Free The Dawn of the Raven Omnibus 1: Episodes 1-5 by J.L. Blackthorne

there’s
more to fear than just the Elken here at night, Miss.  We’d best get out of
these woods and make camp.” 
    He led them to a small clearing.  He announced it was a
favorite campsite of his, and found a small fire ring that he’d used hundreds
of time, complete with a spit perfect for roasting the rabbit he’d trapped. 
Kiella couldn’t fully shake her fear that they might attract the attention of
the exiles, or her constant paranoia that they were being watched, but she did
her best to try and relax.  It was a gorgeous night, and the majestic beauty of
the Forbidden Forest had impressed her so much during the day that she was, as
much as she could be, in good spirits.  Likewise, the fact that Raveena seemed
to have stabilized thanks to the herbs Bob had found, and also the fact that
Kiella wasn’t alone and had found a travel companion, one who had proven
incredibly helpful, also gave her a lift.  In no time, the rabbit was cooked
and ready, and Bob cut it with a large hunting knife and passed Kiella a very
hearty share.
    “Mmmmm! 
Delicious!” Bob proclaimed heartily.  “I’d make a rabbit stew, I know how to
make a phenomenal one with the proper ingredients: another recipe passed down
through generations of Bumbeldens, but some of the ingredients are rather hard
to find.  If there’s one thing a Bumbelden can do well, it’s make a good pot of
stew.  Maybe next time!”  He gave her that now familiar, nearly toothless grin
with a mouth full of rabbit.
    Kiella smiled back and thanked him for the delicious dinner. 
The two sat back and relaxed, and enjoyed the beauty of the night sky, and
began making a game of seeing who could point out the most constellations. 
    “That one
there, those stars together, they make Andrastion.  You know of him?” asked
Bob.  When Kiella shook her head, he continued.  “Oh, a great one, was he. 
Greatest of all the hunters.  There, over next to him, Grent, the giant bear,
the spirit of the forest.  Andrastion was the one who trapped him, tamed him,
made the woods safe for men.”  His eyes grew a little saddened as he thought of
his big trap and its failure.  “I’m still after my Grent.  I’ll catch him yet!”
    “How about
that one, there, a bit to the left and down.  See that bright one, and the four
below it in a square . . .  You know that one, don’t you?” asked Kiella.
    “No . . . 
no, can’t say I do.  What is it?”
    “Crowstone,
the greatest warrior of my people.  And there, next to him, down a bit, those
three there, in a triangle, that one is Hydraken, the great beast that finished
him.”
    “What?  Your
greatest warrior was defeated?”
    “Yes.  
Yes.  He did kill the Hydraken, however.  When the Hydraken swallowed him,
Crowstone carried his great, long, powerful sword with him.  The sharpest and
the longest blade ever carried in the realm, for he was the strongest of all
men.  The sword proved too sharp and too long for the beast to pass.  It died
of indigestion.”
    Bob paused, then laughed heartily.  Then, he pointed to
another constellation, in the far north.
    “See there,
that one?  It forms a semi-circle, and then a bright star above it.  You know
what that is?”  Kiella was stumped.  Bob became quite enthusiastic.  “Oh,
surely you do!  The Drakken!”
    “Yes, I’ve
heard of that” responded Kiella.  “I remember stories of it as a child, but I
don’t recall the exact details.  Who slayed that one?”
    “Slayed it? 
No one slayed the Drakken!  No one ever will!”  Bob’s eyes sparkled as he
spoke.
    “You mean,
it still exists?  Yet they made a constellation of it?”
    Bob leaned towards the fire and put his hands on his knees. 
He was clearly excited to speak of the Drakken.  He continued.
    “Oh yes. 
They probably thought it was gone for good when they did that.  Probably
thought it was dead.”  Bob paused for a moment to pull off another piece of
rabbit meat for each of