Child of Blackwen (An Artemis Ravenwing Novel Book 1) (17 page)

“Whatever they do to you, Netira, hold onto life,” Karesu prayed. “Hold on for when I arrive and take you away from there, my love.”

Lady Clarayne sat in her candlelit study and continued to work on the affairs of the city. Lords Celstian and Destrius were in their respective offices as well, a result after their disastrous meeting with Shadow.

Lady Clarayne deeply sighed. She wished the meeting had ended on a lighter note. Lord Destrius had to commission new furniture to be made.

Shadow had arrived as requested and repeated the report he had given to Lady Clarayne. He begged once more that if the event came, they would not give up Artemis to Arlina. Lord Celstian was sympathetic, but not enough to grant his wish. Lord Destrius went ballistic and went as far as calling Shadow a moronic fool for even considering Artemis worth protecting.

The verbal jousting between the two still made Lady Clarayne shake. It was a miracle Shadow didn’t physically harm Lord Destrius, no matter how many pieces of furniture the Elder chucked at him. She wouldn’t have minded, but she knew it would have been unthinkable. It wouldn’t matter if it was in self-defense; Lady Clarayne wouldn’t have been able to protect her nephew if he struck an Elder. The laws of the Woodland Realm sometimes irritated her.

Lady Clarayne looked from her desk when she heard a soft knock echo from the doorframe, and she granted entry to the visitor. Lord Celstian entered, holding a small teapot.

“I thought you could use some,” Lord Celstian greeted her.

“It is appreciated. Thank you, Celstian,” Lady Clarayne said, retrieving two small cups.

Lord Celstian poured what Lady Clarayne noted to be lemongrass tea, and he sat in the chair across from her desk. He sighed in contentment as he took a sip. “It would seem that the return home has been nothing like we imagined.”

“Indeed,” Lady Clarayne agreed, now sipping her own tea. “I didn’t expect the threat of war to return to us for another few years. I prayed for that much of a reprieve, despite knowing how impossible it would have been.”

“Have you heard from Shadow since our last, ah, gathering?”

Lady Clarayne lowered her gaze. “I have not. I don’t expect we shall hear from him for some time.”

“You blame yourself.”

“Yes.” Lady Clarayne traced the rim of her teacup with her long forefinger. “I love my nephew dearly. He is the last living reminder of my brother, may the goddesses watch over him. It hurts me to watch his heart fall into despair. I knew he cared for Artemis, but I hadn’t realized just how much until this recent war. When we hand Artemis to Arlina,
whenever that may be, Shadow will be lost to us as well. I’m not sure if I can accept that.”

“He can take care of himself, Clarayne,” Lord Celstian explained. “He’s proven that time and time again. Shadow can protect the girl while he continues his duty to the realm. I’ve no doubt that he will.”

“It still feels despicable to me. We took her in because her mother served the realm, and now we’re throwing her back to the monsters in order to save ourselves.”

“Sometimes one must do a little evil in order to achieve a greater good.” Lord Celstian noted the dark look from Lady Clarayne. “I will admit I feel a little vile as well.”

“I sense there’s more stirring in the darkness than we originally believed.”

“And what will you do if it is so?”

Lady Clarayne frowned. “I’m not sure anymore.” She stood up and wandered toward the windowsill. “Both my body and spirit are still taxed from dealing with the dragons. And perhaps we’re not supposed to be involved in what’s to come.”

“We’re just supporting pieces of the game now, you think?”

Lady Clarayne glanced at Lord Celstian and chuckled. “I think I’m just speaking nonsense. We’ve had a long day today with this cursed paperwork, after all.”

Lord Celstian laughed and was about to comment until the door slammed open; Lord Destrius stomped into the quarters. As usual, he was irate. Lady Clarayne noticed he held an opened and nearly crumpled letter at his side.

“Destrius, what has gotten you into a twist now?” Lord Celstian asked, preventing Lady Clarayne from snapping about the mistreatment of her door.

“Spare me the jests, Celstian.” Lord Destrius threw the crumpled letter atop the desk. “What do you make of
that
?”

Lady Clarayne picked up the letter and stiffened as she read it.

“Clarayne? What is it?” Lord Celstian inquired.

“The letter is from Arlina,” Lady Clarayne explained, nearly choking on the words.

“Let me see it.”

Lady Clarayne handed the letter over to him.

Greetings to the Elders of Ellewynth
,

The Lords Celstian and Destrius, and the Lady Clarayne
,

       
I understand that my letter may not be well received since our cities have not always been amicable. However, I promise you that there is no trickery about. I only wish to right a few wrongs that were recently committed
.

       
It has come to my attention that your realm has been experiencing “odd” deaths, and I am saddened to say that one of my own was responsible for the murders. I was livid when I discovered it and am deeply embarrassed that this occurred. After much consideration of the punishment to be dealt, I decided that the right to punish such unacceptable behavior rightfully belongs in your hands, and in a few days time a small scouting party will arrive at your borders to hand over the culprit. Her name is Netira, and she was formerly the Second of Blackwen City. Do with her what you must. She has already suffered for her crimes to the Dark Fortress
.

       
I do not expect forgiveness or gratitude, again because of our relations and actions from the past, but I do hope we can get past this horrible incident
.

Sincerely
,

Mistress Arlina Ravenwing of Blackwen City

“What do you make of it?” Lord Celstian asked.

“I sense a trap,” Lady Clarayne replied.

“As do I. However,” Lord Destrius started as he snatched the letter from Lord Celstian, “if she is sending the one responsible for the deaths, then I will forgive the arrogance of that woman…for a time, anyways.”

“We should have Shadow in the receiving party when their scouts arrive,” Lord Celstian suggested. “He was the one who discovered this, after all. He could probably identify this Netira and help put our suspicions at ease.”

“Ask him yourself,” Lord Destrius snapped. “I have no desire for seeing that bastard again anytime soon.”

Lady Clarayne opened her mouth to yell at him, but Lord Celstian stood up and grabbed her arm.

“Don’t,” he whispered to her. He glanced at Lord Destrius. “We will be on guard. Only time will tell whether we will encounter more treachery, or whether we encounter the real truth of the matter.”

didn’t see Mother or the other woman with the cold gray eyes this time. There was a small scouting party moving through parts of Arrygn that were unknown to me; I counted four scouts, and they were escorting one woman in a small caged carriage. Even with the cloaks with odd symbols stitched within the hems, I could tell they were full-bloods
.

The woman in the cage, however…she wasn’t one of them. She may have looked like a full-blood, but she did not feel like them
.

She felt…she felt like me. A dhampir
.

The scouts didn’t notice my presence. They continued to follow the lead of the tall male with short and spiked red hair. His black eyes were nearly as frigid as the gray-eyed woman from the previous dreams, but he did not seem as dangerous. He bade the others to march on as he strolled to the side of the cage. The woman within glared at him, and he responded with a laugh
.

“Enjoying the view, Netira?” he asked, as he dangled a small wineskin in front of the bars
.

I could smell the blood release into the air as he removed the wooden cap and sipped it
.

The woman he called Netira eyed the wineskin hungrily. Even so, she did not move to reach for it
.

“Come now. Surely you want some sustenance after receiving such wounds?” The man said while he flashed a sadistic smile. “A simple plea is all I need from you, dhampir.”

It was true then
.

“I wouldn’t trust anything that comes from you, Latos.” Netira shifted farther away from the bars
.

That’s when I noticed her wounds. She had dried bloodstains along her waist, as well as her arms and chest. She was brutalized, but not so much that she couldn’t function
.

Latos reached through the cage to grab Netira’s neck and forced her face against the bars. He shoved the wineskin into her mouth and forced her to swallow the blood. Netira managed to break free and tried to spit out the force-fed blood
.

Latos laughed as he hid the wineskin in his cloak
.

“Why would I have a need to poison you?” Latos feigned innocence. “As much as I enjoy your agony, I need you to live long enough to arrive at the city.”

“Once you leave me to the elves, Latos,” Netira began, “I’d suggest you learn to look over your shoulder at all times. I just might appear and give you what you deserve.”

“Spare me, you filthy dhampir bitch.” Latos left her
.

I walked beside the cage and saw Netira’s face darken. She had refused the blood even though she desperately needed it. Was she like me? Did she hate her heritage enough to suppress it? I wondered what was going through her mind, and I also wondered why the full-bloods were sending her to the elves
.

Wait. Was Netira coming to Ellewynth?

She will help you when it is time.

The voice startled me. It sounded like my own, but not quite
.

“Mother?” I called
.

She will show you the way.

I woke up when I felt a gentle caress along my cheek. When I sat up, I sighed; no one was in my room.

I fought off a chill as I hugged my knees to my chest. This dream differed greatly from the earlier ones. The voice…it had to have been Tamina. Mother obviously thought Netira was of some importance…but for what? And why?