Iorrjaer

Chapter 5

Granna stood glowering at Victor as he paced their study. He was getting to be a nervous mess and she was not happy about it.

"The feast must happen, as it does every year. We must prepare like we always do. The people must not think that there is anything different happening."

"They already do, mother. Our plan is not something we can hide effectively anymore. The soldiers are losing control. Captain Allin is holding strong but he cannot hold forever and as the eclipse approaches, it will be even harder."

"Excuses. The feast must happen. It is crucial to the plan."

"The feast will happen, mother."

"I don't see preparations being made."

"The wagon from Ockburt is late. There is nothing that we can,"

"And our hour grows late with it. Useless boy!"

"It's not my fault the wagon is delayed, mother."

"What of your worthless boys? What are they doing to help prepare the feast?"

"They are your boys too, mother."

"You dare! You dare blame me for your weakness. Sad and sodden after your wife died. Boohoo! I did you a favour. I did what that insignificant woman couldn't. I gave you what you wanted. Now give me what I want. I want my feast."

"I am, mother. What would you have me do? I cannot betray our secret. Should we prepare your feast now? Give ourselves away?"

Granna snarled but eased her sneer. "Just make sure my feast goes on without delay."

Victor was about to respond when there was a craw and a gentle rapping on glass. They both turned to see one of the ravens at their window. It peered at them through the glass and made its urgent craw again. Victor hurried to the window to open it and the raven stuttered inside. It fluffed and shook itself off, putting its wings back and unfolding its arms.

"Master Kestrel says that the ziggurat is ready and waiting."

"Thank you," Granna said. "Good to hear that there is some efficiency around here."

Victor sighed through the insult. "Thank you, master raven,"

"Raven is no master. Kestrel is master. Raven is second of two. Raven is messenger."

"Does Raven have a name?" Victor asked and the raven stared at him wide eyed. "There are two ravens, right? How do I know that I am talking to you and not the other?"

Raven continued to stare at him, turning and tilting its head so that one eye and then the other regarded the man before it. "Raven is raven. Raven has no name."

"Surely, you must."

The raven studied Victor further. It was hesitant to share something sacred to the Tengu – the bird people of the Eastern mountains. Giving a human their name was frowned upon as it could be seen as familiarizing themselves with the ground-dwellers. Raven did not trust Victor, knowing that his and the others' employment was through Zâzel, who was going through his own means to keep himself concealed. Kestrel had even warned them to keep their names away from human mouths. Raven felt a tingle in his mind as if something else was forcing his name into his mouth. Being Tengu, raven had innate resilience to psionic influence, especially from a human source. Tengu used psionics of their own and the raven breed was one of the more adept classes.

Raven shook itself free of the thought and put his arms back into his wings. It spread them out and clapped them together, creating a powerful gust of wind that shot it back and out of the window and left Victor and Granna coughing and brushing the dust off themselves.