The Raven & The Wolf

Chapter Eight

“Yes!” I exclaim as I rip the covers off. Stanya laughs and hands me a thin white dress.

After Stanya and I visit the bathing room in the next room over and wash up, I change. The changing room is a room full of mirrors. So you can see yourself, and if anyone is watching. I step into the white dress and pull it up. It hangs loose until it gets to my hips. It is backless so all the Sheiks can see my ranking in their society. There is built in support for my breasts in the dress. The front extends to my neck, in which I tie it off. I pull my hair into a bun and let a few strands that are chin length hang there against my face in a frame. I smile at my face and am happy to find my cheeks are pink. Probably from the fever. My eyes are back to being their bright and sparkling selves, which is always a plus.

Stanya is dressed in a dress of the same style, but the color is red. The style is meant to show who is high ranking here. The men just go shirtless, and I’m okay with that. We walk back out to the plain wooden room with nothing but thin wooden cots, that is the healing room. There are only a few people here and they’re all asleep.

Out in the street, we are blinded by the buildings. They’re all made out of crystal. There is a reason this city is named Brighton. In the right light, all the buildings create a rainbow bridge, connecting one to the other. It took a lot of magic to create this. That is why it took three years. Inside the buildings are nothing but wood, to prevent overheating. People are bustling about shopping or getting groceries. Currency is foreign here since we all work together in the crop fields, on the far side of town, so there is always a plentiful bounty. Since we all work and trade together, there is no need for money.

As Stanya and I pass through people, on our way to the temple, people would gawk at us. I’d like to say it was because of our rank, but that’s only partially the answer. The other part is that we’re highly known, as is our tales. They’re hugely exaggerated though so I pay them no mind. I’d hide, but I grew up here. They all know me. We just ignore the stares and wave at them. That just made them gawk even more as they saw the star on my chest. I’d hide it if it didn’t make it look like I had a smaller third breast.

The temple is different. We carved it by hand. It is made of marble. Pure white marble. Sanded down to the point that it was so smooth and shiny, you can see yourself like it was a mirror. It’s a whopping hundred and fifty feet tall, but only a single level. The temple is dedicated to our dead. Inside the walls they host the bodies of our fallen. But the elders are in their own rows in each individual section. This is for respect and remembrance.

In the direct middle of the far right section lies our dear Master Brin. There is a silver plaque with cursive scrawling on it; Here lies Master Elder Erin Brin. Died in battle, sacrificing himself for our future. He lived four hundred years and eleven months. He served as Elder for Three hundred and eighty years. One of our youngest and eldest Elders in history.

Master Brin is submerged in the marble-placed there by magic-but there is a replica carving of him sitting under a tree, feeding the birds. His favorite thing to do. He found something simplistic and peaceful by doing that. At least that was his explanation to me. I bet that if there really is life after death, and that we are reincarnated, that he is a bird. But instead of shitting on Ari’s head, like I would be doing, he’s probably waiting for someone to feed him breadcrumbs like he did in his Sheik life.

Stanya watches my face as I stare at the carving. I could swear that it is real. I reach out and touch it. It hums underneath my fingers. Quickly, I pull my hand back as Brin’s exiting magic tries to escape into my body. It’ll take several weeks for it to disperse.

“Are you okay?” Stanya asks when she sees me quickly wipe a tear away.

I nod, “Yes. Though I wish he had let me help him. He could still be alive.”

She touches my shoulder while my eyes go back to his carved face. “He lived a good life Natasha. I know he was basically a father to you, but he knew his time. And he knew you. He did what he had to, to keep you safe.”

I put my hand on her hand, as I long to just go back a week and kill Ari with the magic I had borrowed from Stanya. I should have killed him several times, instead of teleporting him, but no, that would darken my magic and make it even more rogue than it is now. That could be deadly to me and people in several square miles of me. “I know, but it still doesn’t help that I want to kill Ari. I won’t though, no matter how much I want to. At least not until I stop having these power spikes.”

She sighs, “Angered words are always the harshest, Natasha, and also the most idiotic. Think it through before you act on that desire.”

This makes me groan. “I hate it when you’re right.”

“You love it, and you know it.”

I laugh and turn to give her a hug. “I’m so glad we’re friends.”

That makes her squeeze tighter. “I’m so glad we’re sisters.”

I laugh as I pull back. “We are that close. We’ve been together almost every day of our lives for thirteen years.”

She grins, making her eyes sparkle. “And I’ve always been right during those years.”

I snort. “Yeah right.”

She raises her eyebrow. “Is that a challenge?”

I chuckle as I push her shoulder playfully. “Yeah, lets go.”

A throat clears. We look up from our little argument to see a twelve year old boy in nothing but Khaki’s staring at us. He’s grinning as we just stare at him impatiently. “Stanya, Mrs. Lyle is waiting for you. It’s your turn at the bakery.”

She smacks her forehead. “I forgot. Thanks Barrick.” She gives me a final hug and follows him. I look back at Brin and sigh. I touch my forehead and bow. I rarely do this combination. It means total willingness to do whatever is asked for the deed they have done for you. Then I sigh and decide to go and do the same thing to Gedric.

I head through the streets alone. It takes me a total of thirty minutes to get clear across town. It’s usually a fifteen minute walk, but people keep stopping me to talk to them. I’ve never wanted to use magic so badly in my life. After escaping them, I take the back way to the incarceration center. It’s on the far side of town. In its own little building, by its own little self. The idea is isolation, and it works wonders. It’s visited rarely, so when it is used there has to be dusting done. The duration is indefinite if they show no remorse, and it’s up to the Elders to let them go.

I walk into the empty Incarceration Center. There are four rooms. All in the area of eight by twelve. The walls are painted black, so it looks smaller than it is. It is so quiet I can hear my bare feet padding against the wood. I go to the only cell that has a red mark on it. I take the key off the hook and open the lock. As soon as my hand touches the doorknob, I can hear someone scrambling to their feet.

When I open the door, I can see Gedric standing at attention. His hair is wild, and his scruff is now a full blown beard. How long have I been unconscious this time? He smells and his clothes are wrinkled. Please tell me no one forgot they had a captive. Not again. Judging by the smell I guess they did. And to back that up I can hear his stomach growl. I sigh internally. Someone is going to be in major trouble.

He shields his eyes from the bright light. It’s barely lit in here, how can it hurt his eyes? “Who is there?”

For some reason I giggle. “Come on.” I go in there and take his hand. A little hesitant he follows. I lead him to the back, where the bathing room is. I make him wait and draw the curtains. Then I fill the tub with warm water and pour in lemon scented oil. Then I dig out a pile of old Sheik clothing. After that is done I go and get him.

I pull him in. “There is a chamber pot in the back corner.” I point to the privacy screen. “A changing room in the far corner.” I point to it in the left corner. “There are a pile of clean clothes in there. I’m not sure what size you are, but it’ll due for now. The bath water has been warmed for you. There is also a shaving kit if you like right next to it.” I smile at his gawking face. “I’ll get you some food ready. I apologize profusely for the actions of my fellow clansman. It’s not often we use these facilities.” I lock the door behind me as he gapes after me.

About a half hour later I return. I find him in a pair of calf length brown slacks and a white cotton shirt that slightly clings to his muscled chest. His hair is brushed and trimmed, and his beard is completely gone. He looks quite handsome. He’s bent over the pile of clothes looking for something.

I smile at him as I cock my head. “What are you doing?”

He jumps and nearly falls into the bath water. I giggle as his arms swing wildly to catch his balance. Finally he straightens up with a red face. “I-I was looking for some shoes.”

“We don’t wear shoes in the city.” I inform him. “It lowers the need to slaughter cattle.” I jerk my head towards the door. “Come on. You must be hungry.”

He hesitates. “Why are you being so nice to me? You don’t even know me.”

I laugh in disbelief. “You don’t recognize me?”

He looks me over and shakes his head. “I really am trying to remember, but I can’t. I’m sorry if this offends you.” He adds as he sees my face fall slightly.

I just shake my head. “The wonders of sleep will never cease to amaze me.” I hold my hand out to him. “We never formally met. I’m Natasha.”

His jaw drops as he automatically grabs my hand. “Gedric.” He shakes it for a bit too long.

I smile at him. “Can I have my hand back?”

He blushes even more. “Sorry.” He drops it like it was fire. “It’s just that the last time I saw you, you more or less looked like a beat up piece of red meat.”

I wince at his description. “Yeah. Sorry for passing out on you like that.”

“No,” he says quickly. “It’s nothing to feel sorry for.”

I hug my arm as I feel a bit of sadness. “But if I recall, you were angry that you had to make the trip. You hate the Sheika.”

“No I don’t.” He blurts out before he can think. He stumbles over his tongue as he tries to say something. Frustrated he clamps his jaw, inhales deeply through his nose, holds it for ten seconds, then exhales through his mouth slowly. “I don’t hate them. I’m just angry with them.”

“Why?” I ask, surprised.

“Because they were nowhere to be found when I needed their so called healing powers.” He takes a step towards me, but stops himself midway. “They couldn’t save my grandfather. The only one I had left. All because they chose to isolate themselves.”

I look at him through bewildered and hurt eyes. “You think we chose this? It was forced on us. People kept killing us for our magic. We are constantly hunted and thought as demons. People don’t trust us. And if they do it is just to use us, then report us to the Magicnite. If anyone I thought that understood this I thought the Forest Folk would. You guys are hunted even more than we are.”

He breathes through his nose. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” And right then his stomach growls.

I just smile at him. “It’s alright. Come. Lets get you some food.” I turn and head out. He follows me after a few seconds.

“You might want to shield your eyes.” I warn when we get to the door.