Return of the Crown (15 page)

Bowing, Medina pulled a pinion feather from
her wing, handing it to Ravyn. “Please accept this feather as a
token of my gratitude. It allows you to weather any winds. Harpies
can fly a true course, even in the most severe weather.”

Ravyn accepted the feather. “Thank you for
the gift; it is most gracious. We are setting across the Dirfawr
Mountains soon. Who knows what kind of weather will fly at us up
there.”

“What pass are you taking? I’ve flown over
the mountains time and again. I know the passes well.”

Ravyn looked to Blade.

Rubbing his scruffy chin, Blade stated,
“We’ll skirt the Crest Trail. It shouldn’t be heavily traveled this
time of year.”

“Only by thieves and smugglers,” Medina
exclaimed, “And Zelera’s got a new station set up at the peak. No,
that’s no good.”

Medina turned to Giallag, “Do you know of the
hidden trail? Can you guide these folk to its entrance?”

Nodding his head in affirmation, Giallag
rumbled, “But it passes through the wolves’ domain. I’m not sure
that’s safe.”

“He knows the way, but there are wolves along
the way that might harm us,” Ravyn translated for Giallag.

“If you encounter wolves, show them my
feather. While we are not truly friends, we have an understanding
with them. We allow them into our section of the forest to hunt,
and they allow us to gather pine seeds from their trees without
interference. They should let you pass unharmed.”

“Thank you, Medina, you have aided us
greatly. Now return to your clan. May the blessings of the Light be
upon you.”

Medina rose up in the sky, like an angel.
Circling once, auburn hair streaming behind her, she headed east,
returning home.

Dull throbbing in Ravyn’s shoulder reminded
her that wounds needed tending. After digging in Blade’s pack for a
few moments, she pulled out the salve he’d rubbed on her ankle.
“Will this work on cuts?” Ravyn asked, holding up the little green
jar.

“I believe so. It will clean the wound,
helping it heal quicker,” Blade said, taking the jar from Ravyn’s
hands. “Let me take care of this.”

“Take care of Giallag first. His wounds are
deeper, and the blood staining his beautiful white coat breaks my
heart.”

Giallag snorted. “What is that stuff? It
smells funny.” He pranced in place as Blade dabbed the wound with
water.

“Don’t worry, it’s special herbs that heal
what ails you. It was given to me by a Master of the Light.”

Giallag sighed as Blade finished rubbing the
ointment into his torn flesh. “Oh, that feels good. Blessings of
the Light to you and this Master of Light.”

Blade turned to Ravyn who was sitting on the
ground, head resting on her knees. She was snoring softly. Pulling
the torn cloth back, he exposed several lacerations on her arm.
Blade dabbed at the wounds with a wet cloth, trying to clean out
any debris without waking Ravyn. She opened her eyes, staring up at
him. Blade wished he could dive into those blue pools and never
emerge. Dabbing the spicy ointment into her wound, he bound it with
a clean cloth. “That should do it; we can head on now if you’re
ready.”

Giallag kneeled down for Ravyn and Blade to
mount. “I will take you to a good place to camp. There is a fine
deep pool, filled with many fish. I imagine they are good eating.
Of course, I don’t really know that as unicorns do not eat flesh.”
He rose to his feet. “Do you fish, Blade?” he trumpeted.

Blade opened his mouth to reply, but they
were already off racing the wind, a white streak flashing past the
green brown blur of the forest. The mountains loomed ahead of them.
Their sheer size made Ravyn feel small, like an ant. Before
reaching them, Giallag slowed, and then halted.

Ravyn eyed the sun midway down the sky and
asked, “Can’t we make it to the pass before dark?” She slid to the
ground, feet slipping on the pine needles that littered the
ground.

“Aye, we could. But, the hidden pass should
never be traveled in the dark. The way is narrow, and the turns
many. Better you eat and rest, starting fresh in the morning.
Besides, this is the nicest camp at the base of the Dirfawr.”

Her eyes adjusted to being steady once more,
the world snapped into focus. Surrounding a beautiful pool were
towering pine trees. Fish leapt clear of the water, snapping at
dragonflies hovering above the pool. Their rainbow scales glimmered
in the afternoon light. Fragrant white flowers grew wild around the
pool, their spicy sweet fragrance filling the air.

Picking up a fallen branch, Blade began
whittling its tip to a fine point. “I’ll catch dinner if you start
a fire.”

Giallag grazed the soft grasses growing at
the edge of the pool. Ravyn stooped down, gathering kindling and
logs for the fire. “Is it safe to light a fire?” she asked.

“There are not many things in this forest to
fear when I am with you. The wolves rarely leave the mountain, and
if they do, the fire should keep them at bay,” Giallag lifted his
nose from the grass for a moment before returning to the tender
greens.

A tremendous splash turned their attention to
the pool. Mumbling under his breath, Blade’s eyes darted across the
surface of the pool. He brought the spear up high, then lurching
forward he slammed the spear down into the water. The spear came up
empty.

“Damn,” he growled.

“Having difficulties?” Ravyn giggled. “You’ll
soon be soaked to the bone.”

“These fish are slippery. They dodge just as
I thrust. If I had a pole or a net, this would be easier.”

“Would you mind if I give it a try?” Ravyn
smiled all innocence.

Giallag chortled, spraying flecks of grass in
the air. “You couldn’t possibly do worse.”

Blade handed the makeshift spear to Ravyn.
“I’m handy with flint. I’ll get a fire going. Good luck, you’ll
need it.”

Rolling her pant legs up to her knees, Ravyn
turned away from man and unicorn. Stepping gingerly into the water,
she caused nary a ripple. Blade glanced at her shapely calves
before turning his attention back to the fire.

She waded into the cool water standing still
as a statue, spear poised, eyes following the glittering fish near
her feet. The spear slid down through the water, returning with a
big fat fish wriggling on its point.

Giallag guffawed, his big barrel sides
heaving with laughter. “Better get your fire going, Blade.”

Returning to the shore, Ravyn rummaged in her
pack for a ball of twine. Stringing the fish, she then returned to
the water. Before Blade finished constructing a spit above the
flames, Ravyn returned, several large fish dangling from her
line.

Blade smirked, “You caught them, you gut
them.”

“Not a problem, sir. If you would be so kind
as to hand me that knife, I will take care of this directly.” Ravyn
flounced back to the water’s edge.

Giallag watched the two teasing each other,
amusement filling his eyes and flowing out of his horn in a brassy
chuckle.

Blade watched Ravyn squatting alongside the
water cleaning the fish. He wandered into the woods, locating some
wild onion and fresh berries. They would compliment dinner nicely.
He wandered back to the campfire, grabbing his pack.

He fished out a small pot to heat water for
tea. The campfire crackled warmth and reassurance as he held his
hands out to the flames. Blade watched Ravyn cleaning the fish, his
esteem for her continuing to blossom.

Ravyn returned tossing the fish at Blade, a
saucy smile spreading across her face. “I caught and cleaned, you
cook. I’ll contact Connor while you prepare our feast.”

Giallag finished munching the sweet grass and
found a comfortable place to lie. Ravyn pulled out the scrying bowl
dipping it into the pool. She sat down beside Giallag, leaning into
his soft sturdy back. She placed the bowl in her lap. Centering
herself, she cast her aural thread, following it up into the sky.
Over the snowy mountain peaks she flew, dropping down to the forest
on the other side. She headed toward the river, searching for the
green-gold thread. Latching on to it, she traced it to the village
where Connor, or Cornelia had been. She sighed, he was safe.

Connor noted a gentle tug on his aura. She
was refining her skills; her attention getting was more subtle.

‘
Cornelia, you still fare well it
seems?’

‘
Aye, for the time being. Zelera is honing
in on me though. She’s been harassing this village with her thugs
the past few days. Trying to draw me out, to come to the rescue.
Yesterday, soldiers were about to burn the village down. I couldn’t
let that happen. But, lucky for me, Captain Joff arrived with his
men, driving the scum away. I’m moving out again on the ‘morrow. I
can’t bring harm to these poor folk; they’re a decent lot.
’

‘
Please be careful.’
She paused
,
‘So, we are near Hidden Pass. We have a unicorn friend named
Giallag who has made our journey through the forest swift.’
She
wanted to rub her aching bottom.
‘And, we befriended a harpy
named Medina, who gave me a feather. She said it’s a token of safe
passage through the wolves’ territory.’

‘
Well, well, well, you have been a busy
girl. I know where Hidden Pass comes out on my side of the
mountain. It will take you about ten days traveling the mountains
on foot. It’s still early; there shouldn’t be any storms. Now, you
lay low with the magic. Zelera is tracking you, but she will have a
harder time locating your exact spot it you do not use
magic.’

Ravyn sighed
, ‘About that. I did use some
magic to free Giallag from a trap, and it did come in handy after
Medina attacked us. I know I wasn’t supposed to use it, but it
seemed wrong not to.’

‘
Ravyn, I know you will be tempted to use
magic, but you must understand that Zelera can find you when you
use it. Promise me you will think it through before you use it.
Zelera continues gathering strength. The fear and chaos she creates
in Aigerach is feeding the Darkness, creating more fear and chaos.
It is a dark time indeed, and I need you to stay safe until we can
counter her evil plans.
’

Ravyn closed her eyes, fighting back tears of
frustration.
‘I don’t want my people to be harmed anymore. This
is taking too long. I wish there were another way. Zelera is
destroying Aigerach. If I don’t use my magic, people will be hurt.
If I do use magic, she can find me, and I’ll be hurt. So many
people’s lives are in my hands.’
Fatigue washed over Ravyn and
she fell back against Giallag.
‘I’ll try not to use magic. I’ll
talk to you soon,’
she whispered as Connor’s aura slid from her
grasp.

Giallag turned his head, facing Ravyn. Tears
slipped down her cheeks. He caught one, glistening on the tip of
his horn, “Bad news, Princess?” he asked, concern in his eyes.

With a shuddering sigh, Ravyn brushed away
her tears.
Princesses do not cry
. “No worse than before,”
she fluted low and doleful. “It’s just the future of Aigerach rests
with me. I keep trying to pretend this is just a happy lark through
the countryside. But, while I am here, resting in this lovely
grove, Zelera is causing grief and pain to my fellow citizens. They
are hurting, and I am so far away. I know so little about the power
of the Light. It’s all just pressing in on me, and I’m not feeling
very strong.”

Crossing over to Ravyn, Blade squatted down,
putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Rav, it’s ok. Things
are going to work out. I have seen Zelera’s work firsthand. She’s
made it hard on the honest hardworking population, but they
continue struggling against her any way they can.” Squatting down
he looked into her eyes. “There was a time, when I’d lost hope. You
were lost, and Connor and I were hiding. Then Captain Joff came and
I traveled with him, learning to be a knight in the service of the
Light. In all my travels across the breadth of Aigerach, I never
saw people undone. People still believe in King Bryant and Queen
Lareina. They know you live. Captain Joff has been traveling all
these years, preparing the populace for your return. Yes, you are
our hope, but you are not alone.”

Ravyn sat a little taller, shoulders back,
head erect. “Thank you, Blade. I needed to hear that. I try to be
strong, not to cry, not to worry, but at times it seems I can’t
keep the fears at bay, and they overwhelm me.”

Giallag rubbed Ravyn’s shoulder with his
head. “Never have I seen such strength of character as I see in
you. If anyone can undo the evil that blights the land, it will be
you, Ravyn, that returns the crown to its rightful place.”

Encircling Blade and Giallag in her arms,
Ravyn smiled brighter than ever. “How can I fail with two such
wonderful champions at my back?” Sniffing the air her stomach
rumbled, “Exalted chef, is that meal ready for consumption yet? I’m
famished.”

Zelera’s bony arm swept across the ebony
alter, sending the scrying bowl crashing to the floor where it
shattered. The stupid harpies were not looking for Princess Ravyn.
Instead, they were actually caring for their hatchlings and
themselves. She began pacing across the threadbare carpet, her
fingers bunching the expensive velvet of her robe into a crumpled
mess.

She stopped in front of the huge oak doors.
She threw them open, sweeping down the castle corridors to the
dungeons below. Grasping hands reached from the cell door windows,
only to recoil in horror when the occupants realized who was
passing.

Zelera stopped in front of Jedro’s door. The
male harpy hopped from one taloned foot to the other. Big brown
eyes widened, and he quaked with fear as he looked to the door
where the Darkness lurked.