Mirdovia: The White Raven

Chapter 2: The Raven

Your service is now required. The Raven Queen extends her arm outwards and a raven lands on her wrist. The Raven Queen holds out the raven to Aasrena. A gift for your devotion. Serve and praise and more gifts will be bestowed upon you. Some you will have to learn on your own.

Aasrena holds out her arm and the raven jumps from the queen to Aasrena. The raven blinks its eyes. "Thank you, my queen." Aasrena bows to show her gratitude.

The desert viper strikes best when the sun is low in the west. The sands hide its tracks, but their poisonous dagger is seen by all. Capture them and you'll begin your journey of avenging your mother.

Before Aasrena could question anything else she awakened in her home. Under her covers and no boots on her feet. "Desert Viper? My own bed?" Aasrena pulls herself out of bed and she notices she's still in her work clothes. Aasrena gives a quick par down to make sure she has Jackson's pouch and she pats it down with a sigh of relief. She walks out to her living room to see Moira sitting at the table drinking tea.

Moira has braided blond hair and grey eyes. She wears a red cloak around her body with leather boots that look really faded and on the verge of tearing any moment. Moira sees Aasrena exit the room and Moira runs up to her. Giving her a giant hug. "You were knocked out." She says with concern. "I couldn't wake you so I put you in your bed."

Aasrena nods and hugs Moira back. Still trying to recall her vision. A raven lands in the open window frame. Aasrena looks to the raven and steps back. "That's for the best." She says with uncertainty. "I don't know what happened." Aasrena lies and pushes past Moira towards the table. Moira quickly follows and takes her seat back at the table. "Well, you seem fine." She pours Aasrena a cup of tea.

Aasrena takes the cup and watches the steam rise only to be reminded of Moira's smoking eyes. She pushes the cup aside and rests her head on the table. It doesn't take much for Moira to see the conflicting emotions within her friend. "What's really the problem, here?" She asks while pushing her own tea across the table.

Aasrena sighs and looks at the raven once more. "I have to go away." She says softly and almost uncertain. "I have to go to Voimos, the Desert Kingdom."

Moira sits back in her seat stunned. "But what about Radly and Jackson? What about me?" Sadness fills in Moira's eyes as she watches her friend lay on the table full of inner confusion.

The raven lands on the table next to Aasrena and rubs its head against Aasrena's head. The gesture brings a smile to her face. "I don't know, Moira." She says and sits up holding out her arm across the table. The raven climbs into her palm and sits. "I've been given a new task. My time here with the fisherman business is over."

Moira struggles to find her words for a single response to all this. She grabs her tea and takes a long drink before setting it back down. "I want to come with. No questions asked."

"No." Aasrena quickly replies and looks around the room to not look Moira in the face. "I'm hunting my mother's killer. I can't have them come for you too."

Moira settles down in her seat and lowers her eyes. "Oh." She says disappointed. "You get to risk your life for your goals, but I can't risk mine." She stands up without looking to Aasrena. "I thought we were better friends than that."

Aasrena stands up to stop her friend from leaving. "It's not like that, Moira."

Moira quickly turns around locking eyes with Aasrena. Glaring down into her gaze as tears build up within them. "No!" She yells. "You want to travel through the desert alone and die alone? Fine." Moira turns back to the door. "I'll be here every day on the docks waiting for your return, but we both know you'll never come back. Not for me." Moira runs out the door crying and Aasrena stands motionless again. Frozen just like her dreams.

She sits down alone and sips the tea slowly. A hour passes and Aasrena hasn't moved from the seat. The raven flies around the room and lands on the counters and shelves to pass time. Another hour passes and Aasrena stands up to head to the tavern. The raven follows close by.

The Rime Rimmed Tavern was the only one in the port so everyone made their way here at some point in the day. With the sun setting Tritons, Humans, and Elves made their way in for a drink.

Aasrena follows close by and the raven lands on her shoulder to stay close in the packed environment. Making her way to a table with crowds cheering over a game of dice or drinking friends under tables, Aasrena sits alone in the back to observe it all.

After a couple of minutes, Jackson surprised her by showing up at her table, two large mugs in his hands. He takes a seat and slides one over to her. "You look troubled, friend." He spots the raven, but says nothing.

Aasrena takes hold of the mug's handle, but doesn't drink the beverage just yet. "So i'm not old anymore, am I?" She grows a smile and Jackson gives her a nod rising the mug. Aasrena follows suit and they clank their mugs against each others before taking a drink.

Jackson sets his drink down and folds his arms on the table. "You don't drink often. Over six years i've seen you here twice and you only live a ten minutes walk away. What's bothering you?"

Aasrena takes another drink and sets the mug back down. Looking off into the distant. "The Raven Queen has called upon me. It's time I got my revenge."

Jackson nods and takes a drink. The table over erupts into a loud cheer as some elf won a game of dice. "Six years of waiting around. I thought you'd be more excited."

Aasrena sighs and sips her drink. "I use to think the same. With time my anger faded and now I have to leave my best friend behind."

Jackson nods with an uncertain expression across his face. "Moira, right? She's unloaded my ship a few times. She's bright. Capable. Take her with you. Leave the port behind. Radly can always find more workers."

Aasrena takes a long drink and sets the mug down. She leans closer and looks directly into Jackson's eyes. "I got something to explain. You are the only one with vast knowledge of deities and patrons. The Raven Queen gave me a vision that has left me petrified."

Aasrena explains the dreams to Jackson. The raven on her shoulder and where it came from. How her conversation earlier with Moira went south earlier. Jackson leans back into his seat and thinks it over a moment. "She wants to go, but you are scared she'll die because of it."

Aasrena nods as she finishes off her drink. Jackson nods and continues his thought process aloud. "But The Raven Queen has also expressed that if you pledged yourself, which you have, that you'll be able to prevent her death."

Aasrena lowers her gaze and the raven flies onto the table and looks at Jackson. It walks up and rubs its head on his arm. Triton smiles and scratches the head of the raven. It flutters its wings and leans into the scratching. "Ominous creatures." Jackson says. "Yet, this one is quite friendly."

Aasrena sighs and stands up. "Thank you, Jackson." She walks over and hugs her friend tightly. "Keep the same routes, i'll see you again someday." The raven flies back onto Aasrena's shoulder and Jackson gives a nod and a warm smile.

Aasrena makes her way towards Moira's home. Pondering the decision to bring her along. How to apologize to her for earlier. She approaches the stone steps of the small house resting on a small hill overlooking the ocean. The docks could be seen in the distance below. "Moira I need to properly apologize." Aasrena calls out as she approaches the door. She knocks on the door and waits, but no answer.

Aasrena steps back and notices the light coming from under the doorway. The raven flies up and lets out a squawk while flapping its wings. "That can't be good." She opens the door to find Moira lying unconscious in the middle of the room.

Aasrena runs up to her and holds her body hoping she didn't find another dead body, but Moira let out small breaths. Her skin was drenched in sweat and she let out small mumbles of incoherent words. Her eyes moved rapidly and her fingers twitched on occasion. "We need to find, Ada." The raven looks to Aasrena quickly upon hearing her words. It gives a nod and flies out of the building.

Aasrena watches the raven jet its way out of the home. Aasrena picks up Moira's body and tries her best to follow along. Moira continued to twitch in her condition and on the way she lets out one coherent word that sends chills up Aasrena's spine. "Viper."