Raven's Hand (6 page)

A peppered steak eventually found its way to
Killian’s table along with fresh bread and a healthy dollop of
seasoned butter. He enjoyed the meal and the obligatory dance
afterward. In fact, he remained for a total of three dances. Wendy
was still good company.

A few hours later, Killian was settled into
one of the Mangy Cur’s reasonably furnished, comfortable rooms,
nestled beneath a heavy blanket. From adjacent rooms, the sound of
love play filtered through the walls to him, but Killian paid this
no mind. He wondered if the raven-haired girl would return to his
dreams tonight. Extinguishing the oil lamp on the bedside table,
Killian wasted no time finding out.

Celia spent her last night at the abbey in my
bedchamber. We wept for her departure, talked about times we had
enjoyed together, and I attempted to prepare her for what she might
face when she finally reached the palace at Rainier and Prince
Nathan. One subject we avoided was the matter of her bond coming to
her for carnal relations.

Celia was only fifteen. She was not prepared
for the world she would enter beyond these walls. I knew something
of what would be expected of her, but I was no world traveler. I
barely had any more experience in these matters than Celia.

If only I had kept my tongue silent and
obeyed all that was told me. I could have prevented this tragedy,
but now Celia would be made to suffer for my mistakes. She never
said the words, never blamed me for what had happened. Still, I
couldn’t help but blame myself because I knew the truth.

We finally settled in for a much needed rest
during the wee hours of the morning, only to be woke by Hannah
before dawn. We hurried to dress Celia, so that Mistress Evelyn was
not made to wait even one second. Tears ran down Celia’s cheeks
almost the entire time, making her makeup impossible to apply
properly. In the end, Hannah said to skip it. Celia was young and
her skin was appropriately pale with enough red in her cheeks to
make it seem as though she already had makeup on. It would have to
do.

Celia’s few belongings were stowed in a trunk
and fastened. Evelyn’s footmen delivered it to one of the armored
carriages outside. Her servants had been housed in quarters
separate to the abbey proper along with her carriages and their
horse teams. Her caravan was comprised of one dozen of these
metal-plated carriages, bearing a dozen soldiers and their arms in
each. That was except for Evelyn’s carriage which was twice as long
as those carrying soldiers. And there was also a single carriage,
no less armored, that carried all of her luggage and, now, Celia’s
meager chest full of undergarments and a few dresses and other
accouterments.

Celia and I, along with Hannah, were waiting
upon the stone steps to the abbey when Mistress Evelyn made her way
out of the building. She was dressed for traveling, which is to say
that she was wearing a plainer, less colorful dress and long
leather boots, should the need arise to disembark at one of the
towns or villages along the way. Celia did not possess any
traveling attire, so she made due with a practical beige print that
was comfortable for wearing throughout the day.

Our eyes were bloodshot with tears, but we
withheld when she appeared. Still, Evelyn must have noticed. She
sighed heavily, pulling on a pair of dark gloves.

“We have a long trip ahead, child,” Evelyn
said to Celia. “Let’s not waste time with long goodbyes.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Celia replied.

She shouldn’t have done it, but Celia turned
to me and hugged me tightly. “I will miss you, my sister,” she said
into my ear.

Tears flowed afresh, hot upon my cheeks. I
couldn’t help it. My only dear friend was being taken away from me
forever.

She released me, falling obediently in line
behind Evelyn. I kept my place, despite a desperate desire to cling
to Celia. The urge to use my power and escape this place with her
passed through my mind more than once. However, I did not act upon
the impulse. It would have been foolishness.

Evelyn’s footmen assisted her into her
compartment on one end of the carriage. Then Celia was assisted
into the compartment on the other end. I sighed with relief.
Because Evelyn was unwilling to ride in the same space with Celia,
my friend would have her privacy. She could be alone with her
thoughts and her tears.

Within minutes, the caravan got underway,
rolling steadily along the dusty, winding road like a centipede. I
watched it go with a heavy heart, wishing again that I had not
allowed my foolish pride to do this to her. I couldn’t help a gasp
as the final carriage finally disappeared beyond the last hill.

The following day, Killian and Esmeralda set
on their way early. The sword remained wrapped and out of sight
beneath his cloak as he went to the stables to fetch the black
mare. Esmeralda was eager to see him and excited to be on their
way. While still inside the inn, Killian had requested one small
favor from Wendy before departing.

“It’ll cost you,” she had said.

“It’s for a lady,” he said innocently.

“Another girl?” Wendy asked, suddenly
offended by the thought. “What do you want?”

Killian laughed. “I want a blue sea apple for
Esmeralda, please. They’re her favorite.”

“Your horse?” Wendy stuttered. She grinned.
“A lady, indeed.”

She went into the kitchen and soon returned,
holding the bright blue apple out of reach. “My turn,” she
said.

“And what is your price, milady?”

She walked out from behind the bar, handing
him the apple. “For this,” she said. Then she moved in, planting a
kiss upon his lips. Killian did not pull away, though he was a bit
startled. Wendy pulled away smiling. “Safe travels.”

Killian had nodded with a grin and then
turned to go.

Out in the barn Killian tossed Esmeralda the
apple. She snatched it from the air like a bullfrog catching flies.
The boys saddling her for the journey looked on in amazement,
commenting about how clever an animal she was.

Esmeralda was such a close companion to him
and his family that he rarely thought of her as an animal anymore.
Instead, he fancied her as simply a different sort of
person—someone with different appetites and anatomy, even an odd
language, but no less a person in his estimation. She was wise in
her way and a true friend. He valued her company above many
normal
people.

When the boys were done with her, Killian
thanked the trio and tossed them each a copper. Each of them
snatched the copper square from the air as deftly as Esmeralda did
her apple. “Thank you, sir!” they added in unison.

Killian and Esmeralda left the stables of the
Mangy Cur, heading up the road toward the Eastern Gate. Many
pedestrians were out this morning. However, the majority had been
waiting for the gate to open in order to enter Rainier from the Mud
District or the highway.

There was little traffic heading in the other
direction. Killian had no trouble making his way through. There was
only a brief check made by the guards as they ascertained his
identity. They were charged with making sure no wanted person was
allowed to leave the city by the gates. Behind the guards, at the
post, was a board bearing several sketched images of thieves.

Fortunately, Killian bore no resemblance to
any of these malcontents, so he was allowed to pass through to the
highway beyond. To the left and the right, as far as Killian could
see, the Mud Districts extended along the wall. Many structures,
mainly businesses, used the wall as part of their architecture.
Homes clamored for space, leaving only narrow avenues for carts and
horses to go between. However, horses were hard for Thirds to come
by anyway, so it was not so great a problem as one might
imagine.

Straight on, the Eastern Highway proceeded
through the district, stretching toward green pastures far off.
Beyond these homesteads, where cattle and other livestock were
raised for Rainier and where much of the kingdom’s grain was grown,
the highway came near to the Brine Wood. It would take him a full
day’s travel, with Esmeralda keeping a brisk pace, in order to
reach the Doe River by nightfall.

“Let’s get going, girl,” Killian said to
Esmeralda.

The black mare jolted forward eagerly. Dust
clouds churned up behind them as they tore down the packed, earthen
road. Killian was unsure which of them was the more excited by
their trip. Either way, he was glad to be away from home for a
time. There was nothing like a little adventure to stir the
soul.

Hours later, as dusk began to transition into
a clear night sky, Killian and Esmeralda crossed a shallow section
of the Doe River just upstream from a set of rapids leading toward
Doe River Falls three miles away. He found a spot clear of rocks
and debris—a good place to bed down for the night—and began to
establish a small camp. Using flint and stone and dried brush,
Killian quickly got a fire started, adding larger pieces of dry
wood until he had a nice blaze going.

Killian removed Esmeralda’s load and saddle,
setting the sword next to the fire with his things. Then he loosed
her to graze at her leisure. There was no danger of the black mare
wandering off. Killian was more likely to get into mischief than
she was, and they both knew it.

Removing a bow and quiver from among his
things, Killian set off for a nearby meadow where he and his father
knew of a large warren of rabbits. In the twilight, he found
numerous opportunities. One well-placed shot later, Killian sat
again by his fire, roasting the skinned rabbit over the open flames
upon a makeshift spit.

Once Esmeralda had had her fill, she returned
to him near the fire where he was already enjoying his meal. “Are
you full already?” Killian asked.

Esmeralda nuzzled his shoulder.

“I suppose you’re wanting another sea apple?”
he asked.

The mare knickered in reply.

“I’m sorry, but I only got the one from Wendy
back at the inn,” he reported. “That one cost me a kiss.”

Esmeralda responded with an exasperated
snort.

“I know, I know,” he said, grinning, “but I
did want you to have the apple.”

She nuzzled him again, and he patted her
muzzle.

“Don’t worry, I’m not taking a fancy to
Wendy. I know how you would disapprove. However, I did have a nice
dream last night. Shall I tell you about it?”

A snort came in reply and a nudge to his
arm.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” he said merrily,
taking another bite of his rabbit. “I dreamed about the
raven-haired girl again.”

Esmeralda knickered at this, while Killian
settled into his retelling.

“I entered what must be some sort of
ballroom,” he continued. “There before me, in the midst of whirling
couples in masquerade, stood the most beautiful girl I’ve ever
seen. Her eyes were the same color as the dress she was wearing.
She wore a mask, as did I, but we somehow sensed one another. We
just knew, out of all these people in attendance, we were meant for
one another.”

Esmeralda snorted next to his ear. Killian
laid his hand on her muzzle, attending to her emotional
responses.

“Oh, I know she’s only a dream, but it feels
so real when I see her,” Killian attempted to explain. “I went to
her, and we embraced. Then we danced together and all of the others
stopped. The very chamber around us seemed to melt away and we were
dancing among the stars.”

Esmeralda snorted again.

“I’m not being foolish,” Killian replied. “I
can’t help my own dreams, can I? I know what you’re thinking,
Esmeralda. I should stop thinking so much about a figment of my
imagination, but I can’t seem to help it.”

Another snort and a shake of the mare’s
head.

Killian laughed. “You’re right, old girl.
I’ve more important matters to deal with at the moment.”

Esmeralda bobbed her head, pulling Killian’s
cloak off of his pack and draping it haphazardly over his head.

“All right,” he said, chuckling. “I’m going
to get some sleep. You had better do the same though. We still have
a good distance to go and the terrain is all hills and valleys from
here on.”

She snorted again, walking off toward a
nearby tree. He didn’t have to tell her about the terrain. She had
made this trip far more times than Killian, going with his father
to the temple when he was still a toddler. Killian stripped the
last of the meat from his rabbit and then curled up with his
proffered cloak. Esmeralda remained nearby, ears alert should
anyone attempt to come upon their camp during the night.

The next day began well enough, until deep
purple thunderheads rolled across the sky, making the already murky
Brine Wood seem gloomier than ever. Killian rode Esmeralda, but the
best pace they could manage was a steady canter and only at times
when the massive trees gave them clearance. The Brine Wood was eons
old, mystical and legendary. Very few people were brave enough to
enter, for it was said strange creatures resided there. A man might
enter, but he would be lucky to leave.

Killian, however, did not tremble at such
stories, neither was he nervous to be traveling in the Brine. He
and his family knew well what strange creatures inhabited this
place. It was the lower forms in creation that ran free here,
though stories of ancient dragons also circulated. This wood was a
place where Eliam’s folk could dwell close to him like no other. In
this place the animals spoke audibly, if they felt inclined, and
there seemed to be Eliam’s power coursing through almost everything
from trees and rocks and streams to deer and squirrels and
panthers.