WINGS

Magne Castle

Carel scurried around trying to save as many of the things he could.  His master seemed rather upset, something about a small child, insults, and arrogance.  Carel wasn’t sure whether arrogance belonged to master or the child.  He dived as the vase shattered across the stone floor.  Carel cried.  That vase was priceless.  “Master, calm down, calm down, sit down, see what you’re doing!”

Ranulf snarled at Carel raising his hand to strike. “Ranulf, behave yourself.” Ranulf cowered, watching as his mother entered the room.

“Mistress Edana, please make him stop.  He’s ruining everything.”

“Well, it is time for redecorating…but still, baby,” she walked towards Ranulf, embracing him, “dear please stop ruining everything and tell mommy what’s wrong.”

Ranulf slumped. “I’m a man now!  I don’t need your council.”

“Well, you could tell Carel, if you want a manly conversation.”

“Mother!”

“Mistress!”

“Well, who are you going to talk to?”

“There was this mean little girl who humiliated me in front of the entire council and almost blew my cover…”

“Oh, that.” Edana walked away from him.  “That’s your own stupidity.  You never question the king, and never, ever, insult Vidya.  She will always win out.  It’s an age thing.”

“Age? But she’s a child!”

“Correction, she’s in a child’s body.” Edana’s face soured.  “She stays that age, never to be any older looking.  They say she’s immortal.  But come, I have something to cheer you up.”

She walked towards the stairs leading to the top turret.  “Come along now, oh, and Carel, be a dear and clean up this mess, discretely.”

Ranulf, curious, walked up the stairs, unsure of what could make the situation much better.  He stopped behind his mother as she unlocked the secret door.  The ancient wood creaked, and a snarl emitted from behind it. “Meet your new pet, dear.” Ranulf could smell the stale blood.  “He’ll at least amuse you, if not fulfill a purpose.”  She handed Ranulf a small hand bell. 

“Why must they always be animals, mother?”

“Dear, you don’t want what happened to the last humanoid ever happen again.  That would be unfortunate.  Remember that he almost killed you.”

“And if I ever see him again, I will kill him.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll be seeing him soon, Vidya did predict it, and she’s almost never wrong.”

Ranulf watched, confused, as his mothers skirt slowly slipped out of the doorway and down the stairs.

………………………………………………………………

 

The Wagon

Raphael led Merlé to the wagon, pulling her violently as if he could not go fast enough. 

“WAIT!” Merlé screamed at him, ripping her hand from his grasp, “What is your problem?  Why do we have to leave so fast, and how does that guy know you?”

“It’s a long story that I feel uncompelled to tell.”

“I’m not leaving till you tell me.”

“Fine, then I am very sorry about this.”  Merlé watched in horror as Raphael’s fist came closer and closer, and then, everything went black.

Raphael hoisted her over his shoulder and dumped her in the wagon, “The less you know, the better.”

………………………………………………………………

CHAPTER THREE

 

Government Building—Salne

“Sir Eric, we weren’t expecting you so soon!”  The attendant scrambled to catch Eric’s falling cape and riding gloves.

“Get everyone who’s in town to Emalia’s.”

“Sir, we should wait.”

“NOW.  I don’t care what they’re doing, or what visitors we have, get everyone to the inn, we don’t have much time to waste.”

………………………………………………………………

 

Emalia’s Inn—Salne

Merlé watched, disgusted as Raphael slurped up whatever he was eating.  She was amazed that the tiny bit of red goop in the bowl had made her stomach turn.  It was even worse when he had poured the vial from his pocket over it.  It had become almost the consistency of blood and she wondered what exactly it was that Raphael was eating.  She looked down at her half eaten roll.  The taste was heavenly, but Raphael’s meal was just too disturbing.

“Are you finished?” Raphael raised his eyebrow in suspicion.

“I’ve lost my appetite.”

“Sorry, I didn’t think it would make you that uncomfortable. Well, wrap the roll up and let’s get going.”  Raphael stood up, stretching, “We have a long way to the capital.”

Merlé watched as Raphael began to walk away, “Wait! Don’t we have to pay?” 

Raphael looked at her, “Emalia’s Inn doesn’t work like the one in Dalai.”

Merlé frowned, picking her way through the crowd of people that had slowly been sifting into the Inn.  Did everyone eat at the same time?  It seemed a rather unintelligible thing to do.  She looked around for Raphael.  He was standing at the door talking to someone and turning very pale.

“Raphael, now is not a good time to have returned.”

“Sir Eric, my apologies, I will be leaving now.”

“No, you won’t.  You should stay to hear about what’s happening.”

“If it’s about the darkness coming down from the mountains, I already know.”

“I’m sure you do.  Remember, I know what you have been.”

Raphael felt sick, this king of thieves knew his darkest secret, and, while in this city he would say nothing to defame his name, Eric would have no problems telling the capital who he was.  Raphael bowed his head and retreated back towards the table he had just left.  Merlé caught him about halfway back. “Who is that?” she whispered.  The man was handsome, strong with wisps of white hair to dignify him. 

“That’s Sir Eric.  He’s in charge of the city.”  Raphael felt ill.

“He seems nice.”  Merlé was fascinated by the man.  He looked so noble, yet he was the ‘king of thieves.’

“You’ve never met him.” Raphael grumbled.

“But--”

“Shhh. He’s about to talk.”  Raphael sat down, watching the exits in case a quick get away was needed.”

“My people, my peers, my dear friends.  Each of us has heard and lived through the words ‘grave danger,’ in our lines of work it’s unavoidable, but I bring news to you today of a danger that may just set many of us in our graves. We tell our children the story of the shadow guard, though many of us believe them to be just as myth, there are those amongst us,” Eric stared straight at Raphael, watching him squirm, “who know the truth behind their existence.  While the dark wake has not been seen in many years, the village of Dalai in the Socrae range has fallen prey to the inescapable darkness.  The path of destruction will pass through the entire kingdom, or so is predicted.  We must prepare ourselves for the worst.  Go home.  Be with your family, your lover, your horse.  Find someone to be with, and though we are not the god fearing people of the kingdom, pray, for that is all we can do.  The darkness will only end by the hands of the ‘healed man’ and the ‘flightless blackbird.’  Rejoice if you see them, but know that, as with every prediction, there is room for failure.”

Eric walked from the inn as if a defeated man, unwilling to listen to the hysterics of his people. Raphael looked at Merlé, “Time to go.”  He took her hand, leading her towards the door.  Merlé’s mind raced, could she be the ‘flightless blackbird?’

………………………………………………………………

I realize that some of you may be getting errors at the end of posts that doesn’t let you read the entire thing.  Just keep refreshing.  It’ll eventually let you read it.

 

And remember, Criticism is highly helpful.

What a bugger...I didn't realize there was a max length for posts.  This means I'll have to repost each chapter seperately....bah

Original

Word Count: 3052

Words per sentence: 10.9

Passive sentences: 1%

 

Edit

Word Count: 3029

Words per sentence: 10.2

Passive sentences: 1%

CHAPTER TWO

Raphael’s Encampment

She sipped her coffee daintily.  Though she seemed content enough in eating the hearty meal before her, she continuously watched his every motion.  Exasperated by her constant staring, he left.  In all his travels, he had never seen a more intriguing character, or one whom he thoroughly hated so much.  He walked further from the campsite wondering how she had made it this far from home, worried that she had no idea where home was.  He could see her current village clearly from the edge of the cliff, and wondered how anyone could want to live in some place so sleepy.  He hadn’t.  He could still remember his mother’s last words, “Raphael, when you leave, because you will leave as soon as there is nothing to keep you here, remember where you came from, remember how you began, and remember what still lies there.”  She had been a wise woman.   His siblings had abandoned her to seek there fortunes in politics, the military, and medicine.  Out of all eight of them, only he had stayed with her.  Every one had always thought that ‘big’ things would come of him.  He was smart, faster than normal, with features of nobility though none existed in his family, and a thirst for knowledge that was unquenchable.  He smiled sadly, big things had come of him; he had become a big disappointment in every one’s eyes.  At least his mother hadn’t been around to see him collapse from godliness. 

“What is that!” He turned around to face the girl.  He had been so lost in his revelry that he hadn’t heard her approach. 

Disoriented, he looked at her quizzically, “What’s what?”

“What’s happening in Dalai?  The sky is pure black, not even night is that dark.”

He could hear the fear in her voice.  She knew something more about the darkness.  She had seen it before, but so had he.  “We have to leave. Quickly and quietly.”

“But what about the village!  They’re in trouble, I’m sure of it…”

“And you could help them?  You can’t even help yourself.  You’ve spent the last six years denying your abilities, blocking your past, trying not to remember. Tell me, how exactly could you help them?”  He watched as tears filled her eyes.  The truth hurt everyone. “You need better clothes; you’ll have to do with what I have to offer. Though, it’s not much.” He paused, “And no complaining about my tastes, you can either wear the clothes I give you, or you can go stark naked.”  She blushed a deep red; her clothes were ruined from the fall, and wouldn’t even be suitable for an urchin.

When would humans ever learn that modesty was not a virtue?  He walked into the hidden cottage hoping that she would follow and not try to kill him.  He realized the wings would present a problem and they had no time to alter shirts.  He pulled out a laced corset and a pair of dyed leather breeches.  He threw them her way, waiting for the squawking fit she would have over how much the corset would show.

“It’s a beautiful color; it reminds me of the twilight sky.”

“Most people would say it reminds them of wine.”

“Well, maybe you haven’t noticed, but I’m not like most people,” He could hear her bitterness, “The burgundy is too delicate to be compared to wine.”

She definitely wasn’t like most people, but like every other woman in the world, she was taking forever to get ready.  “Do you have a pair of boots I can wear?”  Maybe she was just good at lurking around, he once again hadn’t heard her approach.

“Sure,” He tossed her a pair, “Hurry up, we have to get out of here before they find us.”

“They?”

He stopped.  He had thought she knew what the darkness meant, her eyes had told him that she did, but maybe it was just a subconscious memory.  He hesitated, how much could he tell her without her suspecting anything.  “They’re what’s called Shadow Guards.  You’ve probably heard of them referred to as shades or simply shadows, but anyway you call them, they’re just as bad.  They come into a town under orders to find something, and until that thing is found, they never rest, leaving a wake of darkness in their trail.  The shades are controlled by a dark force, though no one—not even the shades themselves—know who’s at the head of the guard.  Shades are just like everyone else in the world, except they’ve been infused with a certain special ‘something’ that allows the wake of darkness, and the look of death.”

“Well what happens to the towns they leave in the wake?”  Her voice was cold, almost heartless, as if she was more curious than concerned.

“Are you daft?  I’ve already told you—“

“No you didn’t.”

“Yes, yes I did, don’t you listen?  I told you that the shades leave a wake of darkness.”  Her stare was blank.  He rolled his eyes.  “You see that darkness up there?  That will stay there until they find what they’re seeking.”

“Well that’s not so bad…”

“Once again you prove your ignorance.  People can enter the darkness, but nothing can leave it.  And before you open your mouth, I mean nothing.  Nothing that breaths are has substantial mass.”

“But, how does that work?  I mean…that can’t really work.  What about water, streams?”

“The natural world is a completely different thing.  Weather and anything water can get in and out of the veil, so there’s no shortage of that, it’s the animals that become scarce, and the plant life begins to die without the sun.”  He watched her eyes, hoping that he was doing a convincing job of making it sound like common knowledge.  For a moment, he held his breathe, watching her process the information he had just given her.  She sighed, as if resigned to believe him unconditionally.

“How does the darkness end?”  Maybe he hadn’t sensed cold-heartedness in her, this seemed like genuine concern. Then again, the life she remembered was in the veil, she could simply want her own clothes rather than the ones she stood in now. 

“I’ve told you this part as well.  They find what they’re looking for.”

“There’s no other way?”

He hesitated.  There was always another way.  Always.  “No.”

“Then what are they looking for.”

His heart wrenched.  He knew she wasn’t innocent, he knew all about her, but still he couldn’t tell her.  “I don’t know.” But he did, and so did she, if only in her heart.  “Let’s ride.”

Merlé figured, that because he was an elf, their transportation would be something overly exotic and showy. Maybe unicorn steeds, or a pumpkin carriage…

“What the Hell is this!” Merlé stood in front of a rickety wagon with the most pitiful mule pulling it.  “Funny joke, now where’s the real wagon.”

Raphael cringed.  “You, I suspect, are no lady.  Listen to yourself, talking to me like a servant, when, in fact it is you who owe me a debt.  You may look like an angel, albeit a strange one, but like all things, appearances are deceiving.”

Merlé swallowed, genuinely hurt and embarrassed by her manners.  Raphael pushed her towards the back door, almost forcefully shoving her into the wagon and locked the door behind.  “Well, he thinks I’m rude.” She folded her arms and set down on the couch.  “Hmph, I figured that since he was an elf he’d have grand things instead of lousy ones.  I mean look at this place,” She began to talk louder in hopes that he could hear her complaints, “Any normal human would have something twice as sturdy as this.  Just look at it, the beautiful velvet curtains, the carpeted floor, the bed, the couch…the grand piano? Wait.  How does this all fit in here?”

She heard a chuckle from what she suspected was up front, “I told you love, appearances are deceiving.”

She gazed around the room; it was beautiful, as if taken from a palace.  Major magic had to have been used to fold space so that the measly wagon held this room.  She mumbled, “Just who is this elf…”

A door opened towards the front, “Well blimey!  I’m the rude one now.  Haven’t made my proper introductions, have I?” He bowed ceremoniously and stood up, “We’ll skip the formalities, as you are definitely no princess.  You may call me Raphael.  Now may I please have a name to call you other than twit, girl, or love?”

She stared at him sourly, “Whose steering the wagon?”

Raphael smiled, “The mule, but that’s not important.”

“But how can a mule be steering--” Raphael cut her panic short.

“Appearances are deceiving.  You need to learn that lesson; you don’t seem to be doing a very good job at it.  Now, name. Please.” He strained to stay at least partially civil.

She resigned herself to not worrying about the mule. “Merlé. My name is Merlé.”

“Ah, what a fitting name, with a fitting meaning as well.”  Raphael smiled as she began to ask him how he knew, “Merlé, treat this place like your own home, please make sure to keep it tidy, if you need me, I’ll be out front.”

Merlé’s mind switched gears, “Wait!  Where are we going?”

Raphael stopped, pausing to think. “Well, in the long term, we’re making our way to the capital, but in the short term, we’re shooting for the city of Salne.”

“SALNE!” Merlé screeched. “Salne?  The city of thieves and…and,” she looked for a suitable word, “other distasteful occupations?”

Raphael laughed, “Don’t let them hear you talk like that.” He saluted her and went back outside.

Merlé sat down, speechless.  She hadn’t been outside of Dalai since she had arrived, and before that, she had no idea where she had been, or what she had done, she only remembered blood.  She shuddered. 

Salne was renowned for being crime-free.  The best reason had to be because it was made up entirely of criminals.  You had to have special permission to pass through the city. She wondered how Raphael had gotten his.

………………………………………………………………

 

The Capital

 

Vidya peered into the council room where voices had been raised.  The king seemed scared and the entire council seemed atwitter with anticipation.

“Vidya, so nice of you to join us.  Please have a seat.”

Vidya jumped, most people didn’t notice her when she was eavesdropping.  She brushed her skirt, bowed slightly and entered the room.  “How may I be of assistance, sir.” She bowed again.

“Please, sit down Vidya.  I need to know what you think--” A noble she hadn’t had the unpleasantry of meeting began to laugh.

“You are asking a child for advise!  King Dai, we are not that far gone to rely on children!”

Vidya frowned, “I presume you must be Sir Ranulf of the Magne family.  Your father knew the value of my council.  It would be wise for you to show me the same respect.”

Ranulf sputtered, “Such an articulate child, what schooling has she had Dai, to think she is equal to adults.”

King Dai lowered his eyes, “You, sir, should learn to respect your elders.”

“My elders?  You are just as old as I am, Dai…remember, we graduated together.”

Dai opened his mouth, but Vidya interjected, “He wasn’t referring to himself, he was referring to me.”

“But, you are a child!”

Vidya laughed, “Are you an idiot?  Has this world taught you nothing?  Have you been so sheltered that you have not noticed the wonders that lie around you? I was at your birth, and will be there when you die as stupidly as your father.”

Ranulf stood up, drawing his sword, “No one insults me or my father, especially not a delusional child.”

“Do not mess with me child.” Vidya stared at him.  Ranulf dropped his sword and his knees buckled.  “You do not belong in this room, Ranulf of Magne.  You are too foolhardy.” Ranulf felt as if he was drowning.

“Vidya,” King Dai grasped her hand, “stop Vidya, you have made your point.”

Vidya sighed, and Ranulf took in a large gasp, quickly recovering his anger.  “NONE of you helped me! None of you!”  Ranulf fumed.

“That’s because we all know better.  We’d support Vidya over you any day.” Vidya smiled at Sir Calvin of Chesmeer.

            “Why?” Ranulf sat down, as if defeated.

“She may look like a child, but she told the truth when she said she was at your birth.  Vidya is…well, old, we don’t know exactly how old, she refuses to tell us.  She looks like a child, but she is older than you or even me.” Calvin bowed in Vidya’s direction.

“Vidya, we, I, need your council.  The approaching darkness, how do we stop it.” King Dai was on his knees.

Vidya smiled sadly at him, patting his cheek before standing and walking towards the door.  She stopped at the entrance, “It will not stop.  Many will die, many will go mad, the stability of the kingdom will crumble.  There is nothing anyone can do, but foresee the minor problems.  The darkness will end, but you can do nothing.  Only the flightless black bird and healed man, can, in the end, lift the darkness.”

King Dai sat down and placed his head in his hands, the worst news any man could receive was that he was powerless to stop impending doom. “Start rationing food throughout the provinces, make sure that every village has a stockpile of food and medicine.  And send word of watch for this ‘healed man’ and ‘flightless blackbird.’  They may not be human, or even animate, but they lie somewhere in this kingdom.  May the Gods have mercy.”  The council began to shuffle out, returning to their provinces with the news.

………………………………………………………………

 

Salne

There was snow everywhere.  Merlé seemed tiny, insignificant in the whiteness, her black wings creating a stark contrast against the white wash of the world.  Every year the pass became blocked, and the town quieted down.  She laughed, she had never really been happy, but dancing in the snow made her feel free.  For two months, she wouldn’t have to deal with anyone from the outside.  Oh the wonderful winter, the beauty of the pass being snowed in…wait, the pass was snowed in.

Merlé’s eyes snapped open suddenly and she scrambled towards the door.  “Raphael!  Raphael!  The pass, we can’t get through the pass, it’s already snowed in.”

“Shut your yappering.” Merlé spun around towards the back door.  Raphael stood in the doorway, “If you want something to eat, put your boots on and follow me. 

A few minutes later Merlé emerged from the wagon, staring at the sights before her.  “Is this Salne?”

“Yes. This is your evil city.  Turn around, I’m going to hide your wings.”

She turned looking over her shoulder, “How are you…” Raphael sprinkled something over her wings.

“There, all done.”  Raphael brushed his hands on a building. 

“Done? But I can still see them, how does this hide them.”

“Anyone who knows you have wings, can see them.  Anyone who doesn’t know—those who you have not explicitly told—cannot see them.  Now, you still have to be careful, your wings are still solid, invisible, but solid. So be careful.”

Raphael grabbed her hand directing her through the streets.  She was amazed at all the building, at the beauty that lay behind the dinginess of the city.  Even the people were amazing.  She stared at the mishmash of races that were talking, she saw Halflings being treated as equal, women beating men at all sorts of games—everyone here seemed to be free. 

Raphael pulled her in to what seemed to be an inn, but the inside was unlike any Inn she had ever imagined.  Instead of the dark hole with a blazing fire she had expected in a city of thieves, they were standing in an immaculate dining hall.  The walls glowed with sconces and the marble floor shone like glass.  Men and women sat at tables sipping from crystal glasses. “This is beautiful.”

“Kinda changes your way of thinking doesn’t it.” Raphael gazed at her.

“Raphy!  You’ve come back, we thought you were dead!”  A robust woman pushed Merlé aside grabbing Raphael and embracing him in a back-breaking hug.

“Emalia, you thought I was dead?  I’ll outlive you all!” He pried himself from her, “Merlé may I introduce the lovely owner of this establishment, Emalia.  And Emalia, may I present my current traveling partner, Merlé.”

Emalia looked over Merlé, her lips puffing outwards. “Your traveling partner, I’m sure. Sit anywhere, I’ll have a menu boy right over.”

“Emalia, I don’t need that service, I can take a written menu.”

“I didn’t know you could read.  Well, what language?”

“Whatever you’d like to give me, higher elf if you have it.”

Emalia pulled a tiny book from her pocket, “Here.  And one in the mountain dialect, I’m sure that she understands at least that one.” Emalia stalked off.

“You’ll have to forgive Emalia; she’s been like a sister to me since I left home.  So she’s just concerned over my well being.”

“I’ll have to take your word for that…Raphy.” Raphael cringed as they sat down at a table in the corner.  “So what’s good?”

“Everything.”

“You have to have a favorite!”

“You won’t eat what I’m eating; in fact, I’m hoping it won’t make you sick.  You’d probably enjoy any of the bread goods.  They have wonderful rolls that are filled with fresh fruit.”

“What?  Wait, what are you eating?”

Raphael smiled, “actually, I’m not sure that you would really call it food, it’s in liquid form.”

“That doesn’t tell me what it is!”

“You’ll just have to wait and see.”

Emalia smiled at the two of them, placing mugs full of mead in front of them.  “What does she want?  And am I to assume you want the same slop as always?”

Raphael grinned, “You know me too well.  She’ll have the fruit rolls.”

Emalia smiled, winking at him and worked her way back to the kitchen.

………………………………………………………………

 

I’ve decided that at the end of every two chapters, there will be a repost of those two chapters with correction.  It would be greatly appreciated if you would let me know how much better (or worse) the corrections have made the section, and if you would let me know what still needs to be fixed.

 

Tentatively, after six chapters, ten chapters, fourteen chapters, etc. etc. there will be a repost of the entire story with the corrections.

 

So as not to confuse them from ‘new’ sections, the reposts will be colored green.  While news updates, such as this, will be red. Character lists will contain pink and blue.  Normal updates, aka new sections, will remain black.  Days that are scheduled for reposts (like tomorrow) will also have a new section, posted seperately (the reposts will be first journal of the day, and the new section will be the second).

Salne

There was snow everywhere.  Merlé seemed tiny, insignificant in the whiteness, her black wings creating a stark contrast against the white wash of the world.  Every year the pass became blocked, and the town quieted down.  She laughed, she had never really been happy, but dancing in the snow made her feel free.  For two months, she wouldn’t have to deal with anyone from the outside.  Oh the wonderful winter, the beauty of the pass being snowed in…wait, the pass was snowed in.

Merlé’s eyes snapped open suddenly and she scrambled towards the door.  “Raphael!  Raphael!  The pass, we can’t get past the pass, it’s already snowed in.”

“Shut your yappering.” Merlé spun around towards the back door.  Raphael stood in the doorway, “If you want something to eat, put your boots on and follow me. 

A few minutes later Merlé emerged from the wagon, staring at the sights before her.  “Is this Salne?”

“Yes. This is your evil city.  Turn around, I’m going to hide your wings.”

She turned looking over her shoulder, “How are you…” Raphael sprinkled something over her wings.

“There, all done.”  Raphael brushed his hands on a building. 

“Done? But I can still see them, how does this hide them.”

“Anyone who knows you have wings, can see them.  Anyone who doesn’t know, those who you have not exclusively told, cannot see them.  Now, you still have to be careful, your wings are still solid, invisible, but solid. So be careful.”

Raphael grabbed her hand directing her through the streets.  She was amazed at all the building, at the beauty that lay behind the dinginess of the city.  Even the people were amazing.  She stared at the mishmash of races that were talking, she saw Halflings being treated as equal, women beating men at all sorts of games—everyone here seemed to be free. 

Raphael pulled her in to what seemed to be an inn, but it was unlike what she had imagined.  Instead of the dark hole with blazing fire place she expected in a city of thieves, they were standing in an immaculate dining hall.  The walls glowed with sconces and the marble floor shone like glass.  Men and women sat at tables sipping from crystal glasses. “This is beautiful.”

“Kinda changes your way of thinking doesn’t it.” Raphael gazed at her.

“Raphy!  You’ve come back, we thought you were dead!”  A robust woman pushed Merlé aside grabbing Raphael and embracing him in a back-breaking hug.

“Emalia, you thought I was dead?  I’ll outlive you all!” He pried himself from her, “Merlé may I introduce the lovely owner of this establishment, Emalia.  And Emalia, may I present my current traveling partner, Merlé.”

Emalia looked over Merlé, her lips puffing outwards. “Your traveling partner, I’m sure. Sit anywhere, I’ll have a menu boy right over.”

“Emalia, I don’t need that service, I can take a written menu.”

“I didn’t know you could read.  Well, what language?”

“Whatever you’d like to give me, higher elf if you have it.”

Emalia pulled a tiny book from her pocket, “Here.  And one in the mountain dialect, I’m sure that she understands at least that one.” Emalia stalked off.

“You’ll have to forgive Emalia, she’s been like a sister to me since I left.  So she’s just concerned over my well being.”

“I’ll have to take your word for that…Raphy.” Raphael cringed as they sat down at a table in the corner.  “So what’s good?”

“Everything.”

“You have to have a favorite!”

“You won’t eat what I’m eating, in fact, it will probably make you sick.  You’d probably enjoy any of the bread goods.  They have wonderful rolls that are filled with fresh fruit.”

“What?  Wait, what are you eating?”

Raphael smiled, “actually, I’m not sure that you would really call it food, it’s in liquid form.”

“That doesn’t tell me what it is!”

“You’ll just have to wait and see.”

Emalia smiled at the two of them, placing mugs full of mead in front of them.  “What does she want?  And am I to assume you want the same slop as always?”

Raphael grinned, “You know me too well.  She’ll have the fruit rolls.”

Emalia smiled, winking at him and worked her way back to the kitchen.

………………………………………………………………

CHAPTER 

TWO

Raphael’s Encampment

She sipped her coffee daintily, more so than any human the elf had ever seen. She was slightly unnerving, though she seemed content enough in eating the hearty meal before her, she continuously watched his every motion.  Exasperated by her constant staring, he left.  In all his travels, he had never seen a more intriguing character, or one whom he thoroughly hated so much.  He walked further from the campsite wondering how she had made it this far from home, and even more worried that she had no idea where home was.  He could see her village clearly from the edge of the cliff, and wondered how anyone could want to live in some place so sleepy, he hadn’t.  He could still remember his mother’s last words, “Raphael, when you leave, because you will leave as soon as there is nothing to keep you here, remember where you came from, remember how you began, and remember what still lies there.”  She had been a wise woman, and amongst his siblings he was the only one to stay with her till the end.  The rest had abandoned her to seek there fortunes in politics, the military, and medicine.  Out of all eight of them, only he had stayed with her.  Every one had always thought that ‘big’ things would come of him, he was smart, faster than normal, with features of nobility though none existed in his family, and a thirst for knowledge that was unquenchable.  He smiled sadly, big things had come of him; he had become a big disappointment in every one’s eyes.  At least his mother hadn’t been around to see him collapse from godliness. 

“What is that!” He turned around to face the girl.  He had been so lost in his revelry that he hadn’t heard her approach. 

Disoriented, he looked at her quizzically, “What’s what?”

“What’s happening in Dalai?  The sky is pure black, not even night is that dark.”

He could hear the fear in her voice, she knew something more about the darkness, she had seen it before, but so had he.  “We have to leave. Quickly and Quietly.”

“But what about the village!  They’re in trouble, I’m sure of it…”

“And you could help them?  You can’t even help yourself.  You’ve spent your life denying your abilities, blocking your past, trying not to remember, tell me, how exactly could you help them.”  He watched as tears filled her eyes.  The truth hurt everyone. “You need better clothes, you’ll have to do with what I have to offer, though it’s not much.  And no complaining about my tastes, you can either wear the clothes I give you, or you can go stark naked.”  She blushed a deep red, her clothes were ruined from the fall, and definitely not efficient for traveling.

When would humans ever learn that modesty was not a virtue.  He walked into the hidden cottage hoping that she would follow and not try to kill him.  He realized the wings would present a problem and they had no time to alter shirts.  He pulled out a laced corset and a pair of dyed leather breeches.  He threw them her way, waiting for the squawking fit she would have over how much the corset would show.

“It’s a beautiful color; it reminds me of the twilight sky.”

“Most people would say it reminds them of wine.”

“Well, maybe you haven’t noticed, but I’m not like most people.  The burgundy is too delicate to be compared to wine.”

She definitely wasn’t like most people, but like every other woman in the world, she was taking forever to get ready.  “Do you have a pair of boots I can wear?”  Maybe she was just good at lurking around, he once again hadn’t heard her approach.

“Sure,” He tossed her a pair, “Hurry up, we have to get out of here before they find us.”

“What are they?”

He stopped, he had thought she knew what the darkness meant, her eyes had told him that she did, but maybe it was just a subconscious memory.  He hesitated, how much could he tell here without her suspecting anything.  “They’re what’s called Shadow Guards, you’ve probably heard of them referred to as shades or simply shadows, but anyway you call them, they’re just as bad.  They come into a town under orders to find something, and until that thing is found, they never rest, leaving a wake of darkness in their trail.  The shades are controlled by a dark force, though no one, not even the shades themselves, know who’s at the head of the guard.  Shades are just like everyone else in the world, except they’ve been infused with a certain special ‘something’ that allows the wake of darkness, and the look of death.”

“Well what happens to the towns they leave in the wake?”  Her voice was cold, almost heartless, as if she was more curious than concerned.

“Are you daft?  I’ve already told you—“

“No you didn’t.”

“Yes, yes I did, don’t you listen?  I told you that the shades leave a wake of darkness.”  Her stare was blank.  He rolled his eyes.  “You see that darkness up there?  That will stay there until they find what they’re seeking.”

“Well that’s not so bad…”

“Once again you prove your ignorance.  People can enter the darkness, but nothing can leave it.  And before you open your mouth, I mean nothing.  Nothing that breaths are has substantial mass.”

“But, how does that work?  I mean…that can’t really work.  What about water, and streams.”

“The natural world is a completely different thing.  Weather and anything water can get in and out of the veil, so there’s no shortage of that, it’s the animals that become scarce, and the plant life begins to die without the sun.”  He watched her eyes, hoping that he was doing a convincing job of making it sound like common knowledge, and, for a moment, he held his breathe, watching her process the information he had just given her.  She sighed, as if resigned to believe him unconditionally.

“How does the darkness end?”  Maybe he hadn’t sensed a cold-heartedness in her, this seemed like genuine concern, but then again, her entire life was in the veil, she could be simply wanting her own clothes rather than the ones she stood in now. 

“I’ve told you this part as well, they find what they’re looking for.”

“There’s no other way?”

He hesitated, there was always another way.  Always.  “No.”

“Then what are they looking for.”

His heart wrenched, he knew she wasn’t innocent, he knew all about her, but still he couldn’t tell her.  “I don’t know.” But he did, and so did she, if only in her heart.  “Let’s ride.”

Merlé figured, that because he was an elf, their transportation would be something overly exotic and showy. Maybe unicorn steeds, or a pumpkin carriage…

“What the Hell is this!” Merlé stood in front of the most rickety wagon with the most pitiful mule pulling it.  “Funny joke, now where’s the real wagon.”

Raphael cringed.  “You, I suspect, are no lady.  Listen to yourself, talking to me like a servant, when, in fact it is you who owe me a debt.  You may look like an angel, albeit a strange one, but like all things, appearances are deceiving.”

Merlé swallowed, genuinely hurt and embarrassed by her manners.  Raphael pushed her towards the back door, almost forcefully shoving her into the wagon and then locking the door behind.  “Well, he thinks I’m rude.” She folded her arms and set down on the couch.  “Hmph, I figured that since he was an elf he’d have grand things instead of lousy ones.  I mean look at this place,” She began to talk louder in hopes that he could hear her complaints, “Any normal human would have something twice as sturdy as this.  Just look at it, the beautiful velvet curtains, the carpeted floor, the bed, the couch…the grand piano? How does this all fit in here!”

She heard a chuckle from what she suspected was up front, “I told you love, appearances are deceiving.”

She gazed around the room, it was beautiful, as if it was a room taken from a palace.  Major magic had to have been used to fold space so that the measly wagon held this room.  She mumbled, “Just who is this elf…”

A door opened towards the front, “Well blimey!  I’m the rude one now, haven’t made my proper introductions, have I?” He bowed ceremoniously and stood up, “We’ll skip the formalities, as you are definitely no princess.  You may call me Raphael.  Now may I please have a name to call you other than twit, girl, or love?”

She stared at him sourly, “Whose steering the wagon?”

Raphael smiled, “The horse, but that’s not important.”

“But how can a horse be steering--” Raphael cut her panic short.

“Appearances are deceiving, you need to learn that lesson, you don’t seem to be doing a very good job at it.  Now, name. please.” He strained to stay at least partially civil.

She resigned herself to not worrying about the horse. “Merlé. My name is Merlé.”

“Ah, what a fitting name, with a fitting meaning as well.”  Raphael smiled as she began to ask him how he knew, “Merlé, treat this place like your own home, please make sure to keep it tidy, if you need me, I’ll be out front.”

Merlé’s mind switched gears, “Wait!  Where are we going?”

Raphael stopped, pausing to think. “Well, in the long term, we’re making our way to the capital, but in the short term, we’re shooting for the city of Salne.”

“SALNE!” Merlé screeched. “Salne?  The city of thieves and…and,” she looked for a suitable word, “other distasteful occupations?”

Raphael laughed, “Don’t let them hear you talk like that!” He saluted her and went back outside.

Merlé sat down, speechless.  She hadn’t been outside of Dalai for almost six years, and before that, she had no idea where she had been, or what she had done, she only remembered blood.  She shuddered.  Salne was renowned for being crime-free.  The best reason had to be because it was made up entirely of criminals.  You had to have special permission to pass through the city. She wondered how Raphael had gotten his.

………………………………………………………………

 

The Capital

 

Vidya peered into the council room where voices had been raised.  The king seemed scared and the entire council seemed atwitter with anticipation.

“Vidya, so nice of you to join us.  Please have a seat.”

Vidya jumped, most people didn’t notice her when she was eavesdropping.  She brushed her skirt, bowed slightly and entered the room.  “How may I be of assistance, sir.” She bowed again.

“Please, sit down Vidya.  I need to know what you think--” A noble she hadn’t had the unpleasantry of meeting began to laugh.

“You are asking a child for advise!  King Dai, we are not that far gone to rely on children!”

Vidya frowned, putting her hand on the king’s shoulder. “I presume you must be Sir Ranulf of the Magne family.  Your father knew the value of my council.  It would be wise for you to give me the same respect.”

Ranulf sputtered, “Such an articulate child, what schooling has she had Dai, to think she is equal to adults.”

King Dai lowered his eyes, “You, sir, should learn to respect your elders.”

“My elders?  You are just as old as I am, Dai…remember, we graduated together.”

Dai opened his mouth, but Vidya interjected, “He wasn’t referring to himself, he was referring to me.”

“But, you are a child!”

“You idiot!  Has this world taught you nothing?  Are you so sheltered that you have not even noticed the wonders that lie around you? I was at your birth, and will be there when you die as stupidly as your father.”

Ranulf stood up, drawing his sword, “No one insults me or my father, especially not a delusional child.”

“Do not mess with me child.” Vidya stared at him.  Ranulf dropped his sword and his knees buckled.  “You do not belong in this room, Ranulf of Magne.  You are too foolhardy.” Ranulf was clawing at the air, gasping for breathe.

“Vidya,” King Dai grasped her hand, “stop Vidya, you have proven your point.”

Vidya sighed, and Ranulf took in a large gasp, “NONE of you helped me! None of you!”  Ranulf fumed.

“That’s because we all know better.  We’d support Vidya over you any day.” Vidya smiled at Sir Calvin of Chesmeer.

            “Why?” Ranulf sat down, as if defeated.

“She may look like a child, but she told the truth when she said she was at your birth.  Vidya is…old, we don’t know exactly how old, she refuses to tell us.  She looks like a child, but she is older than you or even me.” Calvin bowed in Vidya’s direction.

“Vidya, we, I, need your council.  The approaching darkness, how do we stop it.” King Dai was on his knees.

Vidya smiled sadly at him, standing up and walking towards the door.  She stopped at the entrance, “It will not stop.  Many will die, many will go mad, the stability of the kingdom will crumble.  There is nothing anyone can do, but foresee the minor problems.  The darkness will end, but you can do nothing.  Only the flightless black bird and healed man, can, in the end, lift the darkness.”

King Dai sat down and placed his head in his hands, the worst news any man could receive was that he was powerless to stop impending doom. “Start rationing food throughout the provinces, make sure that every village has a stockpile of food and medicine.  And send word of watch for this ‘healed man’ and ‘flightless blackbird.’  They may not be human, or even animate, but they lie somewhere in this kingdom.  May the Gods have mercy.”  The council began to shuffle out, returning to their provinces with the news.

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I had said I was going to update sections at a time, for the first chapter, I think I'll put the whole thing up.  It is rather short (I know) and there are some blaring bugs in it, so go ahead, read, comment, critique, and most importanly enjoy!

CHAPTER

ONE

 

Dalai Crossing

It’s interesting to realize just what life is all about—or at least it was interesting to me at the moment I hung over a bridge clutching to that man’s boots. It wasn’t as if my life flashed before me or anything, I didn’t see a bright white light, and I didn’t even meet up with death, instead, I just laughed at how stupid I had been and at the potentially deadly predicament I was in. The funniest part of it all was that he just stood there, his hands on his hips staring at me, probably thinking about what to do with the insane nag on his boots, knowing that I would take them to my watery grave if he didn’t do something soon.

You know what he did? I’m sure you can guess. He sat down and loosened the ties, gently slipping the strings off. I wasn’t alarmed, there was nothing to worry about, he wouldn’t let go of me, would he? He was still holding the boots and I figure that’s a good sign.  Of course, as with everything else, I had no luck in guessing what he was about to do. He let go. I fell, knowing that I would surely impale myself upon the rocks down below.  Then I would become the guardian ghost, doomed to forever walk my death path in a blood stained shirt with an elfin boot in hand.

“You have to learn how to fly sometime!”

My bitter fantasy shattered. What?  Fly? Me? That was out of the question; sure, I had the wings, long, gorgeous feathers that were ebony in color like a raven’s but they were entirely useless. Always had been, and it wasn’t like they were going to be any use now, except maybe to cushion the fall.  Of course, he didn’t know that, I mean what winged thing can’t fly?  Oh poor mistaken elf, would he help if I swore I couldn’t fly?  Probably not. I was a freak amongst human society, the only one of my kind, rotten luck on my part.

That elf was laughing again, grinning like a banshee and whistling the most annoyingly uplifting song I had ever heard.  If I could reach his neck I’d strangle him, or kick him in the shin…then he could have something to whistle about.
            “WHAT WAS THAT FOR?” Was somebody harassing the poor elf?  As long as they didn’t throw him over with me, I’d be fine.  I couldn’t spend the rest of eternity with someone who dressed like, like that.

“Well you can fly, that’s for sure, but did you bloody have to kick me so hard?”

Flying, yeah right. I’m still falling, getting closer and closer to the rocks, though time seemed at a standstill as if I was floating, my feet dangling beneath me as if I was on a swing…Wait a minute, that’s impossible. Feet First?  I didn’t attend one of the Universities—or At least I don’t remember it—but I still know you can’t fall feet first; the laws of nature wouldn’t allow something like that.  Even further, I know I’m falling, but why does the river seem so much farther below than a few seconds ago?  At least I couldn’t see the bridge anymore, or the elf.

“I never would have taken you for the lace type.” Lace? I wasn’t wearing lace? His voice had come from below.  Let’s see, what did I put on today; the gardening clothes…no lace in those, what’d be practical about that?

“And they’re pink as well, well all be, you really do have a feminine side.” They?  They...my panties!  By all the Gods, as soon as I die, I’ll kill him.  This had to be some plot, some diabolical plot for my disposal.  Maybe the Mayor.  Hmph, he’d definitely want to have the last laugh before I died, making me believe that that elf could see my panties.  But how did the mayor know?  Is he the peeping Tom that’s been around town, did he watch what I was wearing so he could plan my death and the embarrassing words this mercenary would say?

“Love, stop looking up and come down here, my neck’s beginning to hurt looking so far up.”

Come down?  I’m falling, let’s think about this logically, I can’t be going upward, unless…I can’t fly, it’s impossible.  Well, I might as well humor him.  At least I would see death coming. Death looked a lot like that elf, and that bridge, and my oranges?  It was all there.  It was the bridge, It was the elf.  And there, just over the horizon was the smoke from Dalai Village.  But, how?  How could I be falling upward?  Was it a curse on this bridge?  It couldn’t be anything else, unless it was the elf’s doing.  The obvious answer would be I could fly, but it’s impossible, the Gods would come down and relinquish command before I flew.  It was simple.  I couldn’t fly, it was impossible.

Then, I fell.

I woke up to an aching back—had I dreamed it all, had none of it ever happened? My wings certainly felt as if they had been fallen on.

“That definitely wasn’t the best landing ever.”

 

Apparently, it hadn’t been a dream.

………………………………………………………………

 

Dalai Village

On a particular mountaintop of the Socrae Range lies the village of Dalai, it’s not what you would call a major thoroughfare, but it was of manageable size with a sizable amount of travelers.  Dalai was famed for its ale and honey mead, but many came searching for an individual—a bastard Halfling renowned for her singularity in all the Range.  Most had never seen such an interesting sight, a girl with the wings of a bird.  Her wings were said to be magical, their color reflecting your future, or things long forgotten. While she drew customers to Dalai, she also drew bounty hunters.  She was one of a kind, priceless to any of the collectors that made it their business to have everything one-of-a-kind.  Somehow, much to the mayor’s dismay, she managed to avoid all attempts on her life.

It was not that the mayor hated her, but he had grown up in Dalai, as his sire before him, and his sire before him…in short, he was used to the sleepy town atmosphere that allowed him to simply sit back and watch.  That girl had been nothing but trouble since she arrived in the village.  No longer could he sit back, soaking up the scenery and catnapping throughout the day.  With her, she had brought something the villagers had never truly experienced: scandal.  Sure, there were ‘rumors’ about his illegitimate children and the mistresses who lived in his mansion, there were even the town ghosts, whom allegedly had died some horrible way and thus promoted speculation amongst all the age groups. However, she was a scandal.  The likes of which not even the elders had ever seen.

Many of the town speculated she was formed of dark magic.  Though no one had spent much time around her, what they had learned was she had little to no memory of her younger life.  Though she had been in Dalai for nearly six years, she was always the center topic of every major conversation.  Parents felt she was dangerous.  They watched helplessly as their daughters created wings out of wheat to imitate her and as their young men waited to help her on market days.  To the elders of society she was simply change and no one feared change quite like those who were already set in their ways.

Today seemed like a good day, the mayor had yet to see her form, even though she was due to show up at the market place anytime.  There had been no smoke from her chimney which, he hoped, meant she had simply left.  He began to hum a cheery little song that he had picked up from his children, pulling his fur collar closer as a sudden chill sat in.  He noticed that the sky seemed darker and glanced upward in hopes of a simple cloud.   He had not been informed that it was supposed to rain or snow today, so he doubted it could be much more than a little cloud. 

He was wrong. 

His jaw dropped in sudden wonder as he stared towards the darkening sky, as if a sudden night had befell the entirety of his town.  A hand fell on his shoulder, the grip strong and icy.  The mayor turned wondering who would have such gall as to lay a finger so menacingly on his person, and stopped, for a second time that day he had no clue what was happening.

A rasp came from the hooded figure and the mayor looked into what he thought were the eyes of death, “Where is she?”

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Welcome to Story time. To start things off, I'd like to place two dedications, one to Katie, one to Becky:

-----Katie, may all your dreams come true,
may all your life be happy,
may every day be a precious
gift. This is my prayer for you.


---Becky, may all your doubts be lifted,
may you realize your potential,
and most importantly,
may you find peace
with yourself.



Secondly, I'd like to place a character List. When a new character is added, I will also include a new character sheet. This sheet covers all characters through Chapter Six (unless I add more to chapter six) Genders are color-coded for convenience.

• I became what I cannot control. I saw what I want not to be. Let it be.

• While doves are white and beautiful,