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Kingdom of Ravens Chapter XVI • Maia
“Let us go.” “Huh?” I ask, confused. I’m in the middle of cleaning my daggers with a spare cloth when Severin comes out of the pit house donning his hood. “To where?” “To the second village I stole from,” he replies, throwing me my shoulder cape. “Come on, now. No time to dawdle.” That is rather odd, but I shall go with it. As I return the daggers to their rightful place, I wear the belt around my waist and follow the cabbage-headed man into the forest. It has been two days since my accidental poisoning. If not for the elixir he claims he “made with ease and not at all panicked whilst making it”, I would have succumbed to the poison’s effects, and lost my life. What was strange about the entire occurrence was he expected me to feel pain, since he mentioned that the poison should have attacked my heart… But I felt completely fine afterwards, not even weak! He also babbled about seeing a demon in his sleep, but I believed he must have had a nightmare, in fear that he could have end
Kingdom of Ravens Chapter XVII • Severin
Oh, off with my head. For the next few days we have been training, after I had taught Maia how to thieve— well, something like that, I came to realize that I’ve been stealing glances at her, especially when she is minding her own business. I sincerely hope that she doesn’t think that I’m being an absolutely despicable and perverted dalcop, but there’s something about her that is… appealing to me, aside from her physical appearance. I’ve started noticing the tiniest of details about her. For instance, she beholds views and gazes at objects that pique her interests, or “are pleasing to her eyes”, as she claims. When she recently suggested buying goods with the large amount of money she stole, I watched her bite her lip and stare longingly at a miscellany of blankets, sheets, and clothes made of either wool or linen hung about outside a merchant’s house. I insisted that she could buy one of the items she wanted if she deemed it necessary, and the smile on her face was beyond compare. S
Kingdom of Ravens Chapter XVIII • Maia
Continuation. “Really?!” I exclaim, unable to hide my shock. “Really… what, Maia?” he replies, tilting his head in befuddlement. I feel so sorrowful for this man— losing every person he loved in his life? Fate has been so hard on him. “Yo— your other sister… is dead?” “Sadly, yes. I think you have already met her, actually.” Fear suddenly strikes, making the hairs on my arms rise. “Oh my— what do you mean?” “Do you remember the grave you saw in the clearing? The one lined with blue and white wildflowers?” Realization dawns on me. “OH MY GODS, I STEPPED ON SAPPHIRE?!” Severin visibly flinches at my sudden outbresten. My hands fly to my face, dreadfully remembering what had happened the day I got poisoned by mindlessly eating monkshood berries. The green-haired man opens his mouth to say something, but the words just flow out of my mouth like a raging river. “O-on the day you found me in the clearing, I was predominantly training on my own! I had accidentally stepped on some
Kingdom of Ravens Chapter XIX • Yelena
“Either we do this to make things simpler, or make things difficult, Yelena,” importunes the man dressed in fine red, blue, and gold garments, jabbing an adorned forefinger at me through the bars of my cell. The red-jeweled gold ring wreathing his finger looks so familiar… but I cannot remember where I’ve seen it. “If you do not have answers on my daughter’s whereabouts by the time your masters return, you are done, wretch.” With this, Lord Eadmond stares daggers at me, amber eyes squinting in the dim candlelight, before leaving with a scoff. ‘Tis another day in the dungeon, and the only thing keeping me warm and giving me a wee sense of protection in this dark, damp, and lonely chamber is Clemence’s red, silk gown— the very one she used to hide my bare body with from the condemnatory stares of her family. I truly do not know where my beloved has gone— after the guards ruthlessly threw me into this cell, I've been unaware of what has been happening up above. If the Davidsons themselv
Kingdom of Ravens Chapter XX • Maia
A month later. “Oh, you want a buffeting?” I say aloud menacingly, flaunting my daggers in a reverse grip with the edges out at a tree I have randomly selected to be my “opponent”. I’m practicing the moves I learned to do during spars with Severin. “You want to fight me? Ah, no… You are unworthy of being my opponent. Hm? What did you call me? Take this, then!” In a flurry of attacks, I strike the trunk of the tree, leaving cuts, marks, and dents on its dark, rough bark. I occasionally slip in a kick or two to make my battle against my imaginary opponent more realistic, but I only end up hurting myself. The dull sounds of metal meeting wood surround me with every hit I make, giving me a small sense of satisfaction as the sharp edges slice through the tough outer layer. I’ve become more nimble, more reactive… mayhap impulsive, even. This might be enough to put a stop to my father, but I must do more, I must continue to improve; not when it will be two people against an entire nobleman
Kingdom of Ravens Chapter XXI • Severin
Figuring out how this rock-like… thing… will be useful in creating a seal of protection is giving me a headache. This hardened clump of bluish-grey mud with an odd band made of sinew protruding out of it… What is it? Why is it like this? I’ve no idea what to do with this! Do I hang it around my neck? No, the band is too small, it weighs too much to be hung, and it is far too big to be kept hidden… What the hells should be done with this?! “Mayhap you should rest before continuing to lour at that rock, Severin,” the brunette seated right behind me states, hearing her continuously scribble something on the spare papers I’ve given her upon our return. “You seem like you are about to slay someone. Pray thee, don’t let your murderous intent out on me.” I whirl around, slightly affronted. The sight of Maia’s focused look and damp, unbraided hair astonishes me, and makes me look away almost instantly. I cannot allow myself to be distracted right now. “H-how is your writing going?” I a
Kingdom of Ravens Chapter XXII • Nicolaus
Alas, 'tis another day working alone in the village… There have been no signs of my beloved friend, not even after the news about the death of Lord Edgar a month ago. I do not believe it one bit that he had died due to a disease, nor of natural causes, despite the knights’ announcements that day— they’re hiding something, and I know it is because Maia caused his death… I can feel it! T’was exactly a sennight after she left that the lord died; it is the only thing that makes sense. Maia had successfully slayed a Davidson. As terrified as I was for her when she was insistent to leave the village all alone, I was filled with pride upon discovery of a noble's death, and I am quite glad that t'was the old fart who passed… eradicating him must've helped Maia get one step closer to achieving her goal. As I roll the cart across the village to deliver barrels of grain to the village’s brewer, a couple of villagers greet me on my way, asking the same questions they always ask me since the day
Kingdom of Ravens Chapter XXIII • Maia
Under no circumstances, at all, have I ever thought that getting attacked in broad daylight would only happen in stories… And yet, hither I am, next to Severin, whom I’ve never seen look so… calm and inscrutable … at an armed, trouble-making bunch who presumably followed us from today's raid. I defensively keep one of my hands hovering over my dagger’s grip, ready to unsheathe it the moment one of these weaponed men makes a single move. My other hand is clutching a sack containing what is supposed to be today’s meal, and I guess I… have to put this aside, for now. We do not want this to go to waste now, do we? “Have you ever been in a fight like this, Severin?” I whisper to the green-haired man next to me, who is standing with one foot forward. I can see his other hand hidden, fingers stiffly curled inwards and ready to conjure an element. “The kind of fight where you are outnumbered and you lack the experience?” “No,” he whispers back, his gaze unwavering. I catch his eyes watchi
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- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XLIII • Maia
“Valiant of these two, I must say… ‘tis a shame they wasted their skills in thiev’ng; they could have done much more if they worked for the lord.” I am awakened by the sounds of roistering men. When I open my eyes, everything seems as if it is spinning. I find myself on a cold, damp, stone floor, barely recognizing my surroundings due to the dimness of the space. Ugh, everything is spinning and my bloody head hurts… I jolt upright when it all comes back to me— Nicolaus leading The Order to the pit house, watching him destroy the seal of protection, and us getting apprehended by Davidson’s men. Panicked at the memory of the knights breaking into the pit house, I begin scrambling off of the floor. I wince in pain when I feel a large, painful bump on the back of my head. It hurts more when I touch it… I must’ve been knocked unconscious. As I look around, my eyes adjusting to the dimness, I come to a realization that I am in a dungeon with two helmetless armored men, drinking to th
- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XLII • Severin
After a quiet— well, mayhap not so quiet— afternoon, the brunette still wonders why her so-called ‘childhood friend’ acted the way he did, challenging me as if t’was the bloody solution to her refusing to return home with him. “I understand that he could have been perturbed by what has been happening lately in Augborough, I really do,” the brunette states whilst she ravels out the knots in her hair with her fingers. “But was it necessary for him to start a fight with you like that out of nowhere? He has never acted like this before!” I watch her grab her ivory comb from atop her bedroll, jabbering about the earlier occurrences as she vigorously combs through her brown tresses with it. I fear that she may hurt herself with how forceful she is being with her hair… “I mean, he was never— ow— one to force me to do something if it was not— ow— in his favor, but it was as if he was a completely different person! The man knows me well enough that when I decide on something, be it well-thou
- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XLI • Maia
Continuation. “S-such a surprise, my friend,” I utter, faking a grin as the blonde happily throws his arms around my shoulders and wrapping me in a rather tight embrace. He is practically crying at the sight of me. “I have found you! By the gods, you do not know how long I’ve been searching for you, Maia,” he replies, sighing in relief whilst he pats the back of my head fondly. “It has been too long; you have not returned home yet, and Wyatt and I have been so, so worried about you…” When he mentions my uncle, I gently push him away by his shoulders to keep him at arm’s length. I am finally able to get a good look at him from head to toe: his blonde hair is more unkempt than usual, there are dark circles resting beneath his tired blue eyes, his clothes are slightly ragged and torn, mayhap from all the travelling he has done, and he seems… lankier, as if he has not been eating nor sleeping properly lately. “You look like you’ve gone through one of the hells and back,” I tell him, w
- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XL • Severin
That same day… Who, in all the heavens above and the hells below, was that blonde bastard?! He not only almost ruined today’s plans— he put Maia’s life in danger, as well! Unable to suppress my anger down at the man who called out the brunette’s name out in public, I furiously undo my cloak and throw it at my bed upon our return to the dug-out. “My deepest apologies, Severin,” I hear her speaking from behind me as she closes off the entrance, cutting off the cold wind from outside when she secures its ends to the weights. “I know you’re angry—” Angry?! I am bloody incensed! I need not think about using my abilities to end that man! “—But I did not expect to see my childhood friend in the same village, either!” “That was him? We could have died by The Order’s hands back in that village, and it would have been all his fault,” I reply snappishly, turning to find her slowly doffing her shoulder cape. I calm down a wee bit when I see the brunette’s contrite expression. Taking a d
- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XXXIX • Nicolaus
Ever since I left the central village, all that has been on my mind is looking for her. I am distressed, exhausted, and beginning to feel like this long, long search for my beloved friend is becoming futile. The look on Eustace’s face as he and the other victims were set alight has been burned into my mind, haunting me even while I sleep… A few nights ago, I screamed myself awake after seeing the skin on the frail boy's face melt away like a lit tallow candle, only to realize t’was all an awful dream, and I may or may not have disturbed some of the guests in the neighboring inn chambers. Wyatt was devastated when we watched him struggle amid the rising flames; I can only imagine how Maia would have felt if she saw him roast to death… Gods, it was terrible. The Davidsons are terrible! I am really wishing that Maia could end them off faster, but with the current situation, I’m more afraid for her and her life… I do not even remember how long I’ve been travelling— going through Au
- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XXXVIII • Clemence
Never have I ever imagined that I would be this beaten and battered after the organization’s so-called “annual tradition” … I thought I was going to die in The Pit. As I drag myself to my rightful tent in another part of the resting area, which is right next to this small fissure up on the scraggy wall in one of the cavern chambers, exhaustion practically washes over me like the water from a waterfall flowing over my head. I need to get out of these damned clothes… Squeezing the remaining water out of my hair and the ends of my garments, I make it to my leather-lined tent, strip myself down of my water-drenched clothes, and wring some more liquid out of it. I take off my shoes as well and set them aside. “Cold… cold… 'tis so damn cold,” I grumble, shuddering as I peek out of the tent’s flaps before throwing my drenched, lacerated clothing off to the side of the cavern. I can feel myself shivering down to my bones. “I can practically freeze my bosoms off…” I light the remaining cand
- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XXXVII • Severin
“And that is another one,” I mutter to myself, cautiously pouring the hot concoction into yet another vial. This batch filled fewer bottles compared to the first batch I made. “That makes… eight, nine, ten… eleven, all in all. Hm, will this be enough, though?” “Severin, we are making those for emergency escapes,” Maia says, interrupting my chain of thought. “Not dazing the entire borough. That is more than enough, o’ magical man-witch.” I look up and scrunch my nose at her teasing, putting down the pot to seal the bottle in my hand with its cork. “Firstly, I have told you countless times now: I am a conjuror, not a witch! There is a difference.” “I wonder where you learned that term from.” “Secondly, you can never be too prepared for anything and everything. How is the map of the manor going, dagger-lady?” She ignores my attempt at teasing her back and instead scribbles something down, eyes flicking from one part of the hand-drawn map to another. Well, that was embarrassing… “Ma
- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XXXVI • Clemence
“Now is not the time to be indulging in horseplay, old man,” I state as I continue following an excited Daw down deeper into the caverns of the hideout. The path seems to only be accessible through the training grounds, though I must admit that I have never noticed its entrance the entire time I have been in this organization. “I could have been using this time to improve my aim instead of... whatever this is you are doing. Where are you taking me?” “Today is an important day, Clemence,” he replies, raising the oil lamp he is holding to light our way through yet another maze of tunnels. There are torches hung about on the walls, some of which are already lit. “I am about to show you an Unkindness tradition that goes back.” A tradition? “So, is that why nobody was lounging about in the common and dining area? There is this celebration going on?” “Hm, something similar to that.” “It makes sense. Well, t’was odd for me because that place is usually bustling with the young ones and th
- Kingdom of Ravens
Chapter XXXV • Severin
Ingenuity is the one thing I thought Eadmond Davidson would at least have, as the commencing Lord of Augborough… because he seemed like he had the potential to be different from his predecessors. But never would I have thought that he would be just as cruel, merciless, and insensitive as his coxcomb father Edgar. The brunette and I were able to follow my sister’s murderer and his wee army of men to one of the villages we had continually stolen from in the past— and the very one that we had not yet given a share of stolen goods from the manor since we decided to begin observing the nobles’ next moves. This was supposed to be the next place we would give the stolen food stocks to. “‘Tis a good thing I got to you in time,” Maia whispers as we hide beyond the density of the forest’s edge, observing the men in armor announce their arrival and the reason why they arrived in the first place. “We would never have known where my father's right-hand man will start this ‘hunt’. He does not see
