Erador raised his fist to the cottage door. Months ago he was more than glad to leave Medina’s cottage, but now he wanted nothing but to talk to her. To his own mother. The idea made his stomach roll with discomfort. He glanced a the Coven of Rebirth pamphlet from New Akthelia. This was his last option to find out who was killing them.

  He knocked. The curtain opened, enough for Medina to peek. This time she was at the door quicker with a smile.

  “Erador,” she croaked. “It’s nice to see you again.”

  Erador tried not to think how Medina was his mother. He wasn’t going to open new doors. With how eager she was to see him, why did his father take him from her? He didn’t want to play with the idea that maybe he would’ve been happier if she raised him instead.

  Forcing a smile, Erador brushed away those thoughts and rose the pamphlet.

  Medina’s face contorted in rage and she snatched it from him, crinkling the paper. “Where did you get this?”

  “So… you were part of that coven.”

  Medina looked shocked. “How do you know?”

  “That anchor,” Erador said. “It was worth a lot of money.”

  Medina rubbed her lips together. “What do you want?”

  “I want to know more about that coven. Maybe a few other things... about my father and his past.”

  Medina waved him in and shut the door. There was a bounce in her steps as she moved to the bed. He was glad she appeared eager. If he asked questions in Lucrethia, people usually gave him the same hesitant look before telling him they didn’t know. The fireplace was large and sweltering, the heat already suffocating.

  Erador shifted to the window, the furthest from it. “Why did you leave the coven?” Erador said.

  “I didn’t.” Medina stared at the crinkled pamphlet and set it on her bed. “They kicked me out.”

  “Why?”

  Medina played with her nail. “I might have been a tad unethical.”

  “How unethical?”

  She raised her shoulders. “Witches have rules and they don’t like when anyone strays from them.”

  No wonder his father liked her. With that smirk, it appeared she would be willing to do anything. It might make it easier to get things out of her. He wasn’t sure he could trust her, but what did he have to lose?

  “I need help,” Erador said.

  Eyes bright, Medina moved closer as if she’d been waiting for this her entire life. “Tell me?”

  “Why doesn't the Coven like Lucrethia?”

  “Well...” Medina wandered away from him and stretched her hands to the fire. “They don’t like how your father is using their gods’ names and judging people. They find it disrespectful.”

  “Do you?”

  “Eh. He never said he was the god himself.”

  That couldn’t be the only reason the Coven of Rebirth could be after them. Miraline's father seemed like the most likely reason for them take revenge, but why after so long? Medina knew his father a long time and likely had seen more he didn’t know about.

  “What do you know about the Raven?”

  “The Raven,” Medina said in a high pitch of excitement as she turned. “I haven’t seen him for sometime. Your father didn’t tell you much about him, did he?”

  “No…” Erador whispered. He was afraid to learn the truth, but he didn’t know why after he’d been eager so long. Seeing the Raven in the forest only brought more questions.

  “I know the tale and that he wants to kill the Paradins.”

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Medina laughed. “Always gullible his followers were.”

  “I heard the Raven used to be devout to the religion.”

  “Oh, yes.” Medina picked up a fire iron and poked a charred log that crumbled. “He was the most devout. He truly believed in Judgment until he witnessed his practices.”

  “The Judgment Hall? He let him in there?”

  “No, no…” Medina waved her hand. “It was the little games he played with the criminals, having them be tortured to force them to admit their sins. The Raven thought it was unethical. They did it out of desperation, even if they didn’t mean it, so long as the torture stopped. But Judgment knew who the dishonest ones were and would have them sent back to be charged for their crimes or disposed of them.”

  That confirmed what Eonidas told him. Erador couldn’t blame the Raven for wanting out, after witnessing that. Could that demon know they were dishonest? He didn’t want to approach it the wrong way, afraid of being shut down though Medina had been more than eager to tell.

  “How did he know who the dishonest ones were?” Erador said.

  “His Geisa.” Medina grabbed a log by the hearth and placed it on the low fire. “The being attached to him like your shadow.”

  Erador moved closer. “Do you know more about this being?”

  “Judgment only said it helps him.”

  Erador let out an irritated sigh. This was another wall in the way, not that it was Medina’s fault.

  It wasn’t fair to the people Judgment had tortured. How could he blame them for lying after being treated that way? Why would anyone accept Judgment as their savior after enduring such pain?

  It reminded Erador of when he had pleaded to his father that he would listen next time. His father kept hitting him. In this case, he didn’t believe Erador. Maybe those night visits from the Geisa is what he used to determine if Erador had changed. It was likely how he weeded out traitors and people who had lost faith. No wonder he'd been Judgment for so long.

  He shivered at the idea, knowing a being could tell other’s feelings, not like Shade who could only sense Erador’s. Maybe it’s how the Raven felt. With his mark and that contract, he had no chance of leaving without being killed.

  “When the Raven left, why didn’t my father order him to be killed like the other Paradins?” Erador asked.

  “Your father has a strange relationship with the Raven, too complicated then I can tell.” Medina sat in the rocking chair and pulled a blanket onto her legs. “They’re siblings. Judgment raised him from a child, so that could be part of it.”

  “Where were their parents?”

  “Dead and gone,” Medina said. “How? I don’t know.”

  “Do you think the Raven wants to kill the Paradins?” Erador asked.

  “I can see reason, but no. Not who he is now.” Medina smiled slightly. “He’s not the same as he used to be. Like me. I wish I could kill all those witches who did this to me, but… I realize there are too many of them and it’s not going to change me back.”

  “When was the last time you saw him?”

  “Oh… maybe thirty some years ago.”

  Erador furrowed his brow. “The Raven was in prison for fifty.”

  Medina laughed. “If you think your father kept the Raven caged all those years, then you’d be wrong.”

  “He let him out?” Erador blurted.

  “Yes, for a time and then he’d go back.”

  Erador turned and pressed his palm to his forehead. “The bolts! It’s why he had bolts outside of the cage and not rivets.”

  Medina smiled. “You noticed?”

  Erador faced her. His knees weakened when he realized Yuni might not be behind the Raven’s escape or the murders. He could’ve wasted time pursuing her. Medina pressed her lips together to hide a raising smile.

  “Why are you smiling?” he said.

  “If the Coven of Rebrith wants your father dead, he’d be gone by now. They wouldn't pick you off one by one.”

  Erador cocked his head. “I never told you that.”

  “Aminria did. She asked for advice.”

  Erador’s blinked in shock. “When did she come?”

  Medina rocked forward and the chair squeaked. “A few days ago.”

  “What did you tell her?” he said through his teeth.

  “She was practically begging for help.” She waved her hand. “I told her not to worry so much.”

  “That’s it?”

  “She was scared.” Medina shrugged. “What more could I say? I can’t save her.”

  Erador’s jaw tensed as she rocked back and forth in the creaking chair. “You shouldn’t take this lightly.” He roughly grabbed the handles and stopped her. “Judgment will be next.”

  “No. No,” Medina said, brushing him away. “Aminria has gotten herself into trouble. She made promises she no longer wants to keep.”

  “What promises?” Erador said.

  “Well…” Medina got up and scratched her chin with her long nails. “It had something to do with her leaving with a few Paradins.”

  “Leaving?” Erador blurted.

  She gave a slow nod. “They’re abandoning your father.”

  Erador gasped. They were going to die. The contract Eli told him about was true. They were being killed because someone knew about their promises. It’s why it skipped over Haven and Fedra. They weren’t a part of it. What other Paradins could’ve made that promise? It made Erador feel abandoned, but why wouldn't they tell him?

  “Let me guess, she didn’t tell you which Paradins want out?” Erador said.

  Medina shrugged. “You’ll have to find that out yourself. She better beg to Judgment to let her live. He loses trust in anyone that wants to leave.”

  Erador reached for the knob.

  Medina scurried to him. “Remember… you can come visit anytime.”

  Erador looked back at her this time and gave a nod before he left and shut the door. Aminria was going to pay.