The Tragedy of Ravan the Great: A Rose Tree Chronicles Story

Chapter Six: Running and Failing to Hide

Ravan reluctantly remained beneath the tarp until he recognized a change in the road. He peered out from the beneath the tarp and realized with sudden panic that this mysterious woman was taking him out of Mael.

"No!" he demanded as he jumped off the wagon. "No, I'm not leaving Mael!"

The woman stopped the wagon and dismounted the box to face Ravan who jabbed an angry finger at her.

"Where are you taking me?" Ravan paused upon recognizing the reddish-brown curls flowing from the hood of the woman's black cloak. "Evietta..."

"Oh," the woman replied with a smile. "You remember me at last."

Ravan glanced around and tried to remember where this road led, but everything always appeared different in the rune-speckled snow.

"Where are you taking me?" he asked, nicer this time.

"To the farm," Evietta answered. "It's safer there."

Ravan shook his head and with a vicious tug on his own brown cloak, began walking back to Mael. "No, I must return home."

Evietta stepped into his path to stop him. "Mael is swarmed with centurions, you'll be arrested the moment you enter."

"Why are you so concerned?"

Evietta blushed and broke eye contact. "I... I don't know, I suppose I'm simply a caring person."

Ravan swallowed and looked away as well. Every time he spoke forcefully to this woman he regretted it.

"Look, I have very important items in my flat and I must retrieve —"

"Could it at least wait until Northern sundown? I don't imagine they know where you live yet, so you don't have to worry about them taking these important items."

Ravan paused. Perhaps she was right. He had to admit that he didn't seem to be making the wisest decisions as of late, perhaps he could use some advice for once.

"You would only be taking cover on the farm," Evietta continued. "At sundown you can return to your flat and escape to a distant town or even country... that is, of course, assuming you have a horse..."

Ravan heaved a heavy sigh. "Very well." He moved to climb into the box.

"It may be wiser to hide beneath the tarp in case any centurions leave Mael to search out here," Evietta suggested.

Ravan didn't see any use in arguing and obeyed. Evietta took Ravan to the farm and hid him in the barn house while she took care of family matters. Ravan couldn't help recalling the torment he endured the last time he was in a barn house and an unsettling dread enveloped him upon being left alone in one again. But for the sake of survival he put up with it. It wasn't easy though when Evietta took a couple hours to return and Ravan could do nothing but count the minutes. If only he had something to do to make use of his time so that he didn't feel like he was wasting it.

At long last, Evietta returned and she brought with her some food and water.

"The Northern sun is almost about to set," she informed. "In the meantime, it may be wise to fuel your strength."

Ravan accepted the plate of meat and steamed vegetables, and looked at Evietta. "Why are you going so far out of your way for me? You're aware that I have at least two noblemen out searching for me."

Evietta shrugged her shoulders and searched for the words. "I imagine there must be a good reason for you to have fled from the slaughtering grounds. And... I suppose I simply enjoy rendering aid to those in need."

Ravan stared down at his plate of food and searched for the words to reply. When all he could come up with was, "Thank you," he opted to begin eating his food.

Evietta watched Ravan and shifted so that she sat on her left leg. "So what's in your flat that's so important?"

Ravan glanced back and his suspicions against her returned. "Just... sentimental, familial items. Items which belonged to my mother."

"Where's your mother?"

"She's passed."

"Oh, you have my sympathies. Your urgency makes sense now. My mother's passed too. May I ask what these items are?"

"No, I'd rather not discuss my mother, if you don't mind."

Evietta could sense this wound was fresh, so she didn't press it. "Are you going to return here once you've retrieved your items?"

Ravan studied Evietta. "I hadn't planned on it. Why should I?"

"Well... I don't recall you having a horse, which may make escaping to another town or country somewhat difficult."

"That doesn't explain why I should return here."

"Well, perhaps your flat hasn't been found yet, but I imagine it's only a matter of time before it is," Evietta countered.

"So you're offering to harbor me in your barn?"

"Not forever; you can't deny it's preferable to prison or the slaughterhouse."

"You think I'm running from prison?"

"Well if you're caught, those are your only two destinations, correct?"

Ravan sighed heavily and rubbed his face. This farm girl was irritating, but she also wasn't wrong, which only increased the irritation for Ravan. "How long do you suppose I would have to stay in your barn?"

Evietta could tell that Ravan was especially averse to the idea of sleeping in the barn, so she answered cautiously. "I don't know, probably just another month until my father rehires you to work on the farm, and then we can see if he's willing to board you."

Ravan found it difficult to decide. He desperately didn't want to spend even one night in that barn, let alone an entire month.

"Do you have a horse I can borrow?" he asked. "A fast one."

Evietta didn't expect this sudden change in subject, but she nodded. "Yes."

"Good. I'll need a quick means of escape."

Ravan hadn't actually decided if he would return, but he figured he could make a final choice later after assessing the scene of Mael. If he decided to remain at his flat, he could simply return the horse to Evietta, tell her no-can-do, and walk back to town. So once he finished the gracious meal and the Northern sun had set, Ravan borrowed a lovely mustang and rode back to Mael nonchalant.

                                                                  ~~~

Evietta had been more correct than even she may have presumed. There were so many centurions swarming Mael it appeared this town was on lockdown. Ravan couldn't imagine his transgressions were really that great. Perhaps the price on his head was just really that big and everyone wanted to collect. Ravan didn't like the way the situation appeared for him as he reentered the town openly riding the horse he'd borrowed from Evietta. He attempted to casually keep to back alleyways, which wasn't entirely easy to do. So he opted to tie his horse among the darkest shadows he could find in this torch-riddled town, and crept about the streets keeping in the shadows himself. Even still, this was no simple feat and Ravan felt himself growing ever more anxious. Eventually, he scaled up the side of the grocery and scurried along rooftops with his brown cloak wrapped tight around him until he reached his apartment building.

Ravan hesitated when he spotted a soldier posted directly beneath his apartment window. Fortunately, there was a window into the hallway leading into his flat which had been left unguarded. The task was challenging, but with the power of his own desperate will, Ravan managed to leap onto his apartment building, scale down to the window, and enter the hallway. Perhaps he should've peered through the window first though...

Ravan caught his breath when he spotted a pair of centurions leisurely climbing the stairs to his floor. He didn't waste a second as he took up his latch key, swiftly unlocked his door, and quietly shut it behind him upon entering just as the centurions reached the final step.

Ravan released his breath and fought to ease his trembling. He had successfully arrived unseen and for the moment he was safe. It was time to grab what he came for and make his way back to Evietta's barn house, which was no longer an option. The army of centurions had made the final decision for him. So Ravan worked fast and quiet; he snatched his journal off his desk, his Fairy book from under his bed, his life savings from beneath his mattress, and threw himself at his window. To his dismay, the sentry was still posted below. Ravan rubbed his head and strived to keep calm. Perhaps the soldiers in the hallway were no longer on his floor. He tip-toed up to his door, gently twisted the knob, and opened it just a crack to peer through the opening. Ravan's heart skipped a beat when he learned that for whatever reason, the sentries stood directly across from his flat. He tried to shut his door more delicately than he had opened it and turned to face the window again. He was trapped and he could feel his blood pressure rise with the level of danger surrounding him.

Ravan had to think quickly. He suspected that at any moment the soldiers would start searching everyone's flats. Perhaps if there was a way of distracting them... Ravan seized the rusted cooking pot from his stove and quietly opened his window. Then after a short moment aiming, he let the pot drop onto the centurion's head and shut his window. Then he waited and listened to the bustle below.

"What happened?... From which window?... Search the flats now! Go!"

Ravan moved beside his door and listened to what would transpire outside.

"Hey! You two! Search all flats on the east end of the building! Someone assaulted one of our own with a cooking pot!"

"Yes, sir! Right away, sir!"

Immediately Ravan heard the two centurions pound on the door next to his and moments later, they entered his neighbor's domicile. Ravan wasted no time and burst out of his flat to exit the same window through which he entered. Before anyone could spot him, he leapt to the adjacent building and scaled the wall to the roof top.

Though many centurions had become sufficiently distracted, Ravan remained on roof tops, assuming it wise not to take his chances on the ground. He was pleased to find that his ability to hop onto roof tops and over walls was improving, but the elation quickly faded when the thought occurred to him that the centurions may have taken his horse. For the rest of his flight over barriers and balconies, pillars and partitions, he prayed that the horse would still be where he had left it.

Once he arrived at the alley where he had tied the horse, his heart stopped. He couldn't simply run all the way back to the farm, he just couldn't. It was too far away, too risky. Then deep in the dark void of the alleyway, he spotted some movement. Ravan watched for a moment and waited in anxious silence for the soldier to leave the shadows and expose himself, but he never emerged. Then once again, there was movement, but still no one came into the light. That's when Ravan realized that perhaps he was mistaken. He shimmied down the building and quietly crept into the shadows of the alleyway, keeping on his toes for any surprises. Once he was off the street, the large figure twitched again and caused Ravan to jump back. He collapsed against the wall when it turned out to only be Evietta's horse right where he had left it. Ravan heaved a sigh of relief that he had picked such a good hiding spot it even fooled himself.

Without a second thought, Ravan hopped his horse and rode off before the centurions realized the perpetrator was missing. At first he rode casually so as not to make too much noise with the horse's hooves clattering along the cobblestone streets, but once he neared the edge of town, he was off as though he was in a horse race. He pressed Evietta's horse to reach maximum speed and he refused to lay off until the farm was only yards away. Constantly he looked over his shoulder, paranoid that the centurions had figured it out and found him. Be he had not been followed and he had gone completely unnoticed. Nevertheless, Ravan stayed aptly vigilant until the horse was replaced in its stall and he was safe back inside the barn. It didn't take long for Ravan to fall asleep among the prickly hay, assured that his mission had been accomplished.

                                                                  ~~~

All night long, Evietta had pondered the distinct possibility that Ravan would be spotted and taken into custody, as well as the equally likely chance that he would simply decide on his own not to return. For hours she attempted to devise a reasonable explanation for why one of her father's fastest horses was missing from the stables the following morning. Of course no matter what explanation she concocted, nothing would change the fact that the horse was missing, and that alone would upset her father. Perhaps she would simply lay claim to ignorance. At any rate, the anxiety of facing her father's wrath in the morning left Evietta tossing and turning all through the night.

Eventually, Evietta opted to go with the ignorance routine and thus the subject of the missing horse wasn't brought up at breakfast. Afterward, she prepared to begin her chores and once she was dressed and her hair was tied up, she made her first stop to the barn. She heaved the door open and paused mid-step when she observed a figure sleeping among the hay bales. Evietta hadn't realized how much she had expected Ravan to never return until she experienced the shock of seeing him there. She shut the barn door and approached Ravan, hoping that he wasn't dead from any injury he may have suffered the night before. Ravan jumped at Evietta's touch, but relaxed once he recognized her.

"Were you able to collect what you needed?" Evietta asked.

"Yes," Ravan answered as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

"Is the horse in his stall?"

"Yes, yes. I returned your horse as promised."

"I assume the streets are swarmed with centurions as I predicted, and that's why you returned."

"Yes, Mael is essentially undergoing Martial Law. Thanks to Mobe the Traitor."

Evietta didn't bother to ask about who this Mobe was. "I'm afraid you missed breakfast, but once I finish my first round of chores I can sneak you some brunch. Meanwhile, I feel the best place for you to hide would be the corner over there."

At that moment, the barn doors opened and to their utter horror, Evietta's father wandered in. His face swelled red upon seeing his youngest daughter alone with a strange man in his barn.

"What's the meaning of this?" he growled.

"Daddy, I can explain..." said Evietta as she stood to face her father.

The farmer didn't seem to hear her as he snatched up his pitchfork. "Get off my property while you still bear the ability to flee!"

Ravan stood with hands raised in surrender.

"Daddy, please just wait a moment!" Evietta pleaded. "He has nowhere to go!"

"Including my barn! Go on! Get!"

Ravan moved to leave.

"No, Ravan! Wait, I can talk to him!"

"Ravan??" the farmer questioned.

"Yes, he worked for you last season and he's run into a little trouble since then!" Evietta explained.

"What sort of trouble?" the farmer snapped.

Evietta hesitated. "That is a story that may take some time to explain but for now, he simply requires a place to stay in exchange as an extra hand around the farm."

"You expect me to board this man in ignorance to the situation after catching you two alone in my barn?"

"Of course not," said Ravan. "It is a long and complicated story as she said, but I am willing to disclose it all to you candidly if you would be so kind as to listen. We can go anywhere you would feel most comfortable."

The farmer glared at Ravan while he remembered how he was one of the hardest workers last year. Perhaps there was a reasonable explanation for his sudden, suspicious presence alone in the barn with his youngest daughter. As angry as he was and as much as he loathed it, he lowered his pitchfork.

"Come," he grumbled. "I'll get you some water."

                                                                  ~~~

Ravan told the farmer the truth about everything and was surprised when the farmer agreed to allow him to stay anyway. Of course, his work on the farm began immediately and Ravan made no complaint. He got right to work as told.

Ravan ate his brunch alone outside the pig pen while Evietta ate with the rest of her family inside the farmhouse. Ravan chewed slowly and gazed out into the winter wilderness, eying the black runes deep in thought about the possible changes to his future plans. The family finished their food before him and Evietta left the farmhouse with buckets of leftover slop for the swine. After dumping the slop in the troughs, she leaned against the fence beside Ravan.

"So are you ready to disclose what you fetched from your flat yet?" she asked.

Ravan glanced at Evietta as he finished his bite. "You're quite a nosy little elf, aren't you?"

Evietta shrugged. "I would argue I'm more like a curious little kitten, but I don't see what it would hurt to know."

Ravan snorted and shook his head. "My life savings and a book my mother gave me."

Evietta gasped. "A book! You can read?" Ravan nodded. "What kind of book? What's it about?"

"About the Fairy Circle and the World Wonders."

"Oh, so it's like a story book!"

"Yes, essentially. When I was a boy, I dreamt of finding one or two of the World Wonders."

"Really? Which ones?"

"The Silver Cloak and the Bone Root."

"I used to dream of adventure as a little girl too. My mother would simply tell us of stories when she was still alive, she couldn't read. But they were always of brave heroes saving the land by embarking on daring journeys. Do you ever still dream of doing something wild like that?"

Ravan grinned. "Yes, sometimes."

Evietta smiled back. "Me too."

Ravan and Evietta gazed at each other for a moment, each reading the other's eyes. Suddenly, Evietta felt maybe it was for too long and she quickly broke eye contact.

"I should get back to work, but I would love to learn more about your book sometime. Perhaps later tonight when all the chores are finished."

"Perhaps," Ravan replied.

Evietta gave Ravan one last smile before she strolled away.

That night, Ravan and Evietta sat upon the dark green rug in front of the family's cozy fireplace while he read the Fairy Circle book to her. Together they bonded over the mysterious and adventurous aspects of the stories told.

"I don't understand why anyone would want any mercury water," Evietta said.

"You could see your future!" Ravan replied.

"But you don't get to choose what you can see, so chances are it's nothing you want to know."

"You don't know that for certain," Ravan retorted. "There could be a way to control what it shows you after all."

"How? Does the book explain further?"

Ravan hesitated. He didn't wish to expose the fact that he had been studying much of the contents of the book in his spare time and he felt that maybe he had said too much.

"Perhaps..." he replied. "We should continue the next chapter tomorrow night."

Evietta didn't try to hide her disappointment as she and Ravan stood to bid each other good night. "Very well. I must be confess, this book makes me want to pursue some of these wonders."

A subtle grin tugged at the corner of Ravan's mouth. "Is that so?"

"Yes, wouldn't that be exciting? To discover whether the Wonders truly existed or not? And how glorious would it be to actually discover one!"

"You fancy they may exist?" Ravan asked with a full smile.

"Why not? The Fairy Circle exists."

"I suppose they do, don't they? Well, good evening, Evietta."

"Good evening, Ravan."

                                                                  ~~~

Ravan and Evietta continued to read The Fairy Circle together and dreamt about finding some of Xyntriav's World Wonders. A few weeks later, Spring arrived, and Spring Solstice was a holiday merrily celebrated by Evietta's family. Ravan and Evietta danced around the massive bonfire that night and the farmer scowled at the display. When his older daughter questioned him about his sour mood he refused to answer, though anyone could guess. While Ravan appeared to be an honorable, hard-working man, he also came with a lot of potential trouble. The farmer's suspicious were found to be grounded when one day as he chopped wood behind the farmhouse, one of the field-workers approached him with his own conjectures.

"I don't mean to concern you, sir, but I could swear that one of your employees is a wanted fugitive of Mael."

"Who?" the farmer asked as he set down the hatchet. "Which one?"

"The one who calls himself Nebune of Mael. He matches the description of Ravan of Rivas to the letter."

"Is that so?" said the farmer. "Well, thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will look into the matter and inform the constable. In the meantime, please keep this to yourself, if you don't mind. I would prefer to avoid the negative publicity resulting from an army of centurions storming my farm, especially if Nebune doesn't actually turn out to be Ravan of Rivas. You understand."

"Of course, sir. Absolutely. But, if he does turn out to be Ravan, might we um... share the reward?"

"Without question, you'll receive your half. As of now, we both have quite a bit of work to complete before sundown."

"Quite right, sir."

The farmer watched the worker leave and wondered how much longer he'd be able to harbor Ravan without raising anymore suspicions. He figured he'd tell this field worker later that the constable had arrived and established that Nebune is not the person they're looking for. But then what after that? What if more workers approached the farmer with similar concerns? He doubted he would be able to convince everyone after long.

It was about a month later when another one of the farmer's worst fears came to pass. While washing dishes after dinner in his small wooden kitchen, Ravan approached him alone.

"Sir, you have been very gracious to me for the past few months, and I hope that I've been able to meet your demands as necessary —"

"You can stop right there, Ravan," said the farmer as he threw his rag on the counter. The two men faced each other. "The answer is no, and I'm certain you know why."

"I beg your pardon?" asked Ravan.

"You're here to ask my permission to marry my youngest daughter, is that correct?" Ravan didn't respond. "Indeed you are a very skilled worker, and you can get a job done in record time. But you are a hazard, Ravan. I've already had another employee come to warn me that one of my workers is a fugitive wanted by two noblemen. We can only hope that I convinced him otherwise. But by the end of this season I'll need you to leave my farm for the sake of my family's safety. You'll have to plant your seed elsewhere."

Ravan saw no point in arguing in that moment. The farmer was clearly steadfast, and arguing would only make matters worse. He would have to convince the farmer another time and in another way. So Ravan simply nodded his head in acceptance and walked away. Moments later, Evietta entered the kitchen much to the farmer's surprise.

"Is that really your only excuse?" she asked.

"Excuse?"

"Yes, what else would you call cowardice as the reason for denying my hand to an honorable man?"

"Since when was ensuring my family's safety cowardice? We are outnumbered and outranked by authorities who want that man and they will do whatever it takes to bring him into custody. I'm potentially saving your life by denying your hand!"

"No, Daddy. You're losing me. Once Ravan leaves by the end of the season, I'll be going with him."

The farmer was stunned. "Where is this sudden bout of insubordination coming from?"

Evietta stood tall in defiance with her shoulders back. "I love him, Daddy. He's a fine man with whom I will be honored to raise a family."

The farmer sighed heavily through his nose and Evietta could swear she saw smoke come from his nostrils.

"If you wish to spend the rest of your life with this man, however short it may be, I cannot stop you. I will be losing my youngest daughter either way at this point, but I'll be damned if I permit it."

"Very well."

With that, Evietta left her father's presence, and every day since until the last day of the season was an awkward one for both her and Ravan.

                                                                  ~~~

Ravan and Evietta couldn't wait until the end of the season. A couple of days after Evietta's fight with her father, they both took a day trip a few towns over to Ignis where Ravan purchased a couple of brass rings and they were married in a small, stone temple. Once they returned to the farm, they didn't tell the farmer where they had been and truly they didn't have to. The farmer was no fool and their rings were not covert in the light of Xyntriav's two suns.

Two months later on the last day of the season, Ravan and Evietta packed their things, the farmer payed Ravan without a word, and they were off with no words spoken among them. Not even a good-bye; Evietta even failed to tell her father that she was two months pregnant with his grandchild.

By the end of the week, the farmer finally got the visit he had been waiting for from a handful of large, intimidating centurions. They entered his farmhouse against his wishes and began their search without explanation.

"May I ask what this is about?" asked the farmer.

"We've received word from a number of your employees that you have a farmhand who is a fugitive of Mael and Rivas," the captain answered.

"Ah yes, a couple of them have come to me personally voicing such suspicions," said the farmer. "In fact, I did have a farmhand who resembled Ravan of Rivas, but he was actually Nebune of Mael."

"Where is he now?" asked the captain.

"Well his resemblance to Ravan was causing many problems, as you can imagine, so I had to let him go. We never discussed where to he was going, but I assure you he isn't Ravan of Rivas. How is it wise to take refuge on the farm such a short distance from the towns searching for you?"

"Hm."

One of the centurions approached the captain. "The farm is clean, sir."

"Very well." The captain addressed the farmer. "If this Nebune of Mael returns, do let us know. We would like to confirm his identity for ourselves."

"Of course, Captain," the farmer replied. "Please have a safe trip home."

                                                                  ~~~

Ravan and Evietta moved to Ignis where Ravan landed a job as a brownsmith under the assumed name Nebune of Mael. There, Ravan used his savings to put him and Evietta up in an inn until he could afford a place of their own. This took another few months, during which time Ravan's and Evietta's relationship was as perfect as a relationship could be. They had their disagreements, of course; Evietta didn't appreciate how long it was taking to move out of the inn, but Ravan was making money as fast as it could be made. Meanwhile, Ravan did little to support Evietta through her pregnancy, considering how exhausted he was from work every day. Nevertheless, they did well working through their differences. Evietta agreed to be more patient and Ravan agreed to do more to support her since despite his exhaustion, a pregnant woman requires some care.

Eventually, Ravan managed to purchase a decent-sized cottage in the country among the colorful, tropical desert plant-life. A month later, Evietta gave birth to beautiful baby girl they named Braelyn with hair as brightly orange as her namesake's. As she grew, Ravan read to her from The Fairy Circle and began to teach her literacy at an early age. Ravan's life couldn't be any better and at the age of twenty-three, Ravan felt so content that he had forgotten all about his desire to avenge his mother's death. Life was for the living and he was living it well. It wasn't until Braelyn's fifth year that the inevitable happened.

One early Spring night, while Evietta and Ravan washed dishes together, they suddenly heard someone calling out Ravan's name from outside. They glanced at each other and they heard it again.

"Ravan of Rivas! Show yourself! We know you're in there, don't make us force our way in and wake your daughter."

"Stay inside," Ravan said to Evietta.

Then he slowly stepped outside to come face to face with a handful of Rivas centurions.

"Are you looking for something, gentlemen?" Ravan asked as he casually dried his hands with a rag.

"You, in fact," said the captain.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Drop the theatrics, Ravan. You've been found out. We are fully aware that you've been living under the assumed name of Nebune of Mael. This is indisputable at this point. You've been quite successful living on the run for so long, job well done. In fact, because it's been almost a decade, the Baron of Rivas no longer feels the need to arrest you. He simply requires reimbursement for services lost in the amount of five hundred pieces."

Ravan choked on his breath. "Five hundred pieces?? I beg your pardon, Captain, but I'm afraid you have the wrong —"

"You have until next month to accrue the funds," the captain interrupted. "Or we will take payment through other means."

Ravan watched as the captain glanced at the cottage. Panic seared his stomach.

"Wait, listen, I'm only a brownsmith, I make that much in a year! I can get the baron his money, but I need more time!"

"We will return next month to collect," the captain repeated as he turned his horse around. "Good luck to you, Ravan."

Ravan continued to beseech the captain, but he and his fellow centurions left the property and paid his pleas no mind.