Chapter 8

Chapter 2

Ven

The other ravens were twittering softly. They didn’t want to wake Amel, but they needed me. Why do they always need me?

What do you want? I asked Racor, the lead raven, telepathically.

There’s something attacking the eastern nests, he said. We need your help.

All right, I’m coming, I agreed. But be careful not to wake Amel.

We won’t, he replied.

I stretched my wings and flew out the open window, following the other ravens to the eastern part of the woods. It took them a few minutes to fly there, but when they arrived I could see the problem. Crows, which are completely different from ravens, were attacking the ravens’ nests.

I screeched loudly and a few of the crows turned their attention towards me. I spoke to them telepathically.

Why are you doing this? I asked them.

Ah, it is you, Mind Reader. We have been waiting for you, one of the larger crows said. He spoke with his mind as if he had done it before, and he didn’t seem surprised at all that a raven was speaking into his mind.

You know who I am? I asked. He nodded. Why?

We need your help, Mind Reader, he said. I perched on the branch opposite from the lead crow and his gang.

And why would I help a bunch of crows that are attacking my flock’s nests? I asked, cawing slightly.

Because if you don’t help us, Vivalda will never return.

My beak fell open. How did this crow know about Vivalda? And what did he mean “return”?

How do you know about Vivalda? I asked. He only lives in the tales Amel tells the village children.

No, the crow said. Vivalda is real. Amel’s tale is true.

She didn’t make it up, he said. She was there. She alone knows. She alone is the sole survivor of Vivalda’s followers.

WHAT? I yelled. The crows flinched with the power of my mind screech.

Yes, Amel is the daughter of Lorence, Vivalda’s second-in-command, and Rosemera, his wife. They were Vivalda’s head followers and dear friends, the crow told me. They had her after their marriage in Vivalda’s hidden city.

Vivalda has a hidden city? I gasped.

Yes. All of his followers reside there.

Then why did they send Amel away? I wondered.

They needed someone out in the world to hear news and pass it to them, he answered. When I gave him a puzzled look, he said, Subconsciously, of course. They read her mind for any news of the outside world.

THEY DO WHAT!? I screamed. They all ducked down against the branch in attempt to escape my screech, but since it was in their minds and their ears, it didn’t go away until I stopped cawing and shut my beak.

They read her mind, the crow said again. It’s the only way.

They could have just told her, I said. She would have willingly passed them news.

And what if I tell her? I threatened. What if she finds out?

I didn’t tell her.

Chapter 3

The Crows’ Battle

Ven, what’s going on? she asked. Why are the crows attacking the nests?

They want you, he replied weakly. That’s all they’ll take.

All right! I’m coming. She slipped into her jade cloak and put on her boots. Throwing open the door, she dashed down the worn road to the ravens’ nests.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” she screamed up at the crows. When none of them flinched, she switched to telepathy.

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? she cried. A few of the crows flinched, while some lost their focus and almost fell. One, though, didn’t do a thing.

We are attacking the ravens’ nests, the lead crow replied calmly. He came and hovered directly in front of me. When Ven said you would not come willingly, we had to provoke you. This was the only way.

The only way!? If you had only told me you wanted me for something, I would have come. I want no harm done to the ravens’ nests.

Then we will do no harm.

But you are!

We will stop.

Immediately the crows abandoned the nest raids and returned to the branch above their leader. I was amazed at how he could stay level for so long in the air.

Thank you.

You are welcome.

Now, what do you want?

That is simple. We want you.

For what?

Everything.

What?

Ven was surprised, too.

Ven! Where is Ven?

He is safe.

But where is he?

That’s not important now.

It is to me.

WHERE IS HE?

“No.”

Chapter 4

In the Forests of the Night

I didn’t know how much longer I could hold on. Those crows were evil. They claimed to work for Vivalda, but I know they did not. Vivalda would never order someone to do something this evil.

Prologue

“Three cheers for Vivalda!” the townsfolk cheered. “Hip-hip, hoorah! Hip-hip, hoorah! Hip-hip, hoorah!”

“So what will you do now that your battle’s over, Lorence?” Rosemera asked. “Surely you can’t wish to settle down?”

“No, no, Rosemera, of course not. I plan to travel to a distant land, far, far away, and become a representative for Lemira.”

“Oh, what a glorious life! Traveling and seeing new lands…oh how I wish I could go with you,” she said dreamily.

“Well, you can,” Lorence said. “As my wife.”

“Oh, Lorence! Are you asking me to marry you?”

“Why, yes. Yes, I believe I am. So, Rosemera, will you marry me?” he asked, getting down on one knee. She giggled and held out her hand to him.

“Why, of course I’ll marry you!” she told him, kissing him quickly.

And that’s when everything went black.

Amelia

“And ever since that night, Vivalda and his followers disappeared. No one knows where they went or if any of them are still alive, but when the smoke cleared in Vivalda’s village, everyone was gone. The only ones that remained were the Magistrate’s guards, but they all fled when they realized that all the people had vanished. I suspect they’re all back at the Magistrate’s palace now, doing plumbing duty as punishment for their cowardliness,” Amelia finished her story and sat quietly, waiting for the questions that always came after she finished speaking.

“So what happened to Lorence and Rosemera? Did they get married?” little Pippy asked.

“I’m not sure, Pippy. Some say they’re still in hiding, waiting for Vivalda’s return. But some say they’re all dead. Truth is, no one knows,” she told him. “Any other questions?”

“How long ago did this happen?” Maria wondered.

“About fifteen years ago, I think,” she said. “Some say longer.”

“Amelia, how do you get all your stories?” Esther asked her quietly.

“Normally when the traders come to trade with the village people, I go and trade stories. Stories are very valuable, you know,” she reminded them. “But now it’s time for bed. Go on, kids.”

“Ahhhhh!” they all sighed. “Do we have to?”

“Yes, you do. And hurry. Your parents will be worried sick if you don’t get home before dark,” she demanded. “Now, off with you!” She ushered them out of the story circle and watched them all run off into the woods, back to the their homes in the tiny village near Amelia’s hut.

Amelia lived in a small shack in the woods, away from the noise and smells of the civilized life. Although she was only fourteen, soon to be fifteen, she lived by herself and depended on no one else. She grew her own food, sewed her own clothes, built her own house, and repaired things that need fixing all by herself. She took care of herself when she was sick, and she also fed the ravens that lived in the trees around her house.

One raven, which she had named Ven, was her pet raven. She had rescued him when he was only a few days old and had fallen from his nest about a year ago. She had tamed him and taken care of him, and now he followed her around and did her bidding.

She didn’t know what had happened to her parents. No one else did either. She had just wound up on a villager’s doorstep when she was little and the whole village shuffled her around from house to house until she was seven. Then she ran into the woods and never came back.

Of course, the children of the village had found her, and now every night they came to her story circle and sat around the fire to listen to her tales. She thought about this as she made her way back to her hut, Ven flying by her side. When she got to the door she opened it and Ven perched on her shoulder. She scratched behind his head laid down on her bed. Ven flew up and sat on his perch, cawing quietly. He settled down and tucked his head underneath his wing, breathing steadily.

Ven, do you ever think I’ll find my parents? Amelia asked, talking telepathically with her mind.

Of course you will, Amel. Everyone has to know where they come from sometime in their life, he said. You’ll find them sometime.

Thanks, Ven. You always know how to make me feel better, Amelia said happily. After that, she fell asleep.

Ven

The other ravens were twittering softly. They didn’t want to wake Amel, but they needed me. Why do they always need me?

What do you want? I asked Racor, the lead raven, telepathically.

There’s something attacking the eastern nests, he said. We need your help.

All right, I’m coming, I agreed. But be careful not to wake Amel.

We won’t, he replied.