Raven's heart fluttered in her chest as Marcellus escorted her quickly away from the terrace through the winding corridors of the Grand Palace of Amber City. It took her a while to realize that they were inside a palace, but after listening to the Alpha and Luna of the Fireleaf speak about the Palace, she concluded that they were referring to the magical place before her. She blushed at the thoughts of Dante and his closeness at the table. It was as if she could still feel his lingering presence. She smiled as she thought about his piercing gaze. To some, it may be intimidating, but to her, he seemed to look into her soul. "Are you paying attention, love?" she heard Marcellus's annoyed voice break through her dreamy thoughts.
"Um… I will admit. I was not," she smiled coyly, unable to hide a smile as she looked at Marcellus's questioning face.
"Well, that's to be expected. I'm sure you can think of nothing more than your dear, Dante," He said matter-of-factly, causing Raven to blush profusely.
She tried her best to brush off her embarrassment and pay attention to where Marcellus was leading her; she could still smell the fresh, outside air, so she wondered if they were going outside again. She trusted him as he guided her to a narrow door, that widened as Marcellus placed his right hand along the sides, whispering the language she heard many of the Elders speaking,
"Areta ar loomet,"
she heard him whisper as the door widened and a set of stairs appeared from the ground.
"This way, my Lady. I would like to give you a brief lesson in the etiquette of riding with the Elites. We don't have much time before the ride, so quickly, love." Raven held his arm tightly as he led her down the winding staircase, the steps appearing as they walked. She was almost afraid to step down, fearing that the steps may not appear, and she would fall straight down, but Marcellus did not hesitate as he led her downward with pure confidence in the steps appearing just before his foot landed on to nothing.
"Here we are," Marcellus said with a smile, propelling her forward out of the darkness of the corridor of steps and into a beautiful scene of a grassy clearing with a private stable. She could see a beautiful white horse roaming freely in the distance, alone away from the stables. She took a deep breath of the fresh air and closed her eyes as a soft breeze danced across her cheeks. Her curls began to dance in the wind.
"My, Lady Raven?" Raven opened her eyes at the sound of Marcellus's inquiring voice.
"Sorry, I just..." Raven couldn't seem to find the words to explain the feeling. It was a beautiful scene like she had never encountered, and after being inside the palace, it felt wonderful to be outside. She smiled instead of finishing her statement and decided to run towards the stables before Marcellus could interject. She took off in a sprint, her heart racing as it did when she ran with Dante from the party crashers. Marcellus watched with a soft smile, deciding to give her a moment of freedom since she would seldom have any as she settled more into her role as an Elite of Amber City.
"Oh, Ghea, what are you doing over there?" he said aloud, noticing the beautiful white horse in the distance. Kneeling down, he plucked a purple Ola flower from the ground, Ghea's favorite snack, and began to walk toward her.
As Raven neared the stables, she slowed and began to walk, enjoying the feeling of her blood pumping from her sprint. She held her breath as she thought that she overheard a voice speaking inside the stables. She looked at the ground as she walked, careful not to make a sound so that she could hear better.
"Yet, in the waters deep and vast,
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A choice awaits, the die is cast.
Alpha of Water, Alpha of Fire,
The Luna of Light must now aspire."
"Shhhh, lower your voice," she heard a voice admonish. "We can't have these matters discussed in the company of commoners."
The response came with a hint of disdain, "Commoners? Well, darling, we are Elites now. You called me here for a reason, didn't you? The stables aren't exactly my preferred setting."
A condescending sigh followed, "I merely wanted to inquire if you've heard anything from your esteemed uncle. You know, regarding Raven and the full prophecy. I never asked you to go about reciting verses of prophecy as if it were mere gossip."
Raven shuddered as she eavesdropped on this heated exchange, her guilt mingling with the thrill of learning more about the prophecy. She strained to hear the male voice again, hoping he would repeat the verse she hadn't heard before.
"Oh, Alasia, why so vexed?" The man's laughter was smug, echoing with superiority. In the background, there was some fumbling, and Raven's ears burned as the conversation took an unexpectedly passionate turn. The argument had swiftly transformed into an intimate rendezvous, punctuated by hushed sighs and the rustle of clothing.
As embarrassment rose in her face, Raven quietly slipped away from the stables, her heart racing. She was relieved they hadn't detected her presence and felt both embarrassed and intrigued by the secrets she had stumbled upon.
Marcellus breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Raven was no stranger to riding. She could even shoot arrows from horseback—a skill acquired during the winters of her childhood with her parents. Yet, her mind appeared to be wandering, and he found himself constantly reminding her of the finer points of etiquette for her first Elite ride. After gently repeating the rule about not releasing an arrow until the last Elo bird took flight for the fourth time, he couldn't help but voice his concern.
"Are you feeling alright, my dear? The others will soon be selecting their mounts. Are you sure you can keep everything in mind? I could always inform the party that your first ride will be scheduled for a later date."
Raven's apology was swift. "Oh no, I'm sorry!" She placed the bow in her lap and tried to put on a reassuring smile. "My thoughts wandered for a moment, but I feel confident now, especially because you'll be accompanying me." She kept her smile in place, concealing the thoughts she preferred to keep to herself, hoping to leave her distractions behind and focus on the ride ahead. Ghea, the majestic white horse, stood nearby, and Raven couldn't help but marvel at the fact that the legendary horse seemed to have accepted her.
Marcellus returned her smile, though there was a flicker of worry in his eyes. Raven looked radiant atop Ghea—a horse the stable master had declared untamable. Few had ridden her, and those who did had done so only briefly. Unknown to Raven, Ghea was bred from the lineage of horses that had once belonged to Elion Alistar, the Lord of Moonlight who had tragically fallen victim to the cursed arrow of legend. Marcellus couldn't help but think that once the other Elites witnessed this, there would be little doubt about Raven's true lineage. His smile faded as the noise from the palace grew louder.
"The Elites have arrived," he mused, helping Raven down from Ghea. He wasn't yet prepared for the attention that would follow once everyone noticed she had chosen to ride the supposedly "unruly" Ghea.
"Follow me," Marcellus instructed as he guided Ghea and Raven back toward the stables. "I'll select an appropriate mount, and then we shall make our entrance together." Raven followed a sense of unease lingering, hoping that the voices she had overheard earlier were long gone, leaving her secret thoughts undisturbed. As they neared the stables, the sight of numerous other Elites picking out their mounts put her at ease. She focused on tending to Ghea as Marcellus prepared his chosen horse—a beautiful brown mare with a creamy white mane that echoed Ghea's ethereal hue. After their preparations were complete, they led their horses out of the stables, and Marcellus guided Raven toward the front, where the Fireleafs and other Elders would lead the riding party into the event.
As Raven and Marcellus approached the gathering riding party, an air of anticipation hung heavy. She watched in awe as the Fireleafs, led by Xion, rode in, their presence commanding attention. They rode on magnificent black horses, their fiery red manes a blazing contrast against the darkness of their steeds. Following closely behind, a band of white horses emerged. Their manes had been dyed a cool, ethereal shade of bluish-white, making them appear almost otherworldly.
She continued to watch as Dante, mounted on a formidable black stallion, cut a striking figure. Beside him rode a person she did not recognize, seated on a pristine white horse, emitting an inexplicable energy. As they approached, Dante and the enigmatic rider simultaneously locked eyes with Raven. Their gazes together created an intense, unspoken connection that sent shivers down her spine.
Before she could think, Ghea began to act erratically. The horse pranced and whinnied, her excitement escalating beyond control. Before Raven could attempt to soothe her, without warning, Ghea took off like an arrow shot from a bow. Her powerful legs propelled her forward with breathtaking speed, passing Dante and the others. Raven clung to Ghea desperately, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and exhilaration.