The Ravens of Death by Mike Truk

Author:Mike Truk [Truk, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy
Published: 2020-12-24T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

I emerged into a dour room, all high obsidian walls and black draperies, a few braziers burning with pale blue flames. The black floor was polished to a high gloss as if covered by a sheen of water, and the ceiling and corners were lost to shadow. Alusz Iphigenia sat before a desk on which a tall, oval mirror was positioned, brushing her long hair, while Morgana stood to one side, looking testy and displeased.

A bedchamber, I realized, moving forward with Valeria in my arms. The drapes at the rear of the room were those of a four-poster bed; here and there, I saw other amenities suggesting the room's purpose. A chest, a slender bookcase on which uniform tomes sheathed in gray were fitted, a tall wardrobe whose doors no doubt hid dresses.

My arrival shattered the stillness. Alusz froze, silver brush raised in one hand, her reflection staring at me in shock. Morgana snapped her fingers, summoning a ward of the palest lavender about the young queen.

Despite the fear and horror that was coursing through me, part of my mind filed that away for later: You can summon wards to protect others.

“Savior,” began Morgana, but I was in no mood for speeches.

“Help her,” I said, floating forward with Valeria in my arms. “Please.”

The regent glanced at Valeria’s terrible wounds with little emotion. “Run into some trouble, have you?”

“Morgana,” said Alusz, her voice at once quiet but pressing.

“Very well, very well. I shall tend to these wounds.” She reached out to press her fingers against the side of Valeria’s neck, and I had to restrain the urge to tear my companion away. “She’s not too far gone. Though perilously close. Hold still.”

My other companions were stepping through the portal as she spoke. Morgana ignored them with exquisite assurance, extending a hand over Valeria’s face. She whispered something in a tongue I couldn’t understand, and a pale green light filtered down from her palm, insinuating itself into Valeria’s nostrils and through her parted lips.

“There,” said Morgana. “That should buy me enough time to move her to where she can be properly seen to. Give her to me, Noah.”

“I’ll carry her,” I said.

“You shall not. I shall take her to be healed. If you refuse me this, I will remove my blessing and she will die in your arms.”

I ground my teeth in frustration and glanced at the others. They were equally harrowed by the experience we’d just been through, looking battered and exhausted.

“What choice do you have?” asked Morgana. “You already know the price I will exact for this favor. All has been calculated beforehand.”

Still, I hesitated, holding tightly to Valeria, studying her wan and sunken features with desperation. Was handing her to Morgana a fate worse than death?

“You made your choice when you activated the portal,” said the regent. “Why cavil now?”

“Allow him to go with her,” said Alusz.

Irritation flashed across the regent’s face, then she sighed melodramatically. “Very well. You may come with me to ensure I do nothing untoward to your fallen warrior.

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