Chapter Seventy One : A Lost Ember

It would be extremely difficult but Penny and Raven needed to get within the castle without being caught even further still, find a way to get beneath it so that they could check into the Elder witch's information. To find the truth about the magic that was forbidden from the Kingdom. Raven was plotting as best as she could, reaching deep within her memory to try and think of a solution to this issue.

" Is there not a way that we could hide the trail of our magic so that we could slip by everyone without being noticed? " Penny asked as Raven paced back on forth on the road trying to devise the correct solution to their issue.

" I think I have something that might work..but it doesn't last long so we would have to be super quick. And if we get do get caught, then we are going to have to fight our way out of this" Raven explained, which Penny nodded in agreement.

More than anything, Penny was willing to fight and do whatever it took to protect her mother even against her own kind. Raven would be taking this risk as well but they needed to find out the truth.

" Should we get Ember? " Raven questioned Penny who, felt horrible for having forgot about Ember for a moment. This was not common since they had first met. And Penny, hated herself for this slip of the mind. " I...I don't think she would want to work with me on this..not right now" Penny croaked in a weakened and defeated tone. Raven sighed, knowing full well that this issue between the girls would continue to lower their chances of succeeding.

" Listen, I know that you both have your issues. Trust me, I do..mainly because I am the one who has to hear it..all..the..time. However, I don't think we should leave without her. I do want the truth, but I think based on what we saw from Ember, she would be able to help us.." Raven defended Ember even though she knew she could be a risk. Ember did not seem completely in control of who she was or what she was at the moment. And an argument or disagreement could truly comprimise what they were trying to do even if Ember would be a massive help.

" We dont even know where she is" Penny pointed out as they looked around them, realizing the sheer size of this place would make it next to impossible without some prior knowledge as to where she was going or even what direction.

" We should find her, even if that does delay things for us. Because at the end of the day, we are allies, and we need all the ones we can get" Raven reasoned to which Penny agreed as they began searching the town for any signs of Ember that they could find.

They searched the town for hours but they found no signs of her whatsoever. Though the time was spent well, both Penny and Raven doing their best to devise a proper plan for breaking into the castle. Eventually, they came to rest at a small tavern where they were able to quench their thirst and regroup on where to look next.

" We have looked over this entire damn city and we haven't found her..not even a single trace of her whatsoever" Penny groaned as she planted her face onto the table in defeat, Raven reached over and comforting Penny by rubbing her back gently.

" We will find her, somehow. I just don't understand where she would have possibly gone unless she went into the castle. But that would be extremely foolish, and Ember does not strike me as one to make such a hasty decision" Raven sighed as a waiter walked over and placed a jug of water onto the table.

And then, out of almost pure coincidence, Ember, whom had almost completely vanished from the town entirely, walked into the tavern and up to the bar, not seeming to notice Penny nor Raven who jumped at the sight of her from the table and rushed to her side.

" Ember!" Penny squealed. " We have been looking everywhere for you" Penny grabbed onto Embers shoulder so that she could spin her around to face one another and yet Ember didn't seem all to shocked or surprised to see Raven.

" Did you both find anything? " Ember asked coldly which provided the unwelcome realization that Ember was still in her gloomy mood.

" We found some things out but we will need to enter the castle in order to find more..and we need you with us" Penny answered, hoping that Ember would just agree and not provide anymore hollow tones.

" That would be impossible" Ember responded, coldly as ever as the bartender placed a drink in front of Ember, though what the drink was, could not be determined by Penny or Raven.

" Why..?" Raven questioned, beginning to grow a little suspicious as to Embers whereabouts thus far.

" Because I already went there, and they are preparing for the wedding. Guards are everywhere and they are not going to let you in. Super high security today..they let me go but told me not to return" Ember explained.

" If we are going to get into the castle, we need to wait until after the ceremony" She added to which Raven shook her head in refusal.

" We are going in there today, we are going to find what we need and I don't care about the damn ceremony" Ravens tone was beginning to grow more and more aggressive.

" I am sorry but I have been impeded, treated like a freak, and exiled might I add, and within that castle, are the answers that I need" her tone was thunderous and she was very certain within herself that this is what she would need to do.

" What answers? " Ember questioned which seemed to snap Raven back into reality for a moment.

" All you need to know is that there are answers in there, and it would help us to save this world. Are you going to help or not? " Raven would no longer waste any more time. They needed Ember, but Raven had grown tired of the attitude from both Ember and Penny. There were things at stake that could change everything. Ember knew this, as she seemed ever so determined before to get to the point and do what was needed and now she seemed to be stalling to some degree which was strange and infuriating for Raven.

" I will help" Ember stood back to her feet as she reached for her drink and downed it within a few seconds.

" But we are allies, I don't work for you. I don't serve you. And you aren't my mother and you are barely one to Penny..so don't speak to me like that again" Ember inched her face closer to Ravens who held restraint the best that she could.

" I already gave it to Penny and you can get it too" Ember walked past Raven and Penny and out the door and waited for them to make their way back outside.

" This is going to suck, isn't it? " Penny asked Raven who nodded " Yep"