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“You’re going to have to explain that.”
“I keep running into it,” I say, digging my hand into my pocket for the speckled white pebble I’ve been carrying around there in case I run into my raven friend again. “Normally after I’ve woken up from one of my dreams.”
“Maybe it’s your familiar.”
I frown and hold the pebble out to the raven. “I don’t have a familiar.”
“Obviously.”
I give him an unamused look.
The raven shifts forward and inspects the pebble. It’s only now it’s closer that I realise it has something in its mouth. No doubt it’s trying to work out if my offering is good enough before giving it to me.
“Sorry, I know that wasn’t helpful.” Cethin sighs and shifts into a more comfortable position, his eyes having returned to their normal colour.
For some reason, I’m disappointed by that.
“Are you sure it’s the same raven?” he asks.
I study the bird hopping around and looking at me with intelligent beady eyes. It drops a tarnished ring next to the pebble and I find myself smiling.
“Yes,” I say to the warlock. “And thank you, I’ll put that with my button.” I pull it out of my pocket to show the raven so it knows I’ve been treasuring its gift.
Caw!
It’s almost as if the raven is trying to tell me that it approves. Though I don’t know whether it’s because of our gift exchange, or my assessment about it being the same raven.
“But I don’t know why it’s interested in me,” I admit.
“Magic,” Cethin responds. “It’s the most logical explanation.”
“I suppose it does make more sense than the idea I’m being stalked by a raven,” I muse. “What do I do about it?”
“I think that’s up to you,” he responds.
I look at the raven and think about what it might mean that I have one in the first place. I guess it confirms that I am magical, though I’d gathered that already simply from the fact I’m here.
“Would you like to be my familiar?” I ask the bird.
The raven flaps its wings and picks up the pebble before it jumps into the air.
Is that an answer? Or does it just mean that the raven has gotten tired of my indecision already? Just like every aspect of who I am, I’m left confused and without the answers.
I shake my head. “Typical. It interrupts us at a great moment, and then disappears as soon as we’re trying to work it out.” I pick up the ring and slip it into my pocket with the button. I know there’s nothing special about either of them, but it feels like they’re important. Maybebecausethe raven is supposed to be connected to me.
He chuckles. “It was a great moment.”
“I suppose it just gives us an excuse to have another great moment.” I lean back in. “If you want one?”
The purple glow returns to his eyes.
I guess I have my answer.
CHAPTER11
Anja
The mist swirlsaround me and the distant wailing grows stronger than ever. I can already feel the panic starting to build within me as I make my way over to where I know the river is waiting for me.
