The Mad Raven's Tale (The Accarian Chronicles Book 1) by Andrew Walbrown (little red riding hood read aloud txt) 📕

to do as you wish, I absolve you of any oaths to me you may have made, as well as any grievances I may have held. You will receive boarding for as long as you wish, and are always welcome in my castle. Jalkett and I are forever in your debts, gentlemen. If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask.”

Count Aldamar stood and walked to the exit, forever as quiet as a shadow. He turned and faced Ulam, his bright yellow eyes glowing in the darkness.

“One last thing,” he said, his voice grave, “my condition must remain a secret between us. If I learn you have told anyone my story, I will hunt you down, even if you are my friends.”

Ulam felt a shudder go down his spine; he looked at Amantius.

“At least he called us his friends.”

Epilogue

I have made the journey south to Silverwater, situated at the bottom of our continent of Qerus. It is an ancient place, known around the world for its wine. The trip was an uneventful one, aside from the occasional traveler becoming motion sick while we crossed through the heartland’s hilly terrain. I, on the other hand, loved the entire experience, often spending hours on the back deck of the caboose, taking in the world around me. I have never seen a more beautiful sunset than those which set in the bluffs of Redgate, nor had I seen fields of deer grazing happily on the lush vegetation beneath them. Though Hollowcross will always be my home, I cannot help but wonder if I have wasted too much of my life in dark rooms filled with musty books, instead of experiencing the world’s vibrant riches. A man at the railroad junction in Eastlock even told me that he heard rumors of a set of twins working on a device that would allow people to fly. To fly! What an exciting era in which we live!

Back to the task at hand, I am not sure how different Silverwater is now compared to the time of the Mad Raven’s Tale, though I can see the city is much larger. The northwestern gate mentioned many times over is no longer in use, in fact, the city walls barely exist. I have found some pieces of the wall, ruins covered in grass and vines, echoes of a bygone era. The only semblance of an operational wall and gate system is on top of the hill where the castle is located, just as it was in the Mad Raven’s Tale. 

As I walk through the streets I notice the homes here are mostly made of brick with tiled roofs. I see children playing in the streets as merchants align the avenues to sell their goods. All in all, Silverwater seems to be a place of great joy, unlike the perpetual cloud of gloom that was written in The Mad Raven’s Tale. I cannot blame the locals for their joviality, the weather here is as close to perfection as it can be. I have asked a couple of people if they have ever seen snow, none of which ever have, even the older denizens have no memory of fluffy flakes falling from the sky. This leads me to believe that whoever is responsible for writing the story of Count Aldamar and Countess Morganna had never visited this wonderful locale, otherwise, they would have known winter has never touched this land. I am also starting to believe that Amantius and Ulam, and all the events that took place in The Mad Raven’s Tale, are a complete work of fiction. It is possible the story was rooted in some actual event, as many legends are, but had taken on fictional elements through time. Perhaps a rebellion had taken place centuries ago between siblings, familial power struggles are nothing new, but I doubt that an Orc and his foster-brother forever changed history due to their actions. I just find such a thing impossible to believe, not to mention there have not been any reported cases of vampirism in the past five or six centuries, and even those accusations were most likely made to further personal agendas. Regardless, I have come here for a reason, and that is to potentially locate volumes three and four of the Accarian Chronicles. And, maybe I will enjoy some local cuisine and drink.

As I climbed the hill to the castle the guards spotted me and asked my name and my purpose. I was able to secure entry by presenting my badge to them, which bore the insignia of the Academy. However, I must admit, for a moment I was truly worried I had just traveled the length of the continent only to be denied access. After all, how much sway could one of the Academy’s apprentice mages possibly have on the other side of the continent?

Once through the gates, I began to take in the architecture of the castle, guessing by the style and materials it had been built only a few hundred years ago. This discovery disappointed me, of course, because I had hoped to find the castle to be the same as the one in The Mad Raven’s Tale. Of course, that was nothing more than a delusion, because only a master architect could have built a castle to have lasted over a thousand years and still be habitable.

Upon entering the castle I asked the first person I saw to point me to the library, once again having to display my badge. An accommodating attendant led me through a corridor until we came to a large hall, all the while a guard hovered directly behind me. They were nuisances, what with their boots thudding on the tiled floor behind me, however, I understood the necessity. I suppose from their perspective espionage could be in order, though I find that is beyond absurd. I am here to uncover long-lost books, not secret plans.

I passed through an elaborate doorway into the library where I was shocked by what I saw. Rows and