The Raven's Chronicles. Rage of the Wraith

Chapter 10. Songs of the Dead

The heavy clouds had brought a storm and it had raged over the valley until late night hours. The sky had cracked open, sending a torrent that turned the castle yard into a lake of mud.

They spent the whole day placing protective runes around the castle. Invoking them made Jules more tired that he expected - even though he did less than half of the work. His Sixth Sense was like an invisible muscle inside his mind. He had over-worked it.

He kicked off his boots and climbed further onto the bed to reach the pile of soft pillows. Lying, he observed his master preparing for the night. The man's face was tight and sombre.

"Why are you so upset?" Jules asked eventually when the older mage sat back on his bed and started to untie his boots.

"I'm not upset," Ravin shrugged.

Jules sighed, sitting up. He placed his elbows on his knees and supported his chin on his fists.

"I'm not blind, you know?" he commented. "Is it Lord Kedmon that worries you, or are you worried about Raimont?"

This time the hunter straightened and looked at his apprentice. Sometimes the boy was much too observant for his liking. Now he gazed at his master without blinking, with his big eyes wide open. If it wasn't for the left eye, his face would be attractive, if plain. It was the icy blue iris, now still sparkling with gold after drawing the runes, what made it so unusual.

"Both," Ravin said. "Speaking of Rai, you know I'm nervous when I can't keep tabs on him."

"Do you think he's reached Ree already?" Jules wondered how the capital looked in the twilight. Raimont had told him it was full of light, and that the streets were always crowded, even in the dead of night.

"No, he'll get there next week if he's lucky," the hunter shook his head."Tomorrow, after breakfast, we're going to search for the cave where Melissa died. You'd better go to sleep."

"All right" Jules agreed without resistance, as he felt half-asleep already. "Night."

"Good night, Jules".

The boy yawned, leaned back against the pillows and reached to pull the heavy blankets up to his chin. He rolled onto his stomach and closed his eyes, relaxing, as the warmth settled inside his body.

He lay like that for a long time trying to fall asleep, more and more exhausted with every passing minute. But sleep wouldn't come. He reached under his shirt for his badge and closed it in his hand.

And then he heard it; there was a noise, upsetting and irritating, although so quiet it was almost beyond his perception. He focused on the sound; it became sharper, louder, and now the boy could tell it was a woman singing a mournful song, somewhere far away. As he listened to it, the comfortable warmth disappeared.

"Ravin?" he opened his eyes and rolled onto his side. "Are you asleep?"

"No, I'm not."

Jules sat up reluctantly, wrapping the blankets tightly around himself. Ravin hadn't gone to bed yet; he was sitting with his boots on and the reila's blade strapped to his belt.

"You can hear it too?" the boy rubbed his eyes. "Do you think it's the healer's ghost singing?"

"Probably. I've been waiting to see if it would wake up Kedmon or his family, but apparently, the runes are working," Ravin stood up and crossed the room, heading toward the door, "I'm going to look around. Don't wait for me."

"Wait!" Jules jumped out of the bed and started to pull on his boots in a hurry. "I'm coming with you!"

"I don't think so. Go back to sleep," the man reached for the cloak hanging over the armchair.