The Archer & the Flame (Whispers of the Night Ravens #1)

Chapter 11

“Pull the string taut so it touches your nose and lips…Good. Now, keep your arm straight. Can you feel the breeze? You’ll need to factor that in and aim slightly left of your target…No, don’t drop your hand.”

Silas flinched at my touch as I adjusted the position of his arm, but maintained his concentration. This close, his scent filled my nose. The inn’s cheap soap, mixed with his natural, earthy smell and its hint of vanilla.

Something had shifted between us after our night in the inn and the common ground it had uncovered. I had grown accustomed to his presence, no longer finding him a hindrance.

We were partners now. Friends.

Our friendship was destined to be a short one. Once my mission was over, and the terms of our bargain satisfied, we’d part ways. The scout lifestyle, with its sparse comforts and stability, was no place for someone like him, a noble accustomed to the opulent surroundings of the Isle of Mist.

We’d avoided the topic of his generous gift. I’d broken my fast alone that morning, unable to stop my gaze from drifting around the common room in search of him, unexpectedly disappointed when he’d failed to appear.

Later, when I’d packed up my belongings and readied myself for another day of travel, he’d been waiting for me outside the Traveller’s Rest, greeting me with a dazzling smile.

Overnight, Silas had traded his elegant doublet and tailored trousers for a set of simple travelling clothes in dark colours, blending in with the other patrons leaving the inn. He wore them well, but there was no masking his confident stature, even with his black cloak trailing behind him.

To my surprise, when we’d stopped for a short rest, he’d asked if I’d teach him to use a bow. With flames at his fingertips, he had no need for weapons. But Silas had insisted, and after he’d paid for my room, it felt good to do something for him in return.

It was a shame he was a terrible student.

The arrow missed its mark by a wide berth, joining his previous attempts as it wedged itself into the ground uselessly. The tree he was targeting remained undamaged. I gathered the fallen arrows, returning them to the quiver for the fifth time.

“Oh, come on!” he groaned, resting the bow against his thigh. “This is impossible. You made it look so easy.” It was refreshing to see him outside of his comfort zone. He seemed to breeze through life effortlessly, taking everything in his stride and never struggling.

“That’s what happens when you can’t rely on a Blessing. If I failed to hit my mark, I didn’t eat.”

I omitted the full truth. I was better with a bow the first time I’d picked one up than islanders who’d trained their whole lives to hunt. There was no explanation for my luck. As soon as the bow was in my hand, everything else ceased to exist. It was just me and the target. My natural talent didn’t make me popular with the hunters, although that was forgotten when I provided a bountiful feast for the village.

“You’re rushing into it. Take your time and observe your surroundings before you release,” I said.

Silas looked like he wanted to talk back. I smiled, relishing his struggle. He wisely decided against provoking me, and instead, raised a hand in the air, studying the feel of the breeze against it.

“That’s it. Now close your eyes and adjust your aim to the wind.”

This time, when he wielded the bow, he aimed left of the target, looking at me for confirmation before he released the string.

I rewarded him with a small grin. The arrow sailed through the air, embedding itself into the tree with ease.

It was a beautiful shot, especially for a beginner.

“Did you see that? I did it.” Silas collided with me, engulfing me in a tight hug. He laughed merrily, spinning us in delight. I could only hold on for dear life, hoping he wouldn’t drop me or send me flying into the trees.

“Thank you,” he said, when my feet were on the ground.

Dazed, I could only nod. I was consciously aware of his hands on my lower back, Silas pressed up against me so closely I could feel his heart thudding in his chest.

He cleared his throat, stepping away. I shook off the feeling, distancing myself once again.

“Let’s see you hit the target a few times,” I said, acting like nothing had happened.

He obliged, adjusting his stance and firing arrows into the tree. Soon, it was littered with small holes, Silas managing consecutive hits.

“Looks like I may have to swing by Gladhaven. I’ll need an impressive bow to show off my newfound talent for archery,” he said, plucking arrows from the tree.

I groaned. He shot me a lazy grin as he reached past me to return them.

“I can just picture it; all style and no substance.”

He clutched his chest, feigning a stagger backwards. “I’m wounded that you hold me in such little regard. Besides, what’s wrong with coveting beautiful things?”

I kicked mud in his direction, splattering his pristine new boots. His eyes sparkled in challenge.

“I bet the ladies swoon at your feet with lines like that,” I said.

“Is it working? Should I prepare myself to catch you?” He stretched out his arms towards me, mockingly, barely able to contain his laughter.

“I don’t swoon and the only thing you should prepare yourself for is my hands shoving you forward if we don’t get moving. We’re wasting time lingering here longer than necessary.”

“You’ll be needing this, in that case.” He passed my bow back to me and I slung it over my shoulder. “Lead the way.”

Our route south had an eerie feel to it. It lacked the unsettling emptiness of the dark forest and the curse that plagued it, yet the open grasslands, bereft of any fae, buildings, or other signs of life, put me on edge.

Anyone venturing in this direction would take the High Road unless they had something to hide.

The black rock of the Threstian mountains had become visible when we stopped for the day, their dark shapes cresting over the horizon, the light fading so quickly we could hardly see the ground we were walking on.

“Why don’t you set up camp and leave the fire to me this time?” Silas said.

He busied himself gathering firewood while I positioned our bedrolls on a flat patch of grass, sheltered by bushes. It gave a good vantage point over the path, providing ample warning of any intruders when combined with the protective wards I wove around our camp. A comfortable silence settled over us as we worked, and it reminded me of carrying out my duties on the Tigal Isles in quiet focus.

I felt the heat of the fire before I saw it, my back to him as I unpacked my supplies.

“Here. Courtesy of the inn.” He produced a bottle of moon wine from his pack, waving it in the air. My face lit up. He’d remembered it was my favourite. “Don’t worry, it’s sealed. Thought the journey would go smoother if I sweetened you up.”

“You think me so easily swayed?” I reached for it, but he snatched it back before I could take it. Bastard.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” he teased, holding the wine out of my reach.

I pounced at him, colliding with his chest, catching him off guard and swiping the bottle from his grasp before he could find his balance. The cork popped audibly as I opened it. “Against my better judgement.”

“Don’t forget, you were the one who proposed our bargain. I’m helping purely out of the goodness of my heart.”

“If you say so.” I took a swig, handing it back to him. Silas’ neck worked as he drank the liquid, drawing my gaze. The campfire cast a red hue over his face, like he was made of flame, and for a moment, I was stunned.

“What are you thinking about?” His voice was softer than usual, more relaxed. He passed me the moon wine, settling on the edge of his bedroll and watching me curiously. My skin prickled at his scrutiny.

I avoided the question, replacing it with one of my own. “How does it feel when you use your Blessing?”

He thought about it, staring at his hands.

“My fingertips burn long after I’ve used the magic, like the fire is reluctant to part with me. It passes after a while. If I push myself too hard, it drains me and I want to sleep for a week. I have a healthy level of stamina though. There’s nothing to worry about in that department.” He grinned wolfishly. “Are you jealous? Of my Blessing, I mean.”

“No.” My answer was instant. “Magic isn’t the only power, and I’ve got this far without it. I don’t consider myself lesser because my strengths lie elsewhere.”

“Good. Because there’s nothing lesser about you. You’re one of the most impressive fae I’ve ever met.”

I drank deeply from the bottle. “You might be growing on me too. Sometimes.”

“Coming from you, that’s a hell of a compliment.” He leaned closer, the moment between us charged. “Careful now, you’ll get my hopes up.”

It was too hot, the air in the clearing stifling. Was it his Blessing? I willed my racing heart to slow down, to give me one moment of coherent thought.

“What’s your story, anyway?” I asked, desperate for a change of subject. “Why the adventure? Were you just so eager to escape Eirel’s closed gates, or is there more to it?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” The colour drained from his face. That was unexpected. The question had been innocent enough. I thought the nudge would inspire him to share tales of his glamorous life on the Isle of Mist, how he tired of lavish balls and scandalous gossip. But he didn’t.

My eyes narrowed. “Yet you want me to spill all my secrets. Seems fair.”

“You’re right. I won’t pry, not anymore,” Silas said. He was weirdly quiet, just like when I’d questioned him in the inn. It unnerved me. All I’d needed to do to shut down his curiosity was to ask him personal questions. But now I wanted the opposite.

“How about a trade?” I said.

“Sounds dangerous, but go on.” He sat up straighter, giving me his full attention. Some colour had returned to him.

“One truth for another.” I didn’t want to share my truths, not really, but his extreme reaction was unsettling, and my curiosity demanded to be satisfied.

“Deal.” He didn’t even take the time to think it over, agreeing instantly.

“You first.” I said, racking my brain for something I could give him that wouldn’t compromise my mission.

“Fine. You resent me for being part of the nobility, but the truth is, I hate it. I haven’t been free to make a single decision in my life until now. This is the first thing I’ve done for myself. And I think it’s going pretty well, don’t you?”

He watched me expectantly. The more I learned about Silas, the less suited he seemed for the treachery of Eirel. He’d made mistakes on our journey, many, many mistakes, but he’d adapted far quicker than any scout I’d known, certainly one from such a privileged background.

It was my turn. I took a deep breath, steeling myself to open up to him.

“Since losing the Tigal Isles, I’ve felt adrift. Travelling takes a toll, but it’s the only thing that makes sense to me. On my travels, I’m in control of my life. But one day, I hope I can find where I belong.”

“I know exactly how you feel.”

Everything was silent, aside from the crackling of the campfire, but it was an easy silence.

“I do have some fond memories of Eirel,” he said, after a while. “When I was young and foolish, I decided I wanted to be normal, just for one night. So I snuck out of the castle, borrowed some clothes to blend in, and had myself an evening on the town. I didn’t realise the swill in the local tavern was many times more potent than the wine I was used to, and I made a fool of myself.”

“I imagine you were quite the spectacle.”

“You know me. I’m not shy. Supposedly I forced the whole tavern to give their finest rendition of a bawdy tune, danced on a table which then collapsed beneath me, performed a striptease for the furious landlady and ordered a round of drinks for everyone before realising I’d lost all my money. It sounded like a riot; if only I could remember it.”

He leant back, resting his weight on his elbows. “My brother discovered me in the early hours being thrown out of the tavern by the landlady. Apparently, he’d never seen such an inventive use for a broom. He smoothed things over with her, sobered me up, then made sure I was presentable before we met our father for breakfast. He never breathed a word of it. He was like that, always had my back without question when I needed him.”

“He sounds like a great brother.”

“He was.” Silas smiled sadly. “He passed away when I was still in my early years of adulthood. I lost my father recently too. Now it’s just Valeria and me.”

“I’m so sorry.” I knew what it was like to lose everyone you loved. The loneliness that always haunted you, even on the lighter days. The ghost of the beautiful memories and the ache they left behind.

“I noticed grief was on your aurabloom too. Was that from the curse?”

I nodded. He didn’t pry further, understanding my hesitation. “They live on in us, even when you don’t notice their presence.”

“I carry them with me always.” It was my burden to bear. As the sole survivor from the Tigal Isles, it was my duty to do whatever I could to stop the curse. I couldn’t let their deaths be in vain. I owed it to their memory.

“Me too.”

He smiled, easing back into his story. But the warmth of the moment lingered, as comforting as the wine we drank. “No one realised who I was. It wasn’t like we ventured into town often. Stories spread though of the legendary drunk and their entertaining antics who was never seen again. I’m wiser now, and have a much higher tolerance for alcohol, you’ll be pleased to know.”

“So, no more performing a striptease to get yourself out of trouble?” I teased.

“Only if you ask nicely,” he said with a wink.

“You’ll be waiting a while.”

“It’s a good thing I’m extremely patient.” Silas looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time. “It seems like we have more in common than we thought.”

“I guess so,” I said.

He fumbled with his belongings. “I have something for you.”

“More wine?” My voice was tinged with hope. The bottle hadn’t lasted long with the two of us drinking it.

“No, you’ve finished my supplies. This is something else.”

He retrieved an amulet from his pocket, but there was no jewel hanging from the chain. Instead, the stone was dull, resembling an ordinary rock if not for the lines carved into its face. He fastened it around my neck, his breath ghosting on my skin and sending shivers cascading down my spine.

Magic thrummed through it, unlike anything I’d experienced before. I’d seen enchanted artefacts, but nothing close to this level of power. It was what I’d hoped to find from my mission in the capital, though I would’ve been pleased with a fraction of the power the necklace possessed.

“You’re giving me an artefact?”

“I’m lending you an artefact,” Silas clarified.

“This is too much. I can’t accept it.” The stone should be stored in a vault somewhere, guarded under lock and key.

“I want you to have it. While we journey together, at least.”

“What does it do?” I asked, examining it. It was cold to the touch.

“It’s a seeking stone. I have its twin”. He pulled down his collar, a matching amulet hung around his neck. The hairs of his chiselled chest peeked through the neckline of his shirt. “They’re connected. The wearers can always find one another.”

“You want to track me?” I asked nervously. Allowing him to do that could put the entirety of the Night Ravens at risk. Our new trust was still fragile, and this risked fracturing it completely.

“No, it doesn’t work that way, I promise. It’s a relic of protection, passed down through my family for generations. But the magic is complex. You must wish to be found just as much as I’d want to find you, otherwise the connection will fail.” He paused, uncertainty casting a shadow over his features. “I can take it back if you don’t want it.”

“Having someone looking out for me wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.” I tucked it under my shirt, unable to find the words to thank him. The amulet was priceless, and he’d chosen to lend it to me. Because he’d wanted to.

He didn’t let me get away with that response. “I think the words you’re looking for are ‘thank you’.”

“Don’t push your luck,” I said. But later, when he was in a deep slumber, I spoke again.

“Thank you. For everything.”

I fell asleep to Silas’ soft breathing and the reassuring weight of the seeking stone on my chest.