Page 49 of White Raven
“That’s rude. I’m the oldest person you know,” Athan smirked, lacing his fingers between hers as they walked towards Wren.
“What is going on?” Sarah asked, glancing between them, and feeling a mosh pit start in her stomach.
“Don’t ask me, dude. I was told to meet you guys here, and I know nothing. Scouts honor.” Wren buddied up three fingers and held them in the air.
“Just come with me.” Athan led them inside, and a little bell chimed above the door as they entered. The shop smelled musty…like an old woodshed, with antique furniture and weird creepy dolls were everywhere. It didn’t look very well kept, and Sarah understood why as a very old-looking woman emerged from behind a curtained-off hallway, her wrinkled eyes spotting Athan immediately, and a half-toothless grin crawling across her mouth.
“You get prettier every time I see you, boy.”
“So do you, my love.” That was a genuine smile on his face. One that not many ever saw, and Sarah couldn’t help but share a confused look with Wren as he released her hand and walked towards the woman, surprising them both when he carefully leaned in to hug her. She put both knobby hands on his face, kissing each cheek and patting one like he was her favoritegrandchild. Athan turned his body and gestured towards them. “I brought somebody to meet you.”
“Oh, my stars,” she gaped, raising cat-eye glasses on a long chain to her eyes. She fixed her stare on Sarah first, and then at Wren who backed away.
“Oh, not me. Her,” Wren shook her head, pointing at her with a thumb. Her attention fell back, making Sarah shrink under it, but the woman seemed anything but wary. There was a devotion in her eyes that bled pure happiness.
“She’s stunning, Athan. You look like you might as well have been sheared from the same cloth.” Her soft smile warmed Sarah, and when she looked back at him, the approval seemed like something he’d been waiting his whole life for.
“Sarah, this is Nell.” He pulled an arm around the old woman’s shoulders and walked her closer. “Nell, meet Sarah.”
Sarah stepped forward, extending her hand, and Nell took it. Her weathered hands were surprisingly soft and warm. “Pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”
“Oh, the pleasure is mine, child. I’ve been waiting a long time to make your acquaintance.” Her thumb slid over the ring on Sarah’s left hand, and she returned her attention to Athan, who was positively beaming. “You asked her.”
“I did.”
I thought you said no one else knew?
Athan’s gaze slid back to her.
I said no one else knew about the ring. Once you see what’s behind that curtain, you’ll understand.
As bad as Sarah wished she wasn’t slightly creeped out, she was. And Wren, it seemed, felt exactly the same, or worse.
“You came here for other reasons, then?” Nell asked, waddling her body to turn and face him. "
“Got something that might tickle your fancy,” Athan smiled, teetering the old leather ledger.
“That sounds slightly disturbing,” Wren snorted, poking a wooden toy on the counter until it fell over, and slamming her arms behind her back in shame. “My bad.”
“What’s this?” Nell asked, taking the book and carefully opening it as she adjusted her glasses and brought it close to her face. The loose skin under her chin wobbled when she dropped her mouth open and gaped back up at him. “My land…how old is this?”’
“About three hundred,” Athan shrugged.
“I’m guessing I already know what you might want for this?” Her tone seemed playful, and Athan nonchalantly stuck his hands in his pockets. Her tired eyes shot over her shoulder and Sarah balked. “I see,” she smiled softly. “Come on back, dears.”
Sarah audibly swallowed as Athan stepped aside so she and Wren could follow the old woman down an unkempt dark hallway, and past a dusty purple curtain into—into a large, tidy circular room in the back of the building that was better lit, and housed a wall of bookshelves that were filled to capacity with old leather bound books, artwork that was carefully preserved, and trinkets that were cased in glass. Scattered throughout the spaces between the shelves were display cases that were lit to showcase whatever treasures she had inside, and off to the sharp curve of the right wall was an inclined desk and a small cart with tons of chemicals and salves that were clearly used for restoration. To the left was a wall portfolio with thick glass frames that held impossibly old parchment.
Nell waddled over to her desk, setting the book down and peeking through it while Athan’s touch to the back of her shoulders broke Sarah out of her trance. “Told you you’d love it.”
“This is incredible,” Sarah choked, “Is this…is this where you get all your old books?”
“Some of them, yeah. Nell and I have some of the most priceless collections in the world. Although, she’s got a way of getting her hands on way more than I could ever dream of.”
“It’s because of my striking good looks,” Nell snickered, not daring to look up from whatever page she was on. “Feel free to have a look around. I know whathe’safter, but you might spot something that speaks to you.”
Wren didn’t waste any time. Her eyes spotted the artwork, and her body took her straight to it as if her soul recognized its counterpart. “Holy…effing. This is—” She paused, stunned and pointing at a framed sketch on really old paper. Her face shifted towards Nell, who finally looked up from Athan’s ledger to see what she was gawking at. “Tell me this isn’t George Burchett.”
“Very good. You know his work, then?”
