by Kayla Maya
“I said you have had enough.” North grabbed his next glass, slamming down on the bar so hard that Bryn was very surprised it did not crack or even break underneath that force. The wind outside picked up, the trees hitting the inn, making the horses outside whine and stir.
“Who do you think you are anyway?” The drunkard stood, standing a whole foot taller than North. “Give me back my drink.”
“I will not say it again.” North’s cool voice was chipping, his anger showing. “You have had enough. I think you should pay for your services and leave. Now.”
“Give. Me. Back. My. Drink.”
That did it. The drunkard swung surprisingly fast towards North’s face. North was faster. Bryn watched as North danced out of the way, drink in hand as he used the contents to throw in the drunkard’s face. The man howled in rage, barreling into North, knocking him over. North jumped up, narrowly dodging out of the way as the drunkard tried to catch him by the waist. She began to wonder just who he was for him to be able to fight like he had several years of training. North swung, catching the other man in the face. The portly man tumbled, lying flat on his back and sprawling like a fish out of water.
North grabbed his steaming tea, breaking it over the man’s head, knocking him out cold. Grabbing a towel, North wiped his hands clean before offering Chloe more coin for causing trouble.
“I’m going to turn in for the night,” North told Bryn. “We’ll leave at dawn, so get plenty of rest. We have a long ride ahead of us.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Bryn tossed and turned all night, hearing the noise coming from downstairs as the other drunkards sang and fought one another. She was unsure as to how North had such a fitful sleep where he snored most of the night. She was rather jealous when he woke her up after finally going to sleep, his eyes bright and wide. She groaned, rolling over to the side and covering her face with her pillow to keep North’s voice out of her head.
“I said, get up. We have a long journey,” North told her.
“I’m so tired,” Bryn whined. “I couldn’t sleep.”
“I’m aware. Your tossing and turning kept me awake all night like those drunkards’ squabble.”
“Liar,” she shot up. “You were snoring like a pot of beans.”
North chuckled. “I only half lied. Come on now, we have to go.”
Bryn forced herself out of bed, tying up her boots. Braiding her hair, she deemed herself ready. Walking down the stairs, she was met with the same scene as yesterday with Chloe cleaning the bar and a few chairs scattered across the floor like a stampede of rushing horses had just gone through the bar. Chloe, like yesterday, appeared as haggard at Bryn had felt yesterday riding the horses. North offered her several more coins before slipping out of the front door and into the morning.
“Your boyfriend is rather charming,” Chloe said.
Bryn’s shoulders sagged, her cheeks flaming as she averted her eyes to the ground. He was rather handsome, yes but her boyfriend? That was absurd. “No. He is not with me, not like that. He’s…he’s helping me get to Baltimore.”
Chloe winked at her. “Tell him to come back anytime. I would love to chat with him and get to know him.”
Bryn’s jealous sparked once more. “He’s a priest.”
“Oh.” Chloe’s face dropped, her own face flaming as the gravity of what she said to Bryn sunk in. “I didn’t mean…have a safe trip?”
Bryn did not understand why the other girl had formed it as a question. Was there something she was hiding from them? More drunkards, perhaps? Bryn shook her head; the guilt clutching her heart. Sighing, she made her way outside to where North had the horses saddled and ready to go. Bryn really did not want to spend the whole day riding, but they still had a ways to go until they reached the city by the sea. The place where North’s people were. The ones who would explain why they needed her “talents” and why she was even coming all this way anyway. She didn’t want to trust him, but after saving her from the king’s guards in Serena, she had no choice whatsoever.
So, several hours later, Bryn called it quits. By North’s calculations, he had told her earlier, they would reach Baltimore by night’s end, and it gave Bryn incentive to keep going. Except, enough was enough. Her back arched, her legs burned, and her neck was so stiff that she had to turn her whole body to glance around. North didn’t agree with Bryn’s decision to stop and wait for a bit, but after arguing with her, he relented enough for a thirty-minute rest. She plopped down under a tree, dew still clinging to her clothes and hair. Even the trees were saturated with water from the endless fog that ceased to relent.
“Do you have any questions you want to run by me before we reach Baltimore?” North sat beside her, taking a swig of his canteen. “Or better yet, any ideas as to who I am?”
“I have none, nor do I want to know who you are.” Bryn tossed on her side, eager to keep away from North’s company. At least her emotions were in check, so she didn’t have to worry about being pelted with rain constantly.
“I think you’ll like Baltimore,” North told her. “If you don’t mind fish all that much.”
Bryn wrinkled her nose. “I don’t mind it; I just don’t like the fishy taste of it really. I used to have some often when my father went out to fish with his buddies.”
“You’ll find a family with us,” he assured. “You may even be called ‘Sister Bronwyn.’”
“Gross.”
“It’s called The Order of the Crow.”
“What?”
“That’s what I am a part of—the Order of the Crow. We are an order that deals with issues of the country. Serena is our previous city to redeem. The king has overstayed his welcome, and it is our duty, our right to set things straight. Bring peace and order to the country.”
“I don’t care about peace,” she scolded. “In fact, I could care less about this ominous ‘mission’ you won’t tell me about.”
North chuckled and opened his mouth to say something when a howl pierced the fog-covered forest. He shot up like an arrow, circling his hands in a motion. The wind picked up, the air forming a ball of energy over North’s open palm. Bryn stared transfixed at how easily it was for him to summon a ball of air. To her, it was magnificent, and she wished beyond anything in that world to be able to do what North could do so easily. Another howl echoed, this time more closely than the last. This time Bryn stood, her breaths coming in and out, her pulse racing, and her eyes dilating as the first wolf emerged from the fog covered wood. The wolf was long and slender, the silver and grey pelt shimmering with dew. One golden eye was missing, a long-jagged scar covering it with one ear cut in half. The wolf growled; teeth bared with saliva dripping from its half-open maw.
“Now would be a good time for your lightning,” North said through gritted teeth.
“I don’t know how!” Bryn wailed, her emotions stirring, thunder clapping in the darkening sky. “I can’t control it. Only when I’m scared or angry.”
“Then, get scared!” North launched the ball of air, bouncing off the spot where the wolf was just standing seconds before. He summoned another ball of air, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. Two more wolves jumped out of the wood, growing and snarling at the pair before them. Now there were three wolves and only two of them. North spun around as a fourth wolf head-butted North from the side, causing him to roll to the side, landing lightly on his feet in front of Bryn. She crouched down, hands over her ears and eyes tightly shut as thunderstruck a wolf. Her eyes jolted open as North called her name. All around her, the forest was on fire, the wolves still circling even though one of their companions was just a burning pile of ash. The storm picked up, rain pelting them.
The gruesome alpha howled, jumping at Bryn. North intervened, taking the blow. The wolf's jaw clamped around his forearm, teeth digging into his bicep. Bryn’s eyes widened, unsure how North wasn’t even screaming in pain at the wolf's massive jaw. Kicking the wolf and throwing the energy ball. It connected with the alpha, the wolf flyi
ng in the air into a tree, spine cracking in two. Two wolves remained, nipping the air and howling as they stalked closer to the two magic wielders. Bryn couldn’t hold it in any longer. Her emotions went haywire. The clouds circled like a whirlwind, the rain turning to hail, the thunder lighting up the sky, and sparks shooting in every direction. Both wolves were obliterated, the rain mixing with blood, fur, and fire. North got down on one knee, holding his injured arm, blood seeping through his torn shirt, a grimace forming along his face.
“North! Oh gods, are you okay?” Bryn crouched down beside him, trying to stop the bleeding. “I’m so sorry! If only—”
“Get the horses,” he said through gritted teeth, eyes skimming the burning forest. “We can’t stay here, the fire.”
Bryn’s mouth formed an O. She had forgotten about that. Racing off to where the horses were tethered, she grabbed the reins and hauled off the whining horses as they pawed the ground, not eager to go towards the growing fire. Bryn’s hands began to shake, her emotions stirring, the rain turning into a raging storm. She heard North call out her name, heard his anguish as his arm no doubt got worse from the wound on his arm. He had saved her. Again. Breaking through the trees, covering her mouth with her arm from the smoke, she dragged the two horses along. North grabbed his mare’s reins, hefting himself up and quickly getting onto the saddle, using his good arm to control the horse as it pawed, the fire getting hotter despite the pouring rain that tried to extinguish it.
“We need to go,” Bryn shouted, hopping onto her gelding. She had gotten good at riding, well, getting onto the saddle. “Which way?”
North pointed in the opposite direction they had come from. Spurring her horse on, they broke through the underbrush as the fire began to spread through the forest, the fog replaced with smoke. Bryn’s eyes began to water, her lungs constricting as she coughed. North was not fairing much better with his still bleeding arm. She tried to focus her magic, her energy into the storm as it swirled overhead. All the storm needed was a push, just a little push. Bryn slammed her eyes shut, focusing all her strength, all her energy into the storm. She felt a tug, a pull, as her magic soared into the air, the rain turning into huge drops, extinguishing the flames, placing the forest back into peace. Once they reached a clearing, Bryn hopped off her horse, sprinting to North as he groaned.
“North, are you alright? Why on earth did you jump in front of the wolf?” Bryn crouched, tearing off a piece of her tunic to help cover the wound. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’m fine,” he reassured her. “It’s just a scratch.”
“That is no scratch. There’s a chunk missing from your arm and you are saying you’re fine!” Her voice sounded harsher than she had intended it to be. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like that.”
“Just help me up,” North instructed. “We need to get to Baltimore. Sister Grace will be able to heal my wounds. But we have to go. Now.”
Helping North up and back into his saddle, Bryn ushered her gelding back into the fog-covered forest. Hopefully, they hadn’t lost much time, and probably, they had enough time to get North to Baltimore before infection set in or he bled out. This time, she would save him.
CHAPTER SIX
After several long minutes of riding, and continuously helping North back on his saddle, the city of Baltimore finally loomed overhead in all its shining glory. Bryn held the reins of her gelding and North’s, as she clambered down from her perch to stand atop the hill that overlooked the sparkling city on the water. She didn’t understand why Baltimore was not Serena’s capital, but rather, another city named Midglen somewhere close to Stonehenge where the Academy rested. The city of Baltimore rested the front half on the land while the back half, where the castle stood, was in the sparkling ocean. The city was surrounded by a wall similar to her hometown, except this one was pristine, with the white stones matching the pretty white of the castle. Seagulls flew overhead, circling the ocean’s surface as they dove in and out of the water, fish in their beaks and water being flung to the wind by their wings. Bryn wondered what the ocean felt like. She was always told that it was salty, but would it feel grainy to her own skin because of the salt?
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” North coughed. “We need to get to the church of Corvus. I’m afraid infection has set in, and we shouldn’t dawdle too much. I’ll show you the city after I’m taken care of.”
“I’ll hold you to it.” Bryn swung up on the horse's saddle with ease, feeling more comfortable riding now more than ever before. She led them both down the hill, down the luscious valley of small flowers and deer hopping to and fro. Bryn became envious. She had lived her entire life in poverty, living in a desolate small town of Skeg with ash and soot everywhere from the mining that happened a few yards away. Being in a place like Baltimore, with the wildlife and the endless sunshine, made her anger flare to life. The once sunny day started to dim, with grey-black murderous clouds rolling in from the ocean.
“Bryn,” North nearly shouted. “Control your anger! I don’t want to be consumed by endless rain like in Skeg, so please, for the love of Corvus, reign your anger in.”
Bryn closed her eyes, breathing through her nose and blowing out through her mouth. Slowly, before her very eyes, the murderous clouds subsided, the sun peeking through once more to shine upon them as they neared the gates. However, they were in a traffic jam as an older man was crouched down by his wagon, struggling to get his wheel back on. The donkey brayed, shaking his head and stomping the ground. Bryn stopped, offering her help, which of course, the older man refused. She turned to North as he made a weird hand gesture. Suddenly, the wind picked up, the wind helping the wheel into place, allowing the man to hammer it back in. He stood, smiling at Bryn and North.
“You’re a Zephyr!” The old man beamed. “Thank you, very much, young lady!”
“Oh!” Bryn reeled back in her saddle. “I don’t know what you are”
“She doesn’t like talking about her magic,” North cut in, smiling at the old man. “Can we pass around you if you’re in no hurry?”
“Why not, of course! Go right ahead. I’m sorry that I took up the whole road, but thanks again, young lady. Until we meet again!”
All Bryn could do was smile as they trod on, her mind trying to comprehend what had happened. So, her speculations about North were right; he was the one who controlled the wind that night. He was the other magic user, but, unlike Bryn, he had full control over his magic, unlike her who couldn’t even so much as call the storms by her own will. Sure, she had created a shield, but that took all her concentration, and it was the easiest form of magic that she knew how to use. Together they strode into the city, everything hitting Bryn at once. The sights, the smells, the entire atmosphere. Everyone appeared carefree, smiling, and talking as they all strolled through the city with full baskets and clean clothes. In fact, even the guards on duty were smiling and offering “good mornings” and “good afternoons.” The streets were crowded with people, so they had to abandon their horses at the stables that rested inside the city. On foot, North didn’t fare much better. He stumbled, his face ashen. Bryn could smell the stench of rotting flesh and knew instantly that the wolf’s bite had gotten really infectious, and the wound needed healing before it would have to get removed. But that was only if they didn’t reach the Church of Corvus soon.
Bryn glanced about, seeing all the shops and vendors, but she had no clue where on earth the church would be. Luckily, North had enough sense to tell her directions, calming her mind by saying that it was close to the entrance; they just had to go a little way. Quickly, Bryn escorted North through various alleyways, never stopping no matter how badly she wanted to until they stood in front of a Victorian-style church. There were four tall pillars, each with a pointed top that resembled a fine sharp needle point. The church itself was slightly dark in color, with the silver base with some beige colored stones staggering along the walls. The front of the church held an arch with a cross, but behind it was a rather
large mosaic picture of a black crow with the two arrows sticking out behind it. It resembled the same crow-like on North’s pendant. This must be the Church of Corvus. North got down on one knee as three hooded men came rushing out of the church, going to North’s side instantly. Bryn felt overprotective in an instant, but quickly stamping it down and scolding herself for harboring that sort of feeling towards him.
The three men carried North inside the church, but another hooded figure stepped out. They swept their hood back, revealing a woman’s face. The woman was middle-aged, with her titanium blond hair pulled back in a bun with a few strands tickling her face. Her eyes were bright blue, except for the one on the right, the one with the gruesome scar. The right eye was also blue, but it was far lighter, almost like the color of ice, if it held any color. If it were not for the scar, Bryn would have thought that this woman would have been a beautiful woman that could no doubt get any man, she would or could ever want. But, right now, the woman’s face was pinched, her eyebrows pulled together as she sized Bryn up and down, judging if she were the one that they needed. A warm smile replaced the woman’s lips, her eyebrows falling back into place.
“My name is Sister Grace, but you can just call me Grace. You must be Bronwyn.” Sister Grace bobbed her head as she smiled warmly.
Bryn couldn’t help the flinch as she replied, “I go by Bryn. I don’t go by Bronwyn anymore.”
“What about the notorious Raven Thief?” Grace’s smile waned, her eyebrows pinching together once more judging Bryn.
“I don’t go by that name anymore either,” Bryn shuffled her feet. “Will North be okay?”
At the mention of his name, Grace’s face softened. “Brother North will be fine. I have the best Galen tending to his wounds.”
“I’m sorry, but a ‘Galen’? What is that?”
“I forget you know nothing of this world,” Grace sighed. She tilted her head to the entrance of the church. “Why don’t you come in, and I can fill you in on everything that you need to know or want to know.”