He pressed a small scroll into Ezer’s hands, the seal unbroken.
It was the crest of Lordach, the familiar outspread eagle wings with five stars above, but Kinlear’s own initials had been marked into them. Ezer popped it open, and read:
Dearest Raphonminder,
I will be indisposed for the next several days, attending to a private matter. Please continue your efforts with the pup. I expect that you will have it haltered and gentled enough for ground training by the time I return. You have five days.
Witheagerness,
Prince Kinlear Laroux
P.S.
I needn’t remind you of what will happen to Lordach should you fail to meet the deadline.
The success of the Black Wing Battalion rests upon your shoulders.
Ezer scoffed at the letter.
As if gentling a wild raphon pup was something that could be met by adeadline.
She hated deadlines. They were like stamps on a grave, crippling her creativity, her methods. Each time she’d had to rush training a new raven for the messaging route, it had never returned to her tower.
To dare rush araphon?
She may as well ask it to eat her for supper.
‘Am I able to send a letter back?’ Ezer asked.
The boy brought her a bit of parchment and ink, so Ezer quickly knelt to the stones and scribbled a response.
Dearest Prince,
Please, do take your time with your duties. I will give my utmost efforts to successfully halter and gentle the beast before Realmbreak, but I cannot make any promises, as some creatures tend to be driven wild by force. Even wilder, by timely force.
With patience,
Your Most Loyal Raphonminder
P.S.
I needn’t remind you what mayhappen should the pup decide to kill your last and final hope at completing the mission of the Black Wing Battalion.
She smiled and folded it up, handing it back to the boy.
‘I’ll be back at noon,’ he said as he unlocked the door to the catacombs, ‘as per the prince’s orders.’
And then Ezer was alone in the tunnel, heading towards Six.
The torches were dimly lit today, but she didn’t mind. With her scarred eyed, she could navigate the shadows just fine. Sometimes, she felt more comfortable in the darkness anyhow.
True to his word, Kinlear had left a new halter hanging beside Six’s cage. It was leather, marked in softly glowing runes she assumed were meant to strengthen it, and not a single bit of chain.
And he’d kept Six’s shackles off, though they were still in the corner of the cell, abandoned like the sloughed skin of a snake. Six was in the opposite corner, as far from them as she could get.
Ezer’s cloak was still held beneath her paws like a little treasure.
A classicraventhing to do, for they’d always collected trinkets in their nests. A littlepangreverberated in her chest. She missed her ravens dearly, though being with Six filled a few of the holes.
