The Raven Coven

by Emma Miles

  Jorrun looked away, his eyes narrowing in a frown. He drew in a deep breath and rubbed at his bearded chin. Kesta growled at him, giving his chest a light shove, although she couldn’t help laughing.

  He turned back to her, his eyes sparkling with amusement. ‘For all the lands beneath the sky, I agree.’

  Epilogue

  The Free City of Navere

  Kesta wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. White fog surrounded her, its dampness seeping into her clothing and hanging in her hair. Dark shapes loomed and muffled voices came in snatches.

  ‘Just a little to port!’ she called back over her shoulder.

  Jorrun adjusted the rudder and they turned slightly, hitting a wave. Kesta felt her stomach lurch and her hand went to her mouth. She swallowed several times, trying to quell the nausea. She forced her breathing to slow, feeling relief wash through her as they bumped against the wharf. She sprang up onto the rail, leaping across and catching the rope that Jorrun threw to her. It took a moment for her body to register that she was on still land and she held onto the post around which she wound the rope. The winter sea had been rough, but even so it was unusual for her to feel so sick.

  Jorrun placed a hand against her back, his eyebrows drawn down in concern. ‘You look very pale, Kesta.’

  She forced a smile. ‘I’ll be all right in a bit.’

  He placed a lantern down on the wooden planks and both Azrael and Doroquael came shooting out, spinning away into the fog. Jorrun tutted, then handed over her small travel bag and they headed along the wharf toward the main street that led to Navere’s palace.

  ‘The Undine is here.’ Jorrun indicated with his head and Kesta followed his gaze.

  ‘Good, we didn’t get much chance to get to know the Borrowman. Do you … do you think there really might be peace between the lands now?’

  Jorrun was silent for a while, then sighed. ‘Between the lands, yes. In Chem, sadly, not yet.’

  The fog thinned as they moved away from the water and they saw glimpses of the building that Dia had commanded be converted into a guard house. Two men stood to attention outside, the eyes of one widening on seeing them and their green cloaks. Kesta’s hand moved unconsciously toward the raven crest sewn onto the front of her tunic. The guard said something to his companion, and they stepped forward, giving a smart salute.

  ‘Masters, may we know your names?’

  Kesta placed a hand on her hip and opened her mouth, but Jorrun quickly raised a hand. ‘We are Jorrun and Kesta Raven. You’re obviously new.’

  Kesta narrowed her eyes, fighting the temptation to call her power and show them exactly who she was! Then she drew in a sharp breath. The two men had shown no surprise, no objection, to the fact that she walked Navere without a veil and dressed in trousers. Had things changed so much in just a month?

  ‘I’ve served the city for five years,’ the guard replied. ‘But I didn’t have the honour of seeing you, masters, when you were here before. And … um … master Icante insisted that we challenge anyone who arrives at the docks.’

  Kesta gave a snort of laughter, wondering what her mother made of being called ‘master Icante.’ Jorrun flashed her a look of annoyance and she quickly straightened her face.

  ‘Have you had any trouble?’ Jorrun asked the man.

  He frowned. ‘A few men have tried to leave the city by sea and force their women to go with them. We let the men go but made them leave the women.’

  ‘What became of the women?’ Kesta asked quickly.

  ‘I believe they were given employment at the palace.’ The guard shrugged. ‘There … um … have been a lot of instances of men leaving the city because of the new laws.’

  Jorrun nodded. ‘We won’t interrupt you any longer.’ He glanced at Kesta and set off toward the palace. She had to hurry to keep up with his long stride.

  ‘Jorrun?’

  It was a while before he responded, he seemed to shake himself. ‘Sorry, Kesta.’ He slowed his pace and she slipped her arm through his.

  ‘You’re worried.’ She looked up at him.

  He drew in a deep breath and sighed it out. ‘Of course, I am.’

  She looked around at the city as they passed through it. It did seem quieter than the last time she’d been here. Several guards patrolled the streets in pairs and her feet faltered when she realised that small groups of women moved together in the open without a man to escort them. The market was busy, and she couldn’t help but squeeze Jorrun’s arm and stop to stare when she saw a section of stalls being run purely by women. Her chest tightened and she chewed at her bottom lip, barely blinking as she watched.

  ‘Come on,’ Jorrun gave her arm a gentle pull.

  The guards at the gate to the temple district seemed to recognise them and they were invited through at once, a runner went ahead of them, presumably to warn the palace of their arrival. Kesta’s eyes immediately sought out the temple. Scaffolding had been set up around the scorched ruins although she could see no one working there. More than half of the shops were boarded up and Kesta felt her stomach tighten into a cold knot. As much as she reviled the trade of the temple district, without commerce, the city would die and their hopes of reforming Chem with it.

  ‘This doesn’t look good,’ Jorrun murmured.

  Kesta swallowed, wanting to reassure him but unable to find the words.

  A familiar figure waited for them at the gates of the palace and Kesta let go of Jorrun’s arm to hurry toward him.

  ‘Captain!’

  Rece took two steps back, his eyes widening as Kesta grabbed him in a hug. The poor man turned bright red and stared wide-eyed at Jorrun.

  ‘Kes,’ Jorrun sighed. ‘Don’t give the poor man a heart attack.’

  She scowled at Jorrun and turned to smile at Rece. ‘I thought you were used to my barbarian ways. How are you?’

  Rece straightened his uniform. ‘I am very well, maste—’

  She punched him in the arm. ‘My name’s Kesta. Anyway, aren’t you a Raven too?’

  Rece glanced down at the crest on the front of his tabard.

  ‘Where’s the Icante?’ Jorrun asked.

  Rece seemed to sag in relief. ‘This way.’

  He led them across the garden, here and there a little snow rested in the shadows. They had barely entered the building before they were surrounded by the Raven Sisters. They were reserved with Jorrun, giving polite greetings, but one after another pushed forward to hug Kesta, both Estre and Rey squeezing her particularly hard. They were bombarded with questions with little time to actually answer.

  ‘Did Cassien not come with you?’ Kussim asked.

  ‘He stayed in Elden,’ Kesta told her. ‘He couldn’t face coming back here yet.’

  The women hushed and Kesta found she couldn’t meet their eyes. A tingling pain started to rise in her chest, and she tried to push it back down. It was hard not to think of Osun, of how his presence had somehow suffused the palace, changed its very essence.

  Jorrun cleared his throat. ‘The Icante?’

  ‘This way.’ Rece politely pushed through the women.

  A feeling of dread rose in Kesta, her pulse just a little faster as they headed toward the room that Osun had used for his study. She glanced at Jorrun, knowing that his grief was so much larger than her own. Rece didn’t stop at the room though, instead taking them to the library. It was quite dark inside, the stained-glass window still boarded up and just a little low, winter sunlight, streaming in from two smaller windows. The room was busy with several conversations seeming to be happening at once. People turned at the sound of the door being opened, one of them Arrus.

  ‘My urchin!’ He almost ran, crushing Kesta in his arms and lifting her up off the floor.

  ‘Ow!’ Kesta laughed.

  Arrus dumped her back on her feet and grabbed Jorrun’s hand, thumping him hard on the back. ‘We weren’t sure if we’d see you today or tomorrow.’ The big man beamed at them.

  ‘The crossing was
n’t too rough in the end,’ Jorrun told him.

  Kesta looked around the room, spotting Calayna and Jagna. She met her mother’s eyes and a feeling of peace and relief swept through her.

  ‘What’s happening?’ Jorrun asked.

  ‘Well.’ Arrus’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You have interrupted an informal guild gathering.’

  ‘Guild?’ Kesta frowned.

  ‘One of Osun’s brilliant ideas,’ Dia said as she walked toward them.

  Kesta glanced at Jorrun.

  ‘Welcome back.’ Dia hugged Kesta gently and kissed Jorrun on the cheek. ‘Come on, I’ll excuse myself for a moment and we can catch up.’ Dia caught Calayna’s eye, and the tattooed woman raised a hand in acknowledgement. ‘How are you both? How are things in Elden?’

  They left the library and Dia headed along the corridor.

  Jorrun drew in a breath. ‘Elden is good. Repairs are close to complete at Taurmouth and the river settlements are starting to recover. Taurmaline is somewhat subdued, like its king. It’s settled though and I think all will be well. Elden has an heir now, Ayline had her baby shortly before we left.’

  ‘A boy,’ Kesta added.

  Dia nodded. ‘I’ll send Bractius a letter. And the two of you?’

  ‘We are well.’ Kesta smiled, although her heart felt heavy and her stomach still fluttered.

  ‘Did Catya not come with you?’

  ‘She and Cass are staying with Tantony and Rosa a little longer,’ Jorrun told her. ‘They’ll meet you in the Fulmers. It will do Cassien good to spend time in the islands.’

  Dia smiled at that. ‘And the Drakes?’

  Jorrun snorted and rolled his eyes. ‘They came with us, no doubt they’ll turn up when they’ve finished gossiping with the Chem spirits.’

  ‘And here?’ Kesta asked. ‘What’s happening here?’ She held her breath.

  ‘Come this way.’ Dia took them to the east wing and opened the door to a room Kesta had never been in before. It was small but had two large windows. Shelves had been newly built up against one wall and filled with books. The only other furniture was a bed, a desk, and an old dark-stained wardrobe. Dia looked at them both, her eyes lingering on Jorrun’s face. ‘The library is rather busy these days. I had this room prepared for you. It seems to have been just a small reading room or parlour, I have no idea who used it. Will you be all right in here?’

  Kesta held her breath and looked at Jorrun. He’d become very still. He swallowed and turned away from Dia to look around the room. His voice was very quiet when he spoke. ‘I’m sure it will be fine, thank you.’

  Kesta breathed out.

  ‘Well, then,’ Dia walked across to the window, gazing out over the gardens. ‘It hasn’t been easy, but we’re getting there. Some people have left Navere and we let them. We started the guilds to give the tradespeople a little power and some say in the running of the city, it’s been tough and there has been plenty of resistance to changes, but on the whole it’s working. The foreign market is prospering, and we’ve started to have visitors from other provinces to take a look at the goods from Elden and the Fulmers. We even have visitors coming purely out of curiosity at the city that has women with magic!

  ‘Despite our funds being strained, I’ve started repairs to the templ—’

  Kesta opened her mouth to protest but Dia stopped her. ‘Their faith is fundamental to Chem. Rebuilding the temple and showing respect to the gods of Chem will reassure people and win us supporters. I did put a condition in place though. We will also build a small women’s temple where women can enter and visit the gods.’

  Jorrun sat on the desk, his eyes on his hands as he picked at his thumbnail. He nodded slowly. ‘Yes, that was a good move.’

  Kesta and Dia both watched him for a moment.

  ‘Settle yourselves in,’ Dia said. ‘We’ll go over the books and reports this afternoon, but there’s no rush, I’ll stay a week or until you’ve had a chance to get your bearings and settle back in. Do you feel up to a welcome meal tonight? The Ravens are excited to have you back.’

  Kesta anxiously waited for Jorrun to reply.

  He looked up and forced a smile. ‘That’s fine.’

  Dia squeezed Kesta’s arm as she passed, leaving the room.

  ‘Are you all right?’

  Jorrun hopped down off the desk and slid his arms around her, leaning his cheek against the top of her head. ‘I’m okay. I’m just missing Osun.’

  She nodded. I miss him too.

  ***

  Their welcome dinner that night started off as a quiet affair with Kesta and Jorrun listening in as the Ravens chattered around them. Jagna and Estre had been married by Dia using a Fulmer ceremony only a week before and their wedding was still a favourite subject for conversation. The room hushed when Temerran began a tale about a woman who was half fish and could lure sailors into rocks with her voice. Beside Kesta, Rece cleared his throat and spoke quietly.

  ‘Kesta. I, well, Calayna and I have a favour to ask you.’

  Kesta turned to give him her full attention. It was the first time she could recall that he’d ever used her name.

  The Chemman swallowed, glancing about to make sure no one was watching. ‘Would you perform mine and Calayna’s wedding ceremony?’

  She opened her mouth, her hand going to her throat. It was a moment before she could find her voice. ‘Of course I will!’

  There was a shriek and Kesta spun around to see Azrael darting out of one of the lanterns, Doroquael following more sedately. Azrael flew loops around the room, seeming to brighten at the stir he was causing.

  ‘The Drakess are coming back!’ He crackled. ‘The Drakes are coming back to Shem!’

  Jorrun took her hand and squeezed it.

  They moved on from the dining room to the larger room where Osun had arranged his farewell gathering. To Kesta it felt like another lifetime ago but at the same time still somehow painfully close. Temerran sang for them and Heara insisted on dragging poor Vilnue up to dance. Kesta laughed, but her heart ached. She turned to Jorrun, knowing how much harder it must be for him.

  ‘Do you want to leave?’ She took his hand in both of hers.

  His eyes travelled over the room. ‘Not yet. I need to see this.’

  She swallowed, her grief blossoming painfully in her chest at the same time as hope warmed her soul. She wondered if Osun were somehow watching over them all; if he knew that his sisters were safe.

  ***

  Kesta was awoken by the churning of her stomach, she felt hot and slipped out of the bed to pour herself a glass of water. She walked over to the window, placing a hand on the cold glass, taking in a deep breath and breathing out slowly.

  She jumped as a hand rested on her shoulder and she turned to scowl up at Jorrun. He laughed and bent to kiss her cheek. They stood for a moment in silence, gazing out across the garden. A light sprinkling of snow covered the grass.

  ‘It’s going to be all right, isn’t it,’ she said.

  Jorrun nodded. ‘I think so. I hope so.’

  Nausea gripped Kesta again and she rubbed at her stomach, squirming uncomfortably.

  ‘You’re unwell again?’ he asked in concern.

  Kesta frowned. ‘I didn’t think I’d drunk that much wine. Perhaps I ate something bad.’

  Jorrun examined her face, his eyes travelling down to the hand that lay over her stomach. His face suddenly lit with a grin and he laughed.

  ‘What?’ she demanded, giving him a shove. ‘I’m glad you find my illness so amusing!’

  He placed a hand to the side of her face and kissed her before moving behind her and wrapping his arms about her. She leaned back against him, absorbing his warmth as they watched out the window again.

  Kesta took in a deep breath. ‘I used to worry about where my home would be, but I don’t anymore. My home is with you. My people are anyone who needs me.’

  Jorrun squeezed her tighter.

  ‘Do you really think we’ll be all right?’ She looked
up at his reflection in the window.

  He smiled. ‘I do. All three of us.’

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you as always to you, dear reader, for taking the time to read The Raven Coven, I really hope you enjoyed it. If you did, you’ll be pleased to know there will be more, I plan for there to be at least another two books in the series. I’ll have to ask you to please be patient though, as I have a fulltime job and need to sleep, I sadly can’t write as often as I’d like.

  Please come and say hello on twitter @EmmaMilesShadow

  Or on Facebook www.facebook.com/EmmaMilesShadow

  A big thank you to my editor, Emma Mitchell of Creating Perfection. Also, to my blog tour organiser, Rachel Gilbey and Sarah Anderson who put together the cover.

  Thank you to my three beta readers, Katrina Hay, Maria Sinclair and Kirsty Chricton for their support and invaluable feedback.

  One of the most powerful things you can do in your life is to surround yourself with positive like-minded people. People who love what you love, understand you and support you. So a mention again to Katrina and Maria, so glad I met you. And also to the amazing Fiction Cafe and all its wonderful admins and members. Wendy, you change people's lives.

  Life on the edge of the wilds where the fey roamed free was hard, but Mya did her best to protect and raise her nephew. The time of his coming of age was drawing close and as proud as she was of him, she was afraid to let him go, afraid that the truth of his mother’s death would come back to haunt them. A chance meeting strikes up an unusual friendship that will sustain her through the hardest of times and of those, for Mya and her unexpected allies, there will be many; for a traitor arrives at the village, destroying everything she believes to be true and they must flee, or die