The Unkindness of Ravens by Cory Huff

Author:Cory Huff [Huff, Cory]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-06-30T22:00:00+00:00

9. Don't Go Out at Night

Sophronia walked back from her strange encounter with Jannon, the mysterious dark-robed figure she had met today in Ghealdar. It was getting late. She felt energized. Liam had his tutor, and she had hers. But hers would be secret. She would wait for Liam to reveal what he knew, and then she would show him what she had learned, and he would be astonished. He was not going to outpace her. Not when she had already put this much work into mastering the Ogham.

She felt a slight twinge of guilt at what Jannon had asked her to do, but what harm was there in observing and reporting? She would tell Jannon everything, and she would have her teacher. Whatever the price was, it wouldn’t come back on Liam. If it looked like Liam was going to get hurt, she could warn him.

She tried not to think about what it meant that Jannon had observed them unseen and followed them here to Ghealdar.

Up ahead, she saw Aidan sprinting towards her. She sighed. Then she smiled. He was young, and he was so full of energy. His sorrow over his father hung over him like a cloud, so it was amusing to see him so enthusiastic as he ran up to her.

“Are you ok? Where have you been? I’ve been out looking for you for half the day! You don’t look hurt. You doing ok?” He breathed hard between each sentence. He finally stopped, staring at her. She marveled at how he was so open and unguarded. After spending the day with such a mysterious figure, the difference between Aidan and Jannon was so glaring that Sophronia had to laugh. Aidan looked confused. “What?” He asked. Sophronia just laughed harder.

“Aidan,” she said after a moment, “I’m sorry for getting snappy with you back on the Thir. It’s been a stressful time for all of us. I’ve had a change of heart. I think you’re great. I think Liam studying with Badb is going to turn out for the best.”

Aidan looked at her like she’d grown a second head. “What? What happened? Did you eat a mushroom out here?”

Sophronia smiled again. “No, Aidan. I’m just feeling inspired. It’s been a good day to be out…walking and thinking, I guess.”

“We should get back. It’s getting late.” Said Aidan. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

Sophronia nodded, and they both started back to their safe house.

Just as they were returning, with the sun dimming behind the buildings of Ghealdar, they saw Liam. He was walking briskly. He also had a bird on his shoulder: a tiny, dull, brown finch, not more than two inches long. It cocked its head as Liam approached them and they all came to a halt in front of the house. He looked at Sophronia warily.

She held up a placating hand, “I’m sorry Liam. Truly. I found it frustrating that Badb would not teach me, but I’ve made my peace with it. How did it go?” She looked at the finch pointedly.

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