Child of Blackwen (An Artemis Ravenwing Novel Book 1) (14 page)

“Yes,” Talisa replied. She looked at the well once more. “If it showed you that event, of all things, then the only explanation for what’s coming is a ripple effect.”

Willow be damned.

“Artemis doesn’t know the truth, does she?” Jack inquired.

“No.”

“Are you going to tell her?” He was infuriated when she shook her head. “What about Shadow? I’m sure he knows the truth as well.”

“He won’t do it either.”

“But he loves her!” Jack yelled. “That’s all the more reason why he
should
tell her!”

“It would seem the task of telling this part of the tale has been appointed to you,” Talisa said.

Jack froze. “But…”

“Things happen for a reason,” Talisa said. “If my theory of the ripple effect is true, then Artemis will learn of it all soon enough. Arlina could very well realize her niece is still alive, and she could come after her.”

“And what are
we
going to do should that happen?” Jack asked.

Talisa stayed silent.

Days had passed since the events at the Grove of Kiare’s Mirror. Jack had not slept well since seeing the vision from the mirror. He knew what would happen if Artemis learned the truth, and he wondered how Talisa would react when he joined Artemis in her eventual journey to Blackwen City, Arlina’s home. He’d lose his apprenticeship; there was no doubt about it. But if it meant losing it in favor of helping his best friend, then Jack would have no regrets doing so.

Jack left the cottage once he saw the streaks of dawn flow into his room, and he tried to stay awake for his daily walk. He groaned whenever he had to, for it was mandatory to take the walk at such an ungodly hour. There were times where he tried to get out of the walks, and Talisa responded by throwing a bucket of ice water at him. As punishment for trying to barter for more time to rest, Jack had to travel in the soaked clothing.

Talisa wanted a report of everything Jack noticed on his walk: how the trees looked and whether they spoke to him or not, if there were more veils in the forest and whether he attempted to disperse them, and so on. Jack did what was asked of him and silenced his grumblings because the walks also proved to be a means of searching for the elemental. He was
careful to not ask Talisa any more questions about elementals, for she would surely disembowel him if she knew he was looking for her.

He decided to follow a different path this time; if he had to suffer being awake at this hour of the morning, he might as well make the most of it and explore other paths from the cottage. Jack was grateful he wasn’t soaked this morning.

Strolling as slowly as possible, Jack attempted to focus on the voices of the forest. He felt small tinges of energy here and there, and he couldn’t help but grin. Several days ago, it all would have frightened him. Now, he enjoyed feeling the life of the forest around him. It calmed Jack.

I wonder if this is a way of turning me into a “proper” elf, considering I’m anything but one
, Jack mused.
Artemis can’t know about this. She’ll never let me hear the end of it
.

His pointed ear twitched as he heard a soft sound of spraying water. Jack could smell the moisture in the air, and he felt his lips curl into a smirk. There was no sign of a waterfall anywhere, and Jack knew he had stumbled on the location of another veil of the forest.

Taking a different approach than the one he used to find the gate to the Grove of Kiare’s Mirror, Jack sat on the earth cross-legged and rested his hands on his lap. While shutting his eyes, Jack focused on the sounds and scent of the waterfall. He felt several bursts of energy respond to him and tried to concentrate on the location of their source. The energy bursts pulsed into his mind until one pulled him.

Opening his eyes, Jack followed the pull of the energy and found himself in another grove of ash trees.

“Seriously, what is this?” Jack laughed. “Sooner or later I’m going to suspect that
all
ash tree groves are hidden gates.”

Moving his palm along the bark of the closest tree, he backed away as he felt a large burst of energy—more than the gate from the days before.

Jack couldn’t hide his excitement.

Either this is another area of sacred ground
, Jack thought,
or something very strong is hiding behind the veil
.
Even better if it’s both
.

Returning his palm to the bark, Jack listened for the tree to speak to him. To his dismay, the tree didn’t speak.

“Did I offend you earlier?” Jack asked. “If I did, you have my…” He struggled for the proper words. “Sincerest? Yes! Sincerest! My
sincerest
apologies.”

Still no word from the tree.

Sighing, Jack moved on to check the other trees of the grove and was met with continued silence. “If I have to get on my knees to show you how sorry I am for offending you, I will do so…”

After the silence and lack of energy, Jack rubbed the back of his neck and kneeled before the trees. He went as far as having his forehead reach the ground.

“Please accept my apology, oh humble…tree,” Jack said while scowling for the lack of better terms. “I am wrong to judge where the forest hides its veils. Ash tree groves are
wonderful
places to have a secret retreat.”

“The trees were more amused at your words than offended,” a voice said from behind Jack, startling him. There was gentle laughter when Jack stumbled as he tried to rise from the ground. “You’re rather unusual for an elf.”

Once Jack rose, he found himself in the company of a young woman. She was a tad shorter than him, and she had short blond ringlets framing her small, fair-skinned face. The woman wore a flowing brown dress, and Jack saw she was barefoot.

She smiled at him, but he was captivated by the calming light blue eyes that gazed at him. Jack felt as if he could stand there all day and be content just staring into her eyes. He also felt a strange sensation in his chest and rubbed it.

He realized he was being rude. “I’m sorry, my lady. I was just startled because I didn’t expect to run into company at this hour.”

“Well I’m not of noble blood, so there’s no need to address me as such,” she said, her voice sweet and pleasant. “And as for the part concerning company…well,
I
tend to take a stroll through these parts often, and much earlier than you.”

“I have to applaud your eagerness for rising at a time that I never could, even if I wanted to.” Jack chuckled. “And it was proper to address you as such.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You don’t strike me as the proper type.”

“No, I’m not normally.” Jack bowed his head and held out his hand. “I’m Jack.”

“Callypso.” She took Jack’s hand and shook it lightly. Jack felt a soothing energy emanate from her hand, like a gentle breeze. “Why were you trying to get past the veil?”

“Well…” Jack’s face flushed. “It’s part of my apprenticeship. Should I stumble upon such things, I’m to try and get past the, erm, locks.”

“Ah. You’re Talisa’s new pet then,” Callypso said. “You’re not the first to have tried this particular gate.”

“I wouldn’t call it that, no,” Jack snorted. “And I’m sorry?”

“It’s quite all right. And nonetheless, you belong to Talisa until your apprenticeship is over,” Callypso insisted while walking past Jack. “You are gifted; there is no doubt about it. You still have quite a bit to learn though.”

“What makes you say that?” Jack asked, watching the skirts of her dress sway with the wind.

Where did all this wind come from? He couldn’t remember encountering any on his previous crack-of-dawn walks.

Callypso stopped before the tree Jack was apologizing to and rested her hand on the bark of the trunk. He felt that same large burst of energy emanate from her. There was more to her than her pleasing appearance!

“You have to learn when a veil is a gateway to sacred ground, to safe houses,” she explained, “and when a veil is a gateway to one’s home.”

Jack felt his stomach drop; he had been trying to break into someone’s home.
That
was why the trees wouldn’t let him through. Only if he was invited by the one who created that particular veil would the trees let him through. That’s how it worked.

“I’m so sorry…” Jack apologized. “I have
much
to learn still.”

Callypso laughed, and Jack felt the wind from earlier pick up again. He liked her laugh.

“It really is all right! And if it’s any consolation, I don’t think you’re like the elf mages of old,” Callypso replied. Jack stiffened at the mention of his bloodline. “You shouldn’t fear your heritage, Jack. There are great benefits to being an elf mage. One of which you’ll learn soon enough.”

“Who are you?” Jack whispered.

“I think I’ve kept you from your stroll long enough.” Callypso looked upon the tree and sighed. “It would be wise to keep our meeting between us. Is that understood?”

“Y-Yes,” Jack said, cursing at himself for allowing nerves to interfere with his speech.

“Good.” She winked before disappearing.

Jack realized she passed through the veil. How did she do it so easily? Better yet,
why
did she have a home beyond a veil?

“Callypso,” Jack mused. “What a beautiful name.”

Leaving the grove, Jack felt something odd within his chest again. He couldn’t explain the sensation, and yet he felt as if there was something tying itself along his heart.

“Soleil burn me.” Jack gulped as he realized what it could have been. “Shadow…I need to talk to Shadow. I need to talk to him
now
.”

rlina fumed as she paced around the audience chamber. She felt humiliated as well as embarrassed for not realizing Netira’s dhampir heritage.

How had she missed it? How had Netira masked the truth so well for all these years of being her Second?

That traitorous bitch had help, that’s how!
Arlina thought.
But who would be foolish enough to help her?

Arlina first thought of her mage, Karesu, because of Latos’ mention of a charm, but then she dismissed the idea. He and Netira despised one another; it was evident in every council meeting. It amused her at times, seeing their disgust toward one another. Arlina had to practically force them to work together on past missions.

But she couldn’t believe anything she saw anymore, not after Latos’ report. No one was above suspicion now.

She sighed as she slouched on her black marble throne. As she crossed her legs, the glint of the onyx-jeweled hilt of her sai caught her eye. Grasping it, Arlina twirled the weapon along her long, pale fingers and tried to think.

She thought of Latos’ proposal of sending Netira to the elves as a scapegoat; she found herself considering it. The death Arlina wanted to hand Netira personally wouldn’t quell the anger she held, no. She thought of handing Netira over to Vashti, who was well known for
her…creative…methods of torture, but that wouldn’t satisfy her either. Disposing the dhampir by handing her over to the Elders of the Woodland Realm would give her such amusement.

Her thoughts shifted to Artemis. Knowing the two friends her wretched sister kept, Arlina was sure they wouldn’t have told Artemis the truth of her origins and of her mother’s death. Arlina wanted to vomit at their idea of protection…the fools.