Daughter of Hauk (The Raven Chronicles Book 1) (2 page)

              The early morning sunlight stabbed at her eyes.  She had been brought out to the courtyard to have judgment brought upon her. The tracks from the recent rain slid down the white stone walls, as if tearstained. It seemed the world wept for her as well.

              There were few spectators; their prosecutors could not afford a proper trial, but she could make out some of her companions. Rhiannon, defiant as ever, and Y’Dürkie, chained and shackled against her mighty rage. Arwenna could imagine how many guards it had taken to subdue her. She forced thoughts of them out of her mind. If they offered to spare them, she may well have been broken. She couldn’t think of them and do what she had to do. Holding her head up proudly, she looked at those in front of her.

              “Arwenna Shalian, you and your companions stand convicted of treason, thievery, and consorting with demons. Do you have any final words before you are put to death?” the Justicar proclaimed, looking past her at the small crowd of witnesses. The Paladin stood behind him, staring at her, waiting for her to break.

              “If this is indeed justice, then let it be done. If it is not, we will return and seek justice of our own,” she called out. Y’Dürkie and Rhiannon
echoed her words.

              The Paladin strode towards Arwenna, grabbed her, and forced her to kneel in front of her companions. “I give you this one last chance. Renounce them or die.” His voice lowered as he spoke in her ear, “Submit to me, and I will spare their lives.”

              Arwenna looked at the faces of her companions. Each one of them told her the same thing: death would be preferable to submission.

              The Paladin saw this and furiously brought his blade down into Arwenna’s spine. Darkness enveloped her as she heard the dying screams of her friends.

Chapter Two

            
 
S
ilence. Her tormentors had left her for a time. It would seem even demons must eat. She struggled to raise her head and take in her surroundings. There were bones everywhere. Some figures remained tied to monuments, others fell into heaps of bone at the base. This must be the field in which True Faith was both tested and broken. She began to take stock of how she was held....bound by thick, rough-hewn rope to a sunburst of some kind. Nails had been driven through her hands and feet. Struggling against the rope, wincing as it bit even further into her bruised skin, she recognized it not as a symbol of Silas but one of Hauk. The movement made her dizzy, however, and she passed out once again before she could decipher why she was bound to an altar to Hauk.

              “Arwenna! Arwenna, where are you?” Her mother called out to her, but Arwenna was too busy chasing the butterfly. It landed on the knee of a stranger. She approached carefully…her mother had warned her about strangers.

              “It’s OK, my daughter. I won’t harm you.” His voice was warm and gentle. “I’ve been sitting here hoping to meet you. Your name is Arwenna, isn’t it?”

              She answered shyly, “Yes. Do you like butterflies?”

              The man chuckled softly, his short gray beard almost dancing in her eyes. “Do I like butterflies? Yes, very much. I enjoy watching them fly on warm days like this one.”

              She looked back over her shoulder as her mother’s calls became more concerned. “I should go back. Mama doesn’t like it when I chase butterflies too far away.” A sudden idea occurred to her. “Would you like to come meet Mama? She smells really nice and can make bread and cakes!” A smile lit up her face at the concept.

              He laughed again. “Perhaps another time. I have a question for you, though. Would you like to help people when they are hurt?” His blue eyes seemed somehow more serious than before.

              “You mean like when Joss broke his arm when he fell out of the tree last week? The priests came out and made his arm glow all pretty! It was magic!” Her eyes widened at the thought of doing magic.

              “Arwenna Shalian! There you are! Why didn’t you come?” Her mother’s voice trailed off as she saw the stranger next to her child.

              “Mama, come meet my new friend! He can make butterflies land on his lap!” Arwenna stopped and looked at her mother. She’d never seen that look on her face before.

              “Forgive me, Shining One. How may I be of service?” Arwenna’s mother dropped into a deep curtsey before the God Hauk.

              “Rise, my child. I do not ask for obeisance. Your daughter is talented. You must nurture this talent, let it grow. She is a daughter of mine as well. Through her, my will shall be done.” Hauk rose and put a hand on Arwenna’s shoulder.

              Arwenna looked up at him “Do you like me? I like you. I think you’re nice!”

              “Indeed, Daughter, I do like you very much. Will you promise me that you will listen to your mother and the priests that do the healing? There is much they can teach you that I need you to learn.”
 

              “You’re leaving now? But we haven’t found more butterflies yet!” Arwenna pouted, not wanting her new friend to leave.

              Hauk chuckled again, and looked at the young elven child. “As long as you believe in me, I will be here” he touched her head “and here” and her chest above her heart. “I will speak to you when I must, and because you believe in me you will be able to do wondrous things.”

              He straightened and looked back at Arwenna’s mother. “Take care of her. She will need the strength of many before she is done.” There was a sudden burst of light, and then he was gone.

Lyssa ran to her daughter, holding her close. “Arwenna, tell me everything he told you.” Arwenna relayed the conversation to the best of her memory. Her mother moved aside the neck of her tunic to see where the God had touched her. There, where nothing had been before, was a small sunburst.

              Arwenna blinked her eyes, unable to understand the look on her mother’s face. Her mother reached out her hand for her, and held it tight as they walked back home.

              When Arwenna awoke from her nap, the house was full of priests. They were all wearing robes that Arwenna only saw on holidays. They looked at her with the same look Mama had on her face when she met Arwenna’s new friend. The elder priest, Cedric, came forward.

              “Your mother tells us you met a new friend today, Arwenna. And that he gave you a gift.” Cedric spoke softly so as not to frighten her.

              “He didn’t give me any presents. He just talked about butterflies and magic.”

A deep chuckle made Cedric’s shoulders move. “Ah, I see. I’m sure the butterflies were very pretty. Did he give you a hug or anything?” Arwenna could tell he wanted to know something but she didn’t know what.

              “No, he just touched me here and here.” She pointed to her forehead and shoulder. “My head doesn’t hurt, but my shoulder feels funny.”

“May I see where he touched you?  Maybe I can help make it feel better.”

“Like you did for Joss when he broke his arm?” Her eyes grew big. “But, it doesn’t hurt and Joss was crying really bad. It just feels funny.”

              Cedric chuckled again. “I won’t hurt you, I promise. I’d just like to see it to make sure it won’t make you sick.” Arwenna slowly walked towards the priest and let him see the mark.

              Cedric’s eyes widened with amazement, then he quickly recovered before Arwenna could wonder why. “Thank you, Arwenna. Don’t worry, it’s not going to make you sick. Why don’t you go with your mother and get something to drink. I need to talk with my brothers here for a minute.” Arwenna dutifully took her mother’s hand and walked out of the room.

              Arwenna and Lyssa returned to the room as Endic entered with a calf. He set it gently on the table while Cedric approached Arwenna.

              “Arwenna, my child, this calf was hurt today. One of the boys missed the target and hit it with the sling instead. Do you think you might be able to help it feel better?”

              Arwenna looked down at the small animal and started to pet it on its head. There was a little hole in its shoulder. She wanted to help the calf; her eyes started to swell with tears because it was in pain. Something in her began to glow, like a little ember out of the fire that started to glow more and more whenever Mama stirred the fire.

              “It’s all right, my daughter,” a voice spoke inside her head. “This is what I want of you. Just believe in me and you can help. Trust me, trust yourself, and do what must be done.” A picture formed in her mind, showing her how to harness a small bit of magic.

              Without really understanding why, Arwenna reached a hand out to the calf. She saw the area as if it were whole. Her outstretched hand began to glow, just like the priest who healed Joss’ arm. She bit her lip, half scared of the magic she was creating. The glow reached out from her hand and touched the calf. It became so bright, she needed to look away. Then it was gone. She looked at the calf. The wound was gone as well.

              Arwenna backed up from the table and looked down at her hands in wonder, then up at her mother. There was a question on her face. She didn’t understand what had happened. Her mother set her gently on a bench and sat next to her.

              “You have been blessed, my daughter. The God Hauk has chosen you as one to work his will. These priests will help you learn when and how to use your magic.”

              “Do I have to leave you, Mama?” Her voice cracked with fear. “I don’t want to leave you!” Tears began to fall down her face as she hugged her mother fiercely.

              Cedric knelt before them both. “No, no, my child. You will still live here with your mama. We just want to give you some small things to remember today by. Every few days one of us will come here and teach you how to work your magic. We will be stern teachers, but it is because we want you to do your best and make your mama proud. Will you learn from us, to make her proud?”

              Arwenna looked up at her mother’s face and nodded. “I’ll work really hard, Mama, I promise.” Lyssa laughed and hugged her daughter tightly.

              Cedric motioned for a small chest to be brought over. He started to pull out things and explain them to Arwenna. Some were simple healing tools, herbs, and components for simple spells. There was also a small gold comb with a sunburst on it. He explained that this was a symbol of Hauk, and had special powers. As long as she wore it in her hair, they would be able to find her.

              The priests left them. Arwenna fell asleep by the fire, the comb in her hand.

              Pain again. The demons must be back. They were taking turns with the whip. The Paladin stood with them, a smug look upon his face. He thought she would break soon. He taunted her with the fate of Lexi, Rhiannon, and Y’Dürkie.

              “It was almost as much fun to kill them as it was you. Lexi was, regrettably, killed before I had the chance. I would have had great fun breaking her spine in front of you.” The grin he gave her was cold, malicious.

              She smiled, and taunted him back, “Yet your own days are numbered. If you have not slain Barek, Senyan and Mialee, you will be answering for your crimes and corruption soon enough. There is not a lock known to Gods or men that Mialee cannot pick. Once she is free, so are the others.”

              The shadow that crossed his face was proof enough that her guess was correct: they were free and alive. To cover his slip, he came up and raked his eyes across her body with a look that sent shivers up her spine. He did not know she remembered; Silas was not the god that lent her his power to heal that first day. Her True Faith resided with Hauk.

              “Arwenna, honey, wake up.” There was urgency in her mother’s voice. Sleepily, she sat up and rubbed her eyes. It was still dark, her mother’s face barely recognizable. “Honey, we have to leave right now. Hurry and get some shoes on.” Lyssa stood as if ready to run at any moment.

              Arwenna slowly got out of bed and put her shoes on. Before she had time to grab a cloak, the house lit up with a reddish glow. Looking out her window, she saw the house next door explode into flames. The roar of the explosion made her cover her ears.

              Lyssa grabbed her hand and began to run out of the room as more explosions went off.

              Outside there was confusion and panic. The air was thick with smoke and screams. Arwenna shrank in horror as she saw creatures beyond comprehension attacking all around her. Her mother pulled her along the back side of a barn, trying to shield her. Arwenna bumped into something and looked up, screaming.

              It was tall, at least as tall as a grown man. The legs were more like an animal’s, with hooves and knees that bent the wrong way. The skin was grey, as if death itself had touched it. A massive chest and pair of arms that looked like they could tear a person in two made her eyes go even wider. The face was nothing but a contorted snarl of hatred, with tusklike teeth. Red eyes looked down at her.

              Lyssa turned swiftly and shoved Arwenna behind her. She was holding a short sword in the manner of one well versed in self-defense. “Run, Arwenna!” She glanced back for a moment at her daughter. “Run! Now!” Arwenna stumbled, then obeyed the command of her mother and began to run blindly.

              She did what she could to dodge arrows streaming her way, as well as the bodies of the fallen. She stopped behind a wagon and looked back to see if her mother was following. Her eyes widened in terror.

              The creature had Lyssa in his grip. Her feet dangled off the ground as he pulled her up to face him. It ignored the sword buried within its shoulder. With a roar, he broke her in half and tossed the pieces aside like kindling. Arwenna screamed, but the creature did not hear her.

              More villagers were being slaughtered; others were being corralled into the center of the village. Most of them were her playmates. A lone horseman approached them. The visor of his helmet was down, but she could see wisps of smoke coming out from the bottom.

              “Is this all of them?” a voice demanded of one of the creatures. The voice was inhuman and grated down Arwenna’s spine like a hot knife.

              “All we can find, Lord Corse.” The beast sounded worried that his report would be found lacking.

The creature on the horse looked at the group of children, searching. He dismounted and started to examine the faces of the children. With some, he pulled aside the neck of the tunic as if searching for some kind of mark. He finished his examination and mounted his horse again.

              “The child is not here. Kill these, and keep searching.” He turned his mount and walked away, oblivious to the screams of the dying villagers.

              Arwenna turned away, unable to watch the slaughter of her friends. After a moment or two, she scrambled towards the fields in front of her. The corn was tall; it should hide her at least for a while. She ran blindly, tears streaming down her face. It seemed like an eternity before she reached the main road on the far side. She collapsed in exhaustion and grief behind a group of boulders.