Page 39 of The Devil In Blue
“Of course, you do, love,” Lura said with a pout, sliding her long-nailed finger across my cheek.
“Finding time to wander today, ladies?” Petris said, lifting his head.
Looking at him, his demeanor had changed. I had thought that his hanging his head was submissive, but now he seemed almost annoyed. Lura’s smile drooped, but Naeve just rolled her eyes playfully.
“We’re only teasing. You know how we get bored.”
“Then perhaps you should be on patrol. It’s your job, after all.”
Both of them sighed, taking a bit more meat as they strolled toward the door on the opposite side of the kitchen. And the whole time they were leaving, Petris had his gaze on them. I stopped eating, feeling like there was some kind of tension in the room.
When the girls had gone, I found myself staring at Petris, wondering so many things. He let out a deep breath and ran a hand back through his black hair like he was annoyed.
“They irritate you?” I said, scraping another fork full of soft potato into my mouth.
“Not exactly,” Petris said. “They tease me. And sometimes I feel a need to tease them back.”
“Who are they?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I saw them turn into ravens the other day. And… at the masquerade, they did things. Horribly violent things.”
“They’re the king’s ravens. They’re whatever he needs them to be. Messengers. Scouts. Companions.”
“And they serve him?”
“They do. Very loyally. Any sovereign can make familiars.”
“Sovereign?”
“Each of the three realms has a sovereign. Rune rules the Glyn.”
“And, they make familiars?”
“It is a risky art. Witchcraft, humans would call it. A sacrifice of blood, tears, and bone will create a familiar and they’re different for every sovereign. For Rune, they are ravens. A reflection of his soul. Not quite living. Not quite dead. Born from him at different stages in his life. That is why they all dawn different personalities, you see. Sides of him so few really understand. They’re his tools when he needs them to be. A long time ago, it was said that the King of Malvec, Rune’s brother, created so many of his own that he could fight wars with them. But he lost control of most of them many centuries ago, the fool.”
“And they have their own minds? Free will, I mean?”
“They are a part of their creator, but individuals nonetheless.” He took a deep breath and sighed. “Unfortunately, those hundreds of creations escaped across the realms. Familiars aren’t bound by the laws sovereigns are. They can cross worlds whenever they want because the rules only apply to those who have a soul. Some are here in the Glyn. Some are in Forlahn where mortals live. Their foul nature is what made humans want to eradicate all supernatural creatures to begin with. Magic users. Fae. All who were different were destroyed.”
“The wars. They started because of Malvec’s king?”
He nodded.
“I cannot blame humans for their fear. Rune’s ravens… they devoured all those people at the masquerade.”
“Ahh, yes. They do that sometimes,” he chuckled. “To those who were never alive, the essence of the living is a welcome treat.”
“And you? Are you a tool? A raven, I mean?”
He scoffed and I could almost see his smile in my mind’s eye.
“I was created by the king, but I am not the same.”
I didn’t know what that meant, but I didn’t ask for more. I simply accepted that I’d understand someday or I never would and that was alright.
I took the last bite of food and finished my serving of juice, finding myself aptly satisfied. Petris was gazing at me, his head tilted slightly to one side. A flush hit my cheeks and I felt my lips curling into a smile.
