Raven The Fire Blood Amulet

Chapter 2

Markus Courtenay stands against the wall hidden in the shadows of the alehouse. The bar was filled to the brim with rowdy travelers, farmers and locals who were merrily drinking, eating and talking. A low cloud of misty barkwood hangs across the room, a favorite pipe essence the locals likes to smoke. It was woody but sweet and the scent fills Markus’s nostrils. He does not smoke but he finds it oddly calming.

His dark brown eyes roamed the room, the person he was meeting was late.

It was not every day you got summoned by the queen of Wintersvale’s White Oaks wolfwalkers. He highly doubts Janelle Saint herself will put in an appearance though, she will most likely have sent one of her lackeys. Markus sighs.

The message from Janelle had intrigued him, it had been cryptic not divulging too much but enough to peak his interest.

He was finally ready to leave Wintersvale, the gold in the sack attached to his belt was heavy, not only in weight but also in guilt. Much of it has been earned by blood being spilled, some unnecessary. But more gold was always welcome. He will need it for where he intends to go and he has been enticed by a large amount.

Markus was still deep in thought when the whole alehouse suddenly fell into a hushed silence. Markus turns his head towards the entrance and a smile twitches at the corners of his mouth as he sees who had silenced the entire Wolf’s Barn.

The huge golden brown man dressed in a dark green leather tunic and matching pants stood like a barge in the small door frame. Markus immediately knew he was there for him, the undeniable mark of the White Oaks wolfwalkers was predominately tattooed on his forearm.

Markus was silently impressed that the man was not in the least perturbed at the scrutinizing looks he was getting from everyone around him, and he was indeed, ironically the wolf in the barn. The man was scanning the room obviously looking for him, Markus steps out of the shadows and his eyes lock with those of the wolfwalker’s.

With a nod of acknowledgement from the wolfwalker, he retreats back out of the alehouse. Markus makes his way swiftly towards the exit, going around several wooden tables with its silent occupants all eyeing him suspiciously and following his every move. The silence breaks once he steps out the door, and Markus shuts it on the rowdy sounds of drunken men continuing after their brief interruption.

The wolfwalker was standing next to two white stallions that were not tethered but were standing obediently next to him waiting.

“Mistress Janelle wishes for your presence at White Oaks” the man says, nodding to one horse while he mounts the other.

What? He was to go to White Oaks? Interesting and completely unexpected, but Markus knows better than to argue, the White Oaks wolfwalkers were a formidable pack. To obey them was always the best choice, this better be worth it, or he might just be a dead man soon, this was a detour he had not planned.

Markus brushes back the hood of his red cloak from his head as he mounts his horse, his short chocolate brown hair stirring slightly in the cool breeze. It was turning autumn in Wintersvale and everything green was fading to red and brown.

It took an hour’s ride to reach the entrance of the dark oak forest that surrounds White Oaks. The wolfwalkers den was rumored to consist of old world structures and technology. Technology that is supposed to not exist anymore, but none have ever been able to confirm that though. Markus has always had a fascination with old world things and he was secretly hoping the rumors were indeed true.

Markus swallows, to deny that he was nervous would be stupid. He watches as the wolfwalker frowns when they briefly stop in front of a long winding dirt path leading deep into the dark oak forest. He was aware some wolfwalkers have telepathic abilities and he was almost certain his companion was communicating with Janelle. The man’s shoulders hunched forward as he gave Markus a quick glance.

Markus raises an eyebrow as the man turns his horse to move next to him, watching as a range of emotions crosses his face. The “I am sorry” whisper Markus barely heard, as his eyes widened as he saw, too late, the massive fist heading for his jaw.

To say that the enormous white oak wood and stone mansion was impressive would be an understatement. Markus has never seen one and to be privileged to see one still standing made him gasp in wonder. The old world still has reminders strewn throughout the world but they were rarely anything but shattered ruins.

Markus rubs his jaw that was starting to bruise from the unexpected punch he had been unfortunate to receive, it had knocked him out instantly causing him to slump forward on his horse for most of the journey through the forest, and half dazed as they came out of it.

The wolfwalker dismounts and Markus follows suit, his eyes still drifting over the magnificent structure. He follows the wolfwalker up the wooden steps to a long wide porch surrounding the whole house, then through a huge ornate white oak wooden front door to a large empty foyer.

The wolfwalker turns to Markus.

“Wait here” he orders quietly. Markus nods, obeying to stand and admire the interior around him. He was certain magic had been used in the preservation of the house. The little glitters catching his well trained eyes, they were not easy to catch, but they were there if you knew where to look. He had felt a faint magic ripple when they had entered White Oaks and he was certain a protective ward surrounds the den, a spell that only a very adept witch could cast.

Janelle strums her long fingernails softly on the balustrade of the staircase. She had watched Junaid and Markus ride in from the forest through one of the upstairs windows. She knew Markus Courtenay only by reputation and she sincerely hopes what she has learned was true. If she has made a mistake, then all hope for the broken child will be lost.

Over the past few weeks since her arrival they have tried everything to help Raven, but she was proving to be quite uncontrollable and unpredictable. She has much to Janelle’s surprise formed an attachment with Junaid which has had an unexpected consequence.

Janelle glides soundlessly down the staircase giving a little cough as she reaches the last step to alert Markus who was staring up at the ceiling, entranced.

Markus whips his head down, almost stumbling over when he sees Janelle. He knew Janelle to be a beautiful woman for he had seen her once long ago, before she had been crowned queen. She has not aged but has grown more beautiful than he remembers.

He bows his head in respect.

“Queen Janelle of the White Oaks Tribe, it is a pleasure” he greets lifting his head to meet her gaze. She was smiling, her head c****d to one side.

“Markus Courtenay…the Red Hood Enchanter…the pleasure is all mine”