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

Chapter 28

I followed Reuben down uneven steps to a hallway I didn’t know had existed. Flaming torches lit the way through the long passage, a single door waiting for us at the end. The stone walls were well-preserved, untouched by the cracks that plagued the castle.

“Where are we going?” I asked, my tone icy. I doubted there was anything Reuben could show me that would justify his actions, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to learn the Night Ravens’ apparent secrets.

“To the inner sanctum. The founder hasn’t left their chambers in years.”

I laughed darkly. “And suddenly I’m worthy of being trusted with something so important?”

“It wasn’t my decision to make.” His voice was pained. “I made a bargain. I’m only allowed to bring you here now because the founder authorised it. You can’t tell a soul about what you witness, even if your new friend joins as a member.”

“Partner,” I corrected. With everything Silas had done for me, it was the least I could do to proudly assert what we were. “And you have some nerve asking me to withhold anything from him when he just became the only fae I trust.”

He shook his head, his loose blond hair spilling over his shoulders. “You’ll see for yourself soon enough.”

Reuben unlocked the door with an old, rusty key, stooping down to pass through it as it creaked open.

I coughed as I inhaled dust, noticing the cobwebs that clung to the corners. “I suppose the stewards are also prevented from entering without permission?”

“Except for Paxton, and only for important meetings. Believe me, it bothers him more than you. Last time he tried to smuggle a broom down here with him. Sal confiscated it before he could do anything.” Paxton was the long-suffering Head Steward, often found chasing after new recruits with their forgotten messes asking if they’d been raised by animals.

The chamber we entered was huge, rivalling the size of the dining hall. On one side, ten chairs stood in a circle. Beside them, mounted to the wall, was a map of Idrix, several pins embedded in the parchment. The rest of the room was bare except for what looked to be modest living quarters. There was a small bed tucked away in the corner, a round table with three stools and a velvet armchair.

There, flanked by two robed attendants, sat a beautiful woman. Her vivid amber hair fell to her hips, framing her freckled face and full lips. She wore a simple blue dress, its hem skirting the floor, the bodice fitted snugly to her chest.

The founder. She wasn’t what I’d pictured.

“Welcome. I’ve been expecting you.” Eyes so dark they were nearly black studied me as intently as I studied her until a flicker appeared near her forehead.

“You’re glamoured.” It was unmistakable.

“A requirement of my position, I’m afraid. It’s as much for your protection as it is for mine. Few have seen my true appearance, and fewer yet know my name. Wearing a glamour ensures you don’t bear the burden of unnecessary secrets.”

“She changes her appearance often,” Reuben said, bowing his head in acknowledgement to the founder. “If someone asked for a physical description, I wouldn’t be able to provide one.”

“I can scarcely remember what my true face is anymore. One day, I hope to meet it again.” She crossed her legs, leaning forward in the chair. “I assume you’re wondering why you’re here?”

“Yes,” I replied. “Reuben mentioned it’s an honour usually reserved for those with more experience.”

“Not quite. Experience often goes hand in hand with entitlement. I need to get the measure of someone before I know I can trust them, and that requires a delicate balance of time and insight. I wonder, are my instincts right about you?”

It would be unwise to answer without knowing her true purpose for revealing herself. “That depends on what you’re referring to.”

She gave me an approving smile. “Don’t let my concealment fool you. Nothing happens in this castle without my knowledge. You’re Willow Duskril, one hundred and twenty-six years old, born on the Tigal Isles. You’ve served faithfully as a scout for ninety years. You’re known to be stubborn, reckless and difficult to work with, but have an otherwise impeccable record. When faced with a new challenge, you rose to the occasion and returned with more evidence than any of us had anticipated. You also earned the favour of a bloodline heir, Lord to Eirel, who is now proposing an alliance.” She cocked her head. “Well, have I forgotten anything?”

“I suppose that’s an accurate summary,” I managed to say.

She fixed me with a steady look. “Not a whisper of what I’m about to tell you is to leave this room. Do you understand?”

I nodded.

“The Night Ravens have existed for centuries without discovery because of how we’re organised. Information is tightly controlled, kept strictly to those who need it to fulfil their orders. As a scout, you only have the context of your mission and are forbidden to share it with others. Reuben acts as a conduit, collating reports from across our scouting operations and distributing them where they’re needed. When further research is required, he liaises with Eldon. If it pertains to our security, he informs Sal. They, in turn, keep me notified of their work. Hiding myself away ensures I protect that information.”

She waved a hand at Reuben, who had been conspicuously quiet up until that point.

“The limitations of this approach are becoming increasingly apparent. Gathering intelligence and bringing it back to the Old Keep is no longer enough. By the time we’ve analysed it and decided what to do, it’s too late,” he said.

“We need a new class of scout, trusted resources in the field who are able to act on what they find without our guidance,” the founder continued. “Norwyn and Calliste were our initial recruits, but we need greater numbers. I think you could be exactly what we’re looking for.”

My head felt dizzy with the revelations. “I don’t understand. What do you need me to do?”

“For now, I want you to tell me, in your own words, everything you witnessed in Threstia.” She crossed over to the circle of chairs, gesturing for me to take one of the seats. Reuben sat next to me.

I recounted the events of the research camp in as much detail as possible, leaving nothing out aside from the first kiss I’d shared with Silas. That memory was mine alone.

The founder made me repeat what I’d overheard several times, pursing her lips when I was finished.

After a moment of thought, she spoke. “Reuben, bring her up to speed.”

“All of it?”

She nodded. “All of it.”

Reuben approached my chair, grasping my hands in his. I tried not to stiffen in response, but I was fighting a losing battle, my body repulsed by his presence.

“Do you swear to never breathe a word of what you witness here to anyone else, unless permitted by the founder?” he said.

“I swear it.” The bargain shimmered, winding itself around our arms.

He backed away, taking a seat opposite me. “While it’s true that the Night Ravens were formed to protect Idrix, there’s more to it than that. During our quest to find a way to break the curse, we realised there were plenty of fae with vested interests who benefit from it remaining unbroken, who would go to any lengths to stop us.”

“But why? The curse destroys magic.” Everyone wanted it stopped, didn’t they?

“When a resource becomes scarce, there’s profit to be made, power to be gained. Evil has infested every corner of Idrix, from the nobility in their castles to the villagers in their cottages, ensuring the curse isn’t broken. We moved our work underground, keeping tabs on those we deemed suspicious. That’s when we made our discovery.”

The founder gestured for him to continue.

“Pockets of ancient magic still exist in Idrix today, despite the best efforts of the curse. You already know about enchanted artefacts and the fragment they contain, but there’s more. Reserves that have yet to be discovered. Useless by themselves, they are echoes of the gods’ power that once saturated Idrix. No one has learned of their existence until now.”

He let out a tense breath. “We’ve identified a group of fae with a concerning interest in the remnants of ancient magic and whether it can be revived. The research site you uncovered appears to be one of their operations. There’s also reports of artefacts going missing.”

“That’s why you sent me to the Amber City.”

“I sent scouts to investigate every rumour,” Reuben confirmed. “I’d hoped to gain a lead to follow up, or at least uncover an artefact we could use as bait to draw them out.”

I bit my tongue about the one hanging around my neck, the seeking stone snugly hidden beneath my shirt. If Reuben hadn’t sensed it, its existence was my secret to share. A bargaining chip I didn’t want to play just yet.

“What do they want?”

“We’re still trying to establish that. They appear to be an independent entity, unaffiliated with any of the districts.”

The founder’s eyes found mine, surprisingly vulnerable. “Ancient magic differed to Blessings. It wasn’t an ability to wield, a gift from the gods, but their raw power, wild with a mind of its own. If it were to fall into the wrong hands, the curse would be the least of our worries. Anyone who could learn to harness it would be as powerful as the gods themselves.”

A shiver ran through me.

“What about the portals the researchers were looking for? Are they real too?” It was a startling thought.

“They were once, before the curse destroyed them too,” the founder said.

“Then other worlds exist?”

“Perhaps, though I wouldn’t dwell on that. The portals existed in a different time, where magic was abundant. Even if someone did revive ancient magic, who’s to say there would be enough to activate them?”

I took it all in, keeping my breathing even. There had been so much I hadn’t been aware of, right beneath my nose. The world I thought I’d inhabited no longer existed. It was enough to overwhelm anyone.

But my newfound courage spread its reassuring warmth through me. I’d passed every test thrown at me, faced my worst fears in the process. I could handle this.

“What are my orders?”

The founder nodded at Reuben.

“For now, continue your work with the scholars. Their research on a cure for Dorea may also prove beneficial to our understanding of ancient magic. After that, we can talk about your next assignment.”

That I could do. “And what about Silas? Will you accept his conditions?”

I needed him by my side more than ever.

The founder’s mouth set in a firm line. “We don’t interfere with politics. We must stay neutral.”

“Please,” I said, setting aside my pride. “He’s sacrificed so much to come here.”

She studied me. “Reuben believes him to be a liability,” she said.

“It’s not true.” I rose to my feet. “I thought that too, once, but Silas has proven himself to be loyal, intelligent, and courageous. He was instrumental in infiltrating the research camp. I wouldn’t have succeeded without him.”

“Yet he refuses to join unless his conditions are met.” Her tone was abrupt.

“Selfless conditions. He seeks reassurance that his subjects won’t suffer due to his absence.” I said. “Don’t you see? We all want the same thing, to stop Idrix from being exploited by those with selfish ambitions. How long have you been trying to make a better world? How much progress have you made?”

I stalked towards Reuben. “I saw what it was like there. The common fae lived under constant threat of what the guards will do to them, and from what Silas has told me, the nobility isn’t safe either. Nothing will change without our help. We might not be able to save the whole of Idrix tomorrow, but we could save one district.”

“And what do you say?” the founder asked Reuben.

“It’s a waste of our limited resources. We can’t detract from our purpose to meddle in the affairs of the nobility.”

I was losing control.

“How many members of the Night Ravens have a Blessing?” I countered.

“Nine.” The founder sat forward in her chair.

“And how many could maintain a blackout for over an hour in an area vastly larger than the Old Keep? How many could raise a volcano beneath their feet? He’s the most valuable asset you could have. Don’t let him slip through your fingers.”

“It’s too risky.” Reuben’s voice was raised.

The founder looked between us, conflicted, the weight of Reuben’s influence a powerful argument. I said the one thing I knew would sway him.

“There’s something else. He’s in possession of an artefact. A powerful one. As a sworn member, I’m sure he’d be more than happy to lend it to you.”

It was the final push I'd needed to swing things in my favour. Reuben's surprise was palpable, rendering him speechless.

At his silence, the founder spoke. “Give the lord what he wants.”

“But…”

She cut him off with a glare. “One mission, in exchange for the use of an artefact and a powerful Blessing? You won’t find a better deal. Make the arrangements.”

She rose to her feet, returning to the comfort of her armchair. “Next time, you will bring him with you. I want to see this power of his for myself.”