The Raven Coven

by Emma Miles

  ‘But because of you, hundreds, maybe thousands, in Chem will find something close to real freedom and at the very least not experience the life you had to endure. Stop being so hard on yoursel—’

  ‘But I can’t afford to break down now.’

  ‘But if you don’t deal with it now, break down is exactly what you’ll do! By all means hide it from everyone else, but not from me and not … not from Osun. He will understand more than me, he may even need to talk to you too.’

  He nodded, lifting his gaze to look around at the multitude of book spines. When he turned back to Kesta she was smiling again although she blinked rapidly at the moisture in her eyes.

  ‘You’ll have all the time you want to look at them soon.’

  He reached out to catch a tear as it fell from her lashes and then tapped the tip of her nose with his finger. ‘And I’d best have a quick look at those passages and then get you up to Azrael. I don’t like leaving Osun without someone much stronger than Jagna for long.’

  Kesta frowned. ‘Cassien’s loyalty I do not doubt, but I’m still a little unsure about Jagna.’

  Jorrun paused beside one of the bookcases. He was sure it was this one, but it had been so long ago. He ran his fingers along the spines of the books. ‘What of the captain of the guard?’

  Kesta perched herself on one of the tables. ‘There was fear, anger, a lot of pride too. He seemed more pleased than upset by Cepack’s death but that doesn’t mean he’ll think any more highly of us.’

  ‘As long as they give us a moment to establish ourselves.’ He pulled out a large brown book and reaching behind it found the lever. The bookcase swung slowly out toward him. He heard Kesta gasp.

  ‘How did you know where to find that if you were not allowed in the library?’

  ‘Osun was allowed in.’ He glanced at her over his shoulder. ‘He found himself many jobs as a slave while they were waiting to see if his blood would show. He could all but make himself invisible.’

  She hopped down off the table and came to stand beside him, her closeness made him feel safer. He couldn’t see much in the darkness, but it was clear the stairway was empty. He called a small, yellow flame to his fingertips and the shadows leapt back. Cobwebs spanned the passage, heavy with dust, it was clear no one had found the way up to the upper tiers of the library in many weeks.

  ‘Is that the only way up to the balcony?’ Kesta asked.

  ‘There is another passage up on the other side. I never got to go up there as a child.’

  ‘Shall we go?’

  He looked down at her. He wanted to more than anything and having someone to share the experience with made it even more exciting, but they had an important duty to think of first.

  ‘Not now.’ He gently squeezed her arm. ‘We should get you to Azra and I need to get back to Osun.’

  She nodded, looking down at the carpeted floor. ‘We won’t have much time together for a while, will we?’

  He reached out and lifted her chin with two fingers. ‘I will make time for you, no matter what. I really need you, Kesta, to keep the nightmares away.’

  She took his hand and squeezed it hard. ‘Don’t worry, they won’t dare stand up to me!’

  He smiled, not quite able to laugh. ‘I can well believe it. Come on, let’s check on that crazy bug.’

  They stepped back into the library and he pushed the hidden door closed, ensuring there were no scuff marks on the carpet to give it away. He checked the second passage quickly, only to find it just as empty as the first. If any of Dryn Dunham’s wealth had been hidden away, it wasn’t here.

  They could hear nothing when they went back out into the hallway and he felt Kesta call up her knowing. It was tempting to touch her, to feel the comfort of her confidence, but he refrained; he needed to shake off his ghosts and regain his own faith in himself. They reached the floor on which the coven’s residences stood, the bodies of the sorcerers still littering the floor. Kesta’s steps slowed as they passed and he moved ahead of her as they went up to where the women were kept. The door to his old room stood closed as he had left it, but still it seemed to call out to him.

  ‘I’ll be all right from here,’ Kesta said.

  He tore his eyes away from the door to look at her, becoming aware of a strange sound coming from the women’s common room. Kesta saw his frown.

  She smiled. ‘That’s Azrael singing.’

  ‘Singing?’

  ‘Yes, Milaiya taught him to sing. I’d better see what he’s up to.’ She slid her arms around his waist to hug him hard. ‘I’ll see you soon.’

  ‘As soon as I can,’ he promised. He watched her walk away up the hall with the assuredness of a cat. She paused to look back at him before disappearing through the ruined doorway.

  Jorrun shivered, somehow the corridor seemed darker.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Kesta: Covenet of Chem

  She felt a moment of doubt as she turned back to look at him; he looked so vulnerable alone in the hallway despite being such a tall man. His eyes were like windows to a bright stormy sky, the sun silver behind black clouds. Had she done the wrong thing in taking away his defence of the Dark Man? Perhaps she should have waited until they could have more time together. Her heart ached for him and at the thought they would mostly be apart, either he, Azrael, or herself would always need to be either with Osun or with the women of the palace.

  Azrael’s singing broke back into her thoughts and gave her an idea. Forcing herself to break eye contact with Jorrun she turned and stepped into the room.

  Azrael stopped speaking and the women all turned to look at her. They’d gathered in a semi-circle on the carpet, the two small children seated at the front.

  ‘No, please go on, Azra.’ She waved a hand toward the fire-spirit and sat herself at the end of the row of women. As Azrael continued his tale, she took the opportunity to study the women. Their ages ranged from about fifteen to their late twenties, none of them old enough to have remembered Jorrun. Only one of the women appeared to be over thirty and she was the one covered in tattoos. Kesta couldn’t make out the runes, but they covered every inch of the woman’s body, including her fingers and palms. The woman looked back at Kesta, studying her mis-matched eyes with her own oddly coloured ones.

  The woman spoke as soon as Azrael came to the end of his tale. ‘I’m Calayna.’

  ‘Kesta.’ She nodded in reply. ‘Did Azrael explain to you why we’re here?’

  ‘He did. It won’t work.’

  ‘Why do you say that?’

  ‘The men will never allow us to be equals.’

  ‘Hmph.’ Kesta looked down at her hands and then stood up quickly. ‘Well, we’ll be off then and leave you to go back to the way things are.’

  Several of the women cried out in alarm.

  Kesta raised her eyebrows and turned to Calayna. ‘Seems like they want to give it a try to me.’

  Calayna raised her chin and held Kesta’s gaze, showing a surprising amount of pride for a slave. She pointed to her face. ‘This is what happens here to a woman who develops magical ability.’

  ‘I imagine it was very painful.’

  Calayna looked away. ‘The spells cast were worse than the needle.’

  Kesta sat back down on the carpet below where Azrael hovered. ‘No one will be forced to use magic, not everyone will be able to, but either way, while we are here, no one will be allowed to harm you. If you help us, we’ll be able to establish a permanent sanctuary here and possibly change the lives of women across Chem. I’m quite strong.’ She lifted a hand and let flames dance across her fingertips, listening to the gasps and sighs of the women. ‘My husband and Azrael here are stronger, but the three of us are not enough to guard you forever.’

  ‘Only three of you took the palace?’ One of the women asked, looking fearful.

  ‘We have two Chemmen with us also; Jagna who is a sorcerer of limited power and Cassien who is excellent with a sword. Our ...’ Her words caught only briefl
y in her throat before she went on. ‘Our leader is a man who was born here in Navere palace, the son of the now dead Overlord. Osun has no magic, he was once considered no more than a slave, however it was he who took Dryn Dunham’s head off his shoulders. We had originally intended to leave our victory at that and go home, but Osun feared the chaos that followed would mean greater suffering for the slaves of Chem rather than freedom. He insisted on coming back here to take a look.’ She shrugged. ‘It’s up to you if you want to help or not.’

  She called up her knowing then to better gauge their reaction and immediately regretted it. Calayna stood and began clapping, slowly, loudly, the expression on her face one of contempt. Her emotions hit Kesta like darts and she sat back, gasping, one hand going to her chest.

  ‘How very noble.’ Calayna’s lip curled. ‘Less than a month after the Overlord’s death the first coven came to take Navere. Those of us you see here are alive because the guards didn’t have time to slaughter us all. Only weeks after that, Cepack came. He sold our daughters to raise money, he had Sirelle and Jollen’s sons killed. They were five and seven years old. I’m sure you can see what they did to us. When you killed Dryn Dunham, you took away our safety and protection.’

  Kesta couldn’t breathe. Jorrun had tried to warn her, but she hadn’t wanted to hear it, didn’t want to feel it. Well she was feeling it now, and she didn’t need her knowing. The eyes of every woman was on her and she felt her skin burn. The impact of their actions on these people was inexcusable. And yet … and yet she’d had to save the Fulmers. She gritted her teeth and wiped angrily at her eyes with the heel of her hand. ‘I have no excuses. We came here to save my people, to stop them having to go through what you have. We thought we’d helped you, as much as we could, anyway. Osun … Osun was the one who came back to check.’ She raised one hand to rub at her temple, Azrael turned anxious loops around her.

  ‘But you did come back.’ One of the women moved closer on her hands and knees, tentatively touching Kesta’s shoulder.

  Kesta drew in a deep breath and breathed it out slowly. She looked up at Calayna, the woman blurring before her. The tattooed woman regarded her with her arms folded across her chest.

  Kesta recalled something Jorrun had said to her and she straightened her spine. ‘We can’t change what has happened, but we can do something now and we can try to change your future. We can’t do it on our own though, as strong as we are, we are too few. We have to try though, we have to make a start somewhere.’

  ‘What if we can’t do magic?’

  Kesta turned to the woman who had moved closer to her. She was about sixteen and had blonde hair and brown eyes. Kesta couldn’t help but wonder at her heritage.

  ‘What’s your name?’ Kesta asked.

  ‘Vilai.’

  ‘Not all of you will be able to.’ Kesta regarded them all, coming last to Calayna. ‘Your magic they have stolen from you.’

  Calayna looked away, her resentment like stinging nettles against Kesta’s skin.

  Kesta swallowed. ‘This has been a traumatic night for you. Why don’t you try to get some sleep and we can talk more in the morning? Azrael and I will guard you.’

  ‘The servants will be waking soon,’ Velai warned her. ‘They will be afraid, too.’

  ‘I’ll speak with them. Would you feel safer in your rooms or do you want to bring your bedding and all stay in here?’ She glanced around the ornate common room. ‘To be honest, it would be easier for us to protect you if you’re all together in here.’

  Calayna’s arms dropped to her side. ‘We’ll stay in here.’

  Kesta nodded. ‘Is there any way in and out of here other than the stairway?’

  ‘None,’ Calayna replied.

  ‘Good. Azra and I will guard the stairs until you’re all settled.’

  She waved at the fire-spirit to follow her and they went out into the hallway. The palace women hurried behind them, grabbing bedding and returning to the fragile safety of the common room.

  ‘Azra, I have something to ask you,’ Kesta said quietly, ensuring no one could overhear. ‘I’m worried about Jorrun and even … and even Osun. This is a difficult place for them. With only the three of us strong enough to protect the palace, fatigue on top of the emotional burden will be huge. Is there any way … the fire-spirits, your fellow Drakes helped us before?’

  Azrael made himself smaller and hovered at her eye-level. ‘I will ask, Kessta, of course. The Drakes helped before becausse of the threat of blood magic. Mossst have no interest in human affairs ordinarily and they are alsso restricted by the fact they cannot long leave the fire realm – unlike earth-bound Azssra. Ssome may come though, but their shifts to help will be short.’

  ‘If they can give us a break to rest, any help will make a huge difference.’

  Azrael bobbed. ‘I’ll be gone but a moment. Keep a careful watch, Kessta!’

  Without another word, Azrael darted into one of the oil lamps on the wall and vanished. Instinctively she reached for her magic, but refrained from calling it, instead gripping the hilt of her dagger. She returned to the common room and found the women settling in to sleep, all but Calayna who was placing two chairs near the damaged door.

  ‘One of us will keep watch with you,’ she said without looking up.

  Kesta sat in the chair, focusing her knowing cautiously. The woman’s hostility had subsided a little and was more recognisable now as fear. What terrified her most was hope.

  ‘What came first?’ Kesta asked softly. ‘Did you find magic or did your eyes change?’

  For a moment she thought the woman wouldn’t answer. ‘I was sixteen when the guards first came to take me down to Dryn. I was terrified. Some of the other women had advised me not to fight, I hadn’t meant to, but something happened inside my head.’ She leaned forward and momentarily covered her eyes with her hands. ‘The room caught fire. The master – Dryn – he laughed. The next day … the next day they tattooed me with blood. It took hours. Days.’

  Kesta shuddered, feeling sick.

  ‘I’ve carried three daughters and two sons. One son was born dead, the other slain for possessing no magical blood. I have no idea where my daughters are.’

  ‘We’ll tr—’

  ‘Don’t you dare!’ Calayna hissed. ‘Don’t you dare promise what you can’t give!’

  ‘Lady, you don’t know me! No one will hurt you again while I live.’

  Calayna held her gaze for a long time before looking away. Kesta didn’t need her knowing to feel the woman’s thoughts. In Chem, there was every chance Kesta wouldn’t live.

  ***

  Kesta’s eyes were starting to sting when she heard noises in the hallway. She stood at once and went to the door. Two guards were preceding a group of servants carrying trays along the hallway, they slowed on seeing her.

  ‘We’re reporting to someone named Kesta Silene.’

  Kesta lifted her chin. ‘That’s me.’

  The two men glanced at each other. ‘Where’s your master?’

  Kesta placed a hand on her hip and sucked at her bottom lip. She gave a short, snort of a laugh deep in her throat. Without warning she called up her magic and hurled both guards against the wall. One of the servants dropped their tray.

  ‘Listen.’ Kesta took several steps forward toward the men. ‘I don’t have the patience to keep telling you Chemmen. I. Don’t. Have. A. Master. Got it? Now, did you actually want something?’

  She ceased her magic and allowed the men to fall to the floor.

  ‘We’re to help you guard this floor,’ one of them mumbled as he pushed himself up onto his knees.

  ‘Well, you’d better get on with it, then.’ She pointed back down the hall toward the stairs and then regarded the servants, all of them older women but for one in her late teens. ‘Don’t be frightened, please. Come on in.’ She turned to see Calayna and Vilai watching her from the doorway, the younger girl’s eyes were wide and shining.

  Kesta moved out of the way whil
e the servants set out their food. She cleared her throat. ‘You may speak,’ she said. ‘When you’re ready, when you feel comfortable. In this palace there is no restriction on women. If anyone hurts you, tell me.’

  A few of the servants lifted their eyes, but none spoke yet. Kesta told herself to be patient, recalling how long it had taken her to win Milaiya’s trust. As the servants left and the women settled down to eat, Azrael emerged slowly from one of the lamps. He let the women see him, before drifting across the room to Kesta.

  ‘Eight Drakes will help us, Kessta! They cannot sstay long at a time but it will give us rest. I’ve been down to tell Ossun.’

  ‘That’s amazing, Azra, thank you.’ She had to stop herself immediately heading down the stairs to look for Jorrun. She hoped he was all right and longed to know what was happening down in the audience room. ‘Are you hungry, Azra?’

  ‘I had ssome oil from the lamps, thank you, Kessta.’

  ‘Take some rest, then.’

  She waited for the women and two small children to finish eating, herself nibbling on some dried fruit, before going to sit on the carpet in front of the large fireplace. Vilai and one of the other younger women came to join her, smiling shyly. The others slowly followed, Calayna last of all.

  ‘I’m going to try to teach you how to reach for magic,’ Kesta said quietly. ‘But remember, it might not be something you can all achieve.’ She couldn’t bring herself to look up at Calayna’s tattooed face.

  ‘I’ll mind the children.’ Calayna reached out to take one of the babies and gestured for the two infant girls to follow her.

  Kesta had to swallow her guilt, she was in no way responsible for what had been done to Calayna. Shifting to sit more comfortably, she straightened her back. ‘I’m going to summon flames to my hands. I need you all to try to relax and just focus on the light. It won’t be easy, especially in our present climate, but please try.’

  She raised both her hands, palms up and agitated the air to let the flames dance above her skin.

  ‘Magic comes from the elements,’ she said softly. ‘From earth, air, water, fire, and spirit. But the ability to wield it comes from within, from those able to channel it through their bodies and will it into an active form. The place where you control it is within your skull, a muscle deep within, behind and above your eyes. You need to learn to find it and tense that muscle. It will give you an awful headache to start with, but it opens the flow of magic into your body. Try tensing different parts of your brain, see if you can find it.’