Child of Blackwen (An Artemis Ravenwing Novel Book 1) Read online

  “Shadow, I look forward to the day you admit to Artemis that you love her. I really do.” Talisa dramatically sighed. “Until then…”

  “Why are you here when you now have an apprentice?” Shadow demanded.

  “Just because things between you and Artemis have temporarily gone sour doesn’t mean you have to be a sourpuss to me!” Talisa berated him. Shadow kept silent, mostly out of irritation. “Oh fine, you stubborn fool. I was looking for you.”

  “Really now.”

  “I’ll overlook that bit of sarcasm, elf,” Talisa warned. She then sighed. “Things have been, ah, strange.”

  “Get to the point, Talisa.” Shadow rubbed his brow. “I’m not in the mood tonight.”

  “Just to let you know, I really dislike it when sourpuss Shadow is out and about,” Talisa scolded. She rolled her eyes after Shadow glared at her. “Fine, fine. I’ve…I’ve been seeing Tamina.”

  Shadow focused on Azrael when he felt her shake at the mention of Tamina’s name.

  “She’s been visiting us all.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Talisa asked. Shadow glanced at her, and she then understood. “Willow be damned. She visited Artemis.”

  “In a manner of speaking,” Shadow replied. “Artemis now knows the truth about Tamina as well as her noble bloodline.”

  “What?”

  Azrael dipped her head at the sudden scream, flicking her ears as if she were in pain.

  “Apologies, Azrael,” Talisa said. Her focus returned to Shadow. “You were the one who made it clear that we had to keep silent on the matter around Artemis! How did this happen?”

  “When push comes to shove, you push back,” Shadow answered. “For some time, Tamina has been visiting Artemis through dreams, showing her fighting a woman who we well know and thoroughly hate. She’s been seeing the very precursor to her mother’s death.”

  “Goddesses…” Talisa gasped. “She really knows everything, then? Throne and all?”

  “Yes.”

  “Wonderful. Callypso might be right after all…”

  “Callypso? Your elemental friend?”

  “Yes. Tamina wanted me to send her to her gravesite,” Talisa explained. “She wanted Callypso to find and obtain her sai.”

  Shadow’s eyes widened. “Another player in the game…”

  Talisa shot him a confused stare. “What are you talking about? Who else is involved?”

  “This game Tamina is stringing us along in,” Shadow answered. “And the other person is a dhampir named Netira. She is the former Second of Blackwen City, and now a prisoner of Ellewynth.”

  “As in the same Netira who is responsible for the death of those elves?” Talisa asked.

  “She’s innocent, Talisa,” Shadow stressed. “The ones who were responsible met their end by her hands. Arlina punished her with a harsh version of exile.”

  “As expected from that usurper. How strange that Arlina did not know about the girl’s heritage…” Talisa mused. “What doesn’t make sense right now is why Tamina would send the dhampir to us.”

  “Think about it, Talisa. You’ve just told me that Tamina sent Callypso to find her sai, which I would assume she would want to be used by Artemis. Netira may be exiled from her birthplace, but that only means that her purpose is…?” Shadow stopped, hoping Talisa would understand his point. He relaxed a bit when he watched her expression shift.

  “She’s the way into the Dark Fortress.”

  Shadow nodded. “I think Artemis intends to spring Netira free and have her guide the way to Blackwen City.”

  “But Artemis barely knows the woman!”

  “It won’t stop her.” Shadow frowned. “She needs time to think, though. All of this did come at once.”

  “You can’t let her go. She’ll be killed, even with Tamina’s sai at her disposal.”

  “She won’t go alone with Netira.” Shadow took a deep breath. “She may hate me at the moment, but I plan on making things right between us again.”

  “So you’ll accompany her, should she make the decision to leave.”

  “Yes, I will.”

  “And what if Arlina comes and attacks Ellewynth? You are a soldier. You have your duties to the realm. You know what happens if you abandon them.”

  Shadow mounted Azrael and stared ahead into the open forest.

  “She will come and attack Ellewynth. And my priority will be Artemis’ safety. Ellewynth…Ellewynth will have to rely on others to defend her. If I am branded a deserter, so be it.”

  “You can’t mean that.” Talisa was horrified. “I won’t let you go with her.”

  “I mean every word,” Shadow said. “I already know you’ll come with us. Jack will follow along because he’s your apprentice, and Callypso will come because she’ll worry about your well-being.”

  “Callypso will not go with us,” Talisa snapped. “She’s already treading on dangerous ground, living the way she is right now.”

  “Oh, I think she’ll come along.” Shadow smiled as he saw Talisa covering her mouth after her words. “I know you, old friend. As for Callypso, the fact that she’s an elemental will not stop her from joining us.”

  Talisa sighed in defeat. “When did things become so disastrous?”

  Azrael snorted at her, which made Shadow laugh.

  “Indeed, Azrael. Nothing ever goes the way we plan.”

  “You truly are a gift, wise one.” Talisa patted Azrael’s neck. Azrael nudged Talisa as a way of saying thank you. “You’re certain of this.” Shadow nodded, and she sighed once more. “I’ll go to Artemis. I can handle a peeved dhampir, after all.”

  “Best of luck to you.”

  “Shadow…promise me you won’t do anything stupid tonight.”

  Shadow didn’t answer as he rode off.

  I sat on my windowsill, staring at the night sky. My eyes itched and puffed after crying for so long. As upset as I was with Shadow, I understood why he’d kept the secrets. If I were him, I’d probably have done the same.

  It still hurt, nonetheless.

  And Netira…there was something about her that piqued my curiosity. I’d never met another dhampir before, and I was intrigued, despite her being from Blackwen City. She hid her heritage too, but after meeting her, she did not seem to share the struggles I had.

  Avilyne’s hell, the Dark Fortress. I hated that half my blood traced back to that place, not to mention that I had legitimate ties to its throne. I didn’t want it, but it did not matter. Arlina was coming to Ellewynth, and she would most likely burn the place down after killing me. There was no way I could fight her, not with the low level of skill I possessed. If I could free Netira and leave Ellewynth, I could prolong my encounter with my aunt. I could learn how to fight from Netira during our journey, even if it was just a matter of defending myself from Arlina.

  I had to try.

  Before I could free Netira, I would have to speak to Shadow. It would only be fair to our friendship for me to say my farewells to him. Once I left Ellewynth, I wouldn’t ever see him or the others again. The thought pained me, but it would be the right thing to do.

  No one should have to suffer anymore because of who I was.

  “Artemis?” I heard a female voice call from below. I saw Talisa standing in front of my door.

  “Talisa?” I said, confused at her presence. “What are you doing here in Ellewynth? Where’s Jack?”

  “I wouldn’t worry about him,” she answered. She beckoned for me to move. “Why don’t you come down and join me for a moonlight stroll?”

  “I mean no offense, but I would prefer not to leave my home tonight.”

  Talisa crossed her arms. “Let’s try this again. Why don’t you come down and join me for a moonlight stroll?”

  I noted the tone she used, which meant she was here for important matters rather than a casual visit. I nodded.

  I didn’t bother to change out of my nightgown, and I especially ignored the need to bind my hair. I took a cloak fr
om my trunk and wrapped it around my shoulders. Once I stepped outside, Talisa flashed me a satisfied smile and linked my arm with hers.

  “I’ve heard you and Shadow are not speaking. Or should I say, you’re not speaking to him,” she began, while leading the stroll.

  I groaned. “Temporarily. I’ve…I’ve learned a lot of things tonight.”

  “Yes, I know,” Talisa said. “I take part of the blame for keeping the truth from you about your mother, Arlina, and your noble bloodline. Shadow and I thought it would be better to give you a clean slate, so to speak. Don’t be too hard on him.”

  “I understand,” I answered. “But these are the truths I needed to know.”

  “Would anything have changed?” Talisa asked. “Sometimes a lie can do some good, Artemis. You would have loathed yourself more than usual if you learned the truth of who you were while you were still a child.”

  I changed the subject. “Talisa, why are you in Ellewynth? Shouldn’t you be at your cottage instructing Jack?”

  “Normally, yes.” Talisa snorted. “I had some matters to discuss with Shadow. Once I found him, I learned of your events in the Hall of the Elders. I thought perhaps you’d like to talk.”

  “There’s nothing left to talk about.” I frowned. “Netira needs to be freed, and I must go to Blackwen City.”

  “You plan on fighting Arlina then? You can barely fight as is.”

  “I’m well aware of that.”

  “Are you so eager to throw your life away, Artemis?”

  “No,” I snapped. I took a deep breath as we continued our walk. “I think it’s time things are done on my terms. Not Arlina’s, not Shadow’s, and certainly not my mother’s.”

  “Shadow mentioned you’ve been seeing Tamina through dreams.”

  “Dreams, visions, call them what you will.” I glanced at Talisa, who continued to watch me with concern. “I now understand that she’s been trying to tell me that her own sister murdered her and that Arlina is coming after me. Escaping Ellewynth and journeying to Blackwen City will give me enough time to prepare for her.”

  Talisa groaned. “If only it were so simple.”

  “You think there’s more?”

  “I know there’s more.” Talisa frowned. “I’m sure you think so too. I know you’re a stubborn one, but you can’t be that dense!”

  “That’s awfully comforting, Talisa.”

  “I call it as I see it, dear one, and you’ve known it since you were a child.” Talisa stopped and took my face in her hands. I could now see the tears in her eyes. “Don’t go to Blackwen City. Trust Shadow and me to protect you here, as we always have. Please, dear one. You’ve always feared your dhampir heritage, especially because you believed it would make you kill people. You will be killing people willingly if you go on this journey.”

  I grasped her hands and brought them down. I didn’t let go of them, and I looked right into her eyes with tears of my own. She was right about the killing part…it was going to take some time for me to accept that.

  “I’m sorry, Talisa. I love you both, but this is something I need to do. Arlina will come for me. I want to make sure that when she does find me, I can put up a fight and end it all.”

  “You’ll leave us and put your trust in some dhampir you barely know?” I could hear the pain in her voice, and it was breaking my heart.

  “Yes,” I said after a moment of silence.

  Talisa was in disbelief. “I won’t let you do it. Shadow won’t let you do it.”

  “I’m going to Blackwen City whether you like it or not, Talisa,” I stressed. “The only other option left is for you to join me, and it’s not an option I’d prefer.”

  “And whether I go with you or not is something you have no control over, Artemis,” Talisa snapped. “And what about Shadow? Don’t you care enough about him to maybe change your mind and let him help?”

  I sighed and turned away.

  “I do care about him…but Shadow has done enough for me already.”

  aresu walkes into the morning light, squinting at the view of the forest ahead. He did not wear the rune cloaks the scouts and soldiers donned; he was simply adorned with a black tunic with billowing sleeves and black breeches. He twisted the silver band that rested on his middle finger while feeling the curved engraved runes along his fingertips. With the charm, he welcomed the sunlight. Netira had helped him gain an appreciation for the daylight hours since its creation.

  The ring had been a tedious project, one that Arlina constantly praised him for once he was met with success. What the Mistress didn’t know was that someone else had begun the project ages ago; Karesu only added a few more tricks of his own. He was in the process of making one for Arlina, only she demanded it be a bracelet rather than a ring. And of course, she ignored his warnings that the construction of the bracelet would take longer. Karesu had the idea of adding other runes along with the protective ones for sunlight, but thought it was safer not to. He still had to serve the damned woman until he could find Netira in Ellewynth and escape.

  Karesu remembered how Netira wanted to save their city. He recalled how he swore to help her do so. The dream was the only thing letting them sleep at night, considering all the dark things they had done in Arlina’s name. That dream of saving the Dark Fortress was lost now. He was certain he could hide himself and Netira from Arlina, even if it meant isolation from the rest of Arrygn. Karesu knew he wouldn’t regret such a notion. He found himself enjoying the idea of solitude with Netira.

  Ignoring the rest of the brood, he strolled around the camp and felt for any source of magic nearby. The forest of the Woodland Realm had its own deep, ancient magic, and it always fascinated Karesu. Had the circumstances been different, Karesu would have been delighted to stay and study the energy sensations the forest produced. The veils were the most intriguing aspect of the realm, and he made a mental note to apologize to the forest one day for the forceful violation he would have to commit.

  While on his walk, he passed by Arlina’s tent. Karesu could feel the malice from where he stood, and out of sheer morbid curiosity, he thought to see the Mistress. Before he could announce himself, Arlina herself stepped out. Wearing one of the protective runes cloaks Karesu first created, she eyed him with caution.

  “What are you doing here, mage?” she asked, her tone cold.

  “I was curious to see if you needed my assistance,” he replied, amused at Arlina’s squinting. It appeared she hadn’t slept well again. “After all, we grow closer to the forest.”

  “If I want your assistance, you’ll know it,” Arlina snapped.

  Karesu watched Arlina gaze at the forest, and he couldn’t mistake her shudder at the sight.

  It took some self-control for him not to smile at her misery.

  “Mistress, are you well?” he inquired, taking care to sound concerned.

  Arlina quickly shifted in his direction with visible annoyance. “Of course I am well. What kind of ridiculous question is that?”

  “You were shaking,” Karesu answered, while desperately trying to hide a smirk.

  “It was the wind moving my cloak!” Arlina barked. “I do not shake.”

  “Very well, then.” Karesu started to take his leave. He then stopped. “Oh, I almost forgot. You do not mind if I take some time along the borderlands, of course?”

  “What in Avilyne’s hell for?”

  “You wanted me to discover the veils and their locations,” Karesu reminded her. “I’ll need some time in the borderlands. Alone.”

  “Do what you want.” Arlina waved him away. “Get out of my sight.”

  Making sure to bow, he walked away from Arlina. He returned to his tent and made sure to arm himself with his sword, which had unique, swirling calligraphy etched into the blade. Unlike the runes he created and worked with, the calligraphy was of something much older; there was great power in this sword, which he hadn’t been able to unlock. While Karesu hadn’t any knowledge of what or where the calligraphy was from
, he had kept it hidden from Arlina and done endless research back in Blackwen City. Karesu could find neither what the calligraphy meant nor why it felt so much like a part of his magic. He’d always held the feeling that even without the proper knowledge it would prove useful one day—besides its obvious use.

  He sheathed the longsword and took a deep breath. Karesu was ready to venture into the borderlands of the Woodland Realm.

  Callypso sat cross-legged on the earth, staring at the pair of sai that lay a far distance from her. Ever since she’d retrieved them, Callypso felt the need to wear gloves and boots more and more. She didn’t want Tamina’s lingering energy within the weapons seeping into her spirit and tainting it. The conversation she’d had with the specter disturbed her enough.

  Narrowing her gaze at the favored weapons of the Ravenwing women, Callypso recalled the growing number of failures she’d had in the effort to purify them. She had gone as far as taking them to the Grove of Kiare’s Mirror, hoping the water goddess would take pity on her and send some answers.

  To her dismay, that failed too. Tamina’s will was far too strong, and it worried the elemental. She snatched up one of the blades and looked closely at the hilt embedded with garnet and onyx.

  “Odd…” Callypso said.

  The jewels were dull and remained so after Callypso rubbed them with a gloved finger. There was no shine to them, no luminosity.

  It puzzled her.

  Taking the other sai and hiding the weapons in a dark handkerchief, Callypso stood up and followed the path to Talisa’s cottage. It had been some time since she last saw the witch, and she figured Talisa might have been annoyed that she hadn’t returned to her with the weapons. Riding the wind, Callypso arrived at the cottage before the night set in.

  Before she knocked on the small oak door, it opened. Callypso found herself face to face with the elf mage, Jack. His startled expression made her chuckle. His actions toward her in general were amusing.

  “Hello, Jack,” she greeted him.

  “C-Callypso!” he said, still catching his breath. “What brings you here at this hour?”