The Shadow Of A Baby Crow

[Ark 2835]

the screams of young infants, falling silent in the night

For shadows knew what sorrows the babes would endure

 

Two men, hired blades, and a younger man whom had lived with them for years under their tutelage, sat 'round a campfire.

 

"Best job ye ever did?" Inquired the teenage boy, brushing his coal black hair from his face, his blue eyes glinting in wonder, though they had been polluted with cynicism by the men whom had raised him for so long.

 

The senior of the two blades let a grin spread spread across his face, offering a glance to the other, whose eyes were fixated on the dancing flame and nothing more; though he gave a nod in response to the glance.

 

The older man spoke; 

 

"Perhaps not the best, but certainly my favorite... Listen closely, now, lad."

 

"Petyr and Kovac Carrion, the first sons of Aleksandr Carrion; twins, Petyr being the eldest by mere minutes. In the dead of night, years ago, their cries of helplessness as they were thrust into this world plagued with the cruelty of mankind and the terrible judgement of the Creator served as a beacon of hope if nothing else."

 

"The babes grew as quickly as the small creatures could without a mother, whom had been stolen by her own self hate, and self destruction. Their first years were lonely ones; wetnurses caring for them daily as the problems of the Empire and the world were dealt with by their young father and his comrades. "

 

"Till a night when the shadows whispered.

Thousands... Tuvya will pay thousands..."

 

The babes offered to the night their usual wretched screams The wetnurse rushed from her bedroom and into the nursery, standing in shock at the sight before her; a man clad in a black cloak and with a terrifying mask crafted of a painted black skull stood there, clutching the eldest of the two sons, Petyr; screaming in fear and confusion at the figure who had stolen him from his crib and interrupted his peaceful rest."

 

"The nurse opened her mouth to scream, but only a gasp escaped. A second figure, clad all in black with a mask of precisely the same make had stepped out from behind the thrown open door, and thrust his dagger through her throat. She tried to scream again, but again only a gasp escaped as she began to choke and gag on her own blood."

 

"The figure twisted the blade in her throat and gripped her by her hair, tearing out the weapon. He slowly began to kneel and rest her quietly on the ground, her blood pooling around her final resting place. The figure clutchingthe babe simply nodded to the other, approaching the windowsill and gripping it with his free hand, leaping over it with babe in hand, his screams growing louder."

 

"The guardsmen, whom had expected the wetnurse to handle the children's screaming beforehand, now heard that the screaming came from outside of the keep and grew suspicious. Three of them resolved to investigate the nursery, and the clanking of their mail boots gave warning to the second, red-handed figure that time was short. "

 

"He glanced once towards the babe still in the crib; Kovac Carrion. This one would stay, for now. And like the wind, the shadows had dissappeared, and taken a baby crow with them."

 

The senior blade let out a soft sigh as he finished the story, licking his lips with satisfaction. He let a thin smile spread across his face and glanced towards the young man.

 

"But then, this was years ago... And the rich Tuvya is long gone."

[Glyc 234]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.