A New Excerpt from Ravynwyng Chronicles Volume 1: The Beginning
Coming in 2015!
Until now, Ravyn Wyng has led a normal life. She is a successful author, married to a great wife, and has wonderful 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, normalcy goes out the window.
Ravynwyng Chronicles Volume 1: The Beginning
by Anna Dobritt
© copyright 2015. All Rights Reserved.
Excerpt from the Ravynwyng Chronicles Volume 1: The Beginning
In the kitchen, Ravyn made a ham sandwich. Cara sat on the counter, eyeing each slice of ham as it was placed on the roll. With a grin, Ravyn took a piece and tore it up, setting it before the bird. “I take it you aren’t too picky about what you eat?”
Cara gobbled down the treat. “I don’t like peanut butter, mushrooms, any fowl, or fish.” She moved to Ravyn’s shoulder.
“Damn! I make one hell of a sandwich,” Ravyn said, adding chips to the plate and grabbing a bottle of Pepsi from the fridge. Seated at the table on the deck, she dug into her sandwich. “I love peanut butter, but the other stuff you listed I won’t eat either. I love pizza.”
“I know.” Cara settled down, eyes closed. “Ravyn, I’m glad the two of us are finally together.”
“I hope Jennie won’t be upset about this.”
“Why would she be upset? This is part of who you are.”
Finished eating her sandwich, Ravyn drank the Pepsi. “When Jennie was young, she saw the Hitchcock movie ‘The Birds’. Soon after, while at the beach with her family, she fed a seagull, and a flock descended all at once. She freaked out.”
“Oh dear.” Cara shook her head. “I hope my charming personality will win her over.”
While Ravyn and Cara talked, the mailman stopped at the house, stuffing the box full. Two houses down, a man in a dark red car watched the mail carrier walk away. He waited five minutes before exiting the vehicle and hurried to place an envelope in Ravyn’s mailbox. The stranger returned to his car and drove off, sending a text message. “Letter delivered.”
Ravyn returned to her office and settled at her desk. Instead of paging through the journals, she worked on the runes but made no headway. She checked the clock once, noticed it was nearly two. Jennie will be home soon. I hope she’ll be reasonable about Cara.
#
Happy to be home, Jennie brought in the mail. Closing the door, she stopped and stared at the large perch placed between the two recliners. “What the...”
Ravyn peeked around the office door frame, Cara on her shoulder. “I guess Jennie noticed the perch.”
“How could she miss it?” Cara said in a low voice.
“Ravyn! What is this perch doing here?” Jennie dropped the mail on the recliner and headed for the hallway.
Smiling, Ravyn sauntered into the living room. “Hey Jennie. Just get home?”
Seeing the large black bird on Ravyn’s shoulder, Jennie backed up several steps. “Why the hell is that creature in our house? You know how I feel about birds!” She backed up more when Ravyn approached her.
“Jennie, love, let me explain, please.” Ravyn nodded at the bird. “This is Cara, and she’s a raven. She’s not a creature and I think you hurt her feelings.” Cara caught on, her head drooping.
Jennie returned to the living room, putting as much distance between her and Ravyn as possible. “I don’t care if she’s the goose that lays the golden egg! I don’t want her in this house!”
*Maybe you should say something to her. I’m not getting anywhere,* Ravyn sent to her feathered companion.
*I’ll try, but I have the feeling I will make matters worse.*
Cara cleared her throat. “Hello, Jennie. My name is Cara and I’m bonded to Ravyn through the ring she wears and the promise she made to Lady Raven.”
Jennie’s eyes rolled back, and she fell to the floor in a dead faint. “Oh my. I’ve never seen a human faint after I spoke to them.”
Ravyn hurried to Jennie’s side. “Jennie? Come on, love, wake up.” She lightly slapped Jennie’s cheeks.
Jennie’s eyelids fluttered, and she stared at the face of her wife and the horrid bird on Ravyn’s shoulder. “Ravyn, if you love me, get that damn creature out of here!” she said through clenched teeth.
*Maybe you should move my perch to the office,* Cara suggested.
*I spend a lot of time there, so you won’t get lonely,* Ravyn hastened to reassure the bird.
Cara ran her beak through Ravyn’s hair in thanks. She leaped to the floor and hopped to the office. Ravyn held out a hand and helped Jennie to her feet, escorting her to the couch. “I’ll be right back, love.”
It took only a few moments for Ravyn to move the mat and perch to her office, placing it by the open window where a warm breeze moved the curtains. “I’ll do my best to convince Jennie to accept you.”
“I’m sure you will get her to understand.” Cara settled on her perch.
Returning to the living room, she watched Jennie sort the mail. How do I convince her Cara isn’t a monster? Ravyn walked to the sofa and sat beside her. “Hey Jennie, can I get you anything? A glass of wine or a wine cooler?”
Jennie glanced up. “That bird is not staying in this house. If you want to keep her, she can stay in the garage or live in a tree in the back yard. You could build her a little house for shelter in bad weather.”
“She will not hurt anyone, least of all you! Why are you being so stubborn?” Ravyn grasped Jennie’s wrist.
“Damn it, Jennie you aren’t being fair!”
“How fair is it to me, bringing a bird into this house without discussing it first?” Jennie yanked her wrist free.
“I don’t have a choice in this, love. Can’t you see that?” Ravyn ran her fingers through her hair. “Jennie do you remember what you said after I didn’t burn the stuff in the fire pit; when I accepted the burden and the promise I made?”
“Vaguely.” Jennie gave her a wary look.
Ravyn quietly repeated what her wife had said, “’You’ve started a new journey in your life and it’s an honor sharing it with you - both the good and the bad.’” She hung her head. “If you reject Cara as part of this, how can I believe you’ll stay with me through this new journey I’m on?”
Jennie clasped her hands in her lap. “Ravyn, I meant what I said, but I never thought a real bird would be living in our house. How am I supposed to deal with that?”
“You could always make an appointment with Dr. Samson,” Ravyn muttered.
“What was that?” Jennie gave her a suspicious look.
“Nothing.” Heaving a sigh Ravyn reached out, placing her hand over Jennie’s. “Trust me on this. Cara is staying; end of story.”
“Fine. She’s your responsibility, Ravyn. I want nothing to do with her.” Jennie handed over a large stack of mail.
*Jennie and I have kind of reached an understanding. You get to stay in the house.* Ravyn sent to the bird. *But it will take time for her to adjust to your presence. She wanted me to keep you in the garage and suggested...*
*...You build a little house for me to stay in during bad weather,* Cara finished, a touch of humor coming across.
*How did you know?* Ravyn looked through the envelopes, tossing the junk mail on the floor.
*Following your thoughts is easy. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone what you are thinking.*
Ravyn concealed a grin as she thought about the intimate moments she and Jennie had the night before. *I wouldn’t object to you telling Jennie my current thought.*
*Ravyn!* Cara harrumphed and went silent.
