Mark of the Raven

by Morgan L. Busse

  “Neither.”

  His answer took her back. Did Father actually love Mother at one point? Is that why he married her?

  “There is a group of people who have been searching for a way to unite the Great Houses. This group has existed for many years, quietly working to bring every nation together. And there is another group who only wants power, also working covertly toward that goal.”

  Selene placed her cup down on the table, her heart beating fast. She recalled Mother speaking of a secret group of people who wished to merge the Great Houses and do away with the gifts. Was this the group her father spoke of?

  Was he . . . was he one of them?

  She licked her lips. He couldn’t be. Such people were executed. Only last year a man had been thrown from the wall of Rook Castle for such sedition. And House Friere burned three heretics at the stake this past winter.

  “I married your mother for peace. And”—he looked back at her—“to see if the dreamwalking gift still existed.”

  Selene stared at him. He married her mother to see if the gift of House Ravenwod still existed? But why? He couldn’t tell anyone. He was bound to secrecy by her mother. “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because you asked why I married your mother.”

  “And why did you care if the dreamwalking gift still existed?”

  “Because I believe it is an important gift, one that has the potential to unite the Great Houses.”

  “So you hoped to change Mother?” Selene almost laughed at that thought. No one could change Mother. And Mother was definitely not interested in uniting the houses, not after what they did to the Ravenwood family during the empire’s razing.

  “No. So I could help you.”

  She frowned. What did he mean by that? He married Lady Ragna to see if the gift was still there, hidden behind secrets. And then what? Have children who possessed that gift?

  Selene looked down at her fingers, her tea on the table nearby. Wait. So Father married Mother because the only way he could find out if the dreamwalking gift still existed was by the knowledge he would receive through the marriage binding. Then she was born. And his hope was what? To use her gift? To somehow unite the nations through her? Was he truly part of that group that wanted to merge the Great Houses and do away with their gifts?

  “You asked if I knew anything about the dreamwalking gift.” She heard the gentle thump as he placed his own cup down. “I don’t know much, but I do know a few things. House Ravenwood was once called the House of Dreamers. While the other Great Houses were given gifts to guard their people, instruct them, or fight to protect them, the Dreamers were different. They were given the gift of inspiration, the ability to enter the very hearts and minds of their people and encourage them. It is written that they could reach beyond the mountain nation and inspire all the nations.”

  Her heart beat faster. “How did they do that?”

  Her father shook his head. “I don’t know. That is all I know about the dreamwalking gift. Sadly, it was seen as inferior to the other gifts—ones like healing, courage, and the ability to use the light as a weapon. And so House Ravenwood was sold out to the empire as a way to appease the commander at the time and save the other nations.”

  “But we weren’t wiped out.”

  “No, you were not. But I suspect the dreamwalking gift is used in a different way now, correct?”

  Selene remained silent. Should she answer him? Could she trust him? After all, he had nearly admitted he was part of a renegade group of people who—if her mother knew—would be rounded up and tossed from the walls of Rook Castle. Father was living a very dangerous life, one that he’d planned out for a long time, it sounded like. Long enough that he found a way to enter the graces of the Lady of Ravenwood and marry her—just to find out about this gift.

  But perhaps he could help her. This picture he painted of the Dreamers, of what her family had once been, was ten times better than what they were now. Instead of taking lives, she could inspire them. How to do that eluded her, but she was willing to learn.

  Selene opened her mouth to answer his question and found her voice had vanished. She closed it. It appeared it didn’t matter if she trusted Father. Mother had their training bound within a house secret. “I-I can’t say.”

  Father nodded. “I understand.”

  Secrets. So many secrets. Selene glanced out the window. It was dark now, and a cool mountain breeze blew through the opening. Sometimes it felt like all those secrets were going to choke her to death, if the darkness did not kill her first.

  Did every Great House have this many secrets?

  “Still, if there is anything I can do to help you, I will do it. I believe you have the ability to do what no one else can.”

  Selene glanced sharply back. “Why didn’t you share any of this with me before?”

  “As you can see, my position is a precarious one. I am a consort. That title would not save me if . . .” He shrugged and let her fill in the blanks.

  No, he never came out and said it, but she knew now he was part of that renegade group. The coalition.

  “I chose not to share with you until I knew you were ready, and the time was right. I had to be sure. . . .”

  “Sure? Sure of what?”

  “That you had the potential and willingness to change. House Ravenwood has a history of hatred—and rightly so. Your ancestors were given over to the empire and wiped off the face of the map—or so we thought. Your mother is a cold and bitter woman. Your sister Amara is heading in the same direction. The question is, what will you do, Selene? Will you be just like them—or will you be different?”

  Selene clenched her hands. “But how? All you told me was my gift was once used to inspire others. How do I do that? And Mother—” Her voice vanished. Selene smashed her lips together in frustration. Secrets once again.

  Father pulled on the end of his beard. “What if I could find a way to get you away from here?”

  Selene narrowed her eyes. “From here? You mean Rook Castle?”

  “Away from your mother’s influence. A place where you would be allowed to hone your own gift and figure out who you are.”

  She shook her head. “I am the heir to Ravenwood. There is no leaving for me.” As she said those words, they sunk deep inside of her. Her father’s words, like rays of hope, disappeared as quickly as they’d come. There was no escape for her. Even if she ran, Mother would hunt her down and find her. Most likely she would be locked away and Amara would lead the family, leaving Ophie vulnerable to the family gift and all it entailed.

  Selene stood. “Thank you for always caring for me. But we both know what my future holds.”

  Father stood as well. “Don’t give up just yet, Selene.”

  She shook her head sadly and turned for the door. With each step, she closed off her heart so that by the time she reached for the latch, she was numb again.

  “I will find a way to help you,” he called after her as she left his study.

  Just hopeful words. That’s all they were. But she wasn’t a little girl anymore. She could no longer go crying to her father and have him kiss away the pain.

  The Dark Lady had set her course the moment the mark had been burned into her back. The Dreamers, whatever they had been, no longer existed. In their place now were the dreamkillers.

  13

  Selene!”

  Selene turned around and found her father in the hallway with a stack of books in his hands the next day. She was thankful that she had washed and changed after her workout in the small outdoor training area in the back of the castle. Father, like the rest of the occupants of Rook Castle, did not know about the covert life the women of Ravenwood led. Apart from the secret being bound to House Ravenwood by her mother, it wasn’t something she wanted him to know about. How would she explain she wasn’t training to be a lady but an assassin? She couldn’t bear to see the hurt in his eyes if he really knew what she was training to use her gift for.

  He a
pproached her with a soft smile on his face. “It’s not much, but I was able to find a little bit about the Great Houses and their gifts. Most of the houses fiercely guard their secrets, but there is a little bit of information. And with the upcoming assembly, I thought you might want to know more about the houses that will be visiting.”

  Selene stared at the books, previous thoughts gone, replaced with the sudden desire to know more. She barely knew anything about the other houses. Most of the seven Great Houses kept to themselves, governing their own people, and only venturing beyond their borders in order to trade or forge alliances. She had only visited House Friere since her house and theirs often traded, especially back when the mines were active.

  She reached for the books. “Thank you, Father.”

  He handed them over. There were four in all, each one bound in leather and as thick as three fingers.

  “It’s not much. Most of the books talk about the history and culture of each Great House and the nations they govern. And even then, the history is only after the empire’s razing. But I thought you might find something. As the future grand lady of House Ravenwood, it is something you should know about.”

  Selene nodded. So far, Mother had covered very little about the other houses, perhaps because she wanted to focus on their training first. Selene’s only knowledge came from excursions to the library, but nothing had turned up there. “I’ll start reading this afternoon.”

  He gave her a firm nod. “Take as much time as you want. I don’t need them back any time soon.” Father turned and headed back to the west wing toward his own rooms.

  Selene stared down at the books, eagerness filling her chest. Mother and Amara would not be home from their visit to House Friere for another day, which gave her at least this afternoon, evening, and the next morning to read.

  With that thought, she hurried back to her own room.

  Sunlight poured through the open window, illuminating everything inside Selene’s bedchambers. She sat on a bench beside the window, her legs tucked up beneath her, her hair knotted at the back of her neck, a book opened on the cushion beside her. Father was right—there wasn’t much information about the gifts the Great Houses possessed. So far, all she had discovered was House Maris could control water somehow, House Luceras wielded light and was home to the famous paladins of light, House Rafel could heal with the use of special herbs, and House Vivek was famous for their wisdom. Nothing on House Friere, House Merek of the Southern Isles, or her own house.

  Selene sighed and looked out the window. Summer would be over soon, and the time of harvest would be upon them, along with the Assembly of the Great Houses. Huge pine trees covered the mountains of Magyr, painting the mountain range in deep green. She watched an eagle glide high above the peaks, a speck against the bright blue sky. She remembered being a raven and how the wind felt beneath her, buffeting her, her wings spread out as she soared above the dreamscape. She marveled in the way freedom felt and the overwhelming sense of joy. If only she could always be a raven, flying high above the cares of this world.

  But that was only in dreams—dreams where her job was to search out secrets or resurface old fears.

  “That can’t be why we were given the gift of dreamwalking.” She closed the book and picked up another. Father said House Ravenwood was the House of Dreamers, and through dreams, her ancestors had inspired people. But how? And why? She opened the cover. Compared to the other houses, her own gift seemed small and insignificant. Other houses had heroes, men and women who fought with amazing power, protected their people, and healed those on the brink of death.

  And House Ravenwood?

  “Nothing,” she whispered. Nothing about the Dreamers. No wonder Rabanna had chosen to take their gift in a different direction. Now they had power and wealth because of their dreamkilling. And if the other Great Houses turned against them like they did before the razing, she knew her mother would fight back. Her bitterness ran deep.

  Selene spent the rest of the afternoon and evening looking over the last two books, only taking a break for dinner. By the time she finished the last book, night had fallen across the castle and the servants had lit the candles. A cool breeze swept through the castle, forcing out the hot summer heat and leaving behind a cool reprieve.

  She placed the last book on top of the others and pinched her lips together. Again nothing. Her back and shoulders were stiff from bending over the tomes, and her head ached just behind her right eye. She rubbed the offending area and sat back, staring across the room.

  The fireplace was cold and dark. Her bed, an ancient piece of furniture bought from merchants from the south and hewn from a single tree, sat near the fireplace, devoid of the usual furs and covered only by a single blanket. Next to the bed on a small table sat a string of black beads.

  She gazed at the beads. She hadn’t prayed to the Dark Lady in months, not since her gift had arrived. In fact, she hadn’t even been back to the sanctuary. Before her gifting, she had been a doubtful—though dutiful—follower. Now . . .

  Now something scared her about the Dark Lady. As if sensing her thoughts, a wind rushed through the room, and the light from the candlestick wavered before coming back to full blaze. A shiver ran down Selene’s spine as she gazed around the room. It was almost as if she were being . . . watched.

  She got to her feet and hurried across the room and picked up the beads. The small black orbs were cold between her fingers. Prayers from her childhood rose from the back of her mind but stopped at her lips. It was as if her mouth had been sealed. They would not form the rote words her mother had made her memorize years ago.

  Was it possible there was no Dark Lady?

  No, she knew the Dark Lady existed. Something deep inside her knew this. And yet . . .

  And yet what about the other stories? The ones about an older god? And the old ways?

  Who exactly gave the Great Houses their gifts? That was what Selene wanted to know. Had the Dark Lady? Another deity? The god of the old ways? The Light, which some of the houses served?

  I want to know, but no one seems to have answers.

  She held the beads up for a bit longer, then placed them back down on the table. Even fear could not make her follow that which she doubted. She no longer knew who or what she believed in.

  She stared out at the night sky beyond her window, as a hollowness expanded inside her chest. All she knew was her future. She was a lady of Ravenwood. She would walk through the dreams of others, stealing or killing when she needed to. There was no other path for her, except for this long, dark, lonely one.

  14

  Damien stood on top of a narrow precipice that extended over the sea. Down below, waves crashed against the jagged coastline, sending up sprays of white foamy water with resounding crashes. Behind him stood the port city of Nor Esen and his home, Northwind Castle.

  Deep blue water extended as far as the eye could see, spreading out beneath a lighter blue sky. Gulls glided through the air, buffered by the winds. The air was brisk this morning and scented with salt. Damien breathed it in deeply before lifting his hands and closing his eyes. He could feel the water-wall he had raised steadily siphoning energy from his power. It wasn’t enough to drain him completely, but it left him weaker than usual.

  He listened to the water and felt it sink into his soul. Then he started his daily ritual. First with one hand, then with the other, he lifted the water, sending the incoming waves higher and higher until the water crashed just below the ledge he stood on.

  As he moved his arms in the familiar rotation, his mind lifted heavenward. Light, Maker of Worlds, here is my gift. Let me use the waters to protect my people. He started his morning prayers the same way every day as he practiced raising the water.

  Then he planted his feet and moved his hands in front of him, this time pushing the waves away. As he started his next routine, he went through each servant, starting with Taegis, and let his heart pour over their lives, lifting up their fears, their happiness, a
nd their longings to the Light.

  Time went by, and he changed his position again, placing one foot back and one forward. He drew one hand in, turned his palm, and pushed out, rocking the waves below. A sandpiper flew by, disappearing along the beach to the east.

  He savored the feeling of the water’s motion and the strength in his body. He continued to commune with the Light, practicing his gift and petitioning for his people in the same way his father had taught him years ago.

  Our gift came from the Light. And so we give thanks for our gift, always remembering that we were given this power not to lord over our people, but to serve and protect them.

  He slowly let his arms drop as he remembered his father’s admonition. Not too long ago, Damien had done just that: raised the waters in order to protect his people. He’d known he might have to do it someday, but to actually have done it, and to watch men die by his hands . . .

  He clenched his teeth. Those were the hard choices of a leader. But it didn’t mean he had to like what he did. He never wanted to come to a place where he no longer mourned the loss of life, whether for his own people or others.

  Sweat soaked into his tunic and trickled down his cheeks as he finished his ritual. Then he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Across the waters to his right, a low gong sounded. Moments later, the monks from Baris Abbey began their noonday chant. Their voices echoed across the sea, barely audible above the waves and wind.

  Damien listened to their song, his body slowly relaxing as he admired how their chant and the natural sounds combined to create a unique harmony of man and nature. This was peace. The bridge between man and heaven.

  He let out another deep breath, turned, and headed back toward Northwind Castle. There was much to do today, and he would need all the time he could get before his trip to Rook Castle and the Assembly of the Great Houses.

  “Are you sure you want to travel this light?” Taegis asked, his arms folded across his chest. “Just a monk, two guards, and myself to accompany you?”