The Wraith

Chapter 5

Rowan:

It was around midnight. I hadn’t slept. My mind was running circles around the events that happened in the last day. It shocked me that Raven had found some of the information that I couldn’t find. It would be more so Jesper who would have gotten the information.

Looking over at Raven, she’s still fast asleep on the bed. Kaz is lying next to her, curled around her.

Raven is beautiful as Jesper had committed the other night. It had initially shocked me that she was human. You don’t have many humans working in the underground. It’s not an easy life.

Raven being a spider is more safe for her, physically and mentally. Physically because yes you may need to be fit to run and climb, but you don’t have to fight off other assassins or most guards. It’s also better mentally, you don’t have to live through the guilt of killing someone.

I am curious as to what caused the fire. I understand that the emperor had publicly decreed his order, but how did the fire come about? Sighing in frustration I get up from the bed walking to the window.

The fresh air lightly blows in as I open the window. A couple minutes later I hear rustling from behind me. Looking behind me I see Jesper get up walking over to me.

“What are you doing up?” I ask him. He always sleeps really heavy, “Why are you up?” he replies looking outside.

Shrugging I look back outside, “Couldn’t sleep.” “Neither could I.” “What do you think caused the fire?” I ask, “I’ve been mulling over it in my head and it doesn’t make sense.” Jesper nods, “I originally thought that Raven had started it with alchemist fire, but…”

Shaking his head,

“She didn’t smell like magnesium and oil.” Nodding in agreement I look at the stars,

“Who was all at the manor this past day?” Jesper thinks for a couple minutes, “I only saw a few people I recognised, but no one of importance.”

Turning around I look at Raven. She has a bandage around her eye and temple, from the fire. “Where can we go?” Jesper asks, still looking outside. “We will travel south. We can go to a small port village that will have a Manor for us to stay for the time being.”

Nodding Jesper heads over to the washroom. Kaz woke up the moment I moved past the bed to the washroom. Splashing water on my face I hear Raven start to move around in the bed.

Kaz is already up grabbing the First Aid kit. Raven startles awake with a gasp looking around frantically. “Shhhhhh. Shhhh” Kaz says soothingly. Raven, still only half awake, starts to panic moving looking around the room. Staring at Jesper I mouth ‘don’t move’.

Raven slowly gets up. I can see Kaz struggling with himself to tell her to lay down. Frowning I move out of the way. She slowly makes her way to the washroom mirror. Gasping, and stumbling she raises a shaky hand to her bandage eye.

“We don’t know if you will be permanently blind or not.” Jesper says walking closer to her.

Lowering her head she nods still not looking away from the mirror. Kaz walks over to her slowly.

He slowly unwrapped the bandage covering her eye and temple. She starts shaking, staring at her white eye. Kaz runs a smoothing hand down her back. Her trembling slows, but doesn’t stop. Slowly he cleans and re-wraps her eye and temple.

Turning to us Kaz asks, “So what’s the plan?” still looking at Raven I say, “We’re going to Coarador. The Master of the Manor is a Friend of mine and will let us stay until we have a firm plan.” Nodding Kaz looks at Raven, “We packed a bag for you and Athia is in the stalls. I would like to be gone by night.” Nodding Raven walks to the dresser grabbing some clothes.

Kaz nods to us. Following him out of the room we make our way to the lobby. After breakfast we make our way to the stables where we ready the horses.

Raven;

My mind is empty. I can’t think of anything. I don’t know what's going on. I know that there was a fire. I remember running from the guards, and I remember pain. Blinding blistering pain in my eye and temple.

Now I know why. When I woke up I wondered why I could only see half the room. Now I know why. The shower was needed after all the bullshit that has happened this past day. The water is nice and calm as it runs down my body.

The city of Coarador is a nice quiet port city that is rather small. I’ve only been there once before. I was around 18 or 19. The master of the manor is polite, a little old school, but polite nonetheless. He believed that humans shouldn’t be in the underground, but respected me enough to not deny me jobs. I was only there for a short time.

The outfit I picked out is a simple black tunic and green leggings. I can smell eggs and hashbrowns from the hallway leading to the lobby. The cook looks at me with a tight smile, staring at my bandage. Glaring, I grab a plate making my way over to a table in the corner.

I see Rowan, Jesper, and Kaz all standing in by the stalls. “You think Raven’s ready to travel?” Jesper asks in a light whisper, “She has to be.” Kaz says

Rowan looks at me as I walk up to them. He’s always frowning when I’m around. Athia perks up at my appearance. Neighing softly she kicks at the stall. Smiling, I walk over to her petting her.

“Raven.” Kaz says. Looking over my shoulder I look at him, “We will be leaving at around…” Looking outside at the sun he says, “7 pm” Nodding I lead Athia way from the stalls bringing her outside. We walked around for a good hour before I took a nap.

At 6 I return to the Inn. It’s a rather nice hotel just… small. Kaz hands me my bag when I reach the room.

Rowan leads us. Kaz is next to me as Jesper is behind me. Looking at the setting sun. I can see the sky bleeding. Sighing I kick Athia into a trot