Michael could sense Ravenna was not at ease traveling in the dark. She seemed incredibly wary, turning at every sound. He tried to keep her comforted as they traveled along the tree line toward Graenwood.
Ravenna finally spoke. "Tell me about your Brothers. Tell me stories of what it's like in the Kingdom. The more you talk, the less I'll be hearing other things."
Michael thought about what to tell her first. "Well, I've mentioned that there's seven of us. Gabriel is the oldest, he's just under one thousand, four hundred and fifty years old. He was the first Seraphim, and he taught all of the Brothers how the Ruler prefers to be served."
"So you're the highest-ranking of the angels, but you're still a servant of the Ruler?" Ravenna seemed confused by his explanation.
"Yes. We are the only ones He deems acceptable to serve Him. He will command lower-ranking angels to come find us to serve him, if we aren't immediately available. Like Uriel. He's not a Seraphim, but the Ruler will treat him like a messenger to go find the Brother on duty."
Ravenna frowned. "Uriel sounds like he's unappreciated."
Michael nodded. "He is, very much. He's treated like an errand boy and not much else. He's also subject to many of Zerachiel's pranks. Zerachiel is the second oldest Brother. We are very close, but he can be something else. He's a joker. The day we met, he actually leapt off his balcony and landed on me for his own amusement."
"I'm sorry, did you say he jumped from a balcony and landed on you?" Ravenna giggled until her sides hurt. She must have been picturing a flattened Michael with his face in the dirt.
"Yeah, he's real funny." Michael said dryly, still not thrilled to have been used as Zerachiel's landing pad. "But yes, he is the second Brother. Raguel is third, and he doesn't bother with the rest of us much. He usually keeps to himself. Raguel mostly cares about his work with the Ruler."
"He sounds kind of boring."
"He is. Raguel has never done a fun thing in his life and I doubt he ever will. Then there's the middle of the Seven, and that's Remiel. He's kind of haughty. Always his nose in everyone else's business. Zerachiel hates having him around, always interferes with his fun. Raguel has kicked Rem out of his house more times than we can keep track of. But I think Remiel is probably a good person, he just wants the best for us."
"How do you even keep track of six other Brothers? I've never had any brothers or sisters, it just seems like there are so many Seraphim!" Ravenna seemed to have difficulty keeping all the Brothers straight in her mind.
"Don't worry about keeping track of them, dear. I mostly only spend time with Zerachiel and Raphael. Being an only child must have been nice, but I'm still very grateful for all of my Brothers. They've always been there for me when I needed them."
Ravenna counted on her fingers. "Gabriel, Zerachiel, Raguel, Remiel, Raphael, and you... I need to remember one. I know you've mentioned all of your Brothers, but I'm forgetting one."
"Jeremiel. He's okay to forget. He's fifth out of seven, and he's so moody. I'd forget him too if I could." Michael smirked.
The sun began to rise on the horizon, and Michael looked at the young woman he was traveling with. "Where should we stay for the day? I don't see the next town just yet."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ravenna looked to the west. She knew a river ran past Graenwood, and there was supposed to be a waterfall not far north of Graenwood. She hoped there was still enough darkness to make it to the waterfall before dawn.
"Michael, how does your realm-travelling work? Do you need to have a specific destination, or can you travel to wherever I am?"
The Seraphim thought about her question. "Usually, I need a specific location to go to. Except one time. I meant to go to the forest outside your village, but I somehow ended up in a forest where you were on a blanket with a man on a picnic. I don't know how I did that."
Ravenna frowned. "You watched my date with Samuel?"
Michael put his hands up in front of him. "I didn't mean to! I meant to go to the forest! Where..." Michael dropped his head low. "... where I used to watch you gather plants. I am not making things better for myself. But I swear to you, I did not mean to spy on you."
Ravenna bit her lower lip, still frowning. She took a deep breath, trying to let Michael's confession go. "Okay. If you insist. We need to find somewhere safe to spend the day. There's supposed to be a waterfall north of Graenwood, and I'm hoping there will be a place behind the waterfall where we can stay during the day."
Michael ran his right hand through his golden curls, his face puzzled. "So, if I'm understanding, you want me to wait where I'm hidden while you find the waterfall, and then you'll signal like you did with the Nerium Inn?"
Nodding, Ravenna began to lay out her plans. "If the maps in the lobby of the Nerium Inn were correct, Nerium was north of Graenwood, and south of Eravia. Graenwood is northwest of Canden. The river runs along Graenwood, but to the west of the town. The waterfall is supposed to be just northwest of Graenwood. Close enough for us to get to, but Graenwood would still be too far for us to get to before daybreak."
Michael paced a few steps back and forth. "Are you sure you want to travel alone to search for the waterfall? You were attacked by Peter's coachman last time you traveled alone."
Ravenna placed both her hands on Michael's shoulders, and he bent his knees slightly, bringing his height down to match hers. "I appreciate your concern. I will be safe. There's no trail where the carriage could go, so the likelihood of the coachman being out here is very low." Ravenna placed a light kiss on Michael's forehead. "I will light a pair of fires when I find the waterfall, so you'll be able to find me."
Ravenna stepped back from the angel before her, who had turned a light shade of red.
"Be safe, Ravenna."