“I don’t want trouble,” Raven said after a pause. “I was trying to save lives. When are they going to let me out of here?”
Goodwin inched closer to the bars and lowered his voice.
“I overheard one of the guards. Apparently Lord Reghan is furious. All the guards are trying their best to avoid him. He is dealing with angry Lords from all over and on top of that he has to pay them back for all the damages. His reputation and the tournament’s reputation will be hurt. Not only that, but now he has to ensure his army sends men out to route any remaining barbarians in the area.”
“Trouble always finds me,” Raven said sullenly. “They would have all been dead if I didn’t do anything! Who cares about their stuff?”
“They don’t see it that way. And old man Gamayun is furious. He took the brunt of Lord Reghan’s wrath since you are his responsibility. You made him look bad.”
Raven sighed. “I was… I was just trying to help. It just feels like everything I do winds up taking a bad turn. Maybe I shouldn’t be so reckless. I’m just not used to following all these orders and rules. My people ran different, open lives. So what do they plan on doing with me?”
“I honestly don’t know,” Goodwin replied and shrugged. “I doubt they’ll keep you in the dungeons for that long. They might banish you or keep you in the stockades for a few days so the townsfolk can throw apples at you and laugh. I don’t know.”
“I hate this place,” Raven said.
“You haven’t given it a chance since you got here,” Goodwin asserted. “You have been given helping hand after helping hand, yet you try to throw it all away.”
“That’s not true!” Raven protested, although it was half-hearted. She knew deep down that all of her anger toward the Phoenix had been clouding her judgement.
“It is true! Lord Reghan rescued you from freezing to death and brought you here, clothed and fed you and gave you a warm room. Then he gave you a good job in the kitchen, and when that didn’t work out, Gamayun took you under his wing. I think you think you are smarter than everyone else. Time after time they have given you chances, but now there won’t be any more chances. All you have done so far is ruin a good thing.”
“I…” Raven’s head slumped forward. She was too tired to argue with him. Maybe he was right. Perhaps she was taking out her anger on the only people who had given her aid. Lord Reghan had been nothing but kind to her and gave her a second chance at life. Look where her attitude and recklessness had gotten her now.
She looked up and began to apologize, but Goodwin was gone. All that remained was the cell bars and the creeping darkness of the dungeon halls.
* * *
Lance was happy the war with the Drakaran was over, and going on a voyage across the Great Sea to see places he had never been sounded like a great opportunity. It took some convincing to allow Charlotte to come as well, but it was worth it, especially after being through so much with her. He didn’t want to be away from her for so long.
“Everything is ready,” Greyson announced. “My men are in position and everything is in order.”
Lance couldn’t help but think that Greyson’s voice sounded eerily familiar. He couldn’t place it.
“Very good,” Master Xavier replied. “We look forward to a successful voyage.”
“As do I,” Greyson said. “The kingdoms over there are much different than here. But there is nothing to worry about. You are in very capable hands.”
THE END
Books by R. D. Bernstein
Underdog Mage Chronicles:
1. The Crippled
2. The Captive
3. The War
4. The Voyage https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FRCK7SR
Fate Chronicles:
1. The Eternal War
2. Children of Fate
3. The Drakaran
4. Deadly Diplomacy
5. Mystery at Crescent Islands
Underdog Mage Chronicles_The War Page 10