Child of Blackwen (An Artemis Ravenwing Novel Book 1) (9 page)

“And if that were to happen and we do not hand Artemis over, you realize more elven lives will be at risk, Shadow,” Lady Clarayne explained. “It’s not a position I or the other Elders can afford to be in.”

“Elven lives will be at risk regardless of what we do!” Shadow stood up. “She’ll kill Artemis just as she slaughtered Tamina, and then she’ll
attack Ellewynth for her own pleasure! You
know
she will. You remember what she’s done to us already.”

“Of course I do,” Lady Clarayne said as her face darkened. “I understand all the possibilities, Shadow, and I know how Arlina thinks. You must realize, nephew, that the choice will not be yours to make in the end.”

“I understand, but that does not mean I have to like it.” Shadow took a deep breath. “My dear aunt, you cannot let Lords Celstian and Destrius sway you into giving her up to that woman. Please.”

Lady Clarayne sighed as she rubbed her nephew’s cheek. “Shadow…”

“
Please
.”

Lady Clarayne sighed in resignation.

“I will talk to them once they return.” She dropped her hand and returned to the window. “That is all I can promise.”

Shadow took this as a dismissal and proceeded to the door.

“Shadow?”

He stopped, but did not turn to face her. “Yes, my lady?”

“Should the moment come and we do hand over Artemis to Arlina…will I be losing a nephew as well?”

Shadow shut his eyes and closed the door behind him as he left the room.

I was nearly done preparing Talisa’s favorite brand of tea—lemon mint—when she and Jack returned inside from their “meeting.” Jack wasn’t as pale as he had been before, but he still seemed horrified.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Jack, even specters have a cheerier disposition than you do right now!” I said while pouring tea.

“Don’t be surprised if I end up as one the next time you see me,” Jack muttered while grabbing his teacup.

Talisa smiled, obviously content.

“When does the training begin?” I asked.

Jack kept quiet, while Talisa took a long sip of her tea.

“Well?”

“Tonight,” Jack finally answered.

I nearly spit out my tea. “What?”

“Tonight marks the full moon of the solstice,” Talisa explained. “Magic is most potent at this time. I want to see how well Jack can use his gift. Then, and only then, will I know how to begin his tutelage.”

“It’s also to make sure I don’t go running off to the taverns,” Jack added. “As for the aunt…”

“I will be dealing with her soon enough,” Talisa said, as her fingers playfully tapped along the table. “You belong to me now. Only I am allowed to abuse you.”

Jack cringed while I tried to stifle a cackle. His dream of learning the greatest kinds of magic was coming at a great price indeed.

I’d never seen Talisa be so sinister either. I was lucky to have seen the nice side while I lived with her.

“Well, once he’s free from your apprenticeship, he’ll belong to Shadow.” I smirked, while shaking the thought of a scary Talisa. “You owe him for this.”

“Yes, I haven’t forgotten,” Jack grumbled.

Talisa chuckled. “Ah, that reminds me! I have to come up with more favors to collect from our dear warrior elf. I wonder how many years I can stretch these favors for…”

“That’s terrible, Talisa.” An idea, however, came to mind. “Could one perhaps be for him to go easy on me during my weapons training?”

“Oh goddesses, Artemis!” Talisa scowled. “You need all the help you can get. Don’t think I haven’t heard about you skipping out on your lessons.” I cringed. “Serlene would never shut up about it. Better for Shadow to be your instructor than me! It wouldn’t matter who your mother was, Artemis. I would have you train without sleep!”

“You do know she shot an elf, right?” Jack asked.

“Oh, I heard. It’s one of Serlene’s favorite rants.” Talisa snorted. “A shame it wasn’t her. She’s in a desperate need of a lesson in humility, and Serlene should learn the appreciation of silence as well.”

Jack laughed. “I can agree with that assessment.”

“You shush!” Talisa snapped. “Never speak ill of your previous teachers. No matter how terrible or bothersome they could be, you must still respect the time they’ve given as instructors.”

“But Talisa—” I started.

“But nothing!” she said, now making
me
flinch. “Respect the time that was given.
Always
.”

“Of all the things I should be scolded about, it’s about shooting that elf. Even Shadow overlooked it.” I frowned.

Talisa rolled her eyes. “It was an accident. Get over it for goddess’ sake.”

Finishing her tea, Talisa deemed it time for her departure. She glanced at Jack, who hung his head and nodded soon after. Jack explained that it was time for Talisa to speak to his aunt and that he had to pack for the move to Talisa’s cottage.

“I wish I could be there to see the old goat cringe.” I smiled.

Jack laughed, but quickly stifled it as soon as Talisa shot him a look.

“Do visit, Artemis,” Talisa said as she kissed my cheek good-bye. “I want to know all about your weapons training once it starts. Bruises and all.”

“Be well until then, Talisa,” I said.

I looked at Jack, and it set in: I was really going to miss seeing him on a daily basis. I tried to reassure him during a farewell hug. “You’re going to be just fine. I’ll visit soon, I promise.”

“You better,” Jack replied. “I’ll haunt you for the rest of your days if you don’t.”

I slapped the back of his head, and he shrugged in mock innocence. As they left, I cleaned up and decided to visit the one friend I now had left in Ellewynth.

Lady Clarayne dismissed her servant some time after Shadow’s visit. She didn’t want the girl around once Lords Celstian and Destrius arrived at the hall—the girl was already bothersome, and the last thing Lady
Clarayne wanted was for the rest of the city to learn about the full-bloods squatting within the Woodland Realm.

Lady Clarayne heard the hall doors slam and felt tense. Lord Destrius was known for making a ruckus whenever he was around, and he made even more of a scene when angered. Oddly enough, it was perhaps the first time Lady Clarayne shared his sentiments.

“Honestly, Destrius, do you have to be so loud all the time?” a male voice scolded. “I’m sure Clarayne has a perfectly good explanation for summoning us back to the hall.”

“I was perfectly fine sitting at home with my wife, Celstian!” Lord Destrius snapped. “Willow be damned, we’ve
just
returned! Avilyne’s hell! Official business could wait until the morning for all I care.”

Lady Clarayne rubbed her temples as her office door flung open. She glanced at the two Elders who stepped inside; Lord Celstian was the eldest of the three, but no one outside of the elven race would be able to make the distinction. His silvery blond hair hung past his shoulders, and he wore dark green robes that complemented his blue eyes.

Beside him stood Lord Destrius, the youngest of the trio. Lord Destrius was well known for his fiery temper, and while it worried most of the people in the Woodland Realm, he had proved himself worthy of the Elder status time and time again during times of war.

He stood at the door with an angered disposition; his dark blond hair was pulled away from his face, and he wore dark brown robes. His green eyes flared at Lady Clarayne.

“What is just
so
important that it couldn’t wait until the morning, Clarayne?” Lord Destrius demanded. “As I recall, it was
you
who said you’d deal with the daily affairs while Celstian and I enjoyed our moment of peace.”

“Yes, I’m aware of that, Destrius,” Lady Clarayne began. “However, there is a very important matter that requires a discussion. And no, it couldn’t wait until the morrow.”

Lord Celstian made his way to one of the chairs opposite Lady Clarayne and sat down. His brow furrowed.

Lord Destrius huffed as he sat in the remaining chair. “Explain yourself, then.”

Lady Clarayne rubbed her temples once more. “When we returned, we learned of odd disturbances occurring within the realm. They reached almost as close as Talisa’s cottage.”

“And we sent a messenger to Talisa to investigate,” Lord Celstian stated. “Has she already done so?”

“Shadow was the one who went to investigate,” Lady Clarayne explained.

“Soleil burn me,” Lord Destrius muttered. “The boy takes after you, Clarayne. He doesn’t know how to enjoy his spare time. He needs a woman.”

“Shadow wanted to enjoy his freedom as much as the rest of us, Destrius,” Lady Clarayne scolded, as she ignored the last comment. “I don’t understand why he was the one who investigated instead of Talisa, but nonetheless, he arrived today with a brief report.”

“And?” Lord Celstian inquired. “Judging from the urgency of your summons, it seems as if you believe we’re entering a new battle.”

“We very well may be.” Lady Clarayne took a deep breath before continuing. “Full-bloods have been found responsible for these deaths.”

The room went cold as the lords both shut their eyes and hung their heads.

“What do those damned corpses want with us now?” Lord Destrius hissed.

“Do we even know from which city or territory these particular full-bloods came from?” Lord Celstian inquired.

“Blackwen City, according to Shadow.”

“And it just keeps getting better, doesn’t it?” Lord Destrius roared, now rising from his chair. “We should have destroyed that city ages ago! We
had
that chance, and you two let it slip!”

“Destrius, you are well aware of why we couldn’t do that then. You also know why we will not do so now,” Lord Celstian reminded him. “We all well know how Arlina Ravenwing is. She hasn’t ventured within the realm for nearly twenty-one years. We remember what happened then, yes? There can only be one reason why she’s returned here now.”

“Yes, Celstian, she could have learned that we have the dhampir brat living in our city,” Lord Destrius answered. “I told you both when
Talisa first brought Tamina’s hellspawn here that the
vampyra
would be the death of us.”

“And
I
also reminded you that while we do have warring relations with the vampiric races, Artemis’ mother helped our people countless times. Tamina did so to create an alliance between us and the Dark Fortress. She would have been the Mistress had she still lived today,” Lady Clarayne reminded him, failing to hold back her anger. “To have ordered Talisa to abandon Artemis would have been equivalent to spitting on Tamina’s grave and forgetting all that she had done for us.”

“Where is Shadow now, Clarayne?” Lord Celstian asked.

Lady Clarayne was thankful for Lord Celstian’s interjection. “He’s either at home or out for a ride. Our meeting did not end on a happy note.”

“I wouldn’t have expected it to, seeing how he cares for the dhampir,” Lord Celstian said. “I propose we bring him here tomorrow to restate his report to myself and Destrius. Afterward, we can decide how to proceed.”

“I’d rather hand over the brat to Arlina while we still can. Then the bitch will stay away from our realm for another twenty years or so,” Destrius grumbled.

Lady Clarayne glared at Lord Destrius as she reached for a blank sheet of parchment. “I’ll have a message sent to Shadow, and he’ll repeat to you what he has already said to me. I agree with Celstian on the matter of listening to the report and then deciding once you two fully understand what lies before us.”

“You’re too damn soft, Clarayne,” Lord Destrius berated her. “Perhaps it’s time you stepped down.”

“Not all consider it a weakness, Destrius,” Lady Clarayne snapped. “And the ones who will decide whether or not I continue as Elder of this realm are the goddesses themselves.”