Chapter 9 – Rowan
ROWAN
The scent of smoke and ash burns my nose as the approaching army ravages its way through the forest.
The castle has deteriorated into a flurry of panic and fear, the evacuation now well underway.
“It’s not fair.” I cross my arms, staring out at the dark army through my bedroom window, at risk of sounding like a petulant faeling. But Alita just informed me we would leave Rosecliff within the hour, along with Fel, most of the soldiers, the Rose Court, and villagers, but—without Riven.
The governess sighs in exasperation; for once her attention is not on me, too busy micromanaging the maids in packing up my gowns. Heavens forbid a gown escape a military siege with a crease!
Fel and Riven are locked in an emergency war council meeting, one I’m not allowed to attend. It’s not fair how decisions are being made about our beloved home, and I’m not even permitted an opinion.
Or how Riven will oversee the evacuation of both the castle and village; I’m not even allowed to help.
Useless. My body vibrates with untethered energy. I’m unsettled, looking out the window at the impossibly large army headed our way, in the gown Alita forced over my head this morning—doing nothing.
Below us, both fae and humans alike scurry about the small village, rushing to enter one of the castle’s evacuation tunnels before they’re magically sealed.
There are three: one within the village itself, another in the soldiers’ keep hidden behind a false wall in the armoury, and a third at the very top of the west tower.
Once the evacuation is complete, Riven will magically seal the entrances, and not even the King of Sitara himself could open them back up. The walls of Rosecliff should hold, like they have for centuries, but for some reason, Fel has issued the order to evacuate.
My eyes catch upon a small family, carrying what little they can, along with their two small children, hurrying along the path.
I can help.
I want to help.
But instead, I’m up here. Dressed like a porcelain doll in a fine silk gown, my hair curled and braided, a delicate gold crown of thorns and roses atop my head, expected to wait patiently until I can be escorted to safety with the rest of the Rose Court ladies.
Alita rubs her temples. “Rowena, I do not have time for this today. You will do as you are told, and that is the end of it.” She waves her hand at the maid anxiously waiting by the door. “Liana will escort you to the tunnels.”
Since news of the army has spread, the castle is a mess of tension and worry. Even Alita looks paler than usual, the familiar sharpness of her tone cutting less.
That Alita has not seized the opportunity to lecture and punish such blatant disrespect is further evidence that the situation we find ourselves in is quite grave indeed.
Reluctantly, I drag myself from the window, joining Liana at the door before allowing her to lead me from my room, all while my mind runs away from me.
Why here?
I’m well aware Sitara is on the brink of war, but it never once crossed my mind that the war would start here—at Rosecliff. The castle is of little value; it’s beautiful, sure, but aside from its sprawling rose gardens, it has nothing to offer.
Liana leads us through the east wing corridors, the halls bustling with nobles and their servants as they make to flee. But just as we’re about to cross into the castle’s west wing, Riven comes into my sights.
He’s down the hall, dressed in the shining gold armour of Sitara, conversing seriously with two of the lords’ sons.
They were probably permitted to attend the war council meeting, I think bitterly to myself. Shrugging out of Liana’s grip, I race down the hall, nearly colliding with my brother in my haste.
Ignoring Liana’s panicked hissing at my back, as soon as I reach my brother, words spill out of me in a near-incoherent rush.
“Slow down, Rowan. For the gods’ sake,” Riven curses, drawing me away from his friends and giving them a quick nod of dismissal.
I suck in a breath, attempting to calm down, but I cannot slow my rapid rate of speech. “What are they saying? Is it Miselys coming for all of Sitara? Is it wild fae from Daekhar? More Kovari soldiers?”
And then, quieter—almost a whisper—I ask the question I most want the answer to. The rumor that’s swirled through the castle hall for the last several hours. “Is it true they have a Raven?”
As the words leave my mouth, Riven’s eyes go wide, quickly glancing around us before practically shoving me out onto the nearest terrace.
My brother’s eyes scan the balcony, ensuring we’re alone, before he whirls on me. “How do you know about that?”
I roll my eyes, my hands finding my hips. “Of course I know. Honestly, give me a little credit, would ya?” I give him a look. “What I need to know is whether or not it’s true.”
My eyes search his, looking for the answer in them.
Since they are so determined to shut me out of everything, I’ve made it my life’s mission to know just about everything I shouldn’t. It’s one of the few skills I excel at, too—to the dismay of everyone around me.
The servants’ passages are good for more than just sneaking down to the training grounds or the dungeons.
As word of the army broke, I overheard whispers spreading through the castle like wildfire—a rumor that a Raven marches among the army closing in on Rosecliff.
Ever since the dark army appeared beyond our borders last night, it’s all the guards have spoken of.
Quietly, of course. In hushed voices and behind closed doors, as though keeping the words secret might somehow make them less real.
I can hardly blame them. The thought of a demon lurking just beyond the castle walls is enough to frighten even the bravest soldier. That same dread coils deep within my stomach as I search Riven’s face, finding the truth written plainly in his eyes.
It’s true.
“Rowan—” he starts.
I ignore the tired way he says it, too used to my name coming out of everyone’s mouths that way. “We don’t have secrets.” I frown, hurt flashing in my eyes.
My brother glares down at me, well aware he’s being manipulated before he finally breaks, but not before uttering a few choice curse words at my persistence.
“Out with it,” I growl, folding my arms over my chest, irritated that he’s making me berate him for the information.
Defeated, he caves like a sandcastle at high tide.
“It’s the Kovarian army that approaches.”
My eyes widen with surprise. The humans? My thoughts immediately go to Theo.
“They’ll reach our walls just before dawn.” His green eyes, so much like my own but lighter with flecks of gold, study my face, still hesitant to continue. “Our scouts have reported seeing a Raven with them, yes.”
My heart drops at the confirmation of what I knew deep down was true, but still had hoped—prayed to the gods—it wasn’t.
A Raven.
A shadow walker.
The monster has many names. The demon, as I prefer to call it, has the power to bring Rosecliff, and maybe even all of Sitara itself, to its knees.
It was bold of Kovaria to attack the faeries. They have clashed a few times in the past, sure; tension on the borders is fairly normal, and while the humans have the numbers, they lack power—magic. But a Raven… A Raven would give them the advantage they truly need to take on the fae.
I release a slow breath, lifting my chin to meet my brother’s eyes once again. “So that’s it then, we’re just giving up? Turning tail and running?” My fingers curl into fists at my sides. “We should fight.”
Riven’s usual mischievous grin is nowhere to be seen. Instead, a tense and barely contained anger graces his sharp features. “Even if they didn’t have a Raven… the castle guard can’t face Kovaria alone.”
“But the walls—” I argue, but Riven cuts me off.
“—will only hold so long.”
The appearance of an anxious-looking maid draws both of our attention. It’s not Liana; I don’t recognize her, but already know she must be one of Alita’s. The governess was as dissatisfied with her maids as she usually is with her princess; she almost always had a new one in rotation.
The maid gives a quick curtsy, her eyes wide as she addresses both Riven and me. “Your Majesties.”
I ignore her, turning my attention back to my brother, but he nods his head for her to continue.
“Princess, Lady Alita sent me to check that you are ready to depart. She—” the maid stutters nervously, “she is waiting for you at the west tower entrance.” She’s referring to the evacuation tunnel.
I scowl, not at the maid, the poor, quivering thing. What a day to be in service to the governess. “Please tell her she should go ahead. I will remain here until Prince Riven has completed his duties, and he shall escort me through the tunnels himself.”
My twin stiffens beside me.
The maid, fearing the consequences she might face if she returns to the tunnel entrance without me, chews her lip, her hands anxiously smoothing down her already smooth skirts.
“You should go,” Riven pushes, turning to face me.
I glare at him.
“I’m serious, Rowan. The Kovarian army is nearly within striking distance. It’s not safe. Fel and most of his men have already gone through to secure the tunnels and lead the first group of evacuees. They will seal the tunnels soon.”
I already know Riven is to oversee the final stages of the evacuation, but is supposed to leave Rosecliff before Kovaria attacks.
“No, I’m not leaving you.” I step forward, gripping the balcony railing tightly, lest someone try to tear me from it.
“Rowan,” Riven whispers, “I’ll be fine.”
“Yes, you will,” I assert. “And I will be here waiting for you when you are fine, and the two of us will leave Rosecliff together.” I look at him, my tone leaving no room for argument.
With an army led by a demon outside, there is no chance in all the hells that I would leave my twin behind.
Riven inhales deeply before speaking, keeping his voice low as he eyes the waiting maid who is growing increasingly more nervous as time passes. “Alita won’t like it.”
“Alita doesn’t like anything I do,” I dismiss with a wave of my hand.
“Father won’t like it,” he counters.
I clench my jaw, gripping the balcony railing a little tighter. “Then Father should be here. Shouldn’t he?”
Someone sent a falcon to the capital as soon as the army appeared, but our father has not yet responded.
“They’re about to get everything they wanted out of me. They can at least let me make this one choice.” There’s venom in my words, but Riven doesn’t get the chance to argue, because the sounding of a horn interrupts our conversation.
Courtiers and servants in the halls freeze at the sound; peasants and villagers in the streets all stop and look up in alarm. And when a second horn trumpets through the air—panic. The second brings forth a flurry of movement and shouts.
My heart races as Riven unsheathes his sword from his belt.
I eye the sword enviously; I’m not permitted a sword, but I do have my knife.
Hidden in my skirts and strapped to my thigh, as always.
It’s a simple blade, but sharp as anything.
A thorny rose, carved into the steel hilt as if it were wrapped around it.
The blade is my favorite thing in the entire world, but would be little defense against, say, an army.
Resisting the overwhelming itch to grab its handle, I turn my attention back to the maid, who still stands by the terrace doorway, trembling. Drawing myself up, I lift my chin. While I don’t enjoy playing the role of princess, I am exceptionally good at it.
“Go,” I say, giving her a hard look. “Tell Alita I am with the prince, and he will escort me to safety alongside our guard.” My voice is stern, but still kind. “If she insists on accompanying me herself, she may wait for us to join her.”
I sneak a sly smile at my twin as he pretends not to notice. It’s clear he does not approve of my staying, but short of dragging me through the tunnels himself, there’s little he can do about it. The rest of the castle guard is far too busy with the evacuation and preparing for the attack.
Though reluctant, the maid’s eyes flicker back to the hall inside, where the servants who remain in the castle are now running toward the west tower. With one last look of desperation in my direction, the trembling maid drops to a curtsy and scurries away.
A grin spreads across my cheeks at the minor victory. Even if I’ll pay for it later—especially if my father finds out. The joy at winning the small battle quickly fades as I join Riven in looking back out over the balcony.
Two horns. My heart thumps hard within my chest.
Kovaria is here.