The Raven and the Dragon

Chapter Three

Nimah woke up to the beginnings of sunrise peeking through the window and someone knocking on the door. It was strangely peaceful, considering the circumstances, but she was a bit too groggy to appreciate it. "Hold on, hold on..." She hauled herself off the mattress on the floor and to the door. She was sure to only open it enough to see who was there; it was Bo, awake and dressed. "Everything okay?" she asked. "Did you sleep?" He didn't look like he had. He actually looked terrible, now that she could see him better.

"Fine," Bo said, in a strained voice that implied he was anything but. "Eve said to meet her after sunrise, right?"

Damn. He was right. "Yeah, yeah...how's about you and Solomon go downstairs and get us something to eat? No sense in leaving on an empty stomach." She opened the door enough to pat his shoulder before shutting the door again and turning to Alicia. "Hey..." She shook Alicia's shoulder gently. "Hey. Time to wake up."

Alicia looked startled when she opened her eyes. Had she been in the middle of a dream? At least she didn't draw a sword on her. That had happened to Nimah before. "It's morning," Nimah said gently. "Time to go."

"...right of course...sorry..." Alicia yawned and rubbed her eyes. "I'm up. I'm getting up."

She wasn't, not really. She stayed curled up on the bed while Nimah tied back up her hair and gathered their things. Nimah didn't bother her about it until everything was packed and it really was time for them to get going. Alicia braided her hair as they walked down to the dining hall. Bo and Solomon were already there, keeping watch over two simple breakfasts as they ate their own. "Took you long enough," Solomon said around a mouthful of bread.

"Hush, you." Nimah could've kept scolding him, but she was much more focused on sitting down and eating. "Did you pay for everything? We should leave as soon as were done. I don't want Eve to get spooked and change her mind."

"We paid. Do you think she will?" Bo added nervously.

"I don't think she will," Alicia said.

Her optimism was refreshing. Nimah only hoped that it wasn't misplaced. "I don't know for sure, but I'd rather not risk it," Nimah said. "You can never tell with some people."

It didn't take them long to finish. The breakfasts were small, but filling, and they were all very focused on eating. The woman behind the counter didn't even give them a second glance as they left the building. The town was starting to stretch its legs as they headed out. Vendors were setting up their carts, shops were beginning to open, and the sky was clear. Nimah chose to take that as a good sign. It had to be a good sign, right?

She was less sure about the good sign thing when they arrived at Eve's house and found the woman wasn't outside. Maybe she had changed her mind. "...should we knock?" Bo asked.

"No need," Solomon said. As Nimah turned to him, she realized he wasn't looking at the house. He was looking across the bridge. "She's over there."

He was right; Eve was across the river, right next to the tree line, standing next to a horse with a dappled coat. Both of them almost blended into the forest from how still they were sitting. It was a surreal sight, seeing them half-hidden, but Nimah was too relieved to be unnerved by it. "All right," she said. "Let's get going, then."

They joined Eve on the other side of the bridge. The woman didn't look more certain about things than she had the day before. If anything, it looked like she was trying to hide under all the layers of clothes she wore—a cloak, a shawl, and a scarf wrapped around her head. "Are you ready?" she asked, her voice still soft and quiet.

"Whenever you are. Lead the way."

Eve mounted the horse. She wrapped the reigns around her fingers tightly, probably for her own comfort rather than to maintain control of the horse. "I hope your horses aren't easily frightened," she said as she began riding into the woods. "You don't know what you'll find in there."