The One Who Could Not Fly by E G Stone

Author:E G Stone [Stone, E G]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781734796506
Publisher: Tarney Brae Creative Endeavours
Published: 2020-03-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Miklos practically raced Ravenna through the halls of the Red Palace, hardly giving her time to gather her bearings. After a while, though, Ravenna realised that they were moving downwards. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She stopped, flaring her wings slightly.

“Stop,” Ravenna demanded. Maybe if she established her authority with these servants early on, they would be more likely to leave her alone.

Miklos kept walking, not even turning his head to look at her.

Ravenna frowned. “Stop!” she repeated louder.

Still, Miklos kept moving, walking through the halls with almost perfectly silent steps, his body displaying an artless grace that reminded Ravenna of the tawny cougars that roamed Shinalea. They were perhaps the only real threats to the sylphs but were beautiful to watch and usually preferred to hunt smaller prey. Miklos was not a cougar; Ravenna refused to be cowed by him. She remained still, her arms at her side and tensed for Dalketh should he turn and see her inaction as insubordination.

Miklos reached the end of the hallway before realizing that Ravenna was not following. He paused and turned, blinking at Ravenna in confusion. “Why did you stop?” he asked.

Ravenna baulked at the sound, stepping back. His words sounded off, wrong. It was almost like the rough accent that all the humans spoke with, but not quite. The words were a little quieter, the consonants enunciated sharper, the vowels controlled. Combined with his deep, musical voice, it was a little unsettling.

He stepped towards Ravenna, raising his hands to show he meant no harm. “I am taking you to a healer…Angel?”

“I am not an angel,” Ravenna muttered, wishing that everyone would stop calling her that.

Miklos tilted his head and frowned.

“If you aren’t an Angel, then what are you?”

Ravenna flinched a touch, her feathers rustling. He was not meant to hear that. She shook her head and tried to brush dirty strands of hair from her face. “Your name is Miklos, correct?” Distraction. Yes, that would work.

He smiled, the motion gentle and amused. “Miska. Everyone calls me Miska. Do you have a name?”

“Of course I do!” Ravenna snapped. Miklos—Miska—said nothing, just waited. “Ravenna,” she mumbled, her mouth barely moving.

Miska drew his brows together, frowning.

“Ravenna,” she said, louder.

“Rav…Ravenna?” Miska repeated, testing the sounds on his tongue.

She nodded, not sure whether she should smile or keep aloof. She chose the latter.

Miska tested her name out a few more times before bowing, his eyes lifted to watch her. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Ravenna.”

“Where are we going?”

Miska took a step towards Ravenna and she retreated. He shrugged and held up his hands, retreating back a step. “I will not hurt you.”

“Where are we going?” Ravenna repeated.

“To see a healer, then to the bathing springs. I will then take you to your quarters,” Miska explained. He gestured to the hallway in front of him. “Please, come with me?”

Ravenna hesitated, a motion that was not unnoticed by her escort. His features fell in a flash of disappointment before returning to pleasant and welcoming.

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