Raven's Key: A Novel

by Siomonn Pulla

  Raven spotted a grove of trees huddled together off the main path and made he was over to it.

  I’ll just take a bit of a nap in one of these trees here before I fly back north.

  Making sure nobody was watching, he quickly shifted into a bird and flew up into the bare canopy of the trees, making himself comfortable on the branch of a very old maple.

  He closed his eyes and within seconds he was dreaming about being back home, sitting on a rock by the sea.

  A sparrow landed at his feet, very excited.

  “What is it little one.” Bran opened his hand, encouraging the sparrow to come closer.

  “Your sister has sent a most urgent message,” chirped the sparrow. “Her husband, King Matholwich, plots to kill her and she seeks your help.”

  “Do you mean Matholwich is abusing her,” pressed Raven. “Surely Brânwen is just having a hard time adjusting to life at that King’s court.”

  “After she gave birth, her son, Gwern, was taken away from court and your sister has been forced to work in the kitchen as a mere servant,” said the sparrow. “The king also addresses her very cruelly and is very rough with her.”

  “But surely she can’t expect me to change anything,” replied Raven. “There is little I can do.”

  “She wants you to come and rescue her and bring him home to Harlech castle.” The sparrow flapped its little wings to emphasis how important its message was. “She believes that she will be killed.”

  “Are you sure little one?” Raven brought the sparrow closer so he could look into its tiny eyes. “This is a very serious situation.”

  “Yes.” chirped the Sparrow. “Your sister is in grave danger.”

  “Tell her, one way or another, I will help her.” Raven lifted the sparrow above his head. “Now fly little bird, and don’t stop until you’ve relayed my message.”

  The bird chirped one last time and flew off into the wind.

  That evening, Raven held a meeting with his brother Manawydan and his half-brother Efnisien to discuss their sister’s situation.

  “I told you that king was nothing but a brute. But you wouldn’t listen to me.” His half-brother was furious. He slammed his fist on the table where they were sitting with their mugs of ale. “That’s why I mutilated his horses. I wanted to start a fight with those bastards. He never loved Brânwen. He just wanted to screw her and then have a claim to Harlech.”

  “Efni, we know how much you love Brânwen,” replied Bran. “We all want the best for her and Matholwich’s proposal was very well crafted. I could not refuse his offer. Your rash behavior has cost me dearly Efni. Giving up the cauldron was very difficult. But it was better than the alternative.”

  “Brothers, we need to find a solution to this issue,” interrupted Manawydan. “Brânwen needs our help and we need to focus on finding the best possible solution.”

  “I agree Mana.” Raven took a long swig of his ale. “What do you propose?”

  “Brânwen wouldn’t have sent that messenger if she wasn’t in serious trouble,” said Manawydan. “I believe the messenger. I think Matholwich is going to kill her.”

  “We should just kill the bastards and be done with them,” suggested Efnisien.

  “No, Efni. We need to rescue Brânwen and bring her back to Harlech,” replied Manawydan. “Then if Matholwich tries to take her back aggressively we have every right to retaliate.”

  “But what about the political fall-out?” Bran was always thinking about the importance of maintaining political networks. “I wouldn’t have agreed to the marriage in the first place if I didn’t think it could benefit us somehow in the large scheme of things.”

  “I personally think that Matholwich is of much less importance than the Romans who were in court last month,” added Manawydan.

  “You and your bloody politics,” spat Efnisien. “Sometimes love is more important than forging alliances. Brânwen is not our only sister and the last in our female line, we must protect and honour the sacred role she plays in the survival of our kind.”

  Bran knew that his half-borther Efnisien was right. Their sister was the last surviving woman of the ancient Corvus Clan and she held the key to the survival of their lineage. He had never thought of accepting Matholwich’s proposal, but the King had made a propelling case for the strength of the union between the Corvus and the faerie. The Corvus Clan had been at odds with the faerie for years over an unpaid blood debt. When Matholwich arrived at Harlech with his proposal to marry Brânwen, he had indicated that the union would not only settle the blood debt, but that it would produce a new line representing the best qualities of the corvus and faerie.

  What a fool I was to accept. Now I see what Matholwich had in mind. A new breed of royal faerie with all the best elements of the Corvus Clan. Bran saw it all so clearly now. Raised as a faerie Gwern would never know of his corvus blood.

  “We set out first thing in the morning for Matholwich’s castle to bring Brânwen back home to Harlech. We can’t let him get away this”

  Raven woke up from his dream and shifted on the tree branch where he was perched. The winter sun was now on its fast decline.

  We did the right thing saving Brânwen. How were we to know it would turn out so badly for the Corvus Clan. The faerie were stronger than we realized. Now I better get back to Wakefield. I’ve put this off long enough.

  Chapter 33

  “Sorry to interrupt Francis.” George directed his comments to the old man in the brown robe sitting at the table. “I had no choice. Raven and Iyash have disappeared with the objects and now I’ve got these three humans involved in this mess. I feel like I’ve reached a dead-end and we’re running out of time.”

  “We’ve just been discussing the details of our situation.” Francis shuffled the papers in front of him. “So your timing is perfect. We heard about the involvement of the two humans and your meeting with Maeve. Guanyin reminded the council that they are to be involved consciously in this process as it unfolds.”

  “I still don’t like them being involved,” added the small man sitting next to Guanyin. “I’m only now starting to see positive changes after implementing the yoga and meditation programs. Those ancient postures are very powerful. They’re even starting to have an effect on the vibrations of those humans solely obsessed with fitness and their own self-image. I feel like it’s still too dangerous to involve these humans. Until their own vibration increases, they’re unpredictable, unreliable and too easily swayed by the forces of darkness.”

  “Bes we should give them an opportunity to address the council before we pass such harsh judgment on them,” suggested Guanyin.

  “I agree with Guanyin,” said Paul, his eyes wide with excitement. “Nobody will ever believe me that I’ve been hanging out with a Chinese immortal, a Christian saint, an Egyptian God and Karl Marx. All in an effort to save the world. I mean, why would they? I always thought we were heading for some kind of environmental disaster or huge technological paradigm shift or maybe even a small-scale nuclear war over oil in the Middle East. I never realized we were so close to this shift and I never believed in all that hype around 2012. The media likes a good fear story, and there’s nothing that sells more than the doom and gloom of an impending apocalypse. I guess the media wasn’t too far off, considering what George has told us about Marduk and your ceremony to shift us into this new consciousness.”

  “How do you think you can aid this council in the shift,” asked Francis.

  “I’m just interested in finding those objects and returning them to the museum,” replied Susan. “I could get into some serious trouble over this whole situation. They might even arrest me.”

  “Typical bourgeois response. The shift that’s occurring will no longer tolerate such individualistic prattle and selfish intolerance.”

  “No offense Mr. Marx, but your revolution never happened,” said Paul. “Liberal democracies have sustained themselves in the face of socio-economic change around the world. Not one o
f these advanced capitalist economies have experienced socialist revolutions.”

  “This is the revolution young man. It is the beginning of the new human consciousness without vice; in essence a superior species. We are seeing the inevitable collapse of the existing institutions and consciousness responsible for the formation of the current wretched human condition.”

  “That’s not quite accurate Karl,” replied Guanyin. “While the new consciousness requires more of a collective response to issues, it also requires strong individuals and the recognition of true difference as the driving force behind sustainable change.”

  “And a surrender to love and light as the catalyst for such change,” added Francis.

  “I agree that some of my earlier theories were not quite so accurate,” responded Marx. “In particular I now understand that the superstructure is much more wide-reaching and complex and plays a more influential role on consciousness than I originally thought.”

  “But what about the objects?” George looked worried. “We need to stop Marduk before he has the opportunity to use them.”

  “Our field intelligence has just reported that Marduk does not intend to use the objects quite yet.” Francis pulled a sheet of paper out of the pile in front of him. “There is a missing element to the puzzle that we have all over looked.”

  Francis looked up from his paper at Maeve who was standing next to Paul.

  “Ms. Finn, we understand that you’ve had quite the exciting day.”

  “You can say that,” replied Maeve, “but I think confusing is more appropriate.”

  “We’re all a bit confused about your role in this,” added Bes.

  “We understand that Raven was after your necklace,” said Guanyin. “It is a very old and powerful piece.”

  “First he wanted my necklace and then he wanted me.”

  “Did he tell you anything about why he may have wanted you?”

  “For a good time,” replied Maeve sarcastically. “He did mention something about my mother. Like he knew her. Do you know anything about this?”

  “Well, people meet each other in the oddest of scenarios sometimes.” Francis pulled another sheet of paper out from his pile. “We believe that Raven and your mother may have had a chance encounter the day she died.”

  “He told me he killed her,” pressed Maeve.

  “You know as well as I that your mother died in a violent car accident,” replied Francis, “I don’t see how Raven could have been involved in her death.”

  “Enough of this family history lesson, we need some practical solutions to these pressing issues. I shouldn’t have to remind you that time is running out.” Marx shifted restlessly in his chair. “If Marduk is after the girl, we need to make sure she is protected, at least for the next twenty-four hours, which are critical.”

  “I agree with Karl,” said George, “if Marduk is after Maeve, we can’t let him anywhere near her. Grandfather mentioned that the royal faerie guard already protects her. But the guard is only as effective as her faith in them, and right now she’s a sitting duck.”

  “Excuse me, but how do you expect me to believe in all this faerie stuff.” Maeve crossed her arms. “It’s pretty far-fetched.”

  “She’s right,” added Susan. “We’re after criminals here. I still think our best course of action is to call the police and involve the authorities. They are the best ones equipped to protect Maeve if she is in danger.”

  “Listen to what you’re saying and who you are saying it to,” said Paul. “If we can stand here in a room with Saint Francis, Karl Marx, Guanyin and Bes the Protector, I think anything is possible right now.”

  “Maybe this is all some kind of conscious dreaming Paul. George has probably put us into a trace with his rattle. We’re having a shamanic experience.” Susan looked around the circular room. “I’ve read ethnographic accounts of group hallucinations like this connected to shamanic rituals.”

  “Maeve, It’s in your best interest to believe,” said Guanyin. “We can’t make you believe nor would we try to. It must come from inside of you, from your heart. Only then will you truly be safe and at peace.”

  “I’ll try. If all it takes to be safe and at peace, is to believe in some magical beings, what do I have to lose.”

  “George, your mission now is to keep the girl safe for the next twenty-four hours. This is critical.” Francis set his pile of papers aside. “We understand you are concerned about your grandfather. We all are. But we must stay focused on these new developments. We are getting extremely close to Marduk. Now go back to the girl’s home and stay put until you hear from Bes.”

  “Ok. But if you hear from my grandfather you’ll let me know right away?”

  “Yes. Now go. We’re running out of time.”

  Chapter 34

  By the time Raven returned to Wakefield, the full moon was just beginning to rise over the Gatineau hills. During the flight north had he figured out the best strategy of how to approach the faeries with the least amount of potential harm.

  They’re going to think I’ve completely lost it. But It’s my only chance. Without their help I’ll never be able to get her to agree to come with me.

  Raven continued to fly north, using the frozen river as his guide. The closer he got to Maeve’s apartment, the more he could sense the strong faerie presence around Wakefield. Spotting the tall oak outside Maeve’s apartment, he made his way towards it and settled on a large branch high up the tree.

  Well I guess this is it. I better see if I can make some friendly contact with these bastards.

  From high in the tree, Raven could make out the silhouettes of at least a dozen faeries. They were comfortably stationed at intervals around Maeve’s apartment, their cloaks pulled tightly around their small bodies. He also noticed a large black car parked in the driveway with somebody inside of it.

  So Felisa sent one of her goons to try to catch me. Pathetic. I didn’t realize she was such a sore loser.

  Flying down from his perch in the tree, Raven landed a few feet in front of two faeries sitting quietly in the woods behind the apartment and shifted into a man.

  “Who’s in charge here?” Raven knew he couldn’t surprise them, so the direct approach was much more effective. “I have a proposal to make.”

  “A proposal? Come on Corvus, don’t waste our time.” The larger of the two faeries hardly moved. “We don’t do business with you and your clan. You’re a scavenger and not to be trusted.”

  “Besides, we settled our business with you,” added the smaller faerie. “Now leave us in peace.”

  “I want to talk to your captain,” pressed Raven. “”It’s about the girl.”

  Before he could finish, Raven noticed he was surrounded by the faerie guards.

  “What do you want Bran.”

  An elegantly dressed faerie stepped forward. His long red hair pulled back into a thick braid. He wore a crimson fringed cloak clasped by a silver brooch, embossed by a triple spiral. In his hand he carried a heavy green spear.

  “Derg, what a surprise. If I had know if was you leading this pack of dogs I wouldn’t have wasted my time.”

  “I should just kill you now and get it over with.” Derg pointed his spear at Raven. “What do you have to tell us about Maeve?”

  “She’s in some serious trouble,” said Raven.

  “We’re well aware of that. I have my orders to protect and serve her on a needs basis,” replied Derg. “We’ve all been put on alert that you in particular are a threat.” Derg pressed the point of his spear into Raven’s chest. “You better have more than that Corvus.”

  “I do know that you and your pack of dogs here can’t really do much because the girl doesn’t even believe in you.” Raven took a step backwards. “But I’ll give you this. An evil and very lonely man wants to have his way with her. He’s seen the girl in some kind of drug induced vision and convinced himself that he can’t live without her. “

  “Why would we give Maeve up to
you? So you can bring her to this man.” Derg let out a small laugh. “You really have lost it this time Corvus.”

  “Yes, I do intend to bring the girl to this man. It’s the only way to protect her.”

  “That makes no sense.” Derg stepped forward, this time pressing his spear against the skin of Raven’s neck. “You’re wasting my time with all these stories.”

  “Come on Derg. You know that I have a vested interest in keeping this girl safe. She carries as much corvus blood in her as she caries faerie blood.”

  “I thought we settled this last time,” spat Derg. “I guess you either don’t remember or are as stupid as I always thought you were. I tired to convince Cúchulainn to kill you but he wanted to show you mercy. To this day I still can’t figure that one out. This time I’ll finish you off. ” Derg pressed his spear further into raven’s neck, drawing blood.

  “Cúchulainn had his own orders from Gwern not to kill me,” added Raven, “and you’d do best to remember that I settled that blood debt many years ago.”

  “As far as my men know, you died in a fair duel.”

  “Just hear me out. If you don’t like the plan kill me later.”

  “Ok.” Derg lowered his spear. “I’ll listen. Be quick about it.”

  “This man I’ve been working for has been tapping into the unconscious energy of humans to control the shift into the new consciousness. He’s been cultivating the fear, anger and insecurity of these humans to plunge the world further into darkness. I’ve been working with the council of light to track down this man, infiltrate his inner sanctum and figure out his plan.”

  “You expect me to believe that you are working for the council of light?”

  “Yes and we’re running out of time. As soon as we figured out that he was after the girl, a new plan was hatched. We need to kill this man before he does any more harm. Maeve can get close to him. She’s our only chance.”

  “So you want to use her as bait,” asked Derg. “Finn Bheara would never approve of that.”

  “Finn is old and senile, more interested in horse racing, than saving his people.”