Chapter 12: Travellers.
1198 Words
Night settled fully over Ravencrest, the torches along the castle walls burning steadily as the guards took their evening positions. The courtyard had quieted, most of the servants already retreating indoors after finishing their duties.
Arabella walked slowly along the stone path that circled the courtyard. The evening air carried a faint chill, but she did not mind it. The cool breeze felt refreshing after spending most of the day inside the castle walls.
She had noticed something earlier.
The guards had changed their routes again.
It was subtle, but she had started paying attention to the rhythm of the place. The same men who usually passed through the eastern archway had suddenly begun walking the northern side instead. Two more guards had been stationed near the outer gate.
Ravencrest was not simply cautious tonight. It was tense.
Arabella paused beside the well and looked up at the tower windows glowing faintly in the darkness.
Footsteps sounded behind her.
She did not need to turn around to know who it was.
“You walk around the courtyard often,” Aziel said.
Arabella turned slightly.
“You notice my habits now?”
Aziel stopped a few steps away.
“It is difficult not to.”
Arabella studied him carefully.
His posture was calm as always, but there was something different in the way he watched the courtyard tonight.
“Something is wrong,” she said.
Aziel did not answer immediately.
Arabella crossed her arms.
“You increased the guards. The patrol routes changed. People are whispering in the kitchens again.”
Aziel finally looked at her.
“You observe more than most people.”
“I have a lot of time to observe.”
He glanced toward the outer gate where two guards stood with spears.
“There may be travelers nearby,” he said.
Arabella raised an eyebrow.
“Travelers make an entire castle nervous?”
Aziel did not respond.
Arabella let out a small breath.
“You know, most people would simply say they do not want to talk about it.”
“That is exactly what I am saying.”
She stared at him for a moment before shaking her head slightly.
“You are impossible.”
A faint hint of amusement crossed his face.
“You are persistent.”
Before Arabella could reply, a guard approached quickly across the courtyard.
“My lord.”
Aziel turned toward him.
“What is it?”
“Movement near the western grounds. One of the patrols reported seeing shadows near the tree line.”
Arabella’s attention sharpened instantly.
Aziel’s expression hardened.
“How many?”
“Unclear. The patrol could not confirm.”
Aziel nodded once.
“Send two more men to the western wall. Quietly.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The guard hurried away.
Arabella looked toward the dark line of trees beyond the castle walls.
“So your travelers have arrived.”
Aziel’s gaze followed hers.
“Perhaps.”
Far beyond the courtyard, hidden among the trees, Kieran crouched behind a low stone ridge.
His heart was beating faster than he liked.
“They increased the guards again,” he whispered.
Dorian knelt beside him, watching the wall carefully.
“Only slightly.”
“That still makes things harder.”
Dorian did not argue with that.
Several torches burned along the outer wall now, casting shifting light across the stone.
From their position, they could see the western tower rising above the rest of the castle.
Behind them, Althea studied the wall through her spyglass.
“The patrol is moving again,” she said quietly.
Kieran glanced at her.
“Are we still doing this tonight?”
Althea lowered the spyglass.
“Yes.”
Dorian shifted his position slightly.
“The wall near the old oak tree is the lowest point,” he said.
“That is where we enter.”
Kieran swallowed.
“Entering Ravencrest was never the part that worried me.”
Althea gave him a brief look.
“You are thinking about the girl again.”
Kieran looked away.
“That is not the point.”
“Then focus.”
Inside the castle, Arabella leaned against the stone edge of the well.
“You are going to check the western wall, are you not?” she said.
Aziel looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Then go.”
He studied her expression.
“You sound eager.”
“I am curious.”
Aziel shook his head slightly.
“This is not entertainment.”
Arabella straightened.
“Who said it was?”
He hesitated for a moment.
“You should return inside.”
Arabella tilted her head.
“Are you worried about me?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
Aziel exhaled quietly.
“The courtyard is safer than the outer walls.”
Arabella smirked faintly.
“Then perhaps you should stay here as well.”
Aziel almost smiled again, but the moment passed quickly.
He turned toward the western side of the castle.
Arabella watched him walk away before following several steps behind.
“Arabella,” he said without turning around.
“Yes?”
“Go back.”
“No.”
Aziel stopped and turned to face her.
“This is not a debate.”
Arabella crossed her arms.
“You cannot stop me from walking through your own courtyard.”
Aziel held her gaze for a moment before sighing.
“Stay behind me.”
Arabella smiled slightly.
“See? That was not so difficult.”
Beyond the walls, Althea finished tying the rope to a heavy iron hook.
“Ready,” she said.
Dorian tested the rope once before throwing the hook upward.
It caught the stone edge of the wall with a dull metallic sound.
They froze.
No alarm.
Dorian began climbing.
Kieran followed reluctantly.
The stone wall felt cold beneath his hands as he pulled himself upward.
Within moments they reached the top and dropped silently onto the inner side of the wall.
The courtyard torches flickered in the distance.
Althea climbed down last.
“Move,” she whispered.
They slipped into the shadow of the western tower.
Inside the courtyard, Aziel slowed his steps slightly.
Arabella noticed immediately.
“What is it?”
Aziel scanned the dark edges of the courtyard.
“The patrol should have returned by now.”
Arabella looked around.
The night suddenly felt very quiet.
Too quiet.
From the shadow of the tower, Kieran saw them.
Aziel and Arabella.
Standing in the courtyard together.
His breath caught.
“That is her,” he whispered.
Dorian’s eyes narrowed.
“Then the rumors were right.”
Althea studied the scene calmly.
“Interesting.”
Arabella shifted slightly.
“You feel it too, do you not?” she said.
Aziel’s voice dropped lower.
“Yes.”
A faint sound had just come from the direction of the western tower.
Not loud.
Just enough to break the silence.
Aziel’s hand moved instinctively toward the sword at his side.
Arabella felt the tension ripple through him instantly.
“Well,” she said quietly.
“I suppose your travelers are not so imaginary after all.”
The torchlight flickered across the courtyard stones as the night grew deeper around Ravencrest.
- Writer
