Another Excerpt from the Ravynwyng Chronicles Volume 1: The Beginning

Ravynwyng Chronicles Volume 1: The Beginning

by Anna Dobritt

Coming in 2015 — Ravynwyng Chronicles Volume 1: The Beginning.

Until now, Ravyn Wyng’s life was normal. She is a successful author, has a wonderful wife and great friends. Lately her sleep is plagued by strange dreams and when a box arrives containing journals written in an old language, a copper disk, and a ring, her quiet life goes out the window.

Excerpt from the Ravynwyng Chronicles Volume 1: The Beginning

Back in her office, Ravyn set the box on the desk, and then opened the windows. She lit a cigarette and breathed in deeply, savoring the tobacco for a long second before exhaling; the spiraling smoke diffused the sunlight streaming in the window. She studied the box, her fingers twitching with an irresistible urge to open it and look through the journals.

Ravyn stretched her arms above her head, pleased to find her shoulder barely twinged. “Ok, I have to work on the revisions.” Eyes drawn to the box, she shook her head. I better put the box in the safe. As the saying goes, ‘Out of sight, out of mind.’

Halfway down the basement stairs a wave of dizziness struck, forcing her to sit. When her head cleared, she continued down, muttering, “That’s never happened before.”

In the fruit cellar, she moved aside several boxes, lifting a hinged section of the floor. A large safe lay below, holding important documents, emergency cash, and a few valuables. She placed the box in the safe and closed it. Back in the kitchen, a wave of exhaustion swept over Ravyn and she leaned against the counter. Her vision darkened and the image of a glowing raven temporarily appeared. She rubbed her eyes and shook her head to clear the fogginess.

Ravyn managed forty-five minutes worth of work before the doorbell interrupted her. Opening the front door, she found the mailman standing there.

“Hi Frank.” She opened the screen door.

“Hi Ravyn. I have a registered letter you need to sign for.” He handed her a pen. Ravyn signed and accepted the letter and the rest. “Have a good day, Ravyn.”

“Thanks, Frank. You have a good day too,” she replied. Shutting the door, Ravyn glanced at the return address on the letter. It matched the address of the box she received. Now what?

In the office, Ravyn plopped on the sofa, and then tore open the envelope. She pulled out three sheets of paper, one being a map. The map had no names for the roads or other features. Except for the letter, the other paper contained runic writing. With a shrug, she laid back and read.

Dear Ravyn,

I hope this letter finds you well. The fact you have received this, and a box containing certain items means I’m dead. Either by natural causes or murder made to look like natural causes. Either way I’m unable to meet with you and explain the situation.

People are looking for the journals and items I sent you; guard them with your life. Answers you seek about your parents and lineage lie in the journals, explaining the work they were doing. I can assure you they were not spies nor did they work for the government. But the work they did was the same as their parents and their parents before them dating back hundreds of years.

You will also, if fate is kind, meet those who knew and worked with your parents. Their identities are within the journals. As for the disk, there’s another and you must find it, and then use both as intended. The ring is the most important of all. I strongly recommend you wear it.

I will end the letter here, wishing I had a chance to meet you and tell you about your parents.

Take care, Ravyn and remember, the others out there will do anything to get the items. Keep vigilant.

Sincerely,

JCM

She read the letter twice and then sat up. “What the hell? This reads like something out of a bad novel.” Ravyn went to the desk and tossed the papers down. This is crazy. A faint voice in her head said ‘What if it’s true?’ “If it’s a crazy fan, the letter is evidence. I better put it in the safe with the box.”

With the newest items secured, she returned to the revisions. Ravyn managed another half-hour of work, finding it difficult to keep her eyes open.

“More caffeine or a nap?” The sofa across from her desk sent a subtle invitation. She laid down, wincing at a twinge from her shoulder. “After all, there’s a party this evening, wouldn’t do to fall asleep during it,” she murmured.