The Raven Coven

by Emma Miles

  Blood was still oozing slowly from the wound on Jorrun’s head. They carried him toward the back of the vast building, laying him down carefully.

  ‘I need to see to that.’ Kesta tried to push past Osun, but he stopped her.

  ‘A moment, Kesta.’ He looked into her eyes, he looked as though he was going to cry again. ‘If we save him, we save Hacren too.’

  Kesta opened her mouth, but no sound came out. They couldn’t just let Jorrun die!

  Osun tore his eyes away from hers. ‘Azra! The rest, now.’

  ‘Hacren is still weak, the spell issn’t complete! I don’t know if he isss a god! Fire-spiritss are ancient but we have never met one. Whatever Hacren isss, he is powerful, but he can’t manifessst his full strength until he absorbs sufficient blood sacrifices of those with magic or the priessts bind his soul to Jorrun’s body.’

  ‘How do you know that?’ Osun demanded.

  ‘SSpying, Ossun.’

  ‘Is there a way to banish Hacren, save Jorrun?’ Kesta demanded.

  Azrael made himself large and then small again. ‘There might be something in the book.’

  ‘What book?’ Kesta and Osun demanded at once.

  ‘Jorrun’s green book. The preissts got all excited about it, they could read it. One of them saw it when they went to his room. They ssaid it had ancient magics from long, long ago. Hacren wouldn’t let them have it. Hacren was going to burn it, but for ssome reason he didn’t.’

  Kesta sprang onto her feet, clenching her fists and letting out a cry of frustration. ‘Damn it all!’

  ‘What?’ Osun stared at her.

  ‘The book is still in the palace!’

  She paced up and down for a moment, wiping the drying blood away from her nose with her sleeve. ‘Okay. So. We need to treat Jorrun’s wound in case he can still be saved, but we don’t want him waking in case it’s Hacren that comes out. There are drugs to keep very sick people in deep sleep, is there anywhere we can get some?’

  Osun nodded, a frown on his face. ‘You can buy anything in Arkoom.’

  ‘See to it quickly.’ She pointed at him. ‘Azrael, catch up with Cass and tell him not to leave yet, we’ll need him and the wagons. I need to recover my strength,’ she muttered, clenching her fists.

  ‘For what?’ Osun narrowed his eyes.

  ‘To go back for the book. Was there anyone left at the palace with power?’

  Osun shook his head.

  ‘Good, then as soon as I can, I’m going back to tear it down.’

  ***

  Kesta looked around at the women, some of them were sleeping, but most sat quietly talking. Rey was seated at Jorrun’s head, watching for any sign of him – or Hacren – waking. Beside her was a small, dark bottle.

  ‘Be very careful,’ Osun warned. ‘Too little and he’ll wake, too much and he’ll die.’

  He looked at Kesta. They both knew prolonged use of the drug would eventually kill him, anyway.

  They’d moved from the temple, breaking into an abandoned incense shop further along the street, too many people had seen them carrying Jorrun into the ruined hall of the gods. Cassien had luckily not yet left the city and had now moved all their horses to an inn nearer to the temple district, leaving the women he’d been trying to smuggle out in the care of the Navere guards and Elden warriors. Kesta felt uneasy that their party was so split, but for the moment it was the best they could do.

  She tested her power, reaching for it carefully. It came, but reluctantly, and brought an instant headache. It would have to do.

  She knelt on one knee and slowly reached out to touch Jorrun’s cheek. His skin was warm, soft beneath the rough hairs of his short beard. She breathed in slowly, her eyes drinking in his face. ‘This really had better be the last time I have to rescue you.’

  She stood and headed for the back of the shop.

  ‘Kesta?’ Osun scrambled to his feet. ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘I’m going for the book like I said I would.’

  Azrael darted about above their heads. ‘No, be careful, Kessta.’

  ‘He’s right.’ Osun hurried to put himself between her and the door. ‘And we need you to get us to Navere. What if … what if Hacren wakes when you’re gone?’

  ‘Azrael will have to deal with him.’ She glared angrily at the fire-spirit who shrank back.

  ‘I should go with you at least.’

  ‘And me.’ Cassien stood up straight.

  Kesta shook her head. ‘As much as it galls me, the women can’t leave here without a man.’

  ‘Stay, Cass.’ Osun waved a hand at him. ‘Azra, get to the others in the inn, have two of the men bring a wagon here along with our horses.’ He indicated himself, Kesta, and Cassien. ‘I want us all ready to get out of here as soon as we get back from the palace.’

  Kesta clenched her teeth, but she didn’t protest as Osun followed her out into the stinking alley.

  They avoided the main street as much as possible, Osun directing her until they came within sight of the palace’s high walls. The gates were firmly closed and two very nervous guards stood before it.

  Kesta didn’t hesitate. ‘I want to get into the palace.’

  The two men stared at her in wide-eyed shock and Kesta clenched her fists. She’d completely forgotten about being a woman.

  ‘Who’s in charge in there now?’ Osun demanded.

  ‘The Overlord,’ one of the guards replied quickly.

  ‘There is no Overlord.’ Osun scowled. ‘The priests have taken over, you idiot.’

  The guards exchanged glances.

  ‘Oh, we don’t have time for this!’ Kesta drew on her power and sent a formidable blast toward the gates, they burst open, hanging precariously off of their huge iron hinges.

  ‘Come on.’ She glanced at Osun before striding through. ‘And you men had best get a long way from Arkoom if you know what’s good for you!’

  ‘Slow down, Kesta,’ Osun called after her. ‘Even you can’t take on every guard in the palace! Let’s go around to a servant’s entrance and see if w—’

  She looked back at him over her shoulder. ‘There were only two guards on the main gate, this place is almost empty, look.’ She dared to stretch out her knowing for a few seconds, she could feel lives, but nothing like the amount there should be in a building this size.

  Osun grunted. ‘Even so, w—’

  ‘We’ll try the window I escaped out of.’

  Osun raised his eyebrows but said nothing, lengthening his long stride to keep up with her as she left the main path to cut across the gardens.

  The window was unguarded, the glass still scattered across the grass below. She had to jump to catch the ledge, straining to pull herself up. Osun followed her more easily.

  They stepped cautiously across the room, listening for any sounds of people. A door opened and closed further down the hall and Kesta found herself holding her breath. Osun leaned his back up against the door frame and opened the door slowly, peering through the crack.

  ‘Looks clear,’ he whispered. ‘This way.’

  He walked quickly up the hall, pausing at one of the doors. ‘I have an idea, stay back and trust me for a moment.’

  She nodded, watching as he squared his shoulders and forced the lines of worry from his face. He turned the handle and pushed it forcefully open.

  ‘Master!’ Someone gasped.

  ‘Get everyone out of the palace,’ Osun ordered. ‘Everyone, quickly! The Overlord is dead, and a powerful sorcerer has come to destroy us all. There is no one to defend us. Out. Get out!’

  A portly man in a fancy guard’s uniform came hurrying out, his face red and his eyes bulging. He barely glanced at Kesta as he scuttled past, calling out several names in a terrified squeak. Moments later a bell started to ring in a clarion of alarm.

  Osun turned to look at her, one eyebrow raised.

  ‘I thought you wanted to be subtle?’ She couldn’t help it, she smiled.

  ‘Well, I figured tha
t, knowing you, you really do intend to tear this place down and I doubted you’d want any innocent people caught up in it.’

  She regarded him for a moment. His eyes were darker than Jorrun’s, but beneath the long curling hair and fuller beard they were so much alike physically it hurt.

  ‘Come on.’ He turned his back on her and hurried up the hall. A group of veiled women, led by a male servant, rushed past towards one of the exits.

  Only one guard stopped on their way to the tower, hastily bowing to Osun.

  ‘Forgive me, master, what’s happening? May I assist you?’

  ‘Just get everyone out!’ He snapped.

  ‘A shame we can’t tell them to make the priests stay.’ Kesta growled.

  They hurried up the tower steps and Osun made sure Jorrun’s room was clear before opening the door wide to let Kesta in. She unclasped Osun’s cloak and handed it to him, grabbing up her own green one she’d left behind. Osun had picked up Jorrun’s small travel bag, slinging it over his shoulder as she ran her fingers over the familiar green book.

  ‘Kesta?’

  She picked it up. ‘Can you see Jorrun’s amulet anywhere?’

  They made a quick search of the room, but whatever Hacren had done with it, it didn’t seem to be there. Kesta’s heart sank, it was all Jorrun had of his mother.

  Osun regarded her sympathetically. ‘Let’s get out of here.’

  She nodded and led the way back down the winding steps. A noise startled her and a priest darted out of one of the rooms, his arms laden down with scrolls and several items made of gold. His eyes goggled when he saw Osun and he nearly dropped everything. Kesta didn’t hesitate, she called up wind and pushed him down the stairs, running after him and drawing her dagger.

  ‘Kesta!’ Osun called in alarm.

  She grabbed the priest by the front of his tunic, placing one knee on his chest to hold him down with her weight and pushing the edge of her blade into his neck just below his jaw. She applied just enough pressure to draw blood.

  ‘You’re going to answer my questions,’ she hissed. ‘If you don’t answer quickly, you’ll die.’ She stared down into his watering brown eyes. ‘Now, first, how did you summon Hacren?’

  The priest glanced at Osun who’d stepped up behind her. ‘The–there’s a summoning spell carved into the back of his shrine. Priests have t-–tried before, b–but there was never enough blood. The–the war against Elden brought enough death for it to succeed this time!’

  ‘But why in the Gods’ name would you do something so stupid as to summon the death god?’ Osun demanded.

  ‘Revenge.’ The priest showed his teeth, spittle on his lips. ‘You burned his holy temple!’

  ‘Hells.’ Osun cursed.

  ‘And abominations walk our beloved land.’ His nose creased in disgust as he glared at Kesta. ‘Hacren will devour them!’

  Kesta pushed the blade harder against his skin and pulled it a little to her right. The priest squealed and tried to get up as Kesta opened up a small wound.

  ‘Why Jorrun?’

  ‘Because a good heart is sweater to devour and Hacren wanted a strong and pleasing body.’

  ‘How do we stop him?’ she asked.

  The priest grinned, his eyes lighting up. ‘You can’t!’

  She cut deeper. ‘How?’

  ‘You can’t!’ The priest grabbed at her wrist, but Osun snatched his hand away, holding it in a white-knuckled grip. ‘If you kill the one he inhabits, Hacren will just move to another host! He is earth-bound now.’

  ‘How do we kill him?’ Kesta roared, her face going red.

  ‘A binding spell.’ The priest spluttered, trying to pull away from the dagger. ‘Bind Hacren to a man of this realm to give him mortal weakness. But it will also draw through all of his power from the heavens.’

  Kesta slowly lifted the knife, she couldn’t breathe. ‘Then …’

  ‘Whatever you do.’ The priest’s mouth twisted up into a grin again, although it quickly vanished at the expression on Kesta’s face. ‘Whatever you do, Jorrun dies.’

  Kesta slit his throat, Osun leaping back with a cry of disgust as blood splashed him.

  ‘Damn it, Kesta, he might have known the binding spell!’

  She turned on him with a growl. ‘We are not killing Jorrun!’

  She scrambled to her feet and began pulling open the scrolls, Osun grabbed her wrist and she growled at him again.

  ‘Kesta, didn’t Azrael say what we need is in the green book?’

  She pulled her wrist free and stared at him. ‘Yes.’

  She stood and strode off through the hall, not waiting for Osun to follow.

  Kesta tried not to think about what the priest had said, but his words burned into her soul. She pushed her body harder, sprinting for the palace doors, not caring if Osun was keeping up. Cold air hit her face and gravel crunched under her feet, changing to softer grass. She spun around, anger and despair rising through her body to blacken her sight. She drew up power, taking in everything she could until her skin felt as though it would split, then with a roar she reached beneath the palace to rip and lift the rock on which it stood. Blood burst from her nose and blurred her vision further as it trickled from her eyes. Her knees gave way and her palms hit the ground hard, but she still strained to make the rocks rise.

  ‘Kesta! Kesta, stop it!’

  She could barely hear him above the roar of blood in her ears and the thunder of the collapsing palace. She reached deeper, the pain in in her head so excruciating that her vision went white.

  Osun threw himself to the ground beside her. ‘Kesta! You’re killing yourself, stop it!’

  She drew air into her lungs, yelling with all of her remaining strength. ‘I don’t care!’

  Osun grabbed her face between his hands, forcing her to look into his eyes. ‘Well I care! And so does everyone else whose lives you’ve touched!’

  The strength went out of her and Osun had to grab her arms to keep her from collapsing to the ground.

  ‘But you heard him!’ she said. ‘Jorrun i—’

  Osun let go of her to put his arms around her. She grabbed at the fabric of his tunic, holding it in her fists as her body shook. She leaned her head against his collarbone, barely able to draw breath through the spasms of her sobs. She could feel Osun’s own body shaking, but he didn’t make a sound. When he let her go and looked down at her, his eyes were very red but his skin pale, wet tracks marked the dust on his face from the fallen palace.

  She could only stare at him as he took the edge of his cloak and wiped the blood and tears from her eyes and nose with a gentleness that made her hold her breath.

  ‘We have to move,’ he said.

  She tried to stand, but her knees wouldn’t work. She shrieked in protest when Osun picked her up. She tried to wriggle free, but she had no strength left.

  ‘Pack it in,’ Osun said sternly. ‘You’re too weak to walk and we need to go. Let someone else help you for once in your life!’

  She glowered over his shoulder but stopped trying to fight and let him adjust his grip. He smelt surprisingly clean despite their recent exertion. His long hair tickled her cheek. He strode across the grass and through the abandoned main gates, following the main street. Eventually Kesta relaxed, letting her chin rest on his shoulder as she kept her eye out for any danger behind them.

  Arkoom city was in chaos. The alarm bells and fleeing palace staff had unsettled people enough but seeing the palace crumple had sent people running in terror. Most people were heading for the gates, but some had stopped to grab what they could from the abandoned shops and stalls. Kesta saw a group of men had gathered around their wagon and Cassien was having a hard time keeping them from stealing the horses.

  Azrael flew out of the wagon, making himself huge, and the men staggered back, turned tail and ran.

  ‘Put me down,’ Kesta snarled, her eyes not leaving Azrael. She would never have imagined being really angry with the fire-spirit, but her fury bordered
on hate at that moment.

  ‘Azra!’ she shouted as Osun set her on her feet. ‘Did you know? Did you already know we can’t save him?’

  Azrael completely lost his shape, becoming no more than a flickering yellow teardrop with tiny blue eyes. ‘The only thing we can ssave him from iss torment, Kessta. You know how he fears to be trapped. I’m sorry, Kessta, but I couldn’t let you know he wass there. I knew you couldn’t kill Hacren if you did and he needs to be destroyed before he gets sstronger. You understand don’t you, Kessta? Please? Jorrun would rather die than live in torment. He would rather die than let Hacren loose. You know that’s true. Poison him while you can, sset Jorrun free.’

  Kesta’s heart hurt so much she had to press the heel of her hand hard into her chest. Azrael’s words tore at her soul. Then realisation hit her and her eyes widened. She glanced at Osun and then turned back to Azrael. ‘You don’t know, do you?’

  Azrael pulsed briefly larger. ‘What, Kessta?’

  ‘The priest said Hacren is now earth-bound, like you. If we kill Jorrun, Hacren will just move to a new host.’

  Azrael shot upward with a wail and darted about like a mad thing. ‘I didn’t know, Kessta. I didn’t know! What do we do?’

  ‘Calm down for a start,’ Osun said. ‘Cass, let’s get going, it’s going to be hell trying to get out the gates.’

  ‘I’ll clear the way,’ Azrael offered.

  ‘When we join the other wagon,’ Kesta told the fire-spirit. ‘You’ll travel in that one.’

  Azrael wailed, but bobbed in agreement. Kesta immediately felt guilty at her angry punishment, she knew keeping him from Jorrun would hurt the little Drake. She knew already she would relent but for the moment she climbed up into the wagon, not protesting as Osun helped her.

  The frightened women who huddled inside moved to let her past, Rey giving up her place at Jorrun’s head.

  ‘He seems comfortable, for the moment,’ the raven sister told her.

  Kesta looked down at Jorrun’s face. It was easier to hold on to her anger than let grief slip in. Was he aware as he had been when caught by Karinna in his dream? She shuddered. Was there any way to reach him, to let him know she was there, or would it be Hacren she roused and shared her heart with? She managed to find enough space to curl up into a tight ball. Her eyes were sore and her chest felt as though someone were standing on it. She couldn’t help it, she reached out her hand and touched his face with the tips of three fingers.