A New Excerpt from Ravynwyng Chronicles Volume 1: The Beginning
“Fine with me.” Ravyn finished her pop and started to get out of her chair. “Cara, please move to the armrest. I need to get up.” The bird did as requested. Ravyn paused when the others stared at her. “What? I need to go to the bathroom. I also want to take a shower and change my clothes. I stink.”
“You feel steady enough? I don’t want you passing out and hitting your head on the sink,” Nicole said.
“I’m fine. I promise to be careful.” Before anyone protested, Ravyn headed down the hall.
Lyta glanced at the bird. “All right, I think you owe us some answers.”
The bird nodded. “When Ravyn died and crossed the Veil, Lady Raven approached her and asked Ravyn to enter her service. In exchange, Ravyn would be returned to the world of the living instead of crossing to the world of the dead.”
Jennie stared at the bird. “If Ravyn didn’t accept the offer, she would have died in the emergency room?” A tear trickled down.
“Correct. Lady Raven has a special connection to the ones she makes this offer to. In most circumstances, she would have given Ravyn the ring once her offer was accepted. However, the last person to wear the ring died unexpectedly and Jack Marsden recovered the ring first. Since Mr. Marsden knew the person who was wearing the ring, Lady Raven felt it was in good hands.“
“Who was the last to wear the ring?” Lyta asked.
“Ravyn’s mother. The car accident her parents died in was no accident. They were murdered. Jack Marsden came across the vehicle, retrieved the ring, and called the police.” Cara nibbled a claw. “He also recovered the journals and the disk from the wreckage. Ravyn’s mother was a linguist and her father had degrees in Eastern European History.”
Nicole took Lyta’s hand. “Who caused the accident?”
“Scarlett O’Malley, a member of the Order of the Shadow Dagger. She shot out the tires of the car as it rounded the curve. It was fortunate Ravyn survived.”
Lyta grabbed her phone and sent a quick message. “I asked a friend of mine to run O’Malley’s name through the database.”
Jennie sighed. “I hope you plan to tell Ravyn all this.”
“Yes.”
“How are you connected to the ring? And why am I able to wear it?” Lyta asked.
Cara tilted her head. “Occasionally, Lady Raven allows one other to wear and use the ring. When you died and accepted Lady Raven’s offer, you should have been given your own ring by a member of the Raven Council and you would have your own raven companion too.” The bird sighed. “Again, things didn’t go as planned. Politics in the Council causes so many problems.”
Nicole laughed at Lyta’s surprised expression. “Just what you need, Lyta, a raven as a companion.”
“I need a drink,” Lyta muttered, crossing her arms.
Jennie stood. “Cara, would you like something to eat after I check on Raven?”
The bird nodded. “Yes please. Perhaps some blackberries?”
