Child of Blackwen (An Artemis Ravenwing Novel Book 1) (8 page)

I patted his back, smirking. Jack grew confused.

“What’s with the smile, you evil woman?” he asked, alarmed. “What do you know?”

“Talisa accepted you as her apprentice,” I answered, without bothering to hide a smile.

Jack was horrified.

“Wh-what?” he yelled as he jumped off the windowsill. “Lies!”

“Shadow informed me over dinner,” I explained. “This means you owe him, by the way. He has to play servant to Talisa whenever she desires.”

Jack rubbed his head, stunned. “I’m…I’m afraid, and yet…I can’t help but feel excited.”

“Now there’s the masochistic elf I know and love,” I teased. “You
should
be excited! You’ll finally get to learn all the magic you’ve always wanted to! Talisa might even enjoy the ‘scholar mode.’”

“I know!” Jack beamed as he returned to sit along the windowsill. His smile warped into a frown. “Oh…I apologize for the tease about Shadow last night.”

“I’ve forgiven you already. I know you have less control than usual when you’re drunk.”

“And how was dinner with him?”

“It was…interesting.” I frowned when I noticed Jack’s inquiring glance. “You have a terrible mind sometimes, you know that? I made the mistake of telling him I wanted to return to weapons training.”

Jack snorted. “Shame, shame.”

“I know,” I said. I then explained the possibility of full-bloods venturing into the realm’s borders. Jack rubbed his chin and smirked. “What?”

“Good thing Shadow will be teaching you to fight,” he said. “You’ll need all the help you can get. Pure hatred of them won’t be enough.”

“Don’t act as if you wouldn’t fight alongside me if the chance came.” I pointed a teasing finger at him. “You wouldn’t dare pass up the chance to fight with magic.”

“True enough.” Jack looked out to the trees again. “When do the lessons start for you?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I imagine Shadow will drag me out when it’s time.”

“Talisa will most likely do the same for me,” Jack said, growing fearful again. “Make sure she doesn’t throw away my soul once I sell it to her, will you? I’ll deal with the physical abuse…but I rather like my soul.”

I nodded. “Your soul will be just fine.”

I spent most of the day lying on the grass outside of the house, staring at the clouds. I was thinking of the dream about Mother; the sudden dream along with the idea of full-bloods hiding within the realm couldn’t have been a coincidence. It felt as if something had been trying to unfold since the soldiers returned from the war, and the evil behind it felt far worse than that of turncoat dragons and wizards.

I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that somehow
I
would be involved in the next big fight that was to come, and I assumed the dreams would continue. Perhaps it would also explain the increasing amount of blackouts lately…

My thoughts were interrupted by Jack’s snoring; he was lying close by. He had gone home to change and returned soon after. Jack had walked out on his aunt, who, as usual, was yelling at him. She yelled at him simply for living.

As much as I wished he would release his anger toward her, I didn’t blame him for wishing to avoid her for the remainder of the day. He was too nervous about his coming meeting with Talisa and discussing his future with her. Once he officially became her apprentice, I knew I wouldn’t see Jack as often as I did now. I laughed to myself once I realized I would actually miss his daily intrusions and complaints.

I thought about the dream once more and gnawed on my lower lip. I knew I had to talk to Shadow about it; the coincidence of it was not something I could ignore. I thought it was time he told me the whole truth about my mother’s death.

“Why is this coming now?” I said aloud, frowning.

“Everything happens for a reason, you know.”

I quickly sat up once I heard the familiar voice. Jack’s eyes snapped open and he shot up; he too knew the voice well enough.

Standing up and looking behind us, Jack and I were now facing Talisa. Her signature dark blue, pointed, wide-brimmed hat sat atop her
long black hair streaked with white. She wore a sleeveless, dark blue robe, one of the many indicators of one in service to Kiare, and it made her fair skin stand out. Talisa blinked her cool gray eyes while smiling.

I leaped and hugged her hard.

“It’s so good to see you again, Talisa!” I exclaimed, pulling away from the embrace.

“The sentiment is shared, Artemis.” She rubbed a part of my cheek, just as she used to when I was a child.

It was strange now, standing eye to eye with her when I was so used to looking up to the witch. It was just another reminder that too much time had passed by.

Talisa looked over my shoulder and raised an inquiring eyebrow. She was staring at Jack; I could feel his nerves from where I stood.

“You remember Jack, right?” I fetched him to stand beside me.

I shot him a glance to tell him to calm himself.

“Indeed I do,” Talisa said, now folding her arms. “You’ve grown quite a bit as well.”

“Y-Yes, it’s certainly been a while.” Jack nervously laughed. “Talisa. Miss Talisa! Uh—”

Talisa strode beside him and gripped his shoulder, causing Jack to flinch. She laughed while I resisted the urge to scowl at him.

“I see my reputation precedes me.” She cast a mischievous smile. “Good. It means you know what lies before you as my apprentice. And ‘Talisa’ will be just fine. ‘Master’ just seems far too controlling.”

“Don’t kill him, Talisa,” I teased. “He’s one of the few friends I actually have.”

“Oh, I won’t,” Talisa replied, her smile growing as she slapped Jack’s back. “I’ve been convinced that Jack here will prove to be someone of worth. I do have to steal him for a bit, however. You understand, of course.”

“Of course.” I nodded. “I’ll be in my home preparing tea for you.”

Talisa tipped the brim of her hat in thanks, and then dragged Jack along with her. Jack looked over his shoulder, terrified. He mouthed the words “help me,” and I shook my head. I motioned for him to stop worrying and returned to my home to prepare Talisa’s favorite tea.

hadow stopped once he reached the Hall of the Elders. It stood tall in the grove of oak trees, with ornate vines and flowers carved within the woodwork. The bell tower atop it housed three large bells that played only in times of celebration or attack. Shadow prayed he wouldn’t have to hear the bells of danger for a very long time.

As he stepped inside, he was greeted with cool air and a mixed scent of brewed teas. A servant greeted him and bade him sit on the benches in the main room. The benches were carved within the walls, with intricate decorations similar to the outside of the hall; the carvings were plated silver.

“With whom do you desire a word, Master Shadow?” the servant asked, while keeping her head low to avoid eye contact.

“Preferably all three Elders,” Shadow answered.

The servant now glanced at him, shocked.

“A-All three?”

“Yes.”

“But…but o-only o-o-one is here at the moment…perhaps if you would like for m-me to leave a message?”

Shadow suppressed a sigh. The poor girl must have been overworked during the Eelders’ absence. That, or she hadn’t been around long enough to understand certain protocols and had recently learned the various temperaments each Elder possessed.

“That won’t be necessary,” Shadow answered, wishing the servant would calm down. “Who is currently in office?”

“The Lady Clarayne, Master Shadow.” The servant rubbed the sweat off her brow and composed herself. “I’ll see if she’ll grant you audience.”

“Thank you.”

Shadow watched the servant disappear into one of three doors that led to the offices of the Elders. Each door had silver-plated carvings, and the center of each had a different flower that represented the identity of each Elder. The door that led to Lady Clarayne was marked with a rose. It amused him whenever he saw her door.

Moments later, the servant appeared from the door and bade him to follow her. Walking into the room, he heard the door shut and he looked around the study. A large ashen desk was in the center of the office with a large stack of parchment sheets and inkwells resting atop it; bookcases lined the walls, and above one bookcase hung an aged elven blade.

The soft sound of a throat clearing drew Shadow’s attention to the window ahead of him; Lady Clarayne had her back to him, as she was window-gazing. She wore a white elven gown with sleeves draped nearly to the ground, and her long, dark blond hair was hanging freely along her back and shoulders; a small silver leaf-and-vine circlet rested atop her hair.

Turning around, Shadow was met with an amused stare that emanated from green eyes like his own. Her skin wasn’t as tanned as his, but she flashed a smirk that Shadow often sported. Shadow bowed his head, and Lady Clarayne scoffed.

“There’s no need for formalities in private meetings, my dear Shadow.” Lady Clarayne laughed, taking a long stride toward him. “I trust you won’t object to a hug from your aunt?”

“I do not.” Shadow chuckled as he received her warm embrace. “If Uncle were alive today, I think he would be horrified his personal name for you had transformed into your war emblem.”

“Perhaps he would. I think he would forgive me seeing as it’s a way of keeping a piece of him with me on the battlefield,” Lady Clarayne replied as she pulled away. Shadow grew nervous as she stared at the exact spot that hid the chain with Artemis’ ring. “I will admit, dear nephew, I didn’t
expect to see you for a while. I know you wanted to enjoy the peace we’ve all earned from this ordeal.”

“I intended to,” Shadow began as he took a seat opposite her desk. Lady Clarayne poured tea for the both of them and took her seat across from him. “However, I fear something is brewing outside the city borders…something far more unpleasant.”

“Oh?” Lady Clarayne raised an eyebrow. “What brings you to that thought?”

“There have been a number of odd deaths occurring near Talisa’s cottage,” Shadow explained.

“Yes, we’re aware of that.” She spoke, and then took a sip of tea. “We sent a messenger to Talisa yesterday for her to investigate and report her findings.”

“
I
went to investigate,” Shadow answered. He saw her puzzlement and sighed. “Don’t ask.”

He remembered Netira and decided to exclude her from his report. She was a mystery he wanted to solve on his own. “Full-bloods are responsible for the deaths, Aunt Clarayne.”

She nearly dropped her teacup. “You cannot be serious.”

“I wish it weren’t true, but I know what I saw…as well as overheard.”

Lady Clarayne stood from her chair and quickly paced the office. “I must speak with Lords Celstian and Destrius about this. We hoped it was something else…something less threatening…”

“It gets worse,” Shadow continued. “The full-bloods specifically belong to Arlina Ravenwing of Blackwen City. She is behind their sudden bravery of venturing into our realm.”

Lady Clarayne’s eyes widened. “You don’t think…”

“I fear she has learned that Artemis is alive and has been living among us.” Shadow put his teacup atop the desk. “If it is true, she will first send an emissary demanding we hand Artemis to her. We cannot do that.”