Child of Blackwen (An Artemis Ravenwing Novel Book 1)

by Melanie Rodriguez

  “Remember,” Mother began as she appeared beside the tree, “once you begin to take life, their blood will always stain your hands. You’ll have the blood of your loved ones on you as well…no one is immune to the consequences of one’s actions.”

  I realized I wasn’t touching a tree trunk anymore, but an actual body. When I recognized the familiar green eyes that stared lifelessly into my own, I screamed.

  I snapped up from the floor and felt the blanket move with me as it clung to my sweat. I looked at my hands and remembered how much blood had covered them in the dream. Once I saw who that tree had been in the end…

  I fought off the urge to scream.

  I rushed to the washroom and shut the door, and removed one of the floorboards that hid the underground well. I filled up the bucket that was beside the door and thrust my hands into it.

  In reality, they weren’t covered in blood, but I couldn’t help but feel like I had to keep washing them; I couldn’t shake the sensation of it. The harder I rubbed my hands together, the harder it was to keep myself from crying.

  It wasn’t until I felt hands clasp my own together that I realized I had woken someone. I didn’t have to look to know who it was.

  Shadow said nothing, and moved the bucket aside. I choked back a sob when I saw real blood on my hands. My nails had somehow shifted to claws, and I had scratched deep into my palms.

  Avilyne’s hell…I was a mess.

  “The dhampir is trying to tell you to stop,” he said quietly, while taking one of the washcloths and wrapping it around my hands. Streaks of red surfaced on the cloth.

  “I just wanted the feeling to go away,” I explained, shaking. “I wanted the sight out of my head.”

  “I understand it,” he said.

  “How do you deal with it?”

  “The nightmares?”

  “The nightmares as well as the fighting.” I now felt the pain the claws had created and frowned. “You’ve been a soldier for most of your life. How do you live each day knowing you have blood on your hands?”

  Shadow sighed. “It’s as I told you before. Sometimes it haunts me…and sometimes I’m just numb to the feeling because I have fought for so long. You will learn how to deal with it all as time goes on.”

  “I dreamt I had the blood of all the slain elves from Ellewynth on my hands,” I revealed. “Dead. All dead.” I shuddered as I repeated Mother’s words. “Because of me.”

  “It wasn’t your fault, Artemis,” Shadow said, his tone sharp. “Arlina would have done this whether you had or hadn’t been in Ellewynth.”

  “But it is my fault, Shadow,” I growled. “And I’m now taking the rest of you to your own deaths.”

  “Artemis, you’re not leading us into anything. The rest of us are capable of making our own choices, and we’ve made them.”

  “I saw Mother as well, Shadow.”

  He stiffened. “And?”

  “It’s probably best not to speak of it anymore.”

  “As you wish.” Shadow looked at my hands again. “We’re waking up Jack.”

  “There’s no need.”

  “Yes, there is,” he insisted as he folded his arms. “I will stick around to make sure that Jack tends to your hands.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “Is this payback for the tunic bit?”

  “Oh, no.” Shadow smirked. “I have yet to think of what I can do to you for that.”

  Aerios blow me.

  Talisa cursed as she felt the soreness from the battle in Ellewynth. She glanced at Lady Clarayne and knew the Elder felt worse than she looked. The Elder noticed her glances and waved her off.

  “I’m fine, Talisa,” Lady Clarayne assured her while adjusting the cloak borrowed from the witch. “Artemis and Jack did their jobs well.”

  “I know they did.” Talisa wrinkled her nose as the smell of ash intensified. They had almost reached the city that once held such beauty in the realm. “You didn’t even speak to Shadow.”

  “On the contrary, Talisa, I did. You were still asleep.”

  Talisa was shocked. “I’m losing my touch on these things!”

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Lady Clarayne chuckled. “I’ve kept my stealth.”

  “Clearly!” Talisa stopped laughing once she saw that the ground beneath her feet was covered with burnt vegetation and soot. “Avilyne’s hell. I never imagined I would see this again so soon.”

  Lady Clarayne sighed. “Neither did I. It was impossible to believe that Ellewynth would always stand, but I hoped I wouldn’t have to relive its destruction.”

  “You were a child at the time,” Talisa reminisced.

  “And you were then as you are now.”

  Talisa frowned. “My lady, you know I detest being reminded just how old I really am.”

  Lady Clarayne smiled, even though she knew she shouldn’t have mentioned Talisa’s “special” situation.

  “Forgive me, old friend.”

  “I’ve already forgotten.” Talisa shrugged. “How did your conversation with your nephew go?”

  “He and I had already said our good-byes,” Lady Clarayne answered. “This time…this time it was much harder for the both of us. He means to never return.”

  “Shadow will be called a deserter, I know this…but surely that can be changed after this is all over?”

  “He also attacked an Elder, Talisa.” Lady Clarayne’s lips curled into a wistful smirk, and Talisa knew the Elder enjoyed that fact as well. “That cannot be overlooked. Even if Destrius deserved it, Shadow committed an act that is unforgivable in our culture.”

  “Sometimes one must do a little evil to achieve a greater good,” Talisa recited, trying her best to ignore the crunching sounds of the forest beneath her feet. “Something you would have said in similar matters, if I recall.”

  “Indeed I would. But Shadow has chosen his path. I cannot change it even if I wanted to.”

  “He’ll return,” Talisa said. “You know this.”

  “Return alive from Blackwen City? Yes, I believe this,” Lady Clarayne said.

  “Thank the goddesses! You’re both safe!”

  The women saw Lord Celstian rush toward them, and they realized they had reached what were once the gates of Ellewynth. Talisa noticed the Elder hadn’t gotten any rest either, and he embraced Lady Clarayne. He did the same with Talisa, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

  “My lord, it would take far more than a fire to end me.” Talisa moved her hands on her hips in a defiant stance. “I think Lady Clarayne should be offended as well!”

  “I meant no offense, Talisa,” Lord Celstian apologized. “Kiare be praised, I’m just relieved to see the both of you here and safe.”

  “Where is Destrius?” Lady Clarayne inquired.

  Lord Celstian rubbed his brow. “I left him back in the ruins. One of the healers is seeing to what he describes as a never-ending ache in the back of his head.”

  Talisa burst out laughing. “It’s his ego that’s really hurting.”

  “Oh, I’ve no doubt about it,” Lord Celstian replied. “As amusing as it is, that was an inexcusable action your nephew committed, Clarayne. Where is Shadow now? I have not found him.”

  Lady Clarayne cast her glance to the ground. “He fought for this city and the realm, Celstian. He fought during the attack.”

  “I know this,” Lord Celstian said, stern. “No one will forget all that Shadow has done for us. I know you are aware of where he is, Clarayne. I beg of you, send for him. His honor will not be questioned should he come back.”

  Lady Clarayne now watched her fellow Elder. “Shadow has a path he must follow, Celstian. I cannot take him away from it.”

  “He is a soldier of Ellewynth, Clarayne. Shadow was not released from duty,” Lord Celstian sighed. “If you will not send for him, then you condemn him to our laws.”

  “No.” Talisa put an arm around Lady Clarayne’s shoulder to console her. “She frees him from them.”

  “What did you do t
o your hands?” Jack demanded when he returned to the main room with healing supplies.

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” I frowned at the smug look on Shadow’s face. “Enjoy this little victory of yours while you still can, Shadow.”

  “I’ll enjoy my true victory soon enough, Artemis.” Shadow winked. “And if you pull that stunt again, I’ll personally drag you from your slumber to begin your weapons training session, hands or no hands.”

  “I’ll pay handsomely to see such a sight.” Jack laughed. He flinched when he caught my glare. “I’m only curious if you’ll attack him the same way you did me back when Serlene taught us.”

  “We’ll find out soon enough, hmm?” I muttered, as Jack rubbed a salve into my palms. I hissed when I felt the flare of stings the moment the salve touched the cuts. “Avilyne’s hell!”

  “My, my,” Shadow snickered. “The healer whines as well.”

  “Shut up,” I snapped.

  Jack grinned. “Shadow, you must stay around more often. It’s amusing to see Artemis annoyed and being abused instead of me.”

  “I don’t think it matters, Jack,” Shadow said. “She’ll find ways to abuse you nonetheless. And to her defense, you have a tendency of asking for such pain, as evidenced by the amount of head-slaps I have seen Talisa hand you.”

  “He’s a glutton for punishment, aren’t you, Jack?” I nudged him. “More so emotionally.”

  “Once again, Artemis,” Jack grumbled, “you are an evil woman.”

  “Has Netira returned?” I asked, ignoring Jack’s glares.

  Shadow shook his head. “She hasn’t moved from the cottage steps. She’ll come in when she’s ready to.”

  “Callypso disappeared as well,” Jack sighed.

  “She’s an elemental, Jack. She’ll do that.”

  “Do you know where she went?” I asked.

  “She went with Talisa and Lady Clarayne,” Shadow answered. “I don’t know if she was going to accompany them to the ruins of Ellewynth, but I know she left nonetheless. She’ll return before midday, I’m sure.”

  “I didn’t know Talisa and Lady Clarayne left already.” I frowned. “Did you get to speak with your aunt before she left?”

  Shadow ran a hand through his hair. “Naturally.”

  “You’ll see her again,” I assured him.

  “Perhaps.”

  “Silly girl, don’t play so rough next time,” Jack said as he finished bandaging my hands. “Whoever it is that you’re killing in your dreams, tell them to send in a healer too. I need my beauty sleep, you know.”

  I narrowed my gaze at him. “If you didn’t just wrap my hands, I would hit you.”

  “Like I haven’t heard that before.” Jack moved far enough so that I couldn’t reach him with a kick either. “Now that I’m awake, I’ll be in the library. Disturb me only if it means it’s time to eat.”

  He left the room before I could spit out a retort.

  “Moron,” I cursed.

  “You always said he was more of a nuisance when he didn’t get any rest,” he said as he rubbed the bandaged arm.

  “How is it?” I pointed to it.

  Shadow stopped touching the bandages. “It burns and itches, but we both know that’s a good thing. I just got used to the idea of being free from these damned things…”

  “There’ll be much more of them on this journey,” I said.

  “Feeling brave now?”

  “I’m a mix of everything right now,” I admitted. “I know the dreams will continue too. I don’t know what frightens me more.”

  “It’s all normal, Artemis,” Shadow insisted. “You encountered Arlina. She tried to kill you. Your mind is just processing everything. If you continue to overthink things…”

  “I get it.” I stood up. “Do you think Jack will be cross with me if I ‘disturb’ him again?”

  Shadow chuckled. “Maybe. Why do you ask?”

  “There was something I wanted to ask him,” I replied. “About dragon jewels. Apparently the jewels in Mother’s sai were from the dragons.”

  “I can tell you some about them,” Shadow said. “Dragon jewels have more magical properties than ordinary jewels, but I’m sure you already knew that. It is a custom for dragons to gift a set of jewels to their champions after a great battle or war has ended, but they also do so for the warriors who fought and left an impression on them. Depending on how impressed they are with the warrior, they sometimes give enough jewels to hand down for several generations. That was the case with your bloodline, or so your mother once explained.”

  “So it’s as Netira said. If Mother was still alive and I lived with her, I would have had my own sai with its own set of dragon jewels,” I said. “You’ve fought in several wars with the dragons…do you have dragon jewels?”

  “I do. It’s what I asked Talisa to retrieve for me. They are also excellent healing tools, you see. They have a way of catching the essence of their user and can restore their energy, so to speak, in their time of need,” Shadow explained. “Tamina would have commissioned for your sai to be made for your sixteenth year. I was told it’s when the women of your family always received theirs.”

  “If that were true of the dragon jewels, then why didn’t they heal Mother when she was fighting Arlina?”

  Shadow shrugged. “It’s not an instantaneous thing, Artemis. Dragon jewels are tricky. They require enough stored energy from their user before they can be used for the task, and it doesn’t heal you all at once. It’s exactly like a trip to the healers…you get patched up, but you’re not whole. You’re just healed enough to keep on moving. The jewels are merely an easier way to heal rather than relying on salves and bandages.”

  “Fair enough,” I said. “Netira would know more about the Ravenwing bloodline, wouldn’t she?”

  “She would be the one to ask, yes,” Shadow replied. “The most I know is that the full-bloods of Arrygn disbanded the clans long before I took my first breath. Naturally, there are those who cling to the ancient bloodlines and try to invoke the rights it once brought them.”

  “Like Arlina.”

  Shadow nodded. “The one right, if you wish to call it that, which Blackwen City has kept is that a woman of the Ravenwing clan must be the Mistress of the Dark Fortress. Avilyne herself created the decree, Tamina once told me.”

  “And what if a woman of the Ravenwing clan wanted nothing to do with the throne?” I scowled.

  “That’s a bridge you must cross someday.”

  I frowned. “Willow be damned.”

  “You’ll have to deal with it sooner or later, Artemis. You’re the only other Ravenwing woman left.” Shadow chuckled. “Did you have any other questions about the dragon jewels?”

  I was grateful for the topic change. “Unfortunately, the other questions I have about them are for both Jack and Callypso.”

  “I see.” Shadow stood up. “Did I help at least?”

  “You always do.”

  “What do you mean Clarayne won’t send for Shadow? Get that traitorous prick back here to Ellewynth to face his charges like a man!”

  Talisa rubbed her brow as the sound of Lord Destrius’ voice brought on a headache. She found herself questioning why the goddesses felt this man would be a great Elder. Perhaps the goddesses were just punishing the Woodland Realm for something she just couldn’t figure out yet. Kiare never felt the need to tell her, despite Talisa being the water goddess’ vassal. Talisa then thought maybe she didn’t want to know the answer; it might infuriate her more.

  “For goddess’ sake, Destrius!” Lord Celstian barked. “Keep your voice down! Those of our people who remain are distraught enough. We must keep a more positive outlook for the sake of the others right now.”

  “Willow damn you and send you to Avilyne’s hell!” Lord Destrius snapped as he kept a hand on his bandaged head. “You know striking an Elder is an unforgivable act! Order a hunting party for Shadow, and pay them if they bring him back crippled. I want that smug, insubordin
ate little—”

  The slap echoed throughout the ruins.

  Lord Celstian was stunned. Talisa wasn’t sure if she should be horrified or grateful, as silence was a golden treasure when it came to Lord Destrius. The urge to laugh was there, but she knew better than to let it escape her lips. Talisa never wanted a similar treatment from the woman who dealt the blow to her fellow Elder.

  “Clarayne…you struck me.” Lord Destrius held his now reddened cheek. “You struck me!”

  “So I have,” Lady Clarayne replied, angered. “Should I choose to leave the city for a walk, would you send a hunting party after me to answer for the action of one Elder disciplining another? No, I think not, you single-minded bastard.”

  If Talisa were able to cheer as a sign of victory, she would have done so right then and there.

  “Clarayne—” Lord Celstian started.

  “Be silent, Celstian!” Lady Clarayne snapped. “This imbecile abused his right as an Elder when he went down to the prison and tried to execute the vampire prisoner. All for his own amusement, Celstian! Destrius would have claimed that it would have been for the good of our people to eliminate another full-blood from Arrygn.”

  “That’s a lie your disrespectful nephew spewed, Clarayne!” Lord Destrius spat. “You conspired with him to help free that vampyra, and then you ordered him to attack me! Now you helped the traitor escape. Does that please you, Clarayne? Does it please you to know that you’re responsible for the exile of your precious Shadow?”

  “Silence!” Lord Celstian bellowed as he stepped between Lady Clarayne and Lord Destrius. “Leash your wounded ego, Destrius! I will not tolerate any more of your ridiculous outbursts!”

  Talisa smiled; thank the goddesses someone was taking control of the situation at hand.

  Lady Clarayne was about to speak, but Lord Celstian’s glare silenced her. “And as for you, Clarayne! No, I do not believe you were involved with any of the conspiracies Destrius conjured. I cannot say the same for Shadow, however, as he is not even here to defend himself. He struck an Elder and helped a prisoner escape. Shadow fought for Ellewynth and the Woodland Realm as duty commanded, but it does not change the fact that he ran. I will send out a hunting party to find him. If Shadow returns with them willingly, then I will overlook the fact that he fled the city. If not, then I have no choice but to declare him a deserter. Should any of us run into Shadow again, it will mean his death.”