Daughter of Hauk (The Raven Chronicles Book 1) (3 page)

              Daylight wakened her. She peeked over the rocks cautiously. The ruined village still smoldered. She could make out the shapes of the dead on the ground, but was luckily far enough away to not recognize faces or how they died. Mama was there somewhere, her body broken in two. Tears started anew. Arwenna couldn’t stop them and began to grieve once again. Her sobs drowned out the sounds of footsteps approaching.

              “Child? Are you hurt?” A male voice called out to her. She started, terrified that it was one of the creatures from the night before or their leader. The face of an older human male peeked around the rocks with concern on his face. “It’s okay, my child. I won’t hurt you. We want to help.” He extended his hand to her. She looked at him and took it tentatively. “Come with me, child. We are with the order of Silas. We will keep you safe against the horrors of the night.”

Arwenna let him lead her out from behind the rocks. There was a group of five others on horses with him. “Can you tell us what happened, child?” The leader knelt down in front of her.

              “They killed Mama. They killed everyone!” She tried desperately to keep the tears at bay again.

              “Aye, child. They did. Silas must have spared you for some reason. Can you tell us what happened?”

              Arwenna did her best to describe the creatures from the night’s raid, but her memory was clouded. Smoke and fire cast ill-omened shadows in the night and she was not certain she knew what it was she saw.

              The leader nodded again, as if he knew the creatures she described. He took her hands and looked into her eyes. “Do you have anyone we can take you to? Any aunts or uncles in other villages?”

              “No. Mama said that everyone died from sickness, including Papa. She said I was all she had left.” She straightened the tunic from where it had dropped down off her shoulder a little bit.

              One of the riders looked at her closely, as if realizing something. “Hand her here, she can ride with me. Merelle and I have wanted a daughter for some time, and she will not care if it be an elven orphan. She will be raised within the faith and as one of our own. Bohrs is now away in fosterage and Merelle has been bemoaning the silence of no children in the house.”

              The leader nodded, a sigh of relief escaping him. He picked her up and gently placed her in the man’s arms. She settled into a space in the saddle and watched her village fade into the distance as they rode on.

              Light flashed within the perpetual twilight. Arwenna had been here long enough to recognize the use of the portal and what it meant.

              She raised her head off her chest as footsteps approached. The Paladin was back. He was alone this time. She gathered her courage once more. He would not defeat her. He had never done so in life, she would not let him do so in death.

              Arwenna leveled a steely gaze at Bohrs, not even trying to hide her dislike for him. He returned her gaze with one of his own, one that made her skin crawl.

              “Still hating me, Arwenna? How appropriate. I prefer you start with hate. You will appreciate me more when I am in the mood to be kind.” He approached her suspended form and slowly unsheathed one of his knives.

              Arwenna answered his words with defiance, “You? In the mood to be kind?  You wouldn’t know what that means.”

              He was in front of her now. The knife slowly traced her skin through the tattered remains of her dress. His eyes took in her pale skin with hunger for dominance. “It’s time, Arwenna. You knew this would happen. I will take you, and with that taking break you. Even you cannot stop that.” He used the edge of his knife to cut away the last of her skirts.

              Arwenna did not look at him, but focused her eyes into the distance. He thrust up into her and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. She closed her eyes in an attempt to escape.

              The ship rocked gently in the cavern, a small sense of security after such a fierce battle. Arwenna did what she could to ease the hurts among her companions. At least Barek had finally gotten used to having someone look after him. It took forever for him to trust that she would keep him alive. Half orcs weren’t ones to give trust easily, and he was worse than most.

              She looked up and wiped a drop of sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. She needed rest, and soon. All the magic she used during the battle had left her drained. She glanced past Rhiannon and Mialee as they looted the bodies before Y’Dürkie and Barek threw them overboard.               Senyan wasn’t doing much better than she was. He was talking with Lexi, but you could see the exhaustion in his face. There were other things there as well, some she could not read. Others she did not wish to. He had his own battles to fight.

Once the deck was secure, a quick meal was prepared. The cove was sheltered and well hidden, but most agreed a watch would be prudent. No one wanted a repeat of the boarding raid they had just repelled. As Arwenna and Senyan were the only two in need of rest, the others sent them to the main cabin. One room was easier to watch.

              Senyan lit a single candle after they entered, their elven eyes making out details in the room with meager lighting. He sat at the table and brought out his book to study. Arwenna sat on a cot behind him, but had trouble focusing.

              “Senyan, may I ask a question of you?” Her voice was quiet, so as not to carry past the room.

              He paused and raised his head, but did not turn to her. “I suppose so, though you don’t normally ask permission.” He returned to the book, but his focus had shifted somewhat.

             
“
What is Mialee to you?” Her question startled him.

              “A companion, much as Y’Dürkie or Rhiannon or Barek. Why do you ask?” His voice betrayed his curiosity about the question.

              She took a breath before continuing, “It is just that I’ve noticed that she will return to your tent after watch on some nights and not her own.” Her stomach began to churn with nervousness.

              Senyan paused. She knew him well enough to know he would choose his next words carefully. “The road we travel together can be long and tiring. Mialee and I have, on occasion, found it to be mutually beneficial to share time in which we can enjoy each other’s company in a way that relieves some of that weariness.”

              There was silence in the room. Almost as if neither one was ready to ask the next question, but at the same time wanting to.

              “If you don’t mind my saying so, this is an odd topic of conversation coming from a cleric of Silas. Aren’t all the women within the Order raised to remain pure until marriage or death?” He twisted in his chair to face her.

              Arwenna stood up, hands trembling as she began to unlace her bodice slightly. There was determination in her face and voice, however. “The actual covenant we must swear to is to submit only to our Chosen Lord. Most think this is in marriage that the Church arranges.” She slowly stepped forward, letting her dress fall off of her. “I prefer to think that I have the power to choose my own Lord, the person I wish to love, and to whom I would give love.” She was standing in front of him now.

Senyan’s eyes traveled up her body to her face. He stood to face her, one hand caressing her cheek.               “Are you certain? I would not wish such a gift to be given lightly.”

              Her eyes closed briefly at his touch, then reopened to meet his. As a response, she leaned in and kissed him.

              A final grunt from Bohrs brought her back. He backed up and rearranged himself, smiling in satisfaction. He stood there and waited. The blood from her maidenhead would hit the stone and cause it to break. That was the moment she would be beyond saving.

              Arwenna dropped her head in an effort to hide her face, biting back a grin. She could feel his impatience become concern. He began to walk towards her again in disbelief. She raised her head, a tight grin on her face. The panic forming on his face gave her more than a little satisfaction.

              “What’s wrong, Bohrs? Didn’t you bother to make sure I was still a virgin before you decided to kill me?”

              Bohrs stopped dead in his tracks, rage contorting his face. He reached out and slapped her hard across the face. A small trickle of blood began to seep out of the side of her mouth. His hand clasped her chin and forced her to look at him.

              “Who? Who stole this from you? It was mine to take, not yours to give!”

              Arwenna’s answer was almost a purr. “Stole it? Why, I gave it freely. And with it I gave away any power you would have over me or to use me as a sacrifice. You wouldn’t know kindness, tenderness, or compassion even when given to you without reservation. Someone else knew those things, and received that and more from me in return. So go run back to your corrupted priest and explain your failure. Perhaps he will find someone to collar you like the dog you are!”

              Bohrs staggered back, her words almost like blows. He began to pace, the turmoil in his mind written all over his face. The glimmer of an idea played out across his hard features. Arwenna raised her chin with an air of defiance, ready to counter whatever he would throw at her next.

              “It was Senyan, wasn’t it? You went and fell in love with him.” He laughed maliciously. “The one person we were after, the person you were set up to betray from the time my father found you along that dirt road. You went and fell for him. Oh, this is indeed special. How do you think he feels now, knowing you’ve been there all along trying to guide him just so he could become the herald of Lord Corse? That you were one of the ones who gave him that bird that would tie him to the Demon Lord himself? That you counted yourself among those who tore him open in an ‘attempt’ to rid him of his tainted blood?” He paused, searching her face for a reaction. “Do you think he’d ever believe you if you told him you didn’t know anything? That you were nothing more than our puppet? That my family raised you knowing you would be the sacrifice to bring his transformation about and never told you? That all those memories of healing and light that you have from Hauk were suppressed? That your little mark was hidden from everyone, including you, for years? You’ve done everything asked of you, and you didn’t even know how much it would cost.”

              Arwenna turned away, unable to look at him. His words were tearing her up inside. She’d betrayed Senyan. And there was no way now to even try to apologize.

              Bohrs chuckled at the suppressed tears. “I finally have you beaten, don’t I? Good, good. You stay here like a good little girl, now. I have to share this news with the others. When I come back we can discuss what else you can do for me.” He laughed again as her head bowed in defeat. She didn’t notice when he left her. Sobs wracked her body as she finally gave into the despair she’d held back for so long.

              The sound of footsteps alerted her that she wasn’t alone. Resolutely, she gathered the last shreds of her courage. She would not let them see how close she was to breaking. The light inside her was almost gone now; she could not take much more of this. The effort to raise her head and look at them was too much.

              “Arwenna...Cousin...can you hear me? I've brought help,” a voice whispered.

              “Go away, demon spawn. I will not be defeated by the likes of you or your trickery!” Damn them, imitating Lexi's voice. She's dead, too. Most likely in this bone yard somewhere.

              “Arwenna, please! It's me! You have to wake up….there’s evil here! I've brought help for you!” the voice pleaded.

              Another voice reached through the fog of pain and grief, one she had not heard since she was very young. “Arwenna Shalian, you have proven yourself most worthy and devout. Those who led you down the wrong path must be punished. The Age of Decay is upon us and I have need of you, my daughter, and any of your companions you can bring forth and gather again. Will you now accept the duties of your True Faith and embrace me once again?”

              The dull ember within her flared to life, encompassing her with light and love. She recognized the voice that spoke so lovingly to her as a child and taught her how to heal. Anger and resolve brought iron back to her spine. She raised her head to see the face of Hauk standing before her.

              “Aye, I will.” Darkness overtook her as she felt herself falling.

Chapter Three

            
 
W
armth, sunlight, a soft bed beneath her. She gasped and bolted upright in the bed as life returned to her. Her lungs burned as air filled them once again. She placed her hands to her chest and felt her heart beat within.

              The room was bare, very little beside the bed. A quick search of the room revealed gear she thought long lost, and welcome surprises. All items marking her as a cleric of Silas were now marked as a cleric of Hauk. A sack with gemstones and coins, enough to buy the silence of guards and tavern keepers. Deep within the pack was a small packet. The tightly wrapped fabric came loose at the probing of her fingers. Three small seeds rested in the center. Arwenna closed her eyes briefly before repacking them on the top of the pack. She would need those to bring back her friends from the dead. The exhaustion that would overtake her bordered on debilitating, but at least she had the components she needed. Traveling gear, a stout cloak and boots lie on or near the chair.

              She looked out the window, gathering her bearings. The distinctive spire of the fountain that sat in the center of Tanisal told her where she was. Her magic pulled to the west. Lexi, Rhiannon, and Y’Dürkie were buried that way, and not far. There was a grave marker for Senyan, but he was not there. He was not alive, neither was he truly dead. Her heart ached with the thought. Would he let her explain, or just kill her if they ever met again?

              She gathered her gear and slipped out of the inn. She kept the hood up on her cloak...it would not do to be recognized here in Tanisal. The paladins would not hesitate to arrest her. Remembering the look of hunger on Bohr’s face made her keep even closer to the shadows provided by the late afternoon sun. After some time, she managed to find the graveyard she was seeking.

              They were in the back. The twilight of the early evening faded quickly into full darkness. The guards weren't interested in going far from their grog. Hauk was with her. Lexi would be first. Closing her eyes, Arwenna channeled her power into finding her cousin’s soul. Her face, young and whole, shimmered into existence before her. The top of Lexi’s bow peeked up behind her dark hair. She was willing to return, and mumbled something about fireball arrows and Barek being able to take them. Steadying herself, Arwenna knelt in the freshly turned soil that covered her cousin’s body. She removed a small empty bottle from a pack and uncorked it, laying it down on its side. Rubbing the stiffness from her fingers, Arwenna deliberately took her time to form the sigils in the air above the grave. A mistake now would not be good.               Nervously, she glanced over at the symbol of Hauk on her pack. She bit her lip, hoping that simply changing the sigil was enough for Hauk to give her the necessary magic. The air shimmered briefly as the spell took hold, siphoning the dirt and stone covering Lexi’s body into the bottle. Arwenna glanced about nervously, hoping the guards stayed put. The dirt continued to recede, revealing a prone form wrapped in rough canvas. Arwenna moved swiftly to cork the bottle, sealing its contents. Reaching forward, she tugged the cloth free of Lexi’s face.

              Leaning back onto her heels, she moved the bottle slightly. She would need it again, and soon. Rummaging in her pack, she pulled out the small packet containing the seeds. Arwenna flexed her fingers again. Deliberately, she picked up one small seed and placed it on the tip of her index finger. She closed her eyes, picturing Lexi’s form as it was when she lived. Placing the seed on her tongue, she waited until the correct sigil shimmered in front of her before swallowing it. The rush of power leaving her made her glad she was already on the ground. A dim light encircled the unearthed corpse. Soon, Lexi’s form began to convulse as her lungs tasted air once again. Arwenna reached out, steadying her cousin as she scrambled out of the shallow grave.               After a small and quiet celebration, Lexi went on guard. Arwenna uncorked the bottle, reversing the spell and recovering the grave.
No sense letting them know the bodies aren’t there any more
, she thought.

              Y’Dürkie was next. It took Arwenna a few moments to locate her in the massive hall her friend sat in. For Y’Dürkie’s clan, the afterlife was a room in which warriors spent an eternity drinking, eating, and swapping stories with their gods. The auburn-maned form she needed was found near the central fire. Arwenna explained that she could bring her back if she wished to settle a score with one paladin or sixty. The ale tankard slammed against the wooden table, hazel eyes flashed with the thirst for vengeance. Guess that settled that!  In due time, Y’Dürkie stood guard with Lexi.

              Arwenna moved on to Rhiannon's grave. Drawing on the magic she still had, she searched for her dwarven friend. Beads of sweat trickled down her face from the strain. Her face eluded Arwenna’s searching. A voice echoed in her soul. Rhiannon was content with death. Revenge was not on her mind, nor saving the world from the Age of Decay. “Let them have the earth,” she said, “I have my cave. But as a final gift, I shall open a passage for you and my friends to leave this most unhappy city unnoticed.” Arwenna bade her friend a final goodbye and promised to disturb her no more.

              Not wishing to waste the final gift of Rhiannon, Arwenna and the others quickly headed into the tunnel she pointed out. The welcome arm of Y’Dürkie worked its way around her waist, helping her stay upright. The resurrection spells she had cast had taken a heavy toll on her. Her legs threatened to buckle underneath her. A quick conference brought all into agreement that a forced march through the passage and away from Tanisal was best once Arwenna could stand on her own again. Y’Dürkie sighed greatly, her thick accent giving voice to her grief. “Rhiannon, she vas one of the best I have ever fought beside. I am goink to miss her axe and her jokes.” Arwenna and Lexi nodded in agreement. The way ahead was dark indeed.

              Once all were within the tunnel, Rhiannon’s spirit closed the end and returned to her deep sleep. Arwenna leaned against the earthen wall, her body almost completely drained of magic. She raised her weary head in alarm at the cry of pain from Y’Dürkie. A small amount of light formed in Lexi’s hand, casting a dim bluish glow. Y’Dürkie leaned against the wall opposite Arwenna, rubbing at her bare toes. On the floor of the tunnel, the hilt of a great sword poked out from among a pile of armor and backpacks. Lexi’s light danced across the gear.               “How’d that get here?” Arwenna asked, her weariness finding way into her voice.

              Lexi knelt down and brushed her hand across the pile. Sparkling pieces of blue and green dust floated about, finally settling again on the gear and dark brown floor. “Fairies” Lexi replied quietly. She raised her head, looking about the tunnel. “They must’ve brought it here for us.” Arwenna watched as her cousin rummaged through the pile, separating gear for Y’Dürkie from the rest. A flash of light momentarily blinded her as the torch Lexi handed to Y’Dürkie flared to life.

              “Vhy vould fairies care about us, or our gear?” Confusion tinged Y’Dürkie’s voice.

              “They must like you a lot, Y’Dürkie!” Arwenna chuckled silently at Lexi’s assertion.

              Y’Dürkie let out a heavy sigh of resignation. “Vell, ve should gear up. Ve von’t be goink anywhere for vhile I think.” Y’Dürkie and Lexi knew the toll using magic took on Arwenna; they would wait for her to recover. She welcomed the break, but knew she would need to be ready by the time they were finished. Taking a few steadying breaths, she nodded her readiness for the long trek ahead.

              Several hours passed before the tunnel opened up into a clearing at the base of some nearby mountains. As they approached the exit, Y’Dürkie extinguished the torch. The full moon provided enough light to avoid rocks. Exhaustion from the day’s exertions began to catch up with her again, and they considered setting up camp within the cave they had just vacated. When they turned around, however, they were met with smooth rock. Rhiannon had sealed this end as well to keep the way secret.

              “Well,” said Lexi, “I guess we’ll have to find another place to camp. Y’Dürkie and I are feeling well enough, but I can tell you’re about to drop, Cousin.”

              “Yes, and I vant to hear the story of how ve got out from the graves,” Y’Dürkie’s accent was as thick as ever. “One minute you are beink killed in front of us,” Y'Dürkie's eyes darkened with anger, but quickly cleared, "and then, Arvenna, you stood before me and my gods and offered to bring me back! That was one neat trick!”

              The full weight of what had transpired over the weeks since her death began to wear heavily on Arwenna. “Let’s find someplace we can rest without fear and I shall share what I know with you before I sleep,” she promised.

              Within an hour, a sheltered area was found. Y’Dürkie started a small fire while Arwenna prepared some shelter over the sleeping bedrolls. Lexi began to pull out bread and some cheese for them. After their hunger was sated, Y’Dürkie pulled out some ale to share and reminded Arwenna of her promise.

              Taking a deep breath, she began to relate the horrors that had been visited upon her after her death. There was much discussion between her and Y’Dürkie before there was an agreement as to which of them would dispatch the Paladin should the opportunity arise. She then told of the visit from Hauk and the realization of how she was used and betrayed by those who wished to corrupt Senyan with her unknowing aid.

              “I have been loyal to Hauk this whole time, with the knowledge of my original dedication to him suppressed. Raising me as an initiate of Silas was just a means to an end for them. They thought it would be easier to break my True Faith if I wasn’t consciously aware of it. They were wrong. The Age of Decay is coming, and Hauk is in need of us to help fight the war. We need to find Barek and Mialee first, and then we must do what must be done.”

              “Then they are alive?” asked Y’Dürkie. “I had no idea. I thought that they vere murdered before ve vere, and vould be in the Great Hall before us.”

              “Yup, they’re alive!” called out Lexi. “And they’re to the north of us. I think my feet will hurt before we find them, though. They’re a long ways away. I think Barek wanted to get out of Tanisal pretty fast.”

              Y’Dürkie nodded. “Barek and I discussed a plan similar to that over the years. He vill have headed north.”

              With a heavy sigh, Arwenna curled up under her blankets. With Lexi and Y’Dürkie watching over her, she did not fear what might come in the night. The only fears she had were dreams that could come her way. Hauk had found her again, though, and her sleep remained undisturbed.

              Arwenna woke to the smell of the stew cooking. She emerged from the blankets and noted the lateness of the hour. It was well past time they should have broken camp.

              “You should’ve woken me hours ago. We can ill afford to be found within a day’s travel of Tanisal,” she chided Y’Dürkie slightly.

              “And ve cannot afford to have you fallink down from exhaustion in just six hours, Arvenna. Vhether you like it or not, I am goink to see that you get some extra rest for the next few days. I do not like havink my healer fall over vhen I need her!” Y’Dürkie did her best to look down on Arwenna, but couldn’t keep the grin off of her face for long. They both began to laugh. “Ah, Arvenna, I just vorry about you. It has been a hard time for you these past few days, and there is a hard road ahead for all of us. Listen,” she grinned wickedly, “I vant to teach you some hand to hand combat, just in case ve get attacked. I do not vant to turn around and find you beink carried off!”

              Arwenna nodded her agreement, surrendering the argument. It’s probably best, she thought to herself. Y’Dürkie was trying to take care of her this time. The training would be beneficial as well.

              A companionable silence settled over them as they ate breakfast and broke camp. By the time they were finished, it was impossible for anyone to know how many had slept there. Hoisting their packs over their shoulders, the trio headed north.

              They walked in silence for several hours, happy being together and alive once more. Every now and then the sound of horses approaching caused them to veer further into the woods by the road. Mostly it was other travelers, but at least one group of soldiers rode by. Arwenna scarcely breathed from her concealment. Y’Dürkie and Lexi waited within arm’s reach of her, ready to kill anything heading their way. They stayed hidden for some time after the soldiers passed as a precaution.

              “Y’Dürkie, do you know where to the north Barek was from? It may be the only clue we have to find him and Mialee.” Arwenna brought up the destination as they set up camp that evening.

              “I am not sure. Ve did find him under a bridge, you know.” Y’Dürkie spent a few moments thinking. “The only thing I can think of is to head to the north and start askink questions as ve go. Mialee can disappear into nothink, but Barek is too big for that.”

              Arwenna sighed. A destination would’ve been something to hold onto, an idea of safety once reached. “I’d hoped we could at least put a name to when our journey would end.”

              Lexi spoke up, as if a thought had occurred to her. “There’s a new town about thirty days from here. Well, it’s almost a town. It’s not a little village any more anyway. But it may be a place where you two can ask questions. I’ve heard they have some taverns and inns and even an elf that runs a store. Barek likes to go to taverns. And he’s big enough that maybe they’d remember him.”