Page 9 of Unkindness of Crimson Ravens
Chapter 3
Peacefulness of the Dead
Walking outside at night was dangerous enough, walking outside the perimeter of the palace was terrifying. Walking among the dead of the night was straight insanity. An insanity my heart greatly allowed to take over my mind, for it was my heart that craved the comfort of the only people that had slayed every enemy for my well being. The only people who had understood my worries, who had known every curve of my long shattered heart.
Fresh air reached my face, calming me down. Now, when I was no longer an emotional disaster and could think clearly, fear took over my mind. I should get back, yet something was pulling me to keep going.
I was not eager to go to a cemetery on a sunny day, accompanied by my guards, and here I was walking down the rows of the stones all by myself way past midnight. My impulsiveness would do me no good.
Still in my nightgown, underneath my cloak, I wrapped my arms around myself to keep warm. It was not yet winter, but the weather suggested it might as well be. The trees dropped their garments, readying for the repose.
Some explained this drastic temperature as the Gods sending us a warning: something was coming. I did not believe Gods would do such kindness, but something indeed was coming. Mother spent more and more time in her study with her mosttrusted counselors, but whenever I had asked about it I was left withIt is not your concern, Cordelia. You should spend this time studying, not wandering around.
Walking down the Royal cemetery where my father and brother rested alongside Royal warriors, I faced twin stones: Father’s and Brian’s.Brian was a great warrior, brother, and heir.The engraving on the stone suggested.
Brian was my age when he had fought in the last battle of Crimson War.He protected our kind at twenty four, when all I did was argue with the Queen.
Would I ever fulfill the expectations of an heir? Would I ever fulfill the expectation of my mother? I wasn’t born to rule and lead, Brian was. People had adored him. People tolerated me.
What would Father say if he saw what became of me? What became of all of us? What would Brian do if he was in my place? Would they have been disappointed in me like Mother was? Would they have seen rationale in my words, unlike our Queen?
For a long time I sat by the stones, staring at the names. My mind imagining what life would be like were my loved ones still here when the realization of an abnormal silence shocked my senses. The wind had quieted down, the crickets went silent. The cold sweat broke through my skin.
A shiver went through me when I felt a pair of eyes watching me from afar. Slowly, my head turned in the direction of my company when a loud croak interrupted the peacefulness of the dead.
The raven studied me with its hypnotizing eyes as it let out another loud croak. Stretching out its powerful wings, it made its way across the cemetery, flying past me, settling down onto my brother's stone.
The raven’s feathers were the color of the night ocean, shimmering under the moonlight. The raven crooked its head,its eyes did not leave mine for even a moment. I swallowed a lump in my throat, careful not to move.
Why does it look at me as though I am its next meal?I wondered, when something made its way across my neck. My hands flew towards the sensation, brushing my exposed skin of any unwelcome creatures. My body shuddered.
Slowly, I got to my feet, retreating a step back from the bird when my eyes found dozens of ravens surrounding me in a tight circle. Goosebumps covered my skin from head to toe.
Come now, Cordelia, they are just birds. Ravens do not attack humans.My breathing quickened.
They all stared at me when they started singing in unison, making the cemetery into their own orchestra. My eyes traveled through the unkindness of ravens when I saw bright crimson blood that colored some of their feathers. “What in the Kingdom...” A whisper escaped my lips.
Gods. Dear Gods!My palm covered my mouth.
Refusing to think of where the birds got their crimson ornaments, I forced my legs to carry me away from the horrors of feathered creatures who kept croaking after me.
The sound rang in my ears as I made my way back towards the palace’s grounds. It did not stop until I was out of the raven’s view, far enough to not hear their cries.
The bright moon that lit my way here was now hiding behind the clouds.Alas, I didn’t even bring a candle with me.
When the entrance of the passage entered my view, a branch broke behind me.
Gods, Cordelia, it’s just a squirrel, you need to calm down.I shook my head, holding my heart, as if that would stop it from jumping out of my chest.
The image of the ravens did not leave my mind as I kept walking. I forced my lungs to take deep breaths when the sound of crackle reached my ears once again.Just a squirrel!When I get back to my rooms I will be laughing at my own imagination.Nevertheless, I squeezed the handle of my dagger, pulling it out of my pocket.
I tried to see the source of the sound that scared me but saw nothing. I saw nothing, but had an unsettling feeling as if I was being watched. I knew the feeling well. When you would think you were alone, but a Royal was almost never alone—that I had learned early in life.
