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Kingdom of Ravens Chapter XXV • Clemence
Bustling with men in armor, even ‘til nightfall… at every damned place inside and outside the manor! The number of my father’s men had increased, and I found not only more of them at the manor's gatehouse, but also guarding the manor’s halls, the inside of some bedchambers, and most especially the cobblestone footpath for the villagers. I may have made it out of the manor’s vicinity unseen, but I cannot risk going off on my own again… Not when my family is still waiting for me to return. “I should not have scouted alone; I was ill-equipped, and I could have been caught. The organization will have no idea how to rescue me if I did… if they even bother to rescue me." With a sigh, I cautiously scan my surroundings before going through the hideout's main entrance— across a creek that is a walk away from the central village, through a narrow crack in the hillside that leads into the cave, and then a guarded metal gate. There is only one entrance, but there are many, many exits around th
Kingdom of Ravens Chapter XXVI • Maia
“Oh, oh! How about setting my daggers aflame?!” I exclaim excitedly as I share my thoughts with Severin. I am preparing a salt brine in a pot for the vegetables he and I stole today to preserve them. “That way, it can seem like I am using magic as well! You must tell me that that counts as something!” “And set not only yourself, but everything else on fire by accident?” the green-haired man replies, turning to me from his position in front of the table with a straight face. “That is no better than the last six ideas you’ve suggested, Maia.” With a pout, I submerge the reddish-purple root crops into the brine and place the pot over a fire. “I’m merely being true to life with these ideas. Mayhap it can help us improve as a team!” “Of course, because blasting magic out of one’s hands is true to life.” “You’re practically a living enigma, Severin. Would you mind adjusting the fire for me? Gramercy.” Nose-deep in his mother’s journal, he promptly lifts his arm and flicks his hand upwa
Kingdom of Ravens Chapter XXVII • Severin
Right after the brunette and I had discovered this peculiar silver five-pointed shape that is roughly the size of my stout finger, I instantly ruminate about giving the enchantment another try. Where did this necklace come from? Why did my mother hide it by covering it in mud? And why does this symbol look so familiar to me…? “I feel like I’ve seen something like this before,” I mutter to myself before keeping the necklace at eye level to examine it in the candlelight. “But I cannot put my finger on where or when I have seen it…” I hear shuffling from behind me, and turn to find Maia pacing around while reading the contents of Mother's journal. “I still do not understand, Severin,” the brunette says, her shuffling coming to a halt as she sits on my bed. I hear her heave a sigh out of frustration. “To me, it does look like something that should be combined with magic, but how could we have known that that thing was inside the mud?” Is this what could have made the enchantment work?
Kingdom of Ravens Chapter XXVIII • Maia
Opulence is too often thought highly of… “I want to cast a spell again!” I've never thought somebody with no experience in the mystical and unnatural could do the impossible— I cast a spell with Severin, and it worked! I have… also never thought I would trust someone so much like that. Despite my fears and hesitance yesternight, he did not judge me nor speak about me holding his hand. I felt like a child, suddenly holding someone’s hand out of fear, but the way he held my hand back was… emboldening. It gave me strength, and I do not think I’ve ever felt that way with anybody before. As I shake my head to rid my thoughts of him, I try to refocus on the makeshift dummy my green-haired ally created and tied to the same tree I trained on before. It barely resembles a humaine being, but the effort is there— I’ll give him approbation for that, at least. Oh, I shall name it Mallory! I think the name is rather fitting. “Alright, Mallory,” I say, breathing out of my nose as I walk backwa
Kingdom of Ravens Chapter XXIX • Maia
Continuation. Unbeknownst to Severin, I believe he is yet to see many more events of that woman— “Rosalynd”— and her past life… I can feel it because this is far from a mere twist of fate! As I make my way through a different path than the usual ones the green-haired man and I take during our raids, the occurrences of yesternight continue to play in my head— Severin’s affrighted reaction towards the dream he had is still fresh in my mind. I am worried about him… He has been quiet ever since he woke up from that horrible dream he had, claiming that t'was “one of the most terrifying things” he has ever seen. Poor man cannot seem to catch a breath. The only thing I can conclude is that he and Rosalynd have some sort of connection. I do not know how nor why, but ‘tis the only thing that makes sense to me… The only thing they have in common is that they both are, in a way, a witch. As I head through another village’s edge, I realize that we have never gone through this one. At least, th
Kingdom of Ravens Chapter XXX • Severin
Gone like the wind… just like that. The brunette and I make our way to the Davidsons’ manor in the dead of the night, the feel of the rush making us numb against the bitter cold. Maia’s excitement towards our new mission is infectious, and I cannot help but have a spring in my step as well while we run. When we arrive at a familiar spot near the gatehouse, the memories instantly come back to me— this was where I was when I hid myself from one of Davidson’s men the night I stole these earrings… To give to my sister as a gift. While I am preoccupied with my thoughts, Maia thoughtlessly walks through the bushes just as I hear the clunking of metal from afar. Panicked, I pull her back by the arm and cover her mouth, making her narrowly escape the sight of a patrolling knight. I keep my hand over her mouth and her back pressed against my chest as we wait for the knight to leave. Although I apologize to the brunette for unexpectedly grabbing her, t'was fortunate that she had not thrashed
Kingdom of Ravens Chapter XXXI • Maia
For the next few weeks… “Holy mother of all the gods,” I speak under my breath as Severin and I make our way back to the pit house, trembling in the cold as the light of the full moon guides our way through the dark forest. A gust of wind blows by. “It is freezing!” “A-at least we were able to bring the next batch of goods to that village,” the green-haired man replies, putting down the crate he is carrying to pull the sides of his cloak over his chest in an attempt to warm himself. “Do you think that village will be able to find it, unlike the last one we disseminated these goods to?” Another strong gust of wind suddenly blows by, making me stop in my tracks. Ugh… I am starting to dislike the cold now, too. “W-we literally put the sacks in the middle of the village for everybody to find,” I reply, suppressing a shiver. “No need to fret, for I know that these p-people will get those goods— just like the others have. They will have enough to get through Winterfylleth, and so will t
Kingdom of Ravens Chapter XXXII • Severin
“Bah, I am an idiot…” I tell myself, remembering the events that transpired yestermorn. By any means, I did not expect the brunette to pull off something like that during our spar, hence, despite my confusion, I let my emotions get the better of me. We have a goal to accomplish, Maia! D-do not give me any more reasons to fall deeper in love with you! “Not only did I ruin what could already have been an acceptable relationship, but I also made things more baffling between us,” I mumble to myself, watching my feet sink into the damp dirt as I walk behind Maia through the dark forest. I start grumbling. “Why is my life full of problems?” Although she had not really said anything about what had happened during our night raid, I know this has to be affecting her in some way. Who, in heavens, would not feel utterly uneasy towards the person who simply admitted their feelings to them out of nowhere? I look over to the brunette, who is now way ahead of me and marching all the way back to t
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- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XLIII • Maia
“Valiant of these two, I must say… ‘tis a shame they wasted their skills in thiev’ng; they could have done much more if they worked for the lord.” I am awakened by the sounds of roistering men. When I open my eyes, everything seems as if it is spinning. I find myself on a cold, damp, stone floor, barely recognizing my surroundings due to the dimness of the space. Ugh, everything is spinning and my bloody head hurts… I jolt upright when it all comes back to me— Nicolaus leading The Order to the pit house, watching him destroy the seal of protection, and us getting apprehended by Davidson’s men. Panicked at the memory of the knights breaking into the pit house, I begin scrambling off of the floor. I wince in pain when I feel a large, painful bump on the back of my head. It hurts more when I touch it… I must’ve been knocked unconscious. As I look around, my eyes adjusting to the dimness, I come to a realization that I am in a dungeon with two helmetless armored men, drinking to th
- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XLII • Severin
After a quiet— well, mayhap not so quiet— afternoon, the brunette still wonders why her so-called ‘childhood friend’ acted the way he did, challenging me as if t’was the bloody solution to her refusing to return home with him. “I understand that he could have been perturbed by what has been happening lately in Augborough, I really do,” the brunette states whilst she ravels out the knots in her hair with her fingers. “But was it necessary for him to start a fight with you like that out of nowhere? He has never acted like this before!” I watch her grab her ivory comb from atop her bedroll, jabbering about the earlier occurrences as she vigorously combs through her brown tresses with it. I fear that she may hurt herself with how forceful she is being with her hair… “I mean, he was never— ow— one to force me to do something if it was not— ow— in his favor, but it was as if he was a completely different person! The man knows me well enough that when I decide on something, be it well-thou
- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XLI • Maia
Continuation. “S-such a surprise, my friend,” I utter, faking a grin as the blonde happily throws his arms around my shoulders and wrapping me in a rather tight embrace. He is practically crying at the sight of me. “I have found you! By the gods, you do not know how long I’ve been searching for you, Maia,” he replies, sighing in relief whilst he pats the back of my head fondly. “It has been too long; you have not returned home yet, and Wyatt and I have been so, so worried about you…” When he mentions my uncle, I gently push him away by his shoulders to keep him at arm’s length. I am finally able to get a good look at him from head to toe: his blonde hair is more unkempt than usual, there are dark circles resting beneath his tired blue eyes, his clothes are slightly ragged and torn, mayhap from all the travelling he has done, and he seems… lankier, as if he has not been eating nor sleeping properly lately. “You look like you’ve gone through one of the hells and back,” I tell him, w
- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XL • Severin
That same day… Who, in all the heavens above and the hells below, was that blonde bastard?! He not only almost ruined today’s plans— he put Maia’s life in danger, as well! Unable to suppress my anger down at the man who called out the brunette’s name out in public, I furiously undo my cloak and throw it at my bed upon our return to the dug-out. “My deepest apologies, Severin,” I hear her speaking from behind me as she closes off the entrance, cutting off the cold wind from outside when she secures its ends to the weights. “I know you’re angry—” Angry?! I am bloody incensed! I need not think about using my abilities to end that man! “—But I did not expect to see my childhood friend in the same village, either!” “That was him? We could have died by The Order’s hands back in that village, and it would have been all his fault,” I reply snappishly, turning to find her slowly doffing her shoulder cape. I calm down a wee bit when I see the brunette’s contrite expression. Taking a d
- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XXXIX • Nicolaus
Ever since I left the central village, all that has been on my mind is looking for her. I am distressed, exhausted, and beginning to feel like this long, long search for my beloved friend is becoming futile. The look on Eustace’s face as he and the other victims were set alight has been burned into my mind, haunting me even while I sleep… A few nights ago, I screamed myself awake after seeing the skin on the frail boy's face melt away like a lit tallow candle, only to realize t’was all an awful dream, and I may or may not have disturbed some of the guests in the neighboring inn chambers. Wyatt was devastated when we watched him struggle amid the rising flames; I can only imagine how Maia would have felt if she saw him roast to death… Gods, it was terrible. The Davidsons are terrible! I am really wishing that Maia could end them off faster, but with the current situation, I’m more afraid for her and her life… I do not even remember how long I’ve been travelling— going through Au
- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XXXVIII • Clemence
Never have I ever imagined that I would be this beaten and battered after the organization’s so-called “annual tradition” … I thought I was going to die in The Pit. As I drag myself to my rightful tent in another part of the resting area, which is right next to this small fissure up on the scraggy wall in one of the cavern chambers, exhaustion practically washes over me like the water from a waterfall flowing over my head. I need to get out of these damned clothes… Squeezing the remaining water out of my hair and the ends of my garments, I make it to my leather-lined tent, strip myself down of my water-drenched clothes, and wring some more liquid out of it. I take off my shoes as well and set them aside. “Cold… cold… 'tis so damn cold,” I grumble, shuddering as I peek out of the tent’s flaps before throwing my drenched, lacerated clothing off to the side of the cavern. I can feel myself shivering down to my bones. “I can practically freeze my bosoms off…” I light the remaining cand
- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XXXVII • Severin
“And that is another one,” I mutter to myself, cautiously pouring the hot concoction into yet another vial. This batch filled fewer bottles compared to the first batch I made. “That makes… eight, nine, ten… eleven, all in all. Hm, will this be enough, though?” “Severin, we are making those for emergency escapes,” Maia says, interrupting my chain of thought. “Not dazing the entire borough. That is more than enough, o’ magical man-witch.” I look up and scrunch my nose at her teasing, putting down the pot to seal the bottle in my hand with its cork. “Firstly, I have told you countless times now: I am a conjuror, not a witch! There is a difference.” “I wonder where you learned that term from.” “Secondly, you can never be too prepared for anything and everything. How is the map of the manor going, dagger-lady?” She ignores my attempt at teasing her back and instead scribbles something down, eyes flicking from one part of the hand-drawn map to another. Well, that was embarrassing… “Ma
- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XXXVI • Clemence
“Now is not the time to be indulging in horseplay, old man,” I state as I continue following an excited Daw down deeper into the caverns of the hideout. The path seems to only be accessible through the training grounds, though I must admit that I have never noticed its entrance the entire time I have been in this organization. “I could have been using this time to improve my aim instead of... whatever this is you are doing. Where are you taking me?” “Today is an important day, Clemence,” he replies, raising the oil lamp he is holding to light our way through yet another maze of tunnels. There are torches hung about on the walls, some of which are already lit. “I am about to show you an Unkindness tradition that goes back.” A tradition? “So, is that why nobody was lounging about in the common and dining area? There is this celebration going on?” “Hm, something similar to that.” “It makes sense. Well, t’was odd for me because that place is usually bustling with the young ones and th
- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XXXV • Severin
Ingenuity is the one thing I thought Eadmond Davidson would at least have, as the commencing Lord of Augborough… because he seemed like he had the potential to be different from his predecessors. But never would I have thought that he would be just as cruel, merciless, and insensitive as his coxcomb father Edgar. The brunette and I were able to follow my sister’s murderer and his wee army of men to one of the villages we had continually stolen from in the past— and the very one that we had not yet given a share of stolen goods from the manor since we decided to begin observing the nobles’ next moves. This was supposed to be the next place we would give the stolen food stocks to. “‘Tis a good thing I got to you in time,” Maia whispers as we hide beyond the density of the forest’s edge, observing the men in armor announce their arrival and the reason why they arrived in the first place. “We would never have known where my father's right-hand man will start this ‘hunt’. He does not see
