Chapter 15: The Raven’s Shadow

~Eira

The hills of Trepidation finally fell behind us like the pages of a book we never wanted to open again. We emerged through a jagged mountain pass that smelled of moss and crushed granite and found ourselves in a place unlike anything I’d ever seen.

It wasn’t quiet, not like the haunted stillness of the hills. Here, the world pulsed.

Trolls. Giant, thick-skinned trolls wandered through stone-paved streets built for their size. Markets bustled with hanging meats and barrels of ale. Children—some of them as tall as Caelum—tumbled through open courtyards, playing with rocks the size of wolf skulls. The strangest part? No one noticed us.

No eyes narrowed. No weapons drawn. No poison slipped into tea. They just… lived.

I glanced sideways at Caelum. His lips curled into a grin, and it made something warm settle in my chest.

“You think they can’t see us?” I asked.

“I think they don’t care,” he said. “Which is a refreshing change.”

We wandered deeper into the village, our boots sounding like pebbles against the stone. The buildings were built from black bricks, moss growing between their cracks. The doorways arched like mouths. Everything was huge—tables, benches, doors. I felt like a child walking through a world carved for giants.

Hunger twisted in my stomach. We hadn’t eaten since the day before. Supplies long gone.

When we stumbled across what looked like a tavern—smoke curling from a chimney, laughter booming through the walls—we didn’t hesitate. Inside, the air was thick with roasted meat and stale ale. Trolls drank from mugs the size of my head.

Caelum and I climbed onto a bench that groaned beneath our weight. I stared at the troll cleaning a massive cup just in front of me. He noticed me moments later.

“What can I help you with?” He asked me with a genuine smile that revealed his set of yellow teeth.

“We don’t have money,” I whispered.

“I see,” he said, eyes scanning the room. “But maybe…”

He pointed to a corner where trolls slammed hands onto thick tables, shouting and laughing as they arm-wrestled.

“You can try to get some.”

Before I could say anything, Caelum approached them. He asked if he could join.

The troll with biceps bigger than Caelum’s torso laughed. “This game is for warriors, boy. Not pretty little puppies.”

They looked to me.

“What about the girl?”

I blinked. “What about me?”

“You want a chance to earn something? Step up.”

I hesitated. They were huge. I could break bones—but these things could break mountains.

They laughed. Called me frail. Called me sweet.

And I snapped. There was no way I would let creatures inferior to werewolves make fun of me.

“Fine.”

Caelum grabbed my wrist. “Eira. Don’t. This isn’t wise. If you lose we won’t have money to pay them or enough strength to fight our way out of here.”

“I don’t plan to lose,” I said, pulling away.

I stepped to the table. The troll across from me grinned with yellowed tusks.

I placed my hand in his. His fingers wrapped around mine, dwarfing them. He laughed.

“Try not to cry, little one.”

I growled. The match began.

At first, he pushed me halfway down.

Gasps echoed.

I grit my teeth.

Then I felt it.

A whisper in my veins.

The crescent mark at my neck pulsed like it had caught the beat of a hidden drum. My vision swam with pale blue, the color crawling into the edges of my sight like moonlight through cracked glass. The troll’s smirk faltered.

“What—?” he grunted.

I pushed back.

My arm surged with unnatural strength, heat pouring from my shoulder down to my wrist. The troll’s face turned a shade redder. He gritted his teeth and pushed harder.

Nothing.

His arm trembled.

Then, with a sound like a thunderclap, I slammed his hand into the table.

The tavern erupted.

Coins clattered onto the table. Trolls shouted in disbelief. Some backed away like I had grown fangs. Others laughed, clapping me on the back with enough force to nearly knock me over.

I stood up, breathless, eyes wide. The glow vanished as quickly as it came. My fingers tingled. My heart beat loud in my ears.

Caelum was at my side in seconds.

“Are you alright?” he asked, brushing hair from my face. “That… that was incredible.”

“I feel fine,” I said, still catching my breath.

He tilted his head. “How did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“You know what I mean.” His voice was quieter now. “You controlled the monster inside you. And you used it—not to destroy—but to win. Something small. Something good.”

I looked away, unsure what to say.

He noticed.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean—”

“It’s fine,” I interrupted. “I think… it happened because I wanted it. I felt like I needed to win.”

Caelum grinned. “That’s amazing. If you can learn to do that on command, you could become one of the strongest werewolves. Maybe even the strongest.”

I rolled my eyes. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I won an arm-wrestling match, not a war.”

“It’s equally impressive.”

“That’s a lie. You’re just saying that to make me feel good.”

He stepped closer. “I’m saying it because it’s true. You’re impressive, Eira. You always were. Even before the glowing birthmark.”

I smiled, despite myself. “You always know the right things to say.”

“I don’t. I just try harder around you. Is it working?”

I answered by pressing a soft kiss to his lips. Just a moment. Just enough to say yes.

He blinked, stunned. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

The shorter troll who had handed over the coins shuffled forward.

“If you’re looking for more of that,” he said, nodding at the purse, “you should speak to the Raven. She runs things around here. She’d give you real work. Bigger gigs. You’re strong. Don’t waste it.”

“No thanks,” I said. “I’m good with the little I have.”

He shrugged. “Just think about it. That little will run out quick. Raven on the other hand, has an unreal amount of it.”

“She uses magic?”

“Maybe. Maybe worse. You’d have to ask her yourself.”

“Even if I wanted to find her—not saying I do. How would I do it?”

“That’s the best part. You don’t find her, she finds you.”

I gave him a polite smile and turned back to Caelum.

“What was that about?” he asked.

“Nothing much. Just a troll trying to recruit me into the underground wrestling ring.”

Caelum raised an eyebrow. “You’re joking.”

“Nope. Apparently, I could make a fortune.”

“Then do it.”

“What?”

“Come on. There’s no troll in this town stronger than you. And if you’re this strong now? Imagine what you could become. We could stay here, make money, maybe live a quiet life.”

I laughed. “Trolls don’t exactly make charming neighbors.”

A passing troll sneered at us. I waved awkwardly. “No offense.”

Caelum grinned. “Okay. How about this—let’s find this Raven. See what she wants. If we don’t like it, we walk.”

“Fine. Since you’re so invested in this.”

We spent the entire day looking.

No one had seen the Raven.

But they had heard of her. She was a rumor that walked. A name whispered by drunk trolls and spoken with reverence by shady merchants.

By nightfall, we were exhausted.

We wandered through the outskirts of the village, past the stone homes and fire pits. The stars above were sharp and cold, like the air had been carved open to reveal them.

“We should find somewhere to sleep,” I said, voice low.

Caelum nodded. “This looks promising.”

A clearing opened up ahead. Moss-covered stones and broken statues littered the path like the bones of some forgotten temple. The trees creaked, even without wind.

“Do you feel that?” I whispered.

“No. Maybe it was the wind.”

The hair on the back of my neck prickled.

We kept walking, slow, cautious.

The shadows moved differently here.

And then—I heard it.

A voice like silk snagged on thorns. It wasn’t loud. It was just there, like it had always been waiting.

“You’ve been looking for me.”

We turned.

A woman stepped from the trees. Her cloak was layered and black as oil. Her skin was like aged stone, her face etched with lines that whispered of centuries. Feathers adorned her shoulders, and a dark veil framed her hawk-sharp eyes. She looked part raven, part witch, part storm.

Her mouth curled into something between a smile and a curse.

“So,” she said. “What do you want?”