Chapter 10. Songs of the Dead

The heavy clouds had brought a storm and it had raged over the valley until late night hours. The sky had cracked open, sending a torrent that turned the castle yard into a lake of mud.

They spent the whole day placing protective runes around the castle. Invoking them made Jules more tired that he expected - even though he did less than half of the work. His Sixth Sense was like an invisible muscle inside his mind. He had over-worked it.

He kicked off his boots and climbed further onto the bed to reach the pile of soft pillows. Lying, he observed his master preparing for the night. The man's face was tight and sombre.

"Why are you so upset?" Jules asked eventually when the older mage sat back on his bed and started to untie his boots.

"I'm not upset," Ravin shrugged.

Jules sighed, sitting up. He placed his elbows on his knees and supported his chin on his fists.

"I'm not blind, you know?" he commented. "Is it Lord Kedmon that worries you, or are you worried about Raimont?"

This time the hunter straightened and looked at his apprentice. Sometimes the boy was much too observant for his liking. Now he gazed at his master without blinking, with his big eyes wide open. If it wasn't for the left eye, his face would be attractive, if plain. It was the icy blue iris, now still sparkling with gold after drawing the runes, what made it so unusual.

"Both," Ravin said. "Speaking of Rai, you know I'm nervous when I can't keep tabs on him."

"Do you think he's reached Ree already?" Jules wondered how the capital looked in the twilight. Raimont had told him it was full of light, and that the streets were always crowded, even in the dead of night.

"No, he'll get there next week if he's lucky," the hunter shook his head."Tomorrow, after breakfast, we're going to search for the cave where Melissa died. You'd better go to sleep."

"All right" Jules agreed without resistance, as he felt half-asleep already. "Night."

"Good night, Jules".

The boy yawned, leaned back against the pillows and reached to pull the heavy blankets up to his chin. He rolled onto his stomach and closed his eyes, relaxing, as the warmth settled inside his body.

He lay like that for a long time trying to fall asleep, more and more exhausted with every passing minute. But sleep wouldn't come. He reached under his shirt for his badge and closed it in his hand.

And then he heard it; there was a noise, upsetting and irritating, although so quiet it was almost beyond his perception. He focused on the sound; it became sharper, louder, and now the boy could tell it was a woman singing a mournful song, somewhere far away. As he listened to it, the comfortable warmth disappeared.

"Ravin?" he opened his eyes and rolled onto his side. "Are you asleep?"

"No, I'm not."

Jules sat up reluctantly, wrapping the blankets tightly around himself. Ravin hadn't gone to bed yet; he was sitting with his boots on and the reila's blade strapped to his belt.

"You can hear it too?" the boy rubbed his eyes. "Do you think it's the healer's ghost singing?"

"Probably. I've been waiting to see if it would wake up Kedmon or his family, but apparently, the runes are working," Ravin stood up and crossed the room, heading toward the door, "I'm going to look around. Don't wait for me."

"Wait!" Jules jumped out of the bed and started to pull on his boots in a hurry. "I'm coming with you!"

"I don't think so. Go back to sleep," the man reached for the cloak hanging over the armchair.

"No way!" Jules ran towards him. He grasped his cloak - the servants had washed and dried it - and wrapped it around his shoulders.

"Jules, you're exhausted," Ravin stopped with his hand on the door handle and looked around at his apprentice. "You'd better go back to bed and prepare for tomorrow's trip. We're leaving just after breakfast, and we'll probably spend most of the day in the saddles."

"Rai isn't here to assist you," Jules shook his head stubbornly. "It's my job now."

"Fine," the hunter agreed and ignored the wide smile that curved Jules' lips. "Take the lantern."

The guardsmen on duty obeyed Ravin's order. The hinges cracked as the gate opened. Jules yawned, wrapped the cloak tighter around his skinny body and followed his master.

The lantern in his hand swayed with the rhythm of his steps. The light danced on the grass, touching the stony path and Ravin's legs. The boy followed him closely, and when the man halted, he hit his master's back.

"What's wrong?" Jules tried to hide the nervous tone of his voice. The eerie melody made his throat tight, and he kicked his heels waiting for the hunter's response.

"I'm just wondering which way to go," Ravin scanned the meadow covering the hillside. "Can you hear where it's coming from?"

Jules strained his Sixth Sense, but the tune sounded from all four directions at the same time. He was pretty sure that if he closed his ears, it would echo inside his head.

"I have no idea."

"In that case, we'll just circle the castle. Keep close and keep your eyes open."

They left the path and entered the meadow. Jules went arm-in-arm with his master, gazing down at the sleepy town sprawled below them. It was dark and quiet; the only light came from a building in the centre, probably an inn. The boy smiled weakly- if Raimont hadn't gone to Ree, he would be there right now, drinking beer and moving on local girls.

The song filled his ears again, and he felt lonely under the starless sky. He shivered at the breath of wind from the north. It was chilly and full of moisture - it reminded him of the sea breeze at his home village. He hadn't seen the place for long five years. A similar waft was probably humming in the tree crowns on the cliff where his mother and little sister were buried, whistling between the white stones on their graves...

"Jules," Ravin placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and gave it a firm squeeze. "Have you fallen asleep while walking? I've been talking to you."

"I'm sorry. I didn't hear you".

"I asked if you can sense anything."

"Oh," Jules glanced around with a blank expression. "No, I can't."

"You know, you shouldn't listen to it," Ravin didn't remove his hand from his apprentice shoulder, and kept rubbing his thumb against the thick wool of the cloak. "It's probably the song that causes Kedmon's and his family's nightmares. Don't let it have an influence on you. Guard your mind, boy."

"I'm all right" Jules ensured half-heartedly, looking away. Bleak thoughts crowded inside his head, but it wasn't anything new for him; it was May, after all, the month his little sister had been named after, and the month when she'd died.

"Are you?" the hunter raised one eyebrow peeking down at the smaller figure wrapped tightly in the cloak. "So, what were you thinking about?"

"Um... About my mom, and about Maya," Jules shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I know what you're talking about. I'll try to focus on something nice."

It was easier said than done, as the quiet whining filled his ears. Ravin's hand slid onto his shoulder blades, pushing him forward to prevent him from falling back.

Scouting around, the boy couldn't help the impression that the darkness and the cold pressed on them. Only the faint light of the lantern prevented the night from engulfing them. He dug his hand into the pockets of his cloak, cold despite the warm cloak.

"Ravin?" he glanced at his master - he seemed more gloomy than usual. "What does the song make you think about?"

"I'm blocking it from my mind, Jules," the hunter said shortly. "You should try it."

"You've never told me what happened to your parents," the boy muttered, glancing at the mage hesitantly but with curiosity. "Are they alive?"

"Yes, my father's alive," Ravin sighed, resigned. "He married another woman after my mother died, but I didn't get along with her, so I left"

"Don't you miss him?"

"No, I don't," the hunter exhaled deeply. "The only thing I miss now is the silence."

"Oh, all right," Jules said in a hurt tone. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a white shape just above the castle. "Do you see it?" he pointed with his finger.

"The guardsmen?"

The guards marched along the parapet walk, unmindful of the ghost that floated over them.

"No, it was—," Jules stopped short, narrowing his eyes. There it was, hovering above the wall, a misty body of a woman in a plain dress. "It's her!"

The hunter squinted his eyes, searching for the ghost for a moment before he fixed his gaze on the spot where she'd appeared.

Jules ran a few steps forward, put the lantern on the ground and waved his hands towards the castle.

"Hey! Melissa! Melissa!"

"Jules!" the hunter grasped the cloak on his apprentice's neck and pulled him back. "Don't you -!

The ghost disappeared and reappeared right before the boy. Startled, he jumped back and stopped rapidly hitting Ravin's chest. The hunter brushed past him and stepped forward in one quick motion. He aimed his rod at the dead healer.

"Why are you calling me, young mage?" she asked in a mocking tone. Her misty, ethereal form thickened. "Don't you know playing with the dead can be dangerous?"

"So can be playing with hunters," Jules responded boldly from behind his master's back. He attempted to step forward, but Ravin extended his free arm to block his way. "Why are you haunting the Lord's family?"

Her lips twisted in a cruel smile. Now he could see her clearly; the light of the lantern went through her body and didn't cast a shadow, but she gained some colours and appeared almost alive. She was young, in her middle twenties, and would look quite common if it wasn't for the dark flare in her eyes.

"It's blood for blood," she said.

Icy cold radiated from her as she spoke. It was like a gust of a winter wind in the middle of the summer, piercing into Jules' bones and soul.

Ravin must have felt it too because he made a quick movement with the tip of his wand, and a gold symbol appeared in the air before them. It transformed into a yellowish, misty wall of magic. It separated them from the ghost and from the bitter chill.

"Melissa," Ravin's voice was low and stern, threatening. "You seek revenge on those who are not to blame for your death. The man who took your life is already dead. Go to the other world and rest in peace."

"I'll wipe out the Lord's descendants," she grimaced and leaned forward, stopping just by the yellowish mist. "I won't rest until I kill the last member of his family. They will die one by one, hunter. You can't stop me."

"I will," Ravin's eyes sparkled with the golden light of his magic, but they were dark, predatory. "I will stop you, and I will fling you into hell, where you belong."

Melissa laughed, straightening.

"You'll regret this decision, hunter," She stepped back, and slowly shook her head. "You have no idea just how much you'll regret saying this."

And then she disappeared, leaving them alone in the cold, black night.