The Raven & The Wolf

Chapter Thirteen

We make the weeklong journey, heading northeast. There is no sign of Ari, which is a good sign. My magic has just returned this morning, so I’m praying the Fates are giving us a break. I decided three days into the journey not to find the Champion. If I have already found him, and so has Ari, it is best to keep what I know hidden until I’m prepared. To protect my plan, I’ve kept the boys in the dark, and Stanya wears her enchanted bracelet that protects her mind. Though Halthin wears his enchanted ring as well, I still want to keep this as little known as possible. We all want to remain hidden from Ari, which is also why the stone necklace I have given Gedric to keep is also enchanted to protect him. These enchantments also block their life forms, which prevents Ari from locking onto them.

In Madrid it’s snowing. Since I am covered with cloth head to foot, I am fine. Plus I am used to this weather. Stanya and Gedric are fine as well, use to the cold from traveling. Halthin, on the other hand, rarely leaves the city of Brighton. He keeps rubbing his hands together and blowing on them. He’s wearing three layers of thick fur gloves. His hands and forearms should be plenty warm. I motion towards the inn when we enter Madrid.

The city is made of thick wood, and tree moss to provide some form of insulation. Children are clothed in thick cloth and run to get to places; making their muscles warm them up. Dogs bark at us as we walk through the city. People just poke their heads out the door briefly to get a glimpse of us, in response to hearing the dogs. The adults are wearing fur pelts, which is making Gedric cringe.

Halthin sneezes. “You guys meet me at the inn. I’m going to buy thicker gear.” He coughs into his sleeve and rubs his red nose.

I look back at him and speak Arithium; which is a language we made up as little kids. It’s just gibberish attached to a picture. “Aru me yet zenet?” Translation: Do you want me to go with you?

He shakes his head, “Dunge.”

I roll my eyes. “Be careful.”

He nods and veers Lite towards the left and leads her to the building marked “Store.” I lead them to the stables, connected to the inn. When the horses are warm in the stable, we quickly clean out their snow caked hooves, and brush the mud off them the best we can. We leave them near the fire with the gear on, so it’ll melt the ice as well. I plan to return tonight to remove the gear from them. My eyes hurt as I blink. Snow is clinging to my eyelashes and has nearly succeeded in freezing them.

The three of us stumble into the inn with numb feet, our eyes still blinking rapidly as they dilate to a darkened scene. People are standing near a fire, a warm glass of ale clutched in their hands. The tables are half sawed trees. There are six rows of the long tables. They use tree stumps as seats. Elk, wolf, and dragon pelts are attached to the walls. There is a bearskin on the floor. People here wear furred boots to keep their feet warm; which I have to admit they look pretty tempting right now.

The bartender, a big-busted blonde, wipes up the wooden bar while she looks us over. “Horris, travelers!” She calls as she continues her task. Her face has three long slash marks, reaching from the corner of her left jaw and extending to her right ear. I mentally wince. That had to hurt.

I walk up to her. “May we have two rooms?” I ask politely when I meet her eyes. Her eyes are hard as they look into mine.

Immediately entranced by my eyes, her body language softens then smiles at me. “Eight golds each.”

Thankful it isn’t higher, I nod in agreement. I stick one hand through a layer of clothing and fish through my coin purse. There is plenty in there, so I fish out the sixteen golds. “Here you go, and thank you.”

Immediately she snatches my money up and offers her hand. “My name’s Gretchen.”

“Milly,” I say and shake her hand. I then jerk my thumb to Stanya. “Her name is Gutruid, and the other one is Hank. There is another one coming in a bit by the name of Frank.”

She nods at them and looks at me. “Food is complimentary with board. Just sit down and I’ll bring the food to ya. You all look like you’re starving.”

I nod and head over to the corner of the nearest table. The others follow. Once we sit down, I look at my gloved hand; the one with the leopard specifically. Where is Halthin? Why was I told to come here? Stanya touches my hand, her fingertips completely pink. I look up at her masked face.

Before I can ask her my question, the door slams open with a staggering stranger catches our attention. Outside screaming follows as the wind howls behind him. When he puts his hand on his chest, I see his ring. Alarmed, I stand. “Frank?”

He looks at me. “Run.” The glass shatters behind him, spraying everywhere, and causing him to fall. People scream as unforgiving winds rush into bite at them. Quickly, they flip the tables and hide behind them.

It takes me a moment to process the scene. “Halthin what have you done!” I yell, racing over to him. “What have you done!” Stanya and I reach him in seconds while terrified people race inside. Gedric is frozen with fear on his face. Stanya and I work together to drag Halthin in and close the door.

I kneel next to him and take his hand. I hear him muttering as his eyes search widely. Stanya turns my head to his chest. Blood is soaking his clothes. I take off my glove to revealing the leopard head. A green light shines from my palm as I wave it over Halthin. His wounds are healed as my hand glides over it, but metal soon touches my tongue.

I take his hand and use our childish language. “Due es? Due es martich!” I demand as I look into his eyes. Translation: Halthin? Halthin answer!

His eyes still search. “Goera? Goera mo is?” Natasha? Natasha where are you?

“Bo hiem due es. Notrocie.” Right here Halthin. Beside you.

“Y rive. Y rive mugish.” I hurt. I hurt a lot.

I wave my hand over him again. I yelp as I pull my hand back. Something tried to bite me.

“Buy yo ve?” Stanya demands. What is it?

“Putric mogis.” I spit at the floor, but my saliva sticks to my mask. Blood magic. “Ari.”

Stanya gasps and waves Gedric over to us. “Tri vi kin?” What do we do?

“Yrui yun vi. Y rig von Ari.” Get him out. I will take Ari.

I get up before she can protest. I look at Gedric. “Get the horses and get out of the city. When I give the signal, leave.” I look around. “Take cover.” I warn the others. It’s a good thing I got my magic back. I put the glove on my hand as the leopard shines.

I open the door and walk out into the street. The wind stops blowing, giving flakes of snow permission to lazily fall to the ground at their own pace. Ari grins at me. He’s not wearing a mask. As a result his lips are chapped, and his face and cheeks are red. I glare at him as he chuckles.

Ari smiles at me. “Your friend was too easy. I was just giving him a fair try before killing him. And yet here you are.” His eyes harden. “My little raven.” A whip of black magic comes sailing at me. I touch the ground and jump, clearing the roof tops. I start spinning and twisting my body. Green comes pouring out of my body in fast blades. I cut his shoulder with a few of my magical blades as I land behind him. Then I flip backwards repeatedly, landing back in my original position. Ari is on his knees, using his hand to support him. Green blades litter the street but vanish as I snap my fingers. All the magic comes back to me.

Ari raises his head with a tight grin. His body shakes as he stands. “You’re quick.” He’s faking. I know for a fact Ari has more in him. He snaps his fingers. Six of him spread out of his body. I brace myself. What is his game? “But how are you at detecting illusions?”

They all come running at me. My eyes widen as my scan pulls a ton of magic out of me as they wipe out the illusions. I hear a raven scream, making my eyesight change to a field of emerald green. Ari has set up his new batch. They’re spirits from his past kills. That’s why it zapped a lot of energy. It takes the amount of their power to destroy them. My vision turns to normal as an idea comes to mind. The more spirits I kill, the weaker he gets.

I swipe at the air, loading my attack with the right amount of magic. Then I blow. Six ravens attack, killing each imposter. I step to the side and throw the heel of my elbow into Ari’s neck. Taking that opportunity, I jump in the air and land on the other side of the street. Ari is completely turned around. I take off a glove and touch the earth. I draw its power and create a giant snowstorm as the snow whips around, blinding him momentarily. I hear horses screaming, and I keep up the blinding storm for ten minutes before I let it die.

Summoning a lot of energy a huge raven begins to form behind me. As a spirit of death it should be able to claim the lost souls, but it still requires my energy to attack. My entire body is cloaked in emerald green as it pulls my magic into a funnel, filling the ravens needs. Ari’s eyes widen as my eyes begin to change to an emerald green again. I see the spirits magic lines and watch as a red dot grows in the raven, meeting all of their combined magic. Ari unleashes an attack of blood magic. I twist my hand up and create a green ball. I blow on it. It floats away and pops when the first dagger hits. The rests shatters with the bubble. He didn’t even stall me.

A raven scream rips from my mouth as the raven soars at Ari. The raven is the size of a small deer and unleashes small windstorms with each wing pump. Ari tries to defeat it, but his magic falls off it as if it is water. The raven goes straight into his heart. He goes stiff as he pales. A couple of seconds later my vision returns to normal, and I see the spirits around him vanish as my energy drains. I fall to my knee as the raven pulls through his body and vanishes as it emerges.

Ari and I are both shaking as we are on one knee, hand on the ground. I can hear his panting and I am betting he can hear mine. At the exact same time we both look up at each other. A black wind comes sailing at me. I’m too slow to react so it hits me head on. I slam into a building. Pain is everywhere as I try to stand. He’s already standing and he’s grinning. He knows I’m spent.

As fast as I can, I reach under my scarf so I can reach down my shirt. I grab hold of the star and pull it out. Ari starts cackling. I touch the earth and draw power from it, as well as using the last amount of the power in my body, and create another windstorm. Snow whips around as I get to my feet. I jump and land on the roof of the inn. The exact moment I loose contact with the earth, the wind stops and the snow settles. He unshielded his face and balks at the spot where I used to be.

It takes some effort, but I manage a whistle that is loud enough to bypass all the cloth over my face. He looks up and grins at me. I draw power from the star. Multiple diamonds begin to form. His eyes widen. My diamonds rain down on him, knocking him to the ground. I lock on his lifeline, and all Magicnite souls in this town. I picture a blistering desert that is six hundred leagues from here. Green bubbles form around them, only this time Ari is unconscious so he can’t protest. They vanish, taking a medium amount of magic with them.

Exhausted, I slide down the slippery roof and land on my butt. Groaning, I stand, ignoring my protesting muscles, and take a moment to catch my breath in the middle of the road. I close my eyes and picture the city as we entered it. When I open them the city is back to normal, and their memories have been taken of this event, and from when we entered the city. A green bubble forms around me as I lock on Macy’s lifeline. Time to get out of here, before I’m spotted.