“Oh?” Lady Clarayne raised an eyebrow. “What brings you to that thought?”
“There have been a number of odd deaths occurring near Talisa’s cottage,” Shadow explained.
“Yes, we’re aware of that.” She spoke, and then took a sip of tea. “We sent a messenger to Talisa yesterday for her to investigate and report her findings.”
“I went to investigate,” Shadow answered. He saw her puzzlement and sighed. “Don’t ask.”
He remembered Netira and decided to exclude her from his report. She was a mystery he wanted to solve on his own. “Full-bloods are responsible for the deaths, Aunt Clarayne.”
She nearly dropped her teacup. “You cannot be serious.”
“I wish it weren’t true, but I know what I saw…as well as overheard.”
Lady Clarayne stood from her chair and quickly paced the office. “I must speak with Lords Celstian and Destrius about this. We hoped it was something else…something less threatening…”
“It gets worse,” Shadow continued. “The full-bloods specifically belong to Arlina Ravenwing of Blackwen City. She is behind their sudden bravery of venturing into our realm.”
Lady Clarayne’s eyes widened. “You don’t think…”
“I fear she has learned that Artemis is alive and has been living among us.” Shadow put his teacup atop the desk. “If it is true, she will first send an emissary demanding we hand Artemis to her. We cannot do that.”
“And if that were to happen and we do not hand Artemis over, you realize more elven lives will be at risk, Shadow,” Lady Clarayne explained. “It’s not a position I or the other Elders can afford to be in.”
“Elven lives will be at risk regardless of what we do!” Shadow stood up. “She’ll kill Artemis just as she slaughtered Tamina, and then she’ll attack Ellewynth for her own pleasure! You know she will. You remember what she’s done to us already.”
“Of course I do,” Lady Clarayne said as her face darkened. “I understand all the possibilities, Shadow, and I know how Arlina thinks. You must realize, nephew, that the choice will not be yours to make in the end.”
“I understand, but that does not mean I have to like it.” Shadow took a deep breath. “My dear aunt, you cannot let Lords Celstian and Destrius sway you into giving her up to that woman. Please.”
Lady Clarayne sighed as she rubbed her nephew’s cheek. “Shadow…”
“Please.”
Lady Clarayne sighed in resignation.
“I will talk to them once they return.” She dropped her hand and returned to the window. “That is all I can promise.”
Shadow took this as a dismissal and proceeded to the door.
“Shadow?”
He stopped, but did not turn to face her. “Yes, my lady?”
“Should the moment come and we do hand over Artemis to Arlina…will I be losing a nephew as well?”
Shadow shut his eyes and closed the door behind him as he left the room.
I was nearly done preparing Talisa’s favorite brand of tea—lemon mint—when she and Jack returned inside from their “meeting.” Jack wasn’t as pale as he had been before, but he still seemed horrified.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Jack, even specters have a cheerier disposition than you do right now!” I said while pouring tea.
“Don’t be surprised if I end up as one the next time you see me,” Jack muttered while grabbing his teacup.
Talisa smiled, obviously content.
“When does the training begin?” I asked.
Jack kept quiet, while Talisa took a long sip of her tea.
“Well?”
“Tonight,” Jack finally answered.
I nearly spit out my tea. “What?”
“Tonight marks the full moon of the solstice,” Talisa explained. “Magic is most potent at this time. I want to see how well Jack can use his gift. Then, and only then, will I know how to begin his tutelage.”
“It’s also to make sure I don’t go running off to the taverns,” Jack added. “As for the aunt…”
“I will be dealing with her soon enough,” Talisa said, as her fingers playfully tapped along the table. “You belong to me now. Only I am allowed to abuse you.”
Jack cringed while I tried to stifle a cackle. His dream of learning the greatest kinds of magic was coming at a great price indeed.
I’d never seen Talisa be so sinister either. I was lucky to have seen the nice side while I lived with her.
“Well, once he’s free from your apprenticeship, he’ll belong to Shadow.” I smirked, while shaking the thought of a scary Talisa. “You owe him for this.”
“Yes, I haven’t forgotten,” Jack grumbled.
Talisa chuckled. “Ah, that reminds me! I have to come up with more favors to collect from our dear warrior elf. I wonder how many years I can stretch these favors for…”
“That’s terrible, Talisa.” An idea, however, came to mind. “Could one perhaps be for him to go easy on me during my weapons training?”
“Oh goddesses, Artemis!” Talisa scowled. “You need all the help you can get. Don’t think I haven’t heard about you skipping out on your lessons.” I cringed. “Serlene would never shut up about it. Better for Shadow to be your instructor than me! It wouldn’t matter who your mother was, Artemis. I would have you train without sleep!”
“You do know she shot an elf, right?” Jack asked.
“Oh, I heard. It’s one of Serlene’s favorite rants.” Talisa snorted. “A shame it wasn’t her. She’s in a desperate need of a lesson in humility, and Serlene should learn the appreciation of silence as well.”
Jack laughed. “I can agree with that assessment.”
“You shush!” Talisa snapped. “Never speak ill of your previous teachers. No matter how terrible or bothersome they could be, you must still respect the time they’ve given as instructors.”
“But Talisa—” I started.
“But nothing!” she said, now making me flinch. “Respect the time that was given. Always.”
“Of all the things I should be scolded about, it’s about shooting that elf. Even Shadow overlooked it.” I frowned.
Talisa rolled her eyes. “It was an accident. Get over it for goddess’ sake.”
Finishing her tea, Talisa deemed it time for her departure. She glanced at Jack, who hung his head and nodded soon after. Jack explained that it was time for Talisa to speak to his aunt and that he had to pack for the move to Talisa’s cottage.
“I wish I could be there to see the old goat cringe.” I smiled.
Jack laughed, but quickly stifled it as soon as Talisa shot him a look.
“Do visit, Artemis,” Talisa said as she kissed my cheek good-bye. “I want to know all about your weapons training once it starts. Bruises and all.”
“Be well until then, Talisa,” I said.
I looked at Jack, and it set in: I was really going to miss seeing him on a daily basis. I tried to reassure him during a farewell hug. “You’re going to be just fine. I’ll visit soon, I promise.”
“You better,” Jack replied. “I’ll haunt you for the rest of your days if you don’t.”
I slapped the back of his head, and he shrugged in mock innocence. As they left, I cleaned up and decided to visit the one friend I now had left in Ellewynth.
Lady Clarayne dismissed her servant some time after Shadow’s visit. She didn’t want the girl around once Lords Celstian and Destrius arrived at the hall—the girl was already bothersome, and the last thing Lady Clarayne wanted was for the rest of the city to learn about the full-bloods squatting within the Woodland Realm.
Lady Clarayne heard the hall doors slam and felt tense. Lord Destrius was known for making a ruckus whenever he was around, and he made even more of a scene when angered. Oddly enough, it was perhaps the first time Lady Clarayne shared his sentiments.
“Honestly, Destrius, do you have to be so loud all the time?” a male voice scolded. “I’m sure Clarayne has a perfectly g
ood explanation for summoning us back to the hall.”
“I was perfectly fine sitting at home with my wife, Celstian!” Lord Destrius snapped. “Willow be damned, we’ve just returned! Avilyne’s hell! Official business could wait until the morning for all I care.”
Lady Clarayne rubbed her temples as her office door flung open. She glanced at the two Elders who stepped inside; Lord Celstian was the eldest of the three, but no one outside of the elven race would be able to make the distinction. His silvery blond hair hung past his shoulders, and he wore dark green robes that complemented his blue eyes.
Beside him stood Lord Destrius, the youngest of the trio. Lord Destrius was well known for his fiery temper, and while it worried most of the people in the Woodland Realm, he had proved himself worthy of the Elder status time and time again during times of war.
He stood at the door with an angered disposition; his dark blond hair was pulled away from his face, and he wore dark brown robes. His green eyes flared at Lady Clarayne.
“What is just so important that it couldn’t wait until the morning, Clarayne?” Lord Destrius demanded. “As I recall, it was you who said you’d deal with the daily affairs while Celstian and I enjoyed our moment of peace.”
“Yes, I’m aware of that, Destrius,” Lady Clarayne began. “However, there is a very important matter that requires a discussion. And no, it couldn’t wait until the morrow.”
Lord Celstian made his way to one of the chairs opposite Lady Clarayne and sat down. His brow furrowed.
Lord Destrius huffed as he sat in the remaining chair. “Explain yourself, then.”
Lady Clarayne rubbed her temples once more. “When we returned, we learned of odd disturbances occurring within the realm. They reached almost as close as Talisa’s cottage.”
“And we sent a messenger to Talisa to investigate,” Lord Celstian stated. “Has she already done so?”
“Shadow was the one who went to investigate,” Lady Clarayne explained.
“Soleil burn me,” Lord Destrius muttered. “The boy takes after you, Clarayne. He doesn’t know how to enjoy his spare time. He needs a woman.”
“Shadow wanted to enjoy his freedom as much as the rest of us, Destrius,” Lady Clarayne scolded, as she ignored the last comment. “I don’t understand why he was the one who investigated instead of Talisa, but nonetheless, he arrived today with a brief report.”
“And?” Lord Celstian inquired. “Judging from the urgency of your summons, it seems as if you believe we’re entering a new battle.”
“We very well may be.” Lady Clarayne took a deep breath before continuing. “Full-bloods have been found responsible for these deaths.”
The room went cold as the lords both shut their eyes and hung their heads.
“What do those damned corpses want with us now?” Lord Destrius hissed.
“Do we even know from which city or territory these particular full-bloods came from?” Lord Celstian inquired.
“Blackwen City, according to Shadow.”
“And it just keeps getting better, doesn’t it?” Lord Destrius roared, now rising from his chair. “We should have destroyed that city ages ago! We had that chance, and you two let it slip!”
“Destrius, you are well aware of why we couldn’t do that then. You also know why we will not do so now,” Lord Celstian reminded him. “We all well know how Arlina Ravenwing is. She hasn’t ventured within the realm for nearly twenty-one years. We remember what happened then, yes? There can only be one reason why she’s returned here now.”
“Yes, Celstian, she could have learned that we have the dhampir brat living in our city,” Lord Destrius answered. “I told you both when Talisa first brought Tamina’s hellspawn here that the vampyra would be the death of us.”
“And I also reminded you that while we do have warring relations with the vampiric races, Artemis’ mother helped our people countless times. Tamina did so to create an alliance between us and the Dark Fortress. She would have been the Mistress had she still lived today,” Lady Clarayne reminded him, failing to hold back her anger. “To have ordered Talisa to abandon Artemis would have been equivalent to spitting on Tamina’s grave and forgetting all that she had done for us.”
“Where is Shadow now, Clarayne?” Lord Celstian asked.
Lady Clarayne was thankful for Lord Celstian’s interjection. “He’s either at home or out for a ride. Our meeting did not end on a happy note.”
“I wouldn’t have expected it to, seeing how he cares for the dhampir,” Lord Celstian said. “I propose we bring him here tomorrow to restate his report to myself and Destrius. Afterward, we can decide how to proceed.”
“I’d rather hand over the brat to Arlina while we still can. Then the bitch will stay away from our realm for another twenty years or so,” Destrius grumbled.
Lady Clarayne glared at Lord Destrius as she reached for a blank sheet of parchment. “I’ll have a message sent to Shadow, and he’ll repeat to you what he has already said to me. I agree with Celstian on the matter of listening to the report and then deciding once you two fully understand what lies before us.”
“You’re too damn soft, Clarayne,” Lord Destrius berated her. “Perhaps it’s time you stepped down.”
“Not all consider it a weakness, Destrius,” Lady Clarayne snapped. “And the ones who will decide whether or not I continue as Elder of this realm are the goddesses themselves.”
Once I reached Shadow’s house, I heard the sounds of arrows striking wood. Whenever I heard that, it usually meant one thing.
He was angry. Very angry.
Walking over, I found him—Shadow’s hair was bound with a brown ribbon that matched his tunic. His black breeches had patches of dirt along the sides; he must have practiced his swordsmanship earlier.
This didn’t bode well at all.
“Shadow?” I called out, wincing as the last arrow he released sank deep into the wooden target.
He didn’t respond. Shadow reached for another arrow, notched it along the bow, and released it within seconds. The arrow landed inches away from the previous one, also deep.
Despite the tension I felt, I walked over and grabbed his shoulder as gently as I could. He jumped and twisted my wrist as he grabbed it. I tried not to snap at him as he turned around and realized it was me. He quickly released it, and I rubbed my wrist while ignoring the red finger marks that then formed.
“Artemis, I’m so sorry!” Shadow took my wrist and inspected it. “I…I wasn’t myself.”
“So I’ve noticed,” I teased.
Shadow shook his head and threw down his bow.
“What happened to you? The last time you were this upset, it was before you told me you were leaving for the war in Fieros Mountains.”
“It’s worse than that,” Shadow explained, while still keeping an eye on my wrist. “Much worse.”
“My wrist is fine, you just took me by surprise.” I hid it behind my back. I sat on the grass, far from the arrows and the target. “Are you leaving again?”
Shadow sat beside me, looking to the sky. “No, I’m not leaving.”
“Then what’s going on?”
Shadow rubbed the back of his neck while thinking hard. He glanced at me, and half-smiled. “I can’t tell you just yet.”
“Meaning you want me to forget about it and not ask you again.”
“No.” Shadow fell back and moved his arms to cushion his head on the earth. “I will tell you when the time comes. Promise me something though, Artemis.”
“Name it.”
“There may be a time where I’ll come to you and tell you to pack only what is necessary for a trip outside of Ellewynth. When it does come, I don’t want you asking questions. You have to trust in me to explain everything when it is safe enough to.”
I stared at him. “Is something going to happen to the city?”
“Maybe, maybe not,” Shadow answered. “Promise me, Artemis.”
“I promise,” I said, now looking away.
I was worried. What did he know?
Shadow took a deep breath, and I could feel him watching me. “What brings you here? Talisa was supposed to visit you today. I know how much you wanted to see her.”
“She already did,” I replied. “And she took Jack away. His training starts tonight.”
“Ah.” Shadow softly laughed. “A word of advice, my dear…it’s better to visit them after at least a week. Talisa tends to put her apprentices through hell and back within their first week.”
“Do you think Jack will make it?”
“Well…” Shadow mused. “I could see him lasting a few years. I’ll give it two.”
“That’s awfully generous of you.”
“Is it? I thought I was being realistic,” Shadow said, shooting me a curious glance.
“I thought one year would be considered realistic,” I replied. “You’re being too nice.”
“I’m always nice, my dear.” Shadow grinned.
“Will that be true even during my weapons training?”
“There’s only one way to find out.” Shadow stood up and helped me up to my feet. Walking toward the target, he picked up his bow and held it out for me to take. “Why don’t we see, hmm?”
It took every fiber of my being not to groan aloud. Memories of past archery lessons flooded my mind; I tried to reassure myself that things would be much better this time around, especially since it was just the two of us.
I grasped the bow, felt satisfied with the balance of it in my grip, and took my stance while awaiting Shadow’s instructions.
lackwen City, home of the largest full-blood population in all of Arrygn, loomed over the Meristl Plains. Built mostly of steel and iron mined from the hills surrounding the plains, the city was eventually nicknamed the “Dark Fortress.” The city itself was in a constant state of darkness, a product of vampire magery. It made it difficult for enemies because they could not strike the city in the daylight hours, for none existed there.
Passing through the gates, Netira acknowledged the guards with a casual nod. Setting foot on the paved slate streets, Netira deeply breathed in the cool air and then surveyed her surroundings.
Child of Blackwen (An Artemis Ravenwing Novel Book 1) Page 6