Page 36 of Fated Unkindness
“Nonsense.” She winked. “A little bird arrived this morning, notifying me of your soon-to-be arrival, my dear.” She whispers for only me to hear as she smiles in the guard's direction. Opening myself to her thoughts, I get a distinct dislike for Cano and his men. She longs for a Ravendene to be in power again. A flash of a man with dark as-pitch hair and hazel-green eyes popped into her mind and left just as quickly.
“Chet here will see you to your room.” She gestures to the young boy with similar red hair, but where he is long, she is round, and standing at least a foot taller than the female. “Chet, be sure our guest has everything that she needs.” He nods. “And I will personally dish you up some supper and bring it to your room in about thirty minutes if it would suit you?”
“That would be very kind of you. Thank you.”
The young boy, Chet, guides me through the tavern, which occupies the bottom level of the building. Mostly male Fae linethe bar, and more at the tables throughout. A large fireplace sits in the middle of the space, with a couch and two armchairs placed on each side of it. There are a few women sipping wine and laughing in conversation there. They stare as we pass, and I get a read on some of their thoughts, having forgotten to put a lid on my senses. Most of them only think of the cock they will surely choke on tonight– the lustful thoughts of drunken females. I lower my head and shake it, brushing away the nonsense and shutting down my senses.
We walk through an arched doorway, leading to a large, winding stairway. The boy is quick, but I keep up easily. We don't stop rounding the stairs until we reach the top floor, and we exit another arching doorway into a wide corridor with impressively large arched doors on either side. Chet shuffles four doors down and stops to unlock the one on the left of the hall. I try to hand him a coin as he goes to leave me, but he shakes his head, refusing to take it.
“Momma said your money's no good here. Keep your coin. She will be up with some food soon; until then, she said to tell you to wash up from your travels and make yourself comfortable.” He dips his chin politely, turns on his heel, and quickly moves back the way we came. The room I am given is spacious and bright. Wood furniture with white linen throughout. An oil painting of an unkindness of ravens perched in a leafless tree hangs above the massive four-poster bed and two of the ornately pointed arched windows. There is an attached on-suite with the same fresh feel to it.
I use the time waiting for Annalynn to clean up from traveling, opting to take a quick bath. Once I dress, I begin to try building a fire in the hearth, but there is a tap at the door.
“Ambriel dear, it's Annalynn. I've got your supper.” She calls before I open it. I crack the door, peeking out into the dark hall, and I’m greeted with the same kind smile I received downstairs from her. I open the door wide, and she shuffles in and shuts it behind her with her foot. She places a covered serving dish on the long table on the opposite wall of the bed. A flash of magic comes from her two fingers with a snap, and I feel a barrier of air pop up around us. I have not seen something like this before, but my mother had told me there are those who could do such things, but it’s a talent that no one could teach me on the farm. I find myself wanting to know how she did it. Using my magic like that could be helpful in the days to come. She winks as she notices my attention on the barrier.
“The barrier I’ve cast will allow us to speak freely without ears on the outside hearing what we have to say.” She smiles warmly.
“I know the magic. My mother, she's spoken of it before; I too have an affinity for air, but I had no one to teach me to wield it in all the ways it can be. Since you are acquainted with my mother, I assume you were a friend of the crown before the kingdom fell.” It's not a question. I sense it from her. “Was it my mother who sent word to you?” Again, not a question.
“Yes. And it was. Your mother and I are long-time friends, and when the kingdom fell, it broke my heart that our paths had taken us separate ways, but we have kept in touch over the years. A good lot of us have.” Her brow stitches together as her gaze moves to her fingers, where she picks the skin around her nails.
A lot of friends to the crown? I try to read her thoughts again, but I find myself hitting a wall of pure white magic. She has barriers in place, which make the corner of my mouth twitch. She knows what I can do… she let me get a read on her at the entrance, and must have felt my invasion.
“We meet ever so often; there are more of us than you may realize. More of us who know the truth.” She says cryptically.
“And what is this truth you speak of?”
“The heir to the throne, born on the day of ruin, the daughter of the moon…She lives.” Chills prickle across my scalp as realization settles under my skin.
“Raelle.” My voice comes out as a whisper. The draw I feel toward her makes more sense now. My family has been long-time allies to the crown; my mother was one of Queen Selene’s trusted advisors. Just as the thought crosses my mind, I inhale a sharp breath and reach out, grasping Annalynn by her forearm to steady myself. A vision so strong it rocks the very foundation I stand on, and my hold on Annalynn makes me a conduit, and she is pulled into the vision as well.
I stand in a crowd at the royal Colosseum, the dilapidated structure once again brought to life for a fight to be seen by all. The winner determines the ruling power of Ravendene. Cano faces a man with raven-black hair and hazel-green eyes in a duel to the death. The crowd is deafening with the roars from the people of Aldramani.
The vision shimmers, and then we are underground.
Cano stands on a dais, the dank dungeon of the palace at his back. I look around, realizing this is where the King and Queen used to hold trials on traitors of the crown. The center of the dais holds some sort of altar, with a wicked swirling deep green smokebeing manipulated by a hooded figure on the opposite side. As the smoke whirls through the air around the dank space, it slowly gathers in front of Cano. Seeping forward, licking over Cano’s fingertips, around his hands, and everywhere it seems to connect with his skin, he shudders. The magic itself seems to shiver and pulse like it is feeding from his soul. The deep green shade turns black as night as it glides over his arms, around his chest, and up his neck, and as it does, he tilts his head back to the heavens. A deep moan resonates from within him, the sound made of pure pleasure. He gasps, his mouth opening on the inhale, as the smoke disappears entirely, entering his very being. A shudder rolls through him, and his eyes clamp shut. When he tilts his head back down and his eyes snap open, they are entirely black before the irises ripple with deep green magic and they return to their usual shade, the deep brown appearing darker than normal.
Cano coughs out a laugh, then a wicked grin spreads slowly across his face as he looks down at his hands and arms, almost as if he can see the power coursing in his veins now. The hooded figure laughs a sultry laugh alongside him. I lower my brows as I recognize the dark magic she wields. Dark magic that Cano now wields. He flicks a finger at a nearby cage; the steel evaporates as the dark spell that was placed in him gives him power that he should not possess. His already sinister smile widens even more as he turns to the female hooded figure and says, “Let the duel begin.” Her cackle brings chills down my spine.
The vision shimmers again, andwe stand again in the colosseum, the entire crowd frozen in fear as Cano’s unnatural power is unleashed and Dax fights with all his might to overpower the dark spell Cano casts at him. But as they battle it out, the crowd is takingnotice of the darkening sky. Fae all around point and stare as the moon overpowers the sun, clouds swirl and twist as a breeze begins to pick up and the total eclipse turns day to night. All is quiet for a moment as Cano and Dax take notice too. A sudden, bright white, blinding bolt of lightning strikes in the center of the colosseum. The resounding sound of the strike echoes as screams erupt around us,and the vision blurs back to reality.
Annalynn and I stare at each other, a silent moment passing, each of us in shock at what we just witnessed. It can only be described as a vision from the gods. Were they forewarning us of a possible outcome of the future? If it wasn't clear that I needed to get to Raelle before, it most certainly is now. But as my mind flickers over what I just saw, I think, if only I could find out who it was that was aiding Cano with the use of the dark spells… Maybe I could end this before it even got to Raelle.
“Your mother's message said that she had a vision, and you were to help bring the kingdom back together again. You need to help Raelle claim what is rightfully hers. She needs to know the truth, and we cannot let what happened in that vision become reality.” Tears roll down her round, rosy cheeks.
“I will do everything I can to make my mother's vision come to light; however, with visions, many things can change the outcome. What she saw… it's just one of many possibilities, as with what we just saw.” Annalynn dips her chin, her eyebrows lowering. “Tomorrow, Cano is expecting me to have breakfast with him. I will. When our breakfast is finished, I will need a horse and some way to get out of Ravendene undetected by Cano. Can you make that happen for me?” She jerks her head in a curt nod.
“I can. I will have everything prepared for your departure. Gods help you, Ambriel.” She grabs my shoulders in each of her hands and pulls me close, kissing each cheek and then releasing me. “If you need anything at all in the meantime, ring the bell.” She points to a handbell at the bedside table. “It'sspelled, so only I will hear it.” She takes a deep breath, letting it loose. Her shoulders sag, and she steps out of the room, but before closing the door, she turns around and says something that I have not heard spoken but have seen written in some of my parents’ old tomes.
“An unkindness gathers in the light of the moon.” Her brow dips, the seriousness of the situation settling over me, and she shuts the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts. A prickling sensation breaks out over my skin, sending chills all over my body.
I will eat the food Annalynn brought up, then I will do my best to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long day of trying to get information and then traveling to Loema. I will need my rest. I hope sleep comes for me after such a revelation.
Chapter thirty-five
I wake in thedark, only the white glow of the moon filtering through the open window to see by. The warm press of Dax’s bare chest on my back moves rhythmically, and with each breath he exhales, the hair behind my ear flutters. The tickle makes me smile, and I nestle into his embrace further. His slow breathing lets me know that he’s still asleep. Taking a deep breath, I enjoy just being held by him and thinking about all that has happened, changing my life so incredibly.
Last night, when Dax arrived back to the room, he didn’t want to talk about whatever it was he and Maki spoke about because he didn't bring it up once. I didn't press him for information, butmy imagination is beginning to run wild with ideas on why he would not discuss whatever it was they did in front of me. I watched from the plush bed as he removed his weapons and boots, waiting for him to join me. He sank into the mattress and curled his body around mine, gently tracing patterns on my skin with his fingertips until I fell asleep. He was sweet and respectful, and there was no arrogance to him like there had been the day prior.
