His eyes dart to me. “I never want to go back. I never want to breathe that sooty, ink-tainted air again,” he says. Then adds, “But we will. And everywhere we walk we’ll be free just like this.”
His words chase away the cold and uncertainty...and leave me wanting to see him smile again.
Chapter 18
Soren
The moment of wild abandon is fleeting. It’s too soon and too dangerous to let myself feel at ease. With a wary glance at the clouds gathering in the sky, I say, “We should keep moving.”
As we climb, my ears tune to the slightest change in sound, shift of wind, and birdcall. My footfalls drop hollow as I test the stability of the rock beneath me, and keep my eyes on the path and a hand in Kiki’s in case anything happens.
The trail soon widens, leading to a promontory. A man stands before us, wearing a hooded cloak in black, silver, and gold fabric that shifts like a raven’s wing glinting in the sunlight.
I steel myself as the image of Leith brakes sharply in my mind. But he doesn’t wear a crown. Nonetheless, I’m ready with my weapons.
Kiki’s hand tightens in mine and the other hovers near the blade in her belt.
We stare openly at him for a long moment until he beckons us onward.
I’m not without reservations, but the only other choice is to go back down and we came here for a reason. I don’t intend to leave until we’ve fulfilled our purpose however vague it may be.
The figure in the strange, shimmering cloak leads us up the mountain until the sun and moon move closer in the sky, one rising and the other falling as though meeting for a moment to say goodnight. We reach a second promontory—this one sheltered by an overhang at the mouth of a cave.
The man turns slowly, removes his hood, and says, “I’ve been waiting for you.” He studies me for a long moment and then his gaze lands on Kiki before returning to me.
Bumps crawl across my skin and I feel all-over itchy and clammy.
“You’ve been waiting for us?” Kiki asks.
“For a long time.” The man’s lips carry the memory of a smile.
In the center of the cave, where the ceiling is the highest, a low fire on the stone floor gives off modest light. The man lifts his hand over it and the flames rise, licking his palm. “Sit and warm yourselves.”
Kiki and I lower onto a crude bench as he glides around in the shadows before producing two silver trays and goblets.
“Eat, drink.” It’s more of a command than an invitation.
Kiki studies the man as he sits down opposite. We both watch him as carefully as he watches us. His black hair is almost iridescent. The food remains untouched.
The creases of concern on his forehead smooth out. “You’re uncertain. That’s understandable. It isn’t every day you come across an old man living in a cave. I am Vespertine.”
“My mother told me to seek you. Do you keep the ravens?” Kiki asks as though to confirm that we came to the right place and have the correct Vespertine—as if there could be others.
“No, the ravens keep me. Along with the kings and battle arms. You’ve heard the stories, Hjaggson?” He’s looking at me. When I don’t answer, he tries again. “You go by Soren?”
“How did know my name?” I ask.
“I know everything worth knowing. The ravens are my eyes, just as they were for the golden king. They are loyal to few and wary of most, including your enemy.” The firelight dances on the cave walls as he speaks.
“Then why doesn’t anyone from you to the kings, battle arms, and bearmen do anything to help the people of Raven’s Landing?”
“I am not in a position to do so.”
His reply stokes my inner ire. “Aren’t you a mage? A high mage by the color of your robes. I saw you raise fire.” I point. “Can’t you—?”
“Soren, I’ve been waiting for you.”
My brow furrows.
“Haven’t you wondered about the call you feel inside? Like there’s something missing? Why you repeatedly rebel when you know it’ll stain your skin?” Vespertine asks.
“The call? Yeah, freedom. Something missing? Oh, where to start?” Sarcasm drips from my voice. “A home, food, work, my family.”
Kiki shifts abruptly, apparently as annoyed as I am. “Have you been to Raven’s Landing lately? I’ve only just visited and it’s clear something needs to be done.”
“What about the restlessness, Soren? The urge to take flight?”
I scowl, feeling as though he’s purposely trying to get under my skin. “It’s pretty obvious.”
“Is it?” Vespertine steeples his fingers.
I shake my head because that’s the simple truth.
“Why do you feel compelled to take it upon yourself to do something about the state of things in Raven’s Landing?” he asks me.
Kiki gets to her feet. “If not us then who?”
“Exactly,” Vespertine says.
“This is a bunch of woo-woo new age stuff,” Kiki says. “I think we wasted our time coming here.”
The word charlatan comes to mind. I scrub my hand down my face, annoyed by Vespertine’s riddles.
“It’s up to you to seize the crown,” Vespertine says.
“Take the crown?” Kiki stills and then turns slowly in the mage’s direction. “Does this mean anything to you?” She reads him the message of a piece of paper she had in her pocket. “Demons shadow thieve, while the fae court grieve. Four sisters to find. One compass to bind. Four crowns to take. One curse to break. Before twelve moons turn, else the realm will burn.”
Up until this moment, Vespertine’s expression has been impassive, like looking at a blank canvas, but after Kiki recites the message, something flickers in his eyes. However, he remains
