Return of the Crown (25 page)

“Blade, you look so handsome,” she
breathed.

“And you are a vision of loveliness,” he
said. “I was wrong, I do recognize you.”

Offering her his arm, they strode down the
hall to the main dining room. The aroma of the feast assaulted
them. Their stomachs growled and rumbled in approval. The tables
overflowed with roasts and vegetables, rolls and pitchers of foamy
ale. The benches were crowded with men and a few women. Their
clothing and demeanor made it clear they knew the art of war. These
were her military leaders. This was the army of the Crown.

Connor stood and silence followed. Beaming at
Ravyn and Blade, he called, “Our guests of honor have arrived.”

Mugs banged the tables, “Here, here,” the
gathering shouted. Connor gestured to the space beside him. Blade
and Ravyn sat side by side next to Connor and across from General
Joff. Jolene placed a dainty goblet in front of Ravyn, “It’s a
delicate wine, m’ lady, I didn’t think you’d care for the ale that
these men guzzle.”

“That was very thoughtful of you. Thank you,
Jolene.”

“And you Captain Blade, wine or a pint?”

“I haven’t had a pint in ages; that sounds
great,” he smiled at Ravyn who was already piling roast venison and
vegetables on her plate.

As the meal wound down, Connor pushed himself
away from the table and stood again. “As you all know, the Autumn
Equinox is two days away. It is crucial that we attack Zelera
before its arrival.” Connor paused and his gray eyes misted with
sorrow. A heavy sigh escaped his chest, and his shoulders sagged.
“Zelera is waging a dark and dirty war. And there is something that
you need to know about the army we go against. The creatures you
come up against were once human; you may even recognize them as
someone you once knew. It could be your friend, your brother, your
son.”

“My father would never give himself to the
Darkness, Connor. He’d die first,” a young man cried, slamming his
fists against the table.

“Aye, many have died at her hands. She used
their lives to fuel her castle’s defenses. But, we don’t know what
kind of torment these men have undergone in her dungeons. That kind
of stress over time can break the strongest of men.”

General Joff stepped up beside Connor.
“Soldiers, I know what we are asking of you. Many of my friends and
family could not leave Veris in time. They have been languishing in
her dungeons for years. I know in my heart that I may cross swords
with folks I once loved. Do not let that sway your determination,”
his voice softened to near a whisper. “They are lost to us.”

Connor scanned the somber group. Emotions
warred on each and every face. “If you cannot fight with this
knowledge, you may step down from your post. No one will think less
of you.” He waited. For a moment the seated men and women looked at
each other, panic dancing in their eyes. When no one stood to
leave, every man and woman sat a little straighter with heads held
high. “We fight for the return of the crown! We fight for the
Light!” they chanted in unison.

Connor placed a weathered hand on General
Joff’s shoulder. Joff stood proud before his leaders, and a tear
slipped down his craggy cheek. Connor cleared his throat, “Tomorrow
we head to Brightling River and meet up with the other forces that
will be joining us. Tomorrow night we camp outside Zelera’s walls.
We wait for her to bring the fight to us. I don’t think she’ll make
us wait long. I will be the magic against her magic. General Joff
is the military brains here, and you will take your directions from
him. At all costs, Ravyn must reach the walls Zelera has erected
around the castle. She is the one who will ultimately win this
battle. We are just buying her the time to do what she must. Now, I
have much to go over with Ravyn. I leave you in the capable hands
of General Joff.”

Connor slipped away from the table making his
way to the stairs. He motioned for Ravyn to follow him. Ravyn stood
and started to follow, then turned to look back at Blade.

“I need your help, Captain Blade. Will you
join us also,” she stated.

Blade looked to General Joff who nodded back.
He stood, bowing to the man already beginning the battle plans. He
followed Ravyn up the stairs to Connor’s small room.

Connor handed Ravyn a glass and a decanter of
wine. “Drink a glass of this; it will soothe your nerves.”

“No, thank you, I need a clear head.” Ravyn
set the glass and decanter down on the small table.

Connor sat on the edge of the bed. Ravyn sat
in a little chair by the fireplace, and Blade leaned against the
wall. “Now, let’s walk through Zelera’s defenses,” Connor said,
“and how you will overcome them. The first obstacle is a rock wall,
nearly a 150 feet high. I have seen you pass this in a vision. How
will you bypass this barrier?”

Ravyn smiled at Blade, “This is why I asked
you to come.”

He furrowed his brows, puzzled.

“Blade will help me climb this wall. He is a
very skilled rock climber,” she beamed at Connor. “You should see
him. He’s like a little lizard, clinging to the tiniest bits of
rock. If he leads, I can follow.”

“Ah, that’s right; the raven in my vision
carried a sword in her talons,” Connor mumbled.

“What was that you said?” Ravyn asked.

“Nothing, dear, but yes Blade must go with
you. While you two are scaling the wall, I will keep an eye out for
magic used against you when you are vulnerable upon the face.
Secondly, there is a wall of fire. How do you propose to pass
through this?”

“The dragon Ena gave me a piece of her skin.
I can wrap this around Blade and me, and can fashion a protective
spell around our feet to shield them as well.”

“Very good,” Connor replied, “but I will
weave the protection into your boots. You must conserve your energy
for Zelera. You’ll need every ounce of strength you possess to
overcome her.”

“But you need to protect the army from her
spells. You will be protecting us while we climb. You cannot spread
yourself too thin.”

“You, Ravyn, and you alone can win this war.
The army is merely a diversion. We hope to spread her too thin,
fighting several fronts. It requires great energy to control the
Light, as you well know. It is the same in harnessing the Darkness.
If we can stretch Zelera thin enough, she may make a critical
error. The army knows what their job is; they also know that lives
will be lost in this conflict. They offer up their lives for the
return of the crown and freedom for Aigerach.”

Ravyn swallowed back a pang of guilt at the
thought of more lives lost. She sucked in a deep breath and pulled
her shoulders back straightening her spine and resolve, “The third
circle of power is a deep, wide moat. I’m a good swimmer, having
lived on an island for so many years. I’ll just swim across.”

“You may not touch the water. It eats the
flesh of all living things that touch it. We must come up with
another way to cross.”

“What about a raft, or protective clothing?”
Blade entered in the conversation.

“I may have to transport you across, which
will expend a great deal of energy, but we still have time to work
this through. Let’s look at the next challenge, the Vortex.”

“I was given a harpy’s feather. It stands
against any wind, natural or magic. It’ll see me through the
Vortex. That leaves the moat as the only real challenge.”

“I’ve had a vision of you flying past these
tests. The answer to the water obstacle will present itself in due
time. I’m more worried about what Zelera will throw at you once you
two are face to face. Did you study your mother’s book?”

Ravyn sighed. “Yes I did, though I don’t know
how it will help.”

Connor smiled at the memory of Lareina years
ago, the same exasperated look on her face. “What did you learn?”
Connor asked.

Ravyn pushed a stray lock of hair away from
her cheek and looked over at Blade.

“Don’t look at me. I’m not a student of the
Light,” he chuckled. “You spent a lot of time with your nose in
that book. Just tell him what you read.”

Ravyn looked back at Connor and took a deep
breath before reciting, “This is what I understand from my reading.
The Light flows through all living things. It grows when used in
the service of others. It cannot be suppressed unless we allow it
to be, and it can never be taken away from us. It is always there
and can be utilized in many different ways as long as the intent
behind it comes from a heart dedicated to truth and to the
betterment of those on whose behalf it is used.” Her words lost
strength toward the end of her recitation as she ran out of breath.
“That is what I learned from the book.” Ravyn folded her hands in
her lap.

“Very good,” Connor smiled. “Do you believe?”
He cocked a busy gray brow.

“Believe? I believe the Light flows through
me. I have used it in numerous situations on my journey. I have
felt the place where it wells deep within me. I have tasted its
goodness as it has aided me.”

Connor stood up from the bed and walked to
Ravyn’s side. He placed his hand under her chin drawing her gaze to
his patient gray eyes. “But do you have faith, child? You must have
faith not only in the Light, but in yourself.”

Ravyn reached for the wine decanter and
poured a glass. She swirled the wine around the goblet watching the
light dance off the glass, and then she took a long swig. “I have
faith in the good men and women of Aigerach who give their lives
for freedom. I have faith in you who guide me with patience and
wisdom. I have faith in Blade who stands by my side, and I have
faith in the Light that wells within me. So, I guess I have faith
in me too. I will do whatever is necessary to save those I
love.”

Pride and sadness filled Connor’s smoky gray
eyes. “I have faith in you, Ravyn. You have shown great moral
fortitude this past month in the choices you have made and
creativity in managing the force that chose you for its vessel. You
are a natural at working with the Light.” He nodded toward the
door. “Go get some rest. Sometimes answers come when we least
expect them.”

Ravyn stood to leave. She felt light-headed
from the wine coursing through her veins, and a bit warm. She
swayed a moment, grabbing the table for support. “Oh, I almost
forgot. There are six wolves staying in the woods behind the inn
that want to join the battle. I have given them human speech so
they can communicate. I would like to have fine mail or leather
armor covering their torsos. Could that be arranged?”

“Surely,” he smiled at her. Turning to Blade,
he asked, “Will you inform the General for me before you
retire?”

“Yes, Sir,” Blade answered. He straightened
away from the wall and turned to follow Ravyn from the room, “And
Connor,” Blade grinned, “it’s good to see you again.”

Ravyn opened the door and stepped out into
the cool hallway, a multitude of worries tumbling through her mind.
Her feet took her down the stairs. Her fingers trailed the polished
rail making a squeaking noise as she descended.

“Rav, where are you going? Your room is up
here.” Blade bounded down the stairs and stopped in front of her.
He blocked her way. “You need to get some rest.”

“I need some fresh air Blade,” she pleaded.
“I’m not used to being indoors around so many people. I’ll be right
behind the inn. I promise I won’t stray. I need to tell the wolves
to come round in the morning to be fitted for armor.”

Blade stepped aside but gently ordered,
“Don’t stay out too long.”

A sad smile crossed her face. “I
promise.”

Ravyn sat on a stone bench in the garden
behind the inn. The stars twinkled above and the wind sighed
through the trees. Ravyn could not embrace the quiet and calm. She
shifted on the cold stone, “Kialgyn,” she called out. Moments
passed in silence, and then she heard the soft padding of feet on
gravel.

“You called, Princess?” Kialgyn strolled up
to Ravyn and sat down before her.

“Yes, tomorrow, come round to the armorer.
He’ll fit you with light mail or leathers.”

Kialgyn growled low and soft.

“I promise it won’t be bulky. I will fear for
you unless you have some kind of protection.” She ran her fingers
through his soft gray fur and began scratching his withers.

“If it will let you rest easier, it will be
so,” Kialgyn murmured. “It is late Ravyn. You should get some
sleep.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep
tonight. I’m so worried. People will lose their lives. I’m putting
Blade at great risk too, asking him to accompany me into the very
heart of Zelera’s lair. If I fail, all of Aigerach will
suffer.”

Kialgyn sat up straighter and stared into her
eyes. “Do not lose your faith, little bird. You have courage and
honor. Put yourself above your fears and doubt, and do what is
right. If you do that, you cannot fail.” His ears perked up. “The
Blade is coming. I will tell the others to prepare for wearing
armor. They are not keen about the idea, but they will do it for
you.” Ravyn watched him slip off, a ghost in the trees.

Blade came around the corner of the inn.
“Rav, are you all right? You look shaken.” He sat down beside her
putting her hand in his, locking fingers.

“I’m frightened, Blade. So many good people’s
lives hang in the balance.”

He squeezed her hand. “It is overwhelming,”
he agreed.

She turned her blue eyes on him, “I am afraid
for you. You are following me into this nightmare, and I can’t
stand the thought of losing you. I’m afraid I will make the wrong
decision and be the downfall of all of Aigerach. So much rests upon
my shoulders alone, and I feel inadequate.” Tears spilled down her
cheeks and she turned away.

Unlacing his fingers, Blade grabbed Ravyn’s
shoulders, turning her to face him. “Ravyn, you will never lose me.
My heart is yours.” He leaned forward, his lips brushing against
hers. “You cannot fail, Ravyn. I have enough faith in you for both
of us.”