to see me.

I knew them. I had killed them in Possum Hollow, four years ago.

"Hi mom, dad. This is Rahvin. I found him near our East pasture, by the Midnight Grove. Can he eat with us tonight?"

The big, bearded man at the head of the table nodded once.

"Welcome, Rahvin. I am Dale, and this is my wife, Rose." He said, gesturing to the lady next to him.

I barely glanced at him. I was too stunned to track his words. How could these four be here? How were they alive? Why were they alive?

"Hm. I see you kids already know each other." Dale said dryly, looking between me and the others.

I turned to Conner, my hands on my knives, feeling like my heart was trying to claw its way out of my chest. My mouth felt like it was full of old cotton, and I felt dizzy with rising panic.

"What's going on? Who are you?" I croaked, backing towards the door. The door I was certain was locked, and protected by foul magic, keeping me caught in this trap.

Conner looked alarmed, nervously glancing between me and the others, his eyes flicking down at my hands. Seeing my blades halfway out of their sheaths.

"What's going on here?"

I took a deep breath. I wasn't in danger at this very moment, so it wasn't time for action yet.

"Who are they? Why are they here?"

Conner looked over at the teens, then back at me. The tension was palpable.

"They're just traveling merchants. This whole group is on their way to Tursk. They needed a place to spend the night, and everyone in this area knows my family's house is welcoming to travelers. How do you know them?"

I still hadn't let go of my blades. The two warriors at the table both had their hands on the swords at their waists, and both looked prepared to leap into action at a moment's notice. I understood they were the hired guards, employed to safely accompany this group from one city to the next.

"I met them in Possum Hollow. Four years ago."

The taller, blonde-haired girl walked towards me, her eyes searching, her expression shifting between fear, wonder, and confusion. And for some unknown reason I could almost see her fear draining away with every step.

"You're not who I was thinking you were. Who are you?" She asked.

I blinked as I saw her eyes. Her pupils were red slits. And when she spoke, there was the glint of fangs behind her lips. I held very still, aware of how tightly I was holding my blades. Aware of how tightly I was holding my power, poised to attack or dodge.

My voice was a disbelieving croak. "Are you a vampire?"

She looked so affronted that I almost felt embarrassed. "Of course not! Would I be standing here, visiting with everyone if I were?"