Page 94 of Raven's Dawn
But now I had opportunities to learn, and grow, and become one of the most powerful Witches alive.
That was the fantasy. I didn’t expect it. Laila may have believed that I could grow so strong that I could create my own dimension, but I wasn’t sure about that. All I did know was that I was meeting people with decades, centuries, more experience in my craft than I had.
They wanted to teach me, and I wanted to learn.
But what could be done for someone who didn’t want that? Jake didn’t want to learn, didn’t want to grow, and especially didn’t want to accept the new role he’d have to play in mine and Graham’s lives. What could I do for him?
33
RAIN
We were awoken before the sun rose. Still groggy from all the energy we’d exerted last night, we staggered through the castle to a fleet of pterolycus. Why not dragons?
“We’re not flying in,” Rania said. “We don’t want to be seen. We’ll ride the wolves to the boats.”
Fine by me. Riding one of them was a fair bit like riding a drooling horse, and I’d done that at least three county fairs.
Since each saddle fit two of us, we argued for a while about who would ride with who. I didn’t give a shit, but Graham and Ezra were bickering about who had taken up more room in the bed last night, causing the other to lose sleep. Graham suggested I ride with him so he could nap along the way. Ezra said that wasn’t fair because I would be exerting the most energy today, and I should have the opportunity to take a nap. So he should ride with Warren, and I should ride with Ezra.
Warren didn’t give a shit either, but he teased and buttered up Graham until he finally agreed. They were pretty cute cuddled together on that giant winged wolf, but I knew Ezra was right. A nap was not a bad idea.
With his arms around me from behind, he manned the reins and let me rest my head on his shoulder. The swaying of the beast’s steps weren’t much different than a cradle rocking a baby to sleep. I was out in no time.
When I woke again, it was to a kiss on my forehead and Ezra’s sweet voice whispering, “We’re here, love.”
With chattering lips, my eyes fluttered open. Now I was starting to regret riding with Ezra. As much as I adored the man, he was an ice cube. I was amazed I hadn’t woken up sooner. Supposed hypothermia was known for putting people to sleep, though.
The site before me was… disappointing.
Call me naive, but when they told us we were going to an island, I expected beaches. And there were beaches. But they were rock beaches. It couldn’t have been more than thirty degrees. Ocean stretched on for miles, only a distant blob of land somewhere in the middle. No trees, no grass. Rocky soil underfoot, water so dark it looked black, and a mountainous, snowcapped island in the distance.
And a tiny boat. Not a ship. Just a boat.
Or maybe not a boat. Canoe may have been more accurate. I wasn’t sure my fat ass would even fit into one of the five tiny seats.
“Get the all the pterolycus back,” Rania said, dismounting a few feet ahead of me. “Keep your voices down.”
Behind me, Caeda whispered, “Up to the water, we are invisible. No one can see us past that line. But they can hear us, so remain quiet.”
Noted.
“Will those be a problem?” I asked, nodding to my ravens overhead.
“Doubtful,” Rania said, glancing up at them. “Plenty of birds fly over the ocean. Usually doesn’t suggest people are nearby.”
“Why do they follow you everywhere, mil?” Caeda asked, squinting up at me. “Do you control them?”
Ezra dismounted first, silently and gracefully. He extended a hand to me, and I did my best to climb off the beast’s back with some finesse. Thank the stars for Ezra, though, because if he hadn’t caught me, I likely would’ve fallen.
Would I be surprised with myself if I ruined a mission because I fell? No. No, I would not.
Sure would be humiliated though.
“It’s a long story,” I said, adjusting my coat. “Probably shouldn’t get into it right now. But yeah, they do what I tell them to.”
“Might have to show me that spell,” Caeda murmured, watching them dip and rise through the air.
I smiled. “Sure. Any time.”