Silver Ravens

by Jane Fletcher

  “But you have the solution?”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  Queen Rianna sat on Lori’s vacated stool. The eagerness in her eyes was unmistakable. “Tell me how it is done.”

  This took considerably longer than anticipated. Rianna displayed a remarkable talent for grasping the wrong end of the stick, but eventually she got the hang of the cipher.

  She touched her fingertip to the word Lori had been about to start. “From a traitor. Blood from a traitor. How fortunate that I have a traitor to hand.” Rianna’s smile was pure malice. “You’ve done well and will be suitably rewarded. But in future, you will obey my commands without deviation. You may go.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.” Lori retreated to the door. A boggart guide was waiting outside.

  Rianna spoke again. “When you get to the middle bailey, send a message to Captain Tamsin. I have a task for my Silver Ravens and wish to see her in my private chamber in one hour.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  Lori escaped. The code was cracked. The only thing to worry about now was whether she would be allowed to leave. Rianna was up to something, and Lori was sure it was not something good.

  The fay word for traitor was shorter than the one on the scroll. Furthermore, given Rianna’s shaky grasp of Vigenère, she could not have decoded it so quickly. So either she was making a wild guess, or she already knew about the blood and was deliberately lying. Whose blood did Rianna want?

  * * *

  The sun was past its zenith and the shadow of the keep covered half the outer bailey. Soldiers were working through their drills in the late afternoon heat, but there was no sign of the Silver Ravens.

  “Excuse me. Have you seen Captain Tamsin recently?” Lori interrupted a pair of Iron Raven officers who were discussing something that required a lot of hand gestures.

  “She went into the stable.” One pointed.

  “Thanks.”

  They resumed their animated conversation.

  Lori paused at the entrance to give her eyes a chance to adapt. The horses were no more than the impression of large shapes and movement in the dimness. The smell of dung and wet hay was overpowering. A wuffle of breath and the clomp of hooves shifting position were the only sounds. Had Tamsin gone already?

  “Hello? Is anyone here?”

  “What it is?” Tamsin appeared in the light of the doorway.

  “I’ve got a message from Queen Rianna.”

  “She sent you? Aren’t you better employed—”

  “I’ve done it. I’ve broken the code.”

  Tamsin’s smile broadened. “Congratulations. Her Majesty will be pleased. Is that what the message is about?”

  “I’m guessing it’s connected. She wants to see you in her private chamber in an hour, though it was about ten minutes ago when she said that.” Lori’s wristwatch was completely out of synch with the long Annwyn days.

  “I’ll make sure I’m on time.” Tamsin tilted her head to one side. “It was good of you to bring the message yourself. You could have got a boggart to do it, you know.”

  “I had my reasons.”

  “Really?” Tamsin’s tone was low and teasing. She leaned against a post and angled her body forward.

  How easy it would be to reach out and place her hand on Tamsin’s waist. The invitation was clearly there. Lori won that battle with temptation, but could not make herself step away.

  “Now that I’ve decoded the scroll, I’m done here. I need someone to escort me back to Earth. You said you’d do it.”

  “You want to go.” Was that genuine disappointment in Tamsin’s voice?

  “I don’t belong here. I need to get back as soon as possible, before too many months pass on Earth. I’ll have some explaining to do as it is.”

  “Of course.” Tamsin pushed away from the post. “I’ll collect you after breakfast tomorrow and take you home.”

  “You can’t do it tonight?”

  “You’ve got your reward to collect. Remember?”

  Would it sound odd if she said she was not bothered about the gold? “All right. Tomorrow, as soon as it’s ready to collect. Promise?”

  “As long as it doesn’t interfere with whatever the queen needs me for.”

  “Thanks.”

  Would she be allowed to go? Rianna no longer had any use for her, but a bad feeling in the pit of Lori’s stomach would not ease. She had come straight to Tamsin, not just to make arrangements to leave as quickly as possible, but so Tamsin would know she had no wish to stay in Annwyn. If Rianna prevented her departure, surely Tamsin would require a plausible explanation for the change in plan.

  While talking, Lori’s eyes had adjusted to the low light. Yet what she could see of the horse in the nearest stall still looked strangely out of focus. Its rump was powerfully muscled, although not quite solid, as if it were made of smoke. Lori rubbed her eyes. The animal’s sleek coat was jet black, but gave the impression of being opaque.

  “They’re not normal horses, are they?”

  “No. They can fly.”

  Lori peered around the end of the partition. “They don’t have wings.”

  “They don’t need them.”

  “How do they fly?”

  “Magic.”

  “But…How?”

  “I wouldn’t bother asking. They just do. It goes back to Mathanwy, who created Annwyn. That’s if he really existed and isn’t a myth.” Tamsin shrugged. “Assuming he was real, his descendants are the most powerful of the fay. Their magic goes beyond transmutation to world-forging. They can make the laws of nature whatever they want them to be. Hence Mathanwy chose to make Annwyn flat.”

  “Why?”

  “That’s another question you’ll never get an answer to. However…” Tamsin made a show of sniffing her own armpit. “I should bathe and put clean clothes on. I don’t want to meet the queen smelling like a stable.”

  “Probably best not.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

  “Yes. Tomorrow.”

  “And well done with the scroll. I knew you could do it.” Tamsin put a hand on Lori’s shoulder and gave the slightest of squeezes, then she was gone.

  Lori leaned against the nearest wall to steady herself. Tamsin’s parting gesture had sent waves down her chest, through her stomach, and ending at a very predictable part of her anatomy, although the aftershocks had got as far as her knees.

  If everything went to plan tomorrow, she would leave Annwyn forever. Undoubtedly it was for the best, but an annoying little lust-demon was decidedly pissed off about it.

  * * *

  Lori rested her elbows on the windowsill. Annwyn had no moon, nothing to challenge the dazzling array of stars, and this was the last night she had to appreciate their glory. They sparkled like jewels scattered on black velvet. The starlight was strong enough to see by. In the garden below, two lovers strolled hand in hand. She watched them share a passionate kiss.

  Would a fling with Tamsin have been such a bad idea? The option had definitely been there. Lori sighed. It was undoubtedly safer that she had resisted the temptation. The fay might be into the most open of relationships, but Rianna was too reminiscent of several jealous ex-girlfriends and the risk of annoying her was not worth taking.

  Lori’s thoughts were interrupted by a knock. “Yes?”

  A boggart shuffled around the door. “Please, madam. I’ve got a message for you, madam. Please.”

  “What is it?”

  “Captain Tamsin, madam. She says she’s sorry, but she has to go away from Caersiddi for a few days, so she won’t be able to escort you, like she said. She says she’s very sorry, madam.” The boggart shrunk back, as if frightened she might take her disappointment out on the messenger.

  “Thank you. You can go.”

  The boggart disappeared. “Yes, madam.” The words squeaked around the edge of the closing door.

  Lori closed her eyes, trying to keep a lid on rising dread. She was still trapped in Annwyn
. That was bad enough, but Tamsin would be absent. Supposing, when the Silver Ravens returned, Rianna said she had sent Lori back to Earth with a guard of Iron Ravens. Would Tamsin even bother to check the story out?

  Of course not. Lori knew it, and Rianna would know it as well. The only thing in doubt was, did the queen want another zombie?

  Chapter Eleven

  Lori stood on the outer battlements. Overnight rain had left puddles on the ground, but now the sky was brilliant blue, as it had been every day. The Silver Ravens were assembling below while boggart stable hands attended them. Seen in daylight, the horses’ appearance was no less disconcerting. Their shape was conventional, lighter than a carthorse, although stockier than an Arabian. However, their bodies did not look entirely solid, as if they had been shaded by someone using pencil rather than crayon. No wings. So how did they fly?

  This was the question that had brought her out early—nothing to do with Tamsin. Lori shook her head and sighed. Attempts at lying to herself were getting worse. But she was not going to say good-bye, or wish Tamsin a safe journey and speedy return. Definitely not. She gripped the wall to anchor herself in place, just in case her legs disobeyed her and walked down the steps of their own accord.

  Tamsin was adjusting something on her saddle while throwing the occasional comment at Finn, who stood close by. Several Silver Ravens were already mounted, walking their horses in circles, while trading good-natured banter. The horse’s gait was perfectly normal, with no sign of levitation.

  Tamsin finished whatever she was doing. She and Finn swung into their saddles, leaving one horse riderless. Was Rianna going as well? Was the mission simply bodyguard duty? A surge of hope swept through Lori. She would feel so much safer if the queen were somewhere else. But no. Tamsin attached the horse’s reins to her saddle and led the small troop through the gate. Was it a spare mount, in case another horse had an accident, or were they were going to collect someone—possibly the unfortunate whose blood was required for the spell?

  As they passed below where she stood, Tamsin looked up and waved. Lori’s insides melted. This was silly and dangerous. Just as well temptation would be out of reach for a while.

  The Silver Ravens formed a loose file on the grass outside the gate. Tamsin led them forward at an easy canter. Lori watched intently, but even so, the long grass concealed the point where the hooves stopped making contact with the ground. The horses trotted into the air as if they were going up a hill. No wings, no magic wands, no fuss.

  Lori watched until they were dots in the distance. Now what?

  * * *

  Lori stared at the underside of her four-poster’s canopy. Only an hour had passed since the Silver Ravens’ departure, and already she was decidedly bored. She sat up, swung her legs round, and sat on the edge of the bed. With any luck Rianna was too busy concocting evil plans to bother with her. Regardless, hiding away was not going to help, and if she spent days stuck in her room she would go completely stir-crazy.

  The possible nature of the evil plans nagged at Lori with feelings of guilt and curiosity in equal measure. She had no choice about helping Rianna, but that was a weak excuse, which never turned out well in the movies.

  However, another thing that never turned out well was the nosy heroine making ham-fisted attempts at playing detective. Of course, in movies, the heroine would be saved from death at the end by a highly improbable sequence of events. Lori was not stupid enough to risk her life on a million to one chance. But equally, she could not just sit in the room.

  The target range. Maybe she could borrow a rifle and—

  Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock. This was unlikely to be good news. “Yes?”

  A boggart stuck his head in. “Madam, please. Queen Rianna wishes to see you. You must come at once, madam.”

  “Did she say why?”

  A stupid question that the boggart made no attempt to answer. “Please, madam, come now.”

  Lori’s first urge to hide under the bed was absurd and no better than her second thought of running away. The only escape route was the portal—all she had to do was dodge the guards, and then deal with any monsters lying in wait. She was out of options. Lori hurried after the boggart. No matter what was up, making Her Frigging Majesty wait was not a smart move. Stay positive. Maybe, just maybe, Rianna wanted to weigh her against a pile of gold.

  Soon, Lori was back in the familiar study. Gaius stood impassively in the corner, but this time he was not alone. Rianna was on the balcony with another human, one Lori had not seen before. The queen lounged against the balustrade, staring out to sea. She must have heard the door, but did not move while the minutes dragged out.

  At last, Rianna turned from her contemplation of the waves. “Good. You’ve arrived.”

  “You wished to see me, Your Majesty?”

  “Yes.” Rianna sashayed into the room and seated herself on a stool. She was clearly in a good mood. With any luck, this was due to the code being broken, and she was feeling appropriately generous.

  The other human followed. He was torcless and clearly enthralled, like Gaius, although younger and far more attractive—blond and rugged, and with the sort of looks that would have Adam salivating. His sleeveless shirt was unbuttoned to the waist, revealing the sculptured set of muscles beneath.

  He stood behind Rianna, so she could lean against him, using his six-pack as a backrest. She reached above her head, sliding her hand under the man’s shirt. He showed no reaction, even when she pinched his nipple.

  Rianna’s eyes fixed on Lori. “What do you think of him? Handsome, isn’t he?”

  “I…er…yes. I guess so, Your Majesty.”

  “But not to your taste, I think. So what do you like? Younger? Older? Dark hair? A little less masculine?”

  “Not masculine at all, for preference.”

  The answer amused Rianna. She gave a tinkling laugh. “So that’s how you play things. How silly you humans are, limiting yourself in that way. I don’t.”

  “Many humans would agree with you.” Which Lori had not the slightest problem with, as long as they did not expect her to do likewise, and restricted their own lovers to consenting adults—something that clearly did not apply to either man in the room.

  Rianna leaned forward. “So, what sort of women do you pine for? Tall and dark? Or might you like someone with silver hair and blue skin?”

  Lori’s skin prickled. Had she turned pale? Rianna was beautiful and as attractive as a rattlesnake. She was also not the sort to take rejection well. Lori had dealt with enough petty, self-centred players to be able to read all the signs. But if she was right—and Lori desperately hoped that she was—Rianna was merely playing games with her.

  “Is that why you’ve asked me here, Your Majesty?”

  “Would you be happy if it was?”

  “I’d be surprised.”

  “Really? Why is that?”

  “Because I’m not as pretty as the man behind you.”

  Rianna laughed again. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

  “Then for another reason, I think you have better uses for me.” Please let it be true.

  “Indeed I do. Though one does not rule out the other.” Rianna’s smile was unsettling. “But maybe it would be wiser not to distract you from your new task. I should make the most of your talents while you’re here.”

  Did the word “here” relate to physical or mental presence? “I’d be happy to help, Your Majesty.”

  “While Morgaine’s is the most important scroll, it isn’t the only one. Other encoded texts have been left here. I’ve a fancy to know what they say.”

  At the queen’s gesture, Gaius unlocked the cabinet and removed a dozen scrolls, which he spread across the table. They ranged from what looked like a one-page note to a small novel. The scrolls would keep her busy until Tamsin returned, and probably far longer. Should she be relieved or dismayed? “Which would you like me to start with, Your Majesty?”

  “No preference. As I s
aid, it’s no more than a fancy on my part. I’ve no idea what any say. Pick one at random.”

  “Is there anything you can tell me about the authors?”

  “I believe they were written by my ancestors, kings and queens of Annwyn. But that’s all I can say.”

  Not that Lori put any faith in a word Rianna said, but if true, this meant the scrolls could contain anything. Bygone rulers had thought it advisable to conceal the contents in code. Maybe some were no more than private diaries, but others might be far more significant. Yet Rianna was giving her a free hand, unconcerned about what she might learn. The implications were not good.

  “It’ll be an interesting challenge, Your Majesty.”

  “Then I’ll leave you to it. Gaius will assist, as before.” Rianna swept from the room, with her toy-boy trailing in her wake.

  Lori slumped on the recently vacated stool and eyed the row of scrolls. Pick one at random. Start with the shortest. The novelette could wait. Gaius returned the others to the cabinet.

  “Gaius. I want you to write out a list of the names of all the previous kings and queens. Spelling the names exactly the same way they would have done themselves.” Best to make that part clear.

  She watched him work.

  Quite possibly, the Vigenère technique had been invented by someone before Morgaine, and she had merely adapted it, using her own name, or alternately, later rulers had copied her. Either way, the list of names was the first thing to try. She had to discount the possibility of a copycat cipher first, before moving on. The fay struck her as being lazy and unimaginative. If one had come up with a workable idea, others would surely have used it.

  * * *

  Lori crossed off the last entry on the list, and put down her quill. Testing the names had taken over a day and produced absolutely zilch. Just to be sure, she had tried adding the title king or queen, and even writing the names backwards. She stared despondently at her latest page of failures. What next?

  The weather was not helping, ramping up the temperature to the hottest day so far. Sweat trickled down her back and through her scalp. If she could not come up with a new idea she was in deep shit. Sod it. She was about the scrunch the sheet into a ball and chuck it across the room.