Ravenna's Calling

CHAPTER ONE

A figure cloaked in black looked down on the child, singing with a voice that could have been an angel. “My child of darkness, I am sorry to have borne you, for it would have been better if you had died in the womb, for you are a doomed child, born of the raven.”

The babe cooed at the blurry face shrouded in fading light, her chocolate-brown eyes full of innocence as she gazed up at the face lined with shame and sorrow. As the child with midnight-black hair gurgled and wrapped her tiny hand around the woman’s slender finger, she didn’t understand that the drops that fell on her hand were tears of deep remorse. As the baby was taken from the woman’s arms, the tiny girl could never have known the pain and power that awaited her.

~

Lachlan watched the lanky girl perform a backflip from the stands. He wasn’t supposed to be wasting time watching a pathetic trick show; his aunt wouldn’t approve. Yet here he was – wasting time watching this girl he’d seen perform a handful of times over the last few days. Nobody was nearly as good as this girl. She gracefully did flips, handstands, and other tricks so eloquently that it seemed as second nature to her. She was shorter than most girls her age, although she appeared on the brink of womanhood. Her ebony mane of hair was tucked into a braid that could barely contain its desire to fly free with the wind, and her skin reminded him of cinnamon.

The crowd cheered for her, but she paid them no heed as if their voices were far away. She moved with a rare, free-spirited attitude that few possessed. But she moved with a kind of sad pride, weighed down by an invisible burden that was hidden from others by her cleverness and pride. She reminded him of the raven – whose talent for drawing life from the dead gave them a ranking among the most intelligent and resourceful of birds.

At last, her performance ended, and the crowd cheered and tossed flowers to celebrate her performance. She bowed politely, and while her face was hidden from the people, daydreaming of making them perform stunts for her entertainment. She was tired of being gawked at and looked at as just another freak in the traveling circus. She wanted to live. She wanted to break free from this prison that held her – and from Maria, the prison warden.

As she rose from the bow and looked out at the blurred faces of the audience, she was consumed with hatred for Maria. She thought about the fat Italian woman and her dark, cold eyes, and the bushy eyebrows that resembled a porcupine that had exploded. She remembered being deprived of food while Maria and her husband, Enzo, grew fat eating their fill. The days when they had been worked nearly to death, the endless beatings. She seethed with rage as the crowd clapped, oblivious to her suffering.

As the people began to leave, Lachlan angrily told himself, You need to get going! Instead, he just stared at the girl, wondering what her name was and who she was. He knew neither his aunt nor the Council would be happy to know he had stopped to watch a female acrobat, but he was drawn to her because he felt they both carried the same burden. It made him curious. Finally, he made himself move on.

~

The girl and boy walked casually toward the tent as Maria came out of the tent carrying a large bucket for the well. “Raven! Gareth! Jennifer, come here at once!” Yet, the boy and girl didn’t come as they were told but remained hidden in the shadows.

“Where are those spoiled brats? Probably fooling around like the filthy maggots they are!” she mumbled to herself as she angrily stomped toward their hiding spot.

The girl’s breath froze. If the woman turned, she would see them. “Celare…” She breathed and as she uttered the spell, their cloaks instantly became the color of the surrounding bushes. They were safe.

“Brilliant, Raven!” The boy grinned mischievously. He loved it when she cast spells and especially when she cast them to escape Maria.

“Thanks, Gareth!” Raven said to her best friend and fellow performer. With him, she felt she could face the drudgery of their life in the circus and Maria’s evil.

They stayed hidden for a moment in case Maria returned, but they took their hoods off so they could see each other. His face was narrow and rough with a hooked nose, olive-colored skin, and thick eyebrows that matched his windblown, caramel-colored hair. “Alright, let’s move,” Gareth suddenly said as he stepped out of the bushes with Raven hastily following as she pulled her hood on.

They quickly made their way toward the food tent and when they stepped in, found it littered with all kinds of baked goods, chicken, turkey, ham, cheese, bread, fruits, and vegetables. “If there is one thing Maria’s good at, it’s cooking for her fat pig of a husband,” cackled Raven as she stole a carrot from a serving platter. Their mouths watered at the sight of all the food laying on the table. Right now, they only had old, dried-up fruit and rotten pork in their satchels and they were desperately hungry. They needed to steal food to survive, but they had to hurry – if Maria caught them stealing, she would starve them for a month.

Suddenly, Raven heard movement outside. “Shh!” she whispered, putting a finger to her lips. Gareth nodded and rushed to get out through the back of the tent, but in the process, he ripped his cloak and the camouflage disappeared. Raven acted out of instinct and pushed him down into a squatting position so that her cloak would cover both of them just as Maria came back in, grumbling loudly as she carried the now-filled water bucket.

“More,” Raven uttered, causing a plate filled with fruit to topple over.

“Damn!” Maria cursed as she reached to pick it up. As she bent over, Raven grabbed Gareth’s hand and dragged him outside.

As soon as they were out of sight, they fell to the ground howling with laughter. “You’re as clumsy as a three-legged goat!” Raven giggled.

“Hey, that’s mean!” Gareth grimaced, although his face was red with laughter. “It’s nice to see you happy,” he commented, opening the satchel so they both could examine their spoils. After a few moments, he shut the bag and said, “We really should go.”

“Why?” Raven asked without looking up, “We still have a few hours till dark.”

“Because of them!” Gareth pointed out and Raven finally lifted her head to see a gang of boys heading toward them. Hastily, Raven hid the satchels of food amongst the bushes on the side of the road and rose to her feet beside Gareth.

“Good morrow! Are you travelers lost?” a brawny boy with thick, ginger-colored hair called out as if daring them to ask for directions. Raven and Gareth remained silent, shaking their heads in response.

“What? Cat got your tongue?” the boy mocked. His clique of friends snickered in response.

“No,” Raven spoke boldly.

“Oh, I’m sorry, didn’t know you had to stand up for your boyfriend,” the boy smirked.

That set Gareth off, “She’s not my girlfriend, so beat it!” His face was boiling with rage and Raven had to hold him back to keep him from attacking the smug boy.

“Gareth, come on, let’s go!”

“Am I supposed to be afraid of you?” he chortled as Raven dragged Gareth away.

Suddenly, one of the other boys shouted, “Hey, I know who you are! You’re that acrobat from the freak show!”

CHAPTER TWO

“My god, you’re right Johnny, it is her! She’s quite attractive when she’s not flying through the air like a gangly goose,” a hefty redhead sneered.

Raven clenched her teeth, her jaw tightening with rage. She curled her hands into fists and lunged toward the mocking thugs. Gareth wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back.

“Aww, look, Pete, the little girl thinks she’s tough!”

Pete wiped his sweat-soaked red hair from his brow and tossed his cloak onto the ground. “I think I’ll have to teach her a lesson myself,” he taunted menacingly.

Just as Pete stepped forward with his fist raised, a small, black kitten suddenly appeared between them. Every hair on its body stood on end and it hissed at Pete, its teeth bared.

Disgusted, he viciously kicked the kitten away. “Stupid cat!” he yelled.

Raven ground her teeth in anger. She struggled in Gareth’s arms, wanting to make this vile beast pay. How dare they insult her and harm a helpless creature?! Raven broke free from Gareth’s grasp and jabbed an uppercut into Pete’s stomach. Pete gasped in astonishment, stunned.

Raven stepped back, smirking. Pete charged at her, clumsily swinging a left hook. Raven dodged it easily then landed a roundhouse to his groin. The group of boys groaned with him as he fell to the ground moaning in agony.

Raven grinned as she stood over him. “Guess the little girl taught you a lesson!” Raven breathed in the same mocking tone Pete had used towards her just moments before.

“Don’t just stand there!” Pete exclaimed. “Get her!”

The gang of boys surrounded Raven and Gareth, cackling, “You’re done for now!” one of the younger boys taunted.

“Ventosas horridus!” Raven yelled. Out of nowhere, a strong wind gusted, felling an old pine tree as if an invisible axe had been laid at its roots. The tree fell between Raven, Gareth, and the petrified boys.

“She’s a demon, that’s what!” Johnny squealed as he and the other boys fled like whimpering dogs, their tails between their legs.

“You’re one of them! Go back where you came from!” Pete screamed.

Raven raised her hand and whispered, “Parere,” as she commanded a branch to rise from the ground. She directed the branch to Pete’s head, knocking him unconscious.

~

“You stupid girl!” Maria screeched with rage as she dragged 8 year- old Raven into the tents.

Raven let out a wail as she cried out, “Let me go! I didn’t mean it, I swear!” as Maria’s nails sunk into her flesh before she was thrown to the ground.

“I’m sure you didn’t mean it, but do tell me, how can you not when you stole my brooch?” Maria’s voice is on edge but calmer but Raven had learned that it was only the beginning.

“I… I was hungry and you didn’t feed us and-” Raven stuttered but stopped as Maria strode towards her with a large stick.

Maria sneered, a whip used for the horses lay staunched in blood, “That’s what you get for being lazy, you ungrateful bitch!”

Raven whimpered at the sight of her bloodied back, her ragged clothes would be ruined from the stain. “Pl-please…”

But the wind rushed by as the whip struck again, only Maria’s cackles could be heard in the background - not even her screaming. And again and again.

“Raven!” An already familiar voice called out for her as she heard Gareth’s footsteps, “please stop this! She didn’t do anything, I made her do it!”

“Oh really?” Maria dared, her eyes widened like a cat.

But Gareth held his ground, unfazed - “I said - Let. Her. Go. She’s only a little girl.”

“You know the rules,” Maria scoffed, “everyone must work for their feed and she didn’t do as she was told, she’s 8 now so she’ll deal with the consequences like everybody else, now go before I whip you too.”

“Nope,” Gareth crossed his arms, “punish me, I joked that I wanted that pie and she took it seriously, if anything you should be beating me instead.”

“Oh come now, don’t be sad - you’ll just get beaten up with her.” Maria flung at him, slashing his chest and his face. Blood hiding his tears, he glared at Maria and spit on the ground.

“Gareth no, don’t…” Raven tried to shout but it all came out in a whisper as the pain was too great.

He only smiled as he waited for the second strike, but it never came

Maria cried out in horror, opening his eyes, he gasped in horror as the whip began to burn

even though it was nowhere near a fire, slowly building its way up to Maria’s hand.

Under some kind of unseen force, she struggled to pry her hand from the whip’s grasp but she accomplished nothing except for increasing panic. “Get rid of this! Help me!” She begged pleadingly but even if Gareth wanted to, his feet were rooted to the ground.

Suddenly, as if the whip had come alive it moved on its own, wrapping itself around Maria’s body like a serpent upon its prey, the burning increased until smoke was emitted and now Maria screamed at the top of her lungs as the whip cut itself into her skin as she lost her balance before tumbling to the ground.

Within moments, the entire tent had caught on fire, but Gareth quickly grabbed Raven and dashed for the entrance, not even bothering to go back for Maria despite her pleas.

Enzo met them along with the rest of the circus, already in the process of gathering water from the well to put it out.

“Where is my wife?!” Enzo demanded from Gareth when all of a sudden as if a switch had been turned, the flames disappeared though nothing was burnt or even smelled of smoke.

“What the hell?” Gareth heard somebody say.

“The devil is among us!” The cook exclaimed.

But Gareth stopped listening as Raven moaned, having lost consciousness just seconds before.

Just seconds before the fire died out, thought Gareth as he watched Enzo and other circus members recover an unconscious but otherwise alright Maria as he held Raven tightly in his arms…

~

“We need to go,” Gareth urged, touching her arm, startling her as she awoke from a trance, causing her to gasp slightly, “They’ll come back for you soon.”

Raven nodded as she stared blankly at Pete and the fallen tree, she didn't seem to hear the cries of the other boys as they fled for their lives.

They hurried (breathlessly, describing how they were looking or feeling) to their tent where they were greeted by Derwyn and Jennifer. “What’d you bring me? What you’d bring me!” The two small children squealed in delight, practically leaping into their arms.

Jennifer, with her two front teeth missing, grinned so wide you’d think it wouldn’t fit her tiny face, “You took forever! Miz Maria said you are whipped next time she saw you!” Before she took a large bite of cheese.

Gareth smirked as he passed around the food for everyone, “Don’t worry Jen, she just says she’s gonna do things but never does, I mean, she said they were going to be rich and beautiful, and look at her!”

Everyone laughed, even Raven who despite the knot growing in her stomach, couldn’t resist the way Gareth could hide the darkest moments with the light of laughter. Although she knew it was only a matter of time before the whole town was upon them.

“Gar-Gar, I find toad too-day!” Derwyn exclaimed excitedly as he held out a very frightened toad for them to see.

“Whoa, that’s a big one! You’re a mighty hunter,” Gareth scratched Derwyn’s head for a moment as he handed out the cold but fresh food, pride hanging in his voice. Since Derwyn was only 4, he had a hard time saying Gareth’s name so he was known as Gar-Gar.

Raven chuckled but couldn’t keep her stomach from churning despite the good food as she recalled the fight earlier, they have probably told the whole town by now, some stupid part of her hoped that nobody would believe them, blaming it on drinks or superstitions. These parts of the country were less prone to the fear of magic, believing that it was only a figment of the imagination and a logical explanation behind everything.

Thoughts clouded her mind as she imagined the town coming for her, being publicly executed and humiliated. But then that small part of her that was usually buried deep down, she envisioned leaving the circus for life forever on the run.

Despite the dangers, Raven didn’t mind the idea for anything would have to be better than the circus. Gareth and she used to daydream of running off together to find adventure, but when the circus took in two orphaned children that nobody wanted to take care of, they had called it off without question.

Eventually, once the kids had bedded down for the night, Raven and Gareth huddled together, finding warmth and comfort in each other. For a few moments, they gazed at each other trying to delay the dreaded conversation.

“You can’t stay here,” Gareth whispered without his usual glint of mischief, “they’ll

come for you.

“I know,” Raven replied, “but where would I go?”

“You’re not going anywhere by yourself,” he said sternly.

“Gareth, this is my problem. I don’t want you to get involved,” she turns over but Gareth guides her face to look at him.

“First off, they probably reported me with you,” he starts counting his fingers, “Second of

all, you're my only friend in the world so, of course, this is my problem too. Third of all, remember when you first came here?”

“Of course,” Raven answered, smiling. “How can I forget?”

“Tell me what happened, my memory is a bit fuzzy,” he asked with a wink.

“We were both young, starving, and alone, we promised we would help each other

survive.”

Gareth nodded, “and we’re going to get through this together. Got it?”

Raven nodded, unable to help the happiness taking over the fear inside her, she squeezed his hand and they pressed their heads together as was their custom whenever they talked. There had never been anything romantic between them in all the years they’d known each other, it just never occurred to them and they never tried to push it.

“We’ll be moving out of town tomorrow,” Gareth began, “Once we’re far enough and make camp for the night, we’ll split. With the kids and all…” He began venting about how they’d get so far north nobody could find them and just go anywhere they wanted with a new name.

Eventually, Raven put a finger over his lips, “I get it, it sounds wonderful. Please don’t ruin it for me,” she smirked.

His eyes twinkled in excitement before he sighed and settled himself next to her, staying close and not just because of the cold night...

CHAPTER THREE

“I’m telling you, sir, that acrobat was a witch!” Pete pleaded to the captain of the guard.

The captain sighed, annoyed with the rascal, “magic is a very complicated process son, usually not from the circus as it could be an allusion son.”

“No sir, please listen. I’ve been to a lot of shows, what she did was unfathomable.” Pete begged earnestly.

“Could the girl have been trying to defend herself?” The man arched his eyebrow.

“So sir, she was stealing food,” Pete claimed.

“How ironic, as you have not only been accused of the same thing but also of beating and threatening lots of people,” he declared.

Pete was dumbstruck, “But...but I don’t have magic, she does and should be punished!”

“She has done no real harm and if you don’t leave I’ll have to give your father a visit,” he threatened.

With a humph, Pete left and the overworked captain heaved and sank into his chair. “How goes it Lachlan?”

A surprised Lachlan shyly answers upon entering, “Captain Ifor, I was coming to give a report and couldn’t help overhearing.” He mischievously grinned.

“Always eavesdropping, your only flaw even though that has its qualities,” Ifor chuckled.

“Indeed, Ifor - nothing new to report that’s already not news,” Lachlan.

“Unfortunately,” he sighed. “You were trolling near the circus, right?”

“Yes, but I saw nothing but what you would expect at a freak show, even the acrobats,” Lachlan reported.

“Like I told the lad, probably a nux and even if it was magic, if the person was extremely powerful, she wouldn’t be at the circus, don’t you think?” Ifor got up to stretch his aching legs.

“You’re probably right, sir. We should focus on the bigger issues at hand. Like the riots or how the mages are causing trouble.”

“Yes, way more important than freak shows,” Ifor yawned, lost in thought, “what do you think of magic? In my great-grandfather’s day magic was bad, in my father’s it was considered good and now I don’t know what to believe in anymore.”

“Do you mean magic itself or the ones who wield it?” Lachlan questioned.

“Wise question, lad. I suppose both?” he replied.

“Magic is a gift from the earth goddess herself but even she couldn’t predict who would use it for good or evil. Every mage has a choice and so do no-mages,” Lachlan passionately claimed.

“True, true, you are wise beyond your years. Go get some sleep while you can,” he smiled.

Lachlan left, feeling restless and uneasy about this new information, dreading to hope, but what if this is my only option? He was torn between doing what was expected of him and what he should do with no clue what he would end up choosing.

~

Three days later, Ifor was occupied with training newly recruited soldiers in the woods so the duties of answering complaints fell to Lachlan and a few others. One of his calls involved a couple that kept demanding to see the captain of the guard and no other even though they’d been dismissed several times. Annoyed, he was heading to get rid of them for good. A sense of dread and curiosity when he heard they were the owners of the circus. Both, Italian they were old, short, and fat which he tried to restrain laughing as they barely came past his waist an eight-year-old could be taller.

“Are you in charge?” they asked abruptly, without proper introductions.

“Yes, Madame,” Lachlan answered bluntly.

“It doesn’t appear you’re on your charge because it took so long,” she said snidely. “My husband runs the circus and two of our performers ran away the other day with two servants of ours. We have done nothing but graciously take them in, feeding and clothing them but they just left us after so much trouble.” Maria blew into a handkerchief.

“Where might they go? Lachlan inquired, bored.

Enzo was about to answer but his wife beat him to it, “The forest most likely, most ungrateful wretches. Mark my words they’re better off hanged or sold into slavery - especially that - that witch!”

“If you were so kind to them why would they run away? Unless of course, they were being abused.” Lachlan glared at the woman. Ifor had told him countless times to avoid being so direct to the point, but for him it got the job done.

Maria scoffed, “Abuse! I’ve done nothing of the sort. I’ve practically been a mother to these children - that witch has corrupted them.”

Lachlan started to get up, he’d had enough of this couple as he believed the runaways were better off in the woods but he heard Maria complain to Enzo, “If it wasn’t for those wacky powers of hers, this wouldn’t have happened,” she moaned.

Stopping in his tracks, he turned back, “What sort of powers?”

The couple gazed up at him, a bit frightened, but to his surprise, Enzo spoke, “Raven, as she calls herself, has always been a bit odd. Ever since we brought her into the circus, nothing has been the same.”

“In what way?” Lachlan nearly commanded.

“Well… there was one time she was getting talked to by Maria when the tent took fire but when she passed out, the fire was like that - nothing was burnt or even smelled like smoke.”

After a moment, Lachlan dismissed them and headed toward the stables. Twice was a coincidence, and he didn’t believe in coincidences. He had a feeling about this girl and he needed to see her for himself.

CHAPTER FOUR

They’d been traveling for several days now - avoiding roads or anything to do with humans as word would’ve spread by now about them. Although now they weren’t so sure where they were.

“So much for an easy escape plan,” Garreth commented after he and Raven had put the kids down for bed.

Raven remained silent. They were running out of food, and she was worried. She’d been able to trap a few squirrels and fish, but that little bit wouldn’t last long.

“We’ll figure something out,” she placed her head on Garreth’s shoulder before falling asleep.

~

Lachlan found bits and pieces of where they were going but they were good as he had to practically scout every inch for clues. This only made him more determined to find them - he had to figure out the extent of this girl’s magic before it was too late.

Something caught his eye - it was a bear track but only much larger as he realized with horror what it was. Clicking on his horse he rushed forward, just praying he found her before they did.

~

Raven and the others were starving - their food was limited but they hadn’t been able to find larger game. Their last resort was a small village that looked remote so word most likely didn’t reach them as quickly. An owl hooted in the distance and the wind chilled their bones, Raven felt like they were being hunted.

“Howdy strangers, what be ya’s wanderin’ ‘round dis parts?” An old man limped slowly towards them.

Garreth quickly took the lead, being the natural charmer, “We are poor travelers seeking our father’s new farm and wouldn’t mind a place to stay for the night.”

“Sure thang sonny, but be a mind ya, I wouldn't go strollin’ around dees monsters.” He gestured to his cabin on the outskirts of the village. “Me name be Hardy Dough, but ye can call me Dodo.”

Although they were grateful for his help, he made supper which was green eggs and meat mixed with a broth thicker than Maria’s eyebrows. Trying to be polite they tried to eat it but ended up tossing it out the window when Dodo wasn’t looking.

Eager to find some real food, they explored the village - they must’ve rarely got visitors as the kids were swarmed with attention but most importantly food that didn’t yell back. However, there seemed to be a presence in their midst for sometimes they caught glimpses of fear in their eyes.

They asked Dodo this and he sat down deep in thought, “Somethin’ be stalkin’ us ‘bout a week now. Some say it be a beeg owl but others are sayin’ a bear like nothing we seen ‘before.’Hatever it be, it hadn’t killed ‘nyone yet - like he is waitin’ for somethin’ ‘owerful. Only a few cattle plus one ‘orse be dead ‘though, unlike most beasts, dis one hunts in broad daylight - ain’t afraid of nuthin’.

~

Dear Lachlan,

I strongly advise you to return to your station. There have been several attacks in the few days you’ve been gone, some of the victims might intrigue you. That bully Pete was brutally attacked, nearly lost a limb but he’ll be alright (though his body won’t be the same again) then the couple that runs the circus was nearly killed along with many of their performers - which only three sadly perished. The ones that survived, claim they saw a very large bear with the head of an owl. According to the victims they only stopped after a few swipes, sniffing the air like a hound. Please hurry back, son. You’re my best warrior and tracker.

Sincerely,

Captain Ifor

Lachlan burned the letter at his campsite, feeding the falcon that had sent the message. He knew exactly what was going on but in the morning once the falcon had rested he replied:

Don’t fight the owlbears as they’re called, they are the seekers of the mages as their job is to search for potential mates to regroup - they’re after the girl and possibly me. Although dangerous, they usually don’t kill unless threatened or if they smell any who’ve had contact with their victim. In a fight, the Owlbear WILL win no matter how thick your swords are, even amongst my people they are greatly revered and sometimes worshiped. My deepest apologies, but I have to go down my path.