Thanks for the reviews! Does no one actually recognize the storyline? I' surprised. It was a great series. Disclaimers apply to this chapter.
I walked lonely through the halls of the Falcon castle, bored out of my mind.
"I'm soooooo bored," I moaned out, drawing out the 's' and wandering out of the grammar zones that the Queen so desperately urged me to do.
"Max?" a soft female voice called.
I whipped around looking for the source. I thought that I had been alone.
"Who's there?" I called out.
"It's me," the voice whispered again. And then out of thin air, a young Raven girl stepped into view. A *Raven* in the Falcon's castle. Her huge black wings hung behind her.
"What are you doing here?!" I demanded, stepping into a defensive stance. "State your business!"
"Relax," the black-haired girl told me, putting two hands up in the universal 'I mean no harm' pose. "I have a message from my brother."
I relaxed a little, but did not fail to keep my guard up. I looked through the halls, to make sure no one was looking.
"What?" I asked again. "Who's your brother? What is his message?"
"Not here. Can we go to your bedroom?" the girl whispered.
I slanted my eyes in suspicion. "How do I know that you're not going to kill me?"
"My brother needs you alive for this," the girl told me. "Now can we meet in your room?"
"Alright, but I can't guarantee that you won't be seen by others. There are many in the White City who wish death to all the Ravens. Especially the royals," I told her, taking notice of the standard royalty clothing.
"That's alright," the girl winked. "I can manage on my own, do not worry about my own safety."
Right before my eyes, the girl turned invisible again. I cocked my head in confusion. No Raven naturally possessed such powers. I decided to ask her in greater private about it once we got to my room.
I walked through the numerous halls and up the many staircases that led to my large bedroom. Creaking the wooden door open, I motioned the girl in even though I could not see her.
As soon as I closed the door again, I stood in front of my bed where the girl had appeared into my view again.
"You're part of the royal family. And you contain magic. How?" I demanded.
"Glad you noticed the clothing. And you know well how any Raven could get their hands on temporary magic," the girl dead panned.
I did know how she got the magic. I just didn't want to admit the bad parts of the Falcon society. Like every society, my own did have the criminals and the people who went under the law to get their hands on some income.
This girl had probably contacted some low-life Falcon who didn't mind granting her some temporary magic for a high price. It wasn't uncommon.
I shrugged. "Alright, so what do you want? No, what does Fang Corvus, your brother, want?" I said, keeping in the urge to hiss out the name.
" I'm Ella, Fang's younger sister. We have met with one of the Owl elders," Ella told me.
The Owls were a species that rarely involved themselves with others, but held great knowledge. If you wanted a solution to a problem, you contacted an Owl.
"What for?" I questioned. The Ravens were a smart group. It seemed rare that they would go to an Owl for anything.
"Fang and I know as well as you do how urgent it is to end the Great War," Ella said quietly. "Fang and I went to an Owl for a peaceful solution."
I sighed. Though knowledgable, the Owls tended to come up with crazy ideas sometimes.
"And?"
"Well, I think both Fang and I wish that he tell you himself. He merely sent me as a messenger to notify you of the time and place," Ella said, getting up. "Tomorrow, at midnight, head to the Raven Keep. Go to the main entrance, I'll notify the guards to lead you in. Tell no one of where you're going"
"How can I be sure you aren't planning to ambush me?" I questioned.
"Trust me, if you want to end this war, you'll come," Ella winked. She then tossed me a small object. I caught it and inspected it closely. A golden ring. And enchanted by the looks of it. It must have been the source of the magic she used to turn invisible. "Figure this belongs to you now. I won't be needing it anymore."
And just as quickly as she came, Ella shifted into a pitch-black raven and flew out of my open window. Just like that and she was gone.
Was I to go to the Raven's Keep? It would be like a mouse heading right into a mousetrap. But I was willing to try anything. Anything that might possible stop the war that was draining the lives out of thousands.
But as a precaution... I think I shall tell Iggy. My best friend deserved to know.
"WHAT?!" Iggy yelled, completely out of Falcon character. Falcons were reserved people that rarely showed their emotions. And right now, Iggy was acting like a true Raven. "Are you out of your mind Max?!"
"No Iggy! I don't know what they want. I have to do this, alright? I'm going whether you like it or not. Now you can choose to be supportive, or not be in the loop at all!" I yelled back.
"This is completely insane Max! I could assign the entire Royal Flight to watch you and STILL you wouldn't be completely safe! Do you realize what your mother's reaction might be if she were to find out?" Iggy demanded.
I slumped onto my bed, but still looked up into Iggy's fierce golden eyes with equal determination. "Its. Worth. A. Shot," I grounded out between my teeth.
"Its like a one in a hundred chance that you'll make it out alive!" Iggy whispered angrily, realizing how loud he had been.
"No its not Iggy. Stop acting like such a child. They need me alive," I told him.
"For what, huh? Did that girl tell you what they need you for? You know, you should have notified me immediately straight when you first saw her. I should have her locked up for trespassing!" Iggy huffed angrily, running a hand through his golden blonde hair.
"Look, Iggy. I'm willing to try what ever I can. I'm going with or without your approval. Now stay on board, please?" I begged, peacefully this time. Iggy's eyes immediately softened.
"Fine- ok, look, fine. I can see nothing is going to stop you. When are you scheduled to go?" Iggy asked in a completely passive (even though sad) voice. He sat down on my bed next to me.
"Thank you for being on my side, Igs," I told him, giving him a hug and using his childhood nickname. "Tomorrow at midnight, the girl said. The guards are supposed to lead me inside."
"Alright, I'll go with you," Iggy stated.
"No, you can't. I'm supposed to go alone," I told Iggy, looking at him straight in the eye.
Iggy opened his mouth to counter-attack, but quickly decided against it. "You know I'll do anything to keep you out of harm's way, right?" Iggy asked me with a soft and odd look on his face. I couldn't quite name his expression.
"Sure, you will. But just leave me be unguarded for this, ok? No matter how wrong it is to you, just let me be," I pleaded again.
"OK,"
"Thanks again, Iggy."
Alright... so I got 6 reviews for last chapter! Thanks again!
My sister (0GreenBeans0) will be beta from next chapter and on for this story. And hopefully my other ones too. I will admit to something: none of my chapters in any stories are actually edited/reviewed before posting. So that explains the suckish quality. But things will be better soon!
R&R for faster updates!
