Jessica stood, baffled by the sight before her. The boy sitting at the desk, who she could only assume was the Raven, gave her a sheepish smile and a shrug.

“I know you may be a bit alarmed, but I assure you—” he began before being abruptly interrupted.

“Who in the halls of the Raven are you!?” Jessica blurted out. “And I know I just said ‘halls of the Raven’—I’m here, and I’m not sure if that’s sacrilegious, but if it is, then screw it!”

The boy blinked, unfazed by her outburst. “I know you have questions, child, but please, sit with me. All will be answered.”

His voice was far more confident than his youthful appearance suggested, and without thinking, Jessica found herself complying. She sat in a plain wooden chair across from him.

“I am the Raven,” he said with quiet authority. “I know I may look young, and that is true—I am young. But do not mistake my youth for a lack of power.” He leaned forward slightly, his deep green eyes piercing hers. “The previous Raven passed away eleven years ago. As his health declined, I was chosen as his heir. I had no parents, so it was easy for the elder spirits to train me in the ways of scrying.”

Jessica took in his appearance as he spoke. His skin was pale and smooth, framed by curly chestnut hair. His face was boyish but well-defined, his sharp jawline softened by full lips and arched, meticulously groomed eyebrows. Beneath his black silk shirt, his strong arms and broad shoulders hinted at physical strength that belied his confined existence. The shirt was undone at the collar, revealing his creamy skin, and tucked neatly into a fitted vest embroidered with lace patterns of flowers and swords. His pants clung tightly to his muscular legs, showcasing thighs and calves that could belong to a laborer—though she knew the Raven never left the tower.

Jessica’s thoughts shifted to the surreal events of the day. The idea of marriage felt distant, eclipsed by the memory of the staircase. “What happened on the stairs?” she asked, her voice trailing off. “I was blinded and… assaulted by voices. So many voices.”

The Raven raised a hand gently to pause her. “I’m going to ask you to let me finish my story before I attend the other questions you may have, okay, wife?”

The word wife made her stiffen. She shot him a glare but said nothing, though in her mind, she scoffed. “This is crazy, I know no one has seen the Raven, but we all assumed a wise sage old man, and not a child” She thought to herself. Though, in a moment of strange wonder, she listened. Normally, she would have already slapped him for even daring to possess her. But there were too many questions now.

“I sympathize with your situation,” the Raven continued, his voice filled with genuine compassion. “I know how difficult it must be to have your life upended so suddenly. Believe me, I wouldn’t have done this if I had another choice. As you know, the Raven is forbidden to leave the tower. That makes choosing a spouse… challenging.”

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He turned to gaze out the window, prompting Jessica to follow his line of sight. From their vantage point, the sprawling fields she walked each morning were visible, bathed in the golden glow of sunset. Beyond them, the Deep Oak Mountains loomed, enclosing the city like protective arms. Travel through the mountain pass was rare, with most visitors arriving by sea.

“I would watch you every morning,” the Raven admitted softly. “Picking wildflowers and herbs. It piqued my curiosity, so I asked Mayor Thomas about you. He spoke highly of your dedication to your family.” He paused, his gaze returning to meet hers. “He spoke of the sacrifices made after your father left. He spoke of the love you hold for your friends, and those around you. He spoke to how you choose the specific flowers you do not want to sell, to bring back to your mother. I became intrigued, invested, and some may say slightly obsessed. And those emotions stayed and morphed over the last couple of years before… they turned into love.”

Jessica froze. She was no stranger to hearing declarations of love, but they usually came from suitors seeking a fleeting night of passion. Love, to her, had always been a prelude to abandonment. Though, for Jessica, that was not an issue. She had a lot of prior commitments, and being tied down had not been in the books. “What do you mean by love?” she asked cautiously.

“At first, I admired you from afar,” he explained. “You were alluring. But as I learned more about who you are—your strength, your kindness—my admiration grew into something deeper. Something real. From lust to love as many of the old books call it.”

Jessica’s cheeks flushed. His honesty was unsettling, yet strangely refreshing. She forced herself to regain composure. “Why do you think I would agree to marry you?” she asked, folding her arms. “I have a family to care for, duties to meet. Beyond all of that, I do not know you. I have never gotten to know anyone close enough that I would even consider a marriage.”

The Raven smirked slightly. “That’s simple. No one else gets to learn scrying magic—but the woman of the Raven does. No one else has the chance to shape the future and prevent disasters—but the woman of the Raven does. No one else is afforded the respect and resources of the kingdom’s finest—but the woman of the Raven is. And… in time, I hope you’ll come to love me too.”

His final words were spoken so meekly that Jessica almost didn’t catch them. She sighed. Despite her anger at being chosen without her consent, she couldn’t deny the allure of adventure and the opportunity to learn magic. It was a temptation too great to ignore. She pondered his last words for a second as well. From his point of view, he has known her for many years. If not her, he has grown to know and understand an image of her.

“What will happen to my family?” she blurted out, her most pressing concern.

“Mayor Thomas will look after them,” the Raven assured her. “Your mother will receive care from the best doctor in the land, who will also train Dr. Tilden to be her personal physician. All necessary resources have been provided.”

Jessica shifted in her chair, its creak echoing through the room. Her heart was torn, but the promise of adventure and magic outweighed her doubts. With a deep breath, she nodded. “Yes. I will become your wife.”

Jessica thought to herself “Rash? Of course it was. Probably a bad idea? I can see the countless red flags waiving high from far. But the allure of adventure is too strong. Maybe someday, I will be able to leave, and see the world.” She pondered this. Before noticing the Raven staring at her, with a large smile on his face.

The Raven’s smile was genuine, though she barely knew him. “You have no idea how happy that makes me,” he said softly.

Before he could continue, his expression suddenly changed. His eyes glazed over, his body stiffening. He clutched the edges of his chair, his head snapping back as he stared at the ceiling. Jessica leapt from her seat, startled, but quickly moved to his side.

She placed one hand on his forehead and the other on his shoulder, checking for signs of injury. The veins pressed against his skin, showing signs of restricted blood-flow. The Raven’s mouth opened, and a voice—his, but layered with countless others—rasped three chilling words: “Prepare for war.”

As the echoes of the proclamation faded, the Raven slumped forward, unconscious. Jessica’s heart raced. Whatever lay ahead, her life as a flower-seller was well and truly over.