19. Raven #2
When I had read that part the night before, the light outside had been too dim to get a proper gander.
Although, the shadow was there. The mark of darkness was there all the time.
I, too, had noted the oddity, even before stepping through the palace gates.
Far too much time had passed since then, and I had yet to follow through. My investigation was overdue.
Stepping out onto the terrace, I immediately swung my attention to the tower and window in question. A blob of a shadow shifted around the opening. Narrowing my gaze, I studied the sight and movement. No feathers, so definitely not crows.
I returned to the bed and drafted my response to Chace, a smile flirting with my lips the entire time.
Curious Curse Chaser,
Please forgive my reckless abandonment of decorum. Although, I cannot confess to being sorry.
Mirroring one of your previous statements, I thank you for your concern, but no energy need be spent on worries. This black bird has a strong, sharp beak and will remain safe, perch or not. The bird rather enjoyed its last flight beyond the gilded cage (that is not a cage).
Since then, a few delicious treats have shaken loose inside the non-cage, and the bird is getting busy collecting all the pieces.
Let him read into that what he will. I couldn’t very well spell out everything that had transpired between me, Valen, and Winter. And if I did, he’d likely be jealous of all the information I was gathering regarding the curse.
As for that last consideration you left me with, I give you this: A shadow shifts both day and night, and a black bird will fly low to satisfy the curiosity.
No one’s servant,
Black Bird
My smile widened as I signed the note. He had called himself my servant, but I would confess to being no one’s minion…except the Reaper’s Council and Thanatos, the god of death.
Still, as I rolled up the parchment and sent it flying in the clutches of the large raven, I wished I had somehow managed to pour more into the letter. More about the task, my circumstances, just more about me in hopes of receiving more about him.
Shortly after sunrise, I emerged from my bedchamber to discover Neive setting breakfast on the table.
“Good morning, my lady.” Neive tipped her head. “You will be seeing a bit more of me than usual today. Lucas will be spending the day on other tasks.”
No doubt seeing to Winter. How long would his detox take?
A summons from the queen followed breakfast, and in a short time, I found myself standing before the royal in the very room where I’d sealed our deal in blood. The queen sat on the sofa facing the entry, an ignored tea set occupying the table before her.
She stood upon my arrival. I stepped into the room, and the door closed. And then it was the queen and me, and no one else.
A private conversation…or a berating, then.
And the royal clearly harbored no fear of me overpowering her or using any reaper gifts.
The queen cooled her skin with a handheld fan. “You waste my time, reaper. I need to see results, and you are providing none. Additionally, you shall immediately put a stop to any relations with my grandson.”
I crossed my arms and lifted my chin. “I didn’t invite him to do what he did.”
Well, I sort of did. But not to the indulgent extent he took advantage. He did not have permission to try and suck the life out of me.
The queen scoffed and slapped her handheld folding fan closed. “He would not have been in your room had you not allowed it. Allowing him in your presence is like shoving a trapped chicken onto a hot plate, turning up the heat, and telling the creature not to dance.”
Well…clearly, what happened with Winter the other night wasn’t something new.
“He may enjoy syphoning the magic out of weaker welders, but I cannot afford him taking on the kind of darkness that exists within your kind.”
Death magic.
“Now, leave my sight, avoid my grandson, and bring me the means to save my people.” She dismissed me with a wave of her hand.
I spent the rest of the day with the slightly crooked-nose version of Valen, studying, researching, and looking for a way around the queen’s reap-blocking magic.
If what Valen told me were true, and she was partially, if not fully responsible for the unreapable situation in the citadel, the least she could do would be to better point me in the proper direction. Provide me with more pertinent information to bring the dang thing to an end.
Only Valen’s words continued to ring in my ears, Do not mention it to her, lest your situation become far worse.
Why? Why couldn’t the magical-source topic be discussed?
When I finally returned to my rooms, a new chandelier hung over the table in the receiving room. I ate alone, with no visit from Winter or my two assigned servants, and then retired early, having received no reply from Chace.
The next morning, I awoke to the large raven waiting on the terrace. Taking time for nothing else first, I darted to the door, grabbed the scroll, thanked the bird, and dove back onto the bed to read.
Brave Black Bird,
Your beak is indeed strong. I have firsthand experience.
Nevertheless, please practice caution when in flight.
Feathers can too easily be plucked or torn.
And should our paths soon cross (although it is recommended that the bird stay near the perch), I would not be opposed to revisiting our last…
exchange. Your mention of delicious treats has me hungry for adventure and excitement.
Keep me abreast of any new unearthings, or treats turned sour, and maybe feed me a few tidbits regarding the creatures nearest you in that gilded cage.
Your curious Curse Chaser
P.S. You are most definitely no one’s servant.
My heart swelled in my chest, and I wasn’t sure why, but it wasn’t a bad feeling. Chace had yet to backpedal about the kiss, the things said about and around it. Why did the silly exchange of letters leave me warm and bubbly inside?
I scripted a reply, sent it on its way, then hid the one received with the other messages from Chace and got busy with the day. Lucas and Winter were a no-show, again, and Valen pawned me off on the portly royal advisor. I hadn’t seen the man since I’d sealed the deal with the queen.
He wasn’t the least bit interested in me, so I helped myself to the available archives while he read and signed document after document.
No one left me alone long enough to get anywhere near the tower with the questionable window.
That night was another dinner alone, as Neive was too busy to sit and socialize. And that evening, no reply came from Chace.
The next two days were more of the same. And my heart began to worry. For Chace and Winter.
But mostly Chace.