Screams, howls, and various screeching continued beyond the heavy Temple doors. Ravan stood there for a long moment, pressed against the door, feeling as though only he could keep it shut against the soul-hunting creatures beyond. He breathed a deep, stabilizing breath and slid down the door beside Zair on the floor, who was hyperventilating. “Steady your breathing, Zair,” said Ravan. “Before you lose consciousness.” “He’s dead,” said Zair. “Adrian’s dead! What am I going to do?” “We can still finish this mission.” Zair jumped to his feet. “No, you don’t understand! How do I face the Northern Council after thi
Ravan and Zair didn’t speak a word to each other as they followed the monks past the wraiths and vampires into the Temple. Once they were inside, they found themselves surrounded by a soft yellow light. Many varieties of bright pink flowers lined the archways and poured from the balconies like waterfalls. Here, the monks started to chant, and the ominous chorus echoed off the tall, stone walls as everyone traipsed across the petal-speckled floor. The moaning song didn’t end even after they had arrived at the bright white sanctuary. Ravan observed the shadows behind the marble statues and the koi ponds between the pillars, and he made sure that he and Zair kept some distance between them and the crowd. When it seemed all the monks were efficiently focused on their chant, feeling safe and secure, Ravan locked eyes with Zair and gave him a subtle nod. Zair tensed and waited.Right when the chorus hit a particularly high note, all the documents in the room erupted int
It was late afternoon on Dêldia 23, 364 when Earl Rajashekar of Rivas arrived at port in Tariq, Alaric, a country that was at the time mostly inhabited by humans. The voyage from his home country of fire elementals, Arderé, was a long one, and he was relieved to obtain a decent night's sleep for once. Hours before noon the following day, the earl made haste in a coach to a lavish restaurant and scowled at the dirty Tariquans who had failed to disperse overnight. Fortunately, the restaurant wasn't located too far from his luxurious inn — he had made sure of that. The earl was one for convenience. He made eye-contact with no one when he entered the restaurant with his two footmen and was pleased to be led to his table right away. The last thing he needed that day was to be kept waiting.Earl Rajashekar knew immediately that this day would turn out well for him when he
Braelyn remained quiet as she was taken to the Port of Tariq, and she continued her vow of silence once they had arrived. She was greeted by Earl Rajashekar, but she still didn't say a word as they boarded the exquisite long boat with its geometric carvings and sea serpent figurehead. The earl's men shoved her below deck where numerous enslaved men rowed to the aggravatingly steady beat of a drum. Braelyn tried to be thankful that she was restrained against a post and not among the rowers, but that drum quickly got on her nerves.The whole three-week-long voyage felt like three months to Braelyn and she refuse to utter a word for all of it. But she had to admit that she wanted to scream for joy once they finally docked at a port in Arderé. It was a beautiful country of gold and adobe buildings, but she primarily found it intimidating considering she had never even left Tari
It was a while before Braelyn was instructed to head to the market on another Auroday, during which time she always made sure she looked her absolute best on this specific day of the week. She dressed up on other weekdays as well so to avoid suspicions, but on Aurodays she made sure to pay special attention to her hair. Few Arderians had hair as brightly orange as hers and she felt it was her best asset to attracting the count — or any other noble for that matter. On both of the Aurodays she was sent to the market during the past two months, she failed to catch the count's attention. It seemed that her hair wasn't bright enough to make her stand out in a brightly-dressed crowd. So on the Auroday she was sent to the market in the month of Sueño, she tried something different. She dressed in gold jewels, and black and dark green silk to stand out against the multicolored Rivans, and while she packed some fruit into the carri
Omid ran the entire slaughterhouse property which was owned by the Baron of Rivas. Ravan hid his apprehension well as he gazed at the wooden buildings, the stone well, the farm animals, and the large number of workers. He had always been successful at shoving his emotions deep within him since dealing with the earl's sons, and he sensed he'd be doing this often while working here. Once the coach rolled up to the property, Omid showed Ravan to the bunk house where he would be sleeping, which was a structure with no rooms shared among eighteen other boys who also worked there. After Ravan was settled, Omid gave him a tour of the location and its routine."Don't fret, Boy," he said as he led Ravan outside. "Everyone only works here until they hit twenty years of age and then I let them go their own way. Of course, you're always more than welcome to stay and make
Ravan rode straight to the neighboring town of Mael where Lord Pierce was count, and he spent his first week there on the street. He quickly obtained a number of odd jobs and before the second week managed to rent out a small flat for himself in the cozy Sandcliff Inn. It was the day after he moved in that he decided he would make his way to Chateau Westerlay to confront Count Pierce about the debt he owed his mother. Ravan spent quite a bit of money on new clothes so not to appear too ragged upon arriving at the estate. He supposed it was better to look like a commoner rather than a peasant, and the horse he stole from Omid went a long way in accomplishing that. He rode up the tall, sandy hill to the amber and adobe mansion which sat at the top. Upon seeing the two broadly-built guards at the double ebony doors, Ravan channeled just enough energy to hide his nerves and dismounted his horse to approach them.
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