The Raven and His Dove

Chapter One

Markus strode through the dusk-bathed streets of Radfern, the heels of his shin-high black boots falling silently against the cobbled road. The noise of daily bustle had faded, replaced by the night sounds of filling taverns. Their open doors and windows cast long light out onto the street, shadows of patrons weaving through the gold rectangles as they danced and drank. He passed each one quietly till he reached Pecca Tavern, stepping into the music-filled atmosphere.

He paused just inside, looking around till he spotted the woman in the dark blue corset dancing on the stage against the far wall, hips never faltering as she moved to the rhythm. She looked up at him and her dark gray eyes met his, letting him know she saw him. Markus nodded and went to sit at a small round table against the wall, ordering a drink from the barmaid when she came to the table. He smiled and nodded his thanks as a mug of frothy beer was placed in front of him and he sipped on the alcohol, relaxing back in his seat.

"What are you doing here Markus, I'm working," the woman in the dark blue corset sighed as she sat across from him, tucking a length of her dark blue hair that had escaped from her ponytail behind her ear.

"I know, I know, sorry Evelyn," he laughed, offering her the mug. She eyed it for a moment before huffing and taking it from him, knocking it back in a long drink before setting it on the table. "I'm taking on a job tonight. You asked me to tell you before I "get myself into trouble like a dumb ass" so here I am," Markus smiled and crossed his arms on the table.

"Yeah, because I'm your sister and I like a heads up so I have some clue where to look if it goes wrong. Where you going this time?" Evelyn asked taking another sip.

"I got hired for a job in Fiancelough," Markus hummed interlocking his fingers behind his head and leaning back. Evelyn choked on the beer, hand coming up to her mouth to keep from spitting it out.

"Are you insane, Markus?!" She hissed sitting forward, glancing around to make sure no one was watching them after nearly spewing beer all over. "Druth last week and now this? Are you trying to get yourself caught?" she asked desperately, hating that her brother was increasing the risk of his already risky means of making money.

"I'm not going to get caught, no one even knows I exist! They blamed the break-in in Druth on some homeless bum, and I'm not homeless," Markus shrugged, confident in his practice of six years.

"If you keep going to high-end cities you're going to get noticed! They'll start hunting you down till you're swinging from the gallows!" Evelyn hissed, pointing at him fervidly.

"Eve, I haven't gotten caught once. And I've been doing this since we left the orphanage, I'm not some beginner," he scoffed, raising the empty mug and raising two fingers when the barmaid looked at him. She smiled and glided back behind the counter while Markus turned back to his sister. "And the job is well paying, it'll cover June and the kids for a month's payment at least and leave plenty of money to feed them," he insisted.

June was the old woman who owned the orphanage Markus and Evelyn had grown up in, taking them in as her own when their parents had died when Markus was only fourteen and Evelyn twelve. She loved all the children under her care like they were her own, doing her best to give them a good life. But as old age made her bones creaky and joints crackle, she struggled to work and provide for them. At the threat of the orphanage being shut down and the children being put out on the street, Markus started his dangerous livelihood to keep June and the children's home safe.

Evelyn faltered, loving June and the children dearly as well, but she couldn't help but worry about her brother. "Just be careful, Mark..." she accepted, running her finger around the rim of the mug placed in front of her. Markus smiled and took his sister's hands in his, squeezing them between his as he dipped his head to kiss their overlapping hands in silent promise.