Page 10 of Heart of the Raven
“It’s not you I’m running away from, just everyone else’s expectations.”
A muscle in his cheek jerked. “I expect nothing from you, and the wildwood has no expectations.”
“I am aware.” I sighed with more bitterness than I intended.
His face shifted from curious to pained as he studied me. As he opened his mouth to speak a high whistling sound came from over our heads and an arrow slammed into the tree behind us. Raven pushed me behind him and turned to face our attackers.
Chapter Ten
I stifleda cry as I hid behind Raven, crouching down while panic zinged through my veins. A familiar heat made my ears burn and suddenly the world rushed around me, spinning and flashing. I gasped for breath, fingers clawing at my throat. Raven tugged the arrow out of the tree and faced our attackers.
“Who goes there?” he demanded. “And what fight do you have with me?”
“If it isn’t Master Raven,” a rough voice growled.
I calmed myself down enough to peer out from behind Raven and wished I hadn’t. Two creatures stood in front of him, one looked like a wolfman, who stood on two legs and yet the rest of his body was covered in gray fur, and fangs hung out of his snarling mouth. Beady black eyes flashed when they saw me and a long pink tongue came out.
The second was the one who had shot the arrow, for his bow and arrow still pointed at Raven, as though one wrong word, one wrong move, and he’d run him through without a care in the world. The tingling in my hands grew stronger and my belly rolled. The second creature was all muscle with tusks coming out of his fat lips and ashy gray skin. He wore nothing but a loincloth around his waist and a chain of bones rattled on his neck. Thick wiry hair stuck up straight off his head, only a few inches in the air. I knew, without hearing another word from him, what he was. An orc.
They were rumored to dwell in the wildwood, but I’d never seen one, and why would I? All I’d heard were tales of the wildwood that made me want to stay away, and now I regretted ever leaving Lord Cedric’s castle. I stifled a scream as the orc’s bold gaze lingered on my hair.
“Well, well,” he spoke again in his hard voice. “It seems the Raven has company. You didn’t tell us you were entertaining, nor did you invite us to share this delightful morsel you’ve found, and selfishly kept all to yourself.”
Bile rose in my throat, but I couldn’t move. I sensed Raven’s shoulders go stiff, and when he spoke his voice was as cold as melted snow. “Your quarrel is with me, and me alone. My comings and goings, and who I keep company with, are none of your business.”
“I think they are. Raven.” The orc took another threatening step forward and raised the arrow to eye level. “Especially when you owe us.”
“Listen,” Raven raised his hands, palms facing out. “I haven’t forgotten about our wager, I’ll pay you back, but not today.”
“You’ll pay us back alright,” the orc demanded. “And you’ll pay us back now. Or we’ll be entertaining your little twat tonight.”
A strangled cry came from Raven’s throat, and he moved so quickly I almost missed it. His fists came up just as the arrow twanged out of the bowstring. It shattered as it sank into Raven’s shoulder, but he continued as though he did not feel it. His knife came out, cutting a low arc through the air and slicing open the orc’s belly.
A raw roar of hate and pain mixed with the horrid scent of dung filled the air. I scrambled back on my hands, scraping my palms on bark and brambles. The wolfman lunged, teeth bared and claws out. Raven went down hard underneath him and the two struggled. I screamed. Paws flashed in the air as Raven rolled on top of the beast and quickly slit its throat. The knife muted the beast’s howl and two dead bodies lay, almost hidden, on the forest floor.
Hands shaking, face flushed, I weakly stood to my feet. I couldn’t stop staring at the glazed, vacant expression on the orc’s face, nor the wolf, eyes still open, one paw ready to slice through the air.
Raven faced me, his hair tousled, chest heaving, mouth open. Blood dripped from the wound in his shoulder. His knuckles were pale where they gripped the curved knife, but his eyes gave me pause. They were wild, almost black without pupils, and glared at me, soulless, dangerous.
A warning twisted in my stomach and I took a step back, my hands grasping for something to defend myself.
“Get away from me,” Raven ordered, his voice rough. “I’m in the throes of bloodlust and know not what I will do. Walk away before I take your life too.”
I stumbled back another step, but something gave me pause, something stopped me from running headlong into the forest.
My nightmare flashed before my vision, the looming trees, the swirling hole, and the features of the Raven, saving me from being sucked under. I couldn’t run into the wildwood and leave him in his bloodlust, searching for death. He’d saved me twice, nay, now made thrice, and although I didn’t know what his past was, who he had been and what he’d done, I could guess.
I took a tentative step toward him, flinching when a warning growl rumbled from his chest. His jaw was set tight, and the knife in his hand shook. One bright drop of crimson fell to the ground, creating a pool by his feet. I slowed down my uneven breathing and took another step, holding out my hands to show him I meant no harm, although I sensed, somewhere underneath the bloodlust, he understood that. I hoped.
“You know not what you do,” the words choked out of his throat.
“I do,” I said, my voice shaking. My eyes were wet with unshed tears of fright as I took another step. “I know what I do. You’re the Raven, and you’ve saved me. Many times. It’s only fair that this time, I save you.”
His grip on the knife loosened, but I kept my gaze fixed on his dilated pupils.
“I am Raven. An omen of death. Destruction follows in my wake, for I steal life from all who draw too near to me. You don’t know enough, but if you come closer, I will teach you to fear me. It is my nature. Get back!”
The last words he uttered were sharp and sudden, and I blinked as a rush of heat came to my face. But I held his gaze, barely daring to breathe as my lips moved. “No. You had your chance yesterday on the road, again when I slept in the hot springs, and a final time last night. You could have handed me over to the wolf and the orc, but you slayed them and protected my honor. You said it before you are reformed, there is more than death within you. There is good.”
