Page 166 of Ravenrose

I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts of the fear that threatens to overtake me.

Run.

The thought no sooner crosses my mind before I put it into motion.

I pick up my bow on my way, checking the dagger on my thigh as I sprint down the stairs.

Outside, the sounds of battle ebb away, a dark silence taking over.

The Raven makes quick work of its enemies.

Time to go.

Now.

Slipping into the main hall, I move fast, my head snapping in every direction. But it seems as though everyone is preoccupied with the fight outside. Nearing the end of the hall, I freeze at the sound of male voices, though I haven’t laid eyes on them yet.

Up ahead, I can see a way out: the opening of the covered walkway just ahead. Throwing caution to the wind, I run for it in a dead sprint.

I reach the opening. Gripping hold of the wooden frame, I use my momentum to launch myself out, landing hard on the roof. Pain sears at my elbow from the impact. I curse, but ignore it, near certain someone would have heard that landing.

Pushing myself to my feet, I tiptoe across the small cap that runs down the peak of the slanted roof. All while praying I don’t trip and send myself careening to the ground.

I don’t dare look down, fully exposed right now as I am in the open. Picking up speed as I near the end of the roof, I take the leap. My hands barely catch the top of the stone wall. Hoisting myself up and over, I climb down the outside as fast as I can manage.

The second my boots hit the ground, I run.

The dark leather of my armour helps me blend into the night as I run as fast as I can across the open field that sits between the fort and the forest.

I don’t look back and I don’t stop until I’m through the trees.

I circle the fort wide, putting some distance between myself and the Raven at my back, while attempting to throw off the soldiers I know will follow me.

I escaped the fort on its northeast side. They’ll expect me to continue in that direction, especially given the border with Skye is right there. They’re correct in that assumption. Skye is my only chance, but the border stretches wide across the east, and if I adjust my direction now, maybe I can buy myself enough time to reach it.

When I’ve completed my half circle, I veer sharply southeast, tearing through the bush, ignoring the branches that catch my hands, my face...

I keep going.

I don’t think about him.

I just keep running.

I just need to make it to the ravine. The Skyen army is right there. I heard it myself. All I have to do is make it across.

Ayer is the Raven.

The wild thought hits me, rushing through my head as I fly blindly through the woods.

I’ve been with him for days. Alone.

Gods, I saved him.

I want to throw up. All that time, he’d been demonborn, and I’d been⁠—

Stupid. I’ve been so stupid.

I thought I saw something good in him. But now, I can’t help but wonder if he was just manipulating me. To keep me compliant. Well, it worked. I’d stopped fighting.