Band of the Raven

“Look at this Kiara!” Harly shouted across the town square as she lifted a necklace made from seashells. “Aren’t these something to consider taking with us?” Kiara rushed over with a smile as she reached out to see.

“These are beautiful, young one. However, I do believe these are going to be better suited for you.” She reached down and picked up another necklace. This one had a gold chain with small links around it. Within the links were small diamonds that shined as soon as Kiara lifted them into the sunlight. “I believe this will attract even the blind to your beauty!” she jokingly said as she placed it around Harly’s neck. “Yes, I do believe we have found the one!”

Harly smiled and turned. “How much will this one be?” She asked the older man behind the booth.

“Well usually this one-of-a-kind item goes for fifty gold pieces, but for you my dear I will sell it for forty pieces.”

Kiara leaned in and placed her gentle hands on the table. “I’m sure you can sell us this for twenty.” She said with the most angelic voice and a smile as her eyes shined and pierced through the man. He quickly agreed with a smile and held his hand out in acceptance. Kiara leaned back and opened her pouch filled with coins and began counting.

“You didn’t have to do that. I had the money for it.” Harly said in protest.

“Oh, young one do not fret. This is the fun part of the market!” Kiara said with a smile as she filled the man’s hands with coin. “This takes me back to when I was young and lived in such a place. The memories seem like they were only yesterday.” She said as she spun around with her arms out wide at her sides. “The shops, the vendors, the people.” She rambled. “I miss this world more than you could ever know!” Harly quickly followed with her newly bought necklace around her neck. A smile from ear to ear broke across her face.

“I am glad you are with me today.” She said softly. Kiara turned and looked down at the young woman smiling up at her.

“Well of course, child! Who else will let you experience the ways of the village shop battles as well as I?” she said with a fist clenched in the air.

“I am not used to seeing you like this, though. It’s like you are a completely different person than when we are on a hunt.”

Kiara lowered her hand and placed her soft hand on Harly’s cheek. “If you remember anything from me or my teachings, remember this. No matter what happens in your long life, keep a part of yourself hidden away. So, whenever you find yourself lost or without the strength to go on, you have the purest form of you still inside. That is something no amount of strength can take away.” She said with a smile. “We are only human. We cannot fight the way we do without experiencing life as such. Otherwise we are just animals. Like our friend Wolarian.” She said with a chuckle. Harly smiled as they continued to walk through the crowded square. “Speaking of our furry friend. Have you noticed him recently?” Kiara said slyly.

“What do you mean?” Harly replied.

“He doesn’t take his eyes off you. He is always the first one to say something, so you notice him. It seems to me to be obvious. I am surprised you haven’t noticed him more. He likes you.” Kiara said.

“He is an animal. Nothing more. Besides, I have someone back home, don’t you remember?” Harly replied.

“We both know that the man you are with means nothing to you. It just helps hide who you really are from the rest of the world. What is his name again? I will give you a gold coin if you can tell me.” Kiara said tauntingly with a smile.

“His name is Mataous. Thank you for the gold coin!” Harly exclaimed with a slight whip in her tone.

“Well I will stand corrected. So, in that case, are you planning on being with this Mataous till the day he passes on? Remember, once you swore into the guild your life was extended beyond an average human. You cannot tell me you haven’t thought about that.” Kiara said smirking while she looked over clothing hanging at one of the shops.

“I have thought about it.” Harly replied. “I just don’t know what to do. I care about him and he cares for me. I just don't feel for him as I should, one would say."

Kiara turned with a dress held up to her chest. “Does this look alright on me? I can never tell with these things.” Harly looked it over and shook her head. “I thought not. It is so hard to find nice clothes these days. I may look like I’m young but over the centuries it gets tiring when you can never find new clothes.” She put the dress back where she found it and continued. She called out over her shoulder back at Harly who was getting stuck in the pockets of people. “So, you are interested in three men. One of which will die before too long. The other is a mutt who chases his own tail more often than not.” She said chuckling. “And the third is said to be bound to another by a legend passed down through the ages.” Her hands through up mockingly. “What is a girl to do?” Harly quickly rushed forwards and grabbed Kira’s arm.

“How did you know about Killian?” She exclaimed with a worrisome look in her eyes.

“Oh sweet thing, do not worry. He is too dense to notice your intentions. But being as close to him as I have, it was easy for me to notice.” She smiled. “I am sure you have heard the legend by now about us. Killian and I?” she said, walking up to a fruit cart and picking up a melon. “That story has been watered down through the ages. But if I am what is troubling you. Do not let it. Killian and I are bound together but not in the way you would think.” She held the melon up to her noise and took a long sniff.

But before Harly could question any further on the subject, Kiara’s head snapped to her side and heard a cry from the side street. She dropped the fruit and rushed over towards the sound. Harly quickly followed, pushing the villagers to the side. They approached an alley between houses as the cry came out again. Kiara leaned around a corner of one of the houses to reveal a man on top of a woman. Her shirt was ripped, and tears rolled down her eyes. Kiara pulled back and gently banged the back of her head against the wooden house. “This is why we cannot have our humanity during a hunt.” She whispered softly, closing her eyes. She winced every time she heard the grunt of the man and the gasping for air of the young woman.

“We need to stop this!” Harly exclaimed and started to charge. Kiara reached out with her eyes still closed and held her back.

“This is not guild business. We cannot intervene in these affairs. We aren’t the law here.” Kiara opened her eyes and a tear dropped down her face. “Come child. Let us leave.” She turned and placed her hands over Harly’s ears as they moved away. Harly batted Kiara’s hands away and tried to turn back. Just as she broke free, she smacked into a barrier that couldn’t be seen.

“Guild business or not we have to help her!” Harly yelled.

“Trust me, Harly!” Kiara shouted out sternly. Harly never heard Kiara raise her voice before and it took her by surprise. “That man will get what he deserves! But it will not be our hand that wields the ax!” Kiara once again grabbed Harly by the arm and dragged her away back into the crowd of people. Harly fought her for a short time but soon realized it was no use to fight.

She’s right. Harly thought. There’s nothing we can do.

As the day turned into night, the two women entered back at the lodge where Darin and Brendiel sat at a table with empty pints spread along the table.

“My friend, it has been too long since we have had a good drink together!” Brendiel spoke aloud while grabbing Darin’s shoulder. Kiara and Harly walked over and sat across from them. “Look here! Our lovely maidens have returned from their hunt for glorious treasures!” Brendiel continued. Kiara glanced over at Darin who was staring back.

He was like this when I entered. I took no part in his condition. His voice spoke in Kiara’s head.

Harly leaned in and lifted her hand over his forehead. “Release”. She said as a small light grew in her hand. Slowly, the beads of sweat forming on the old man’s head raised off his skin and collected in Harly’s hand. She quickly pulled back as the sweat dropped onto the table. “How long have you been drinking?!” She exclaimed.

“Look here missy,” He started bobbing his head and pointing his finger. “What a man does in his free time is his own business.”

“How dare you say that!” Harly said and raised her hand to strike.

“Leave him be, Harly!” Kiara spoke with her arms crossed. “I think you need to go to your room for the night. It has been a long day and I am sure you are exhausted.” Harly turned in protest but was soon shut down by the white-eyed angel. She stood slowly and walked quickly up the stairs to her room. “My apologize. Today was a tough day for her.”

What happened? Darin’s voice called out.

“We were in the market and we came across an attack. A man was violating a woman. Harly wanted to help but I was forced to stop her. Without it being guild business, we cannot interfere.” She looked down and clenched a fist. Her eyes floated up to Darin. “Old friend, you know what I am going to ask of you. You do not have to do it unless you truly want to. I cannot force you to.” She said calmly.

My lady, I live to serve you and your family. Darin spoke as he stood. He bowed his head and vanished into the night. Kiara turned to Brendiel, still bobbing his head.

“Alright, I think it is time for you to get some rest.” She said as she stood and walked over to the older man. She pulled his arm up around her shoulders and walked him up to his room for the night.

The town’s folk crept into their homes and the lights were quickly dimming. Darin walked slowly through the shadows until all the lights were out. The image he gathered from Kiara’s mind was burned into his mind as he pressed his hands to the ground in the center of town. Four long black snakes slithered out from underneath them and spread in different directions.

Go, my pets. Find him and bring him to me. As they crept through the houses, Darin could see everything they were passing. Soon, he found the man he was looking for. The house was empty and the woman he was attacking was sharing the same bed. Have you no respect, woman. He thought as he cracked his knuckle. The snake slowly made its way up the bed and wrapped itself around the man’s legs. Within seconds the long black snake twisted its body and flung the man to the ground. He made a loud thud and woke him. He tried to shout and move, but the snake wound him tight and covered his mouth with its large body. The woman lying next to him rolled over to see what the commotion was and saw the giant snake moving out of the room with her husband. She quickly got out of bed and started to run out the door with screams filling the house when suddenly a large shadow grew in front of her. It had six eyes and a body of a man. Do not chase those who deem you unworthy. Forget this man and make something of yourself. Build a happy family. See the world for the paradise it is. Darin spoke through the shadow in a raspy voice that shook through the woman’s body. She slowly turned in a trance and laid back to bed. The shadow fell into the floor as smoke spouted from the ground and disappeared. Darin stood in the dark as his serpent slowly slid toward him with its prey tightly wound. The other three snakes gathered around him and vanished at his feet. As the snake unraveled the man, he sprung to his feet in a panic.

“What is this about? Who are you and what is going on?” The man said panting and watching the snake fall back behind Darin.

It takes a certain type of human to harm those around them. Those they say they care about. What did she do? Did she not make your meals the way you wanted? Did she say the wrong thing to you? His voice echoed in the villager’s mind.

“What are you? How are you in my head?” He said with fear growing in his voice.

Darin stood tall with his arms crossed and his eyes black as the abyss. "I am the last thing you will know, and the first thing you will remember." He raised his forearms to his ears and snapped his fingers. Arms sprouted from the darkness around him and grabbed the man’s arms and legs. They picked him up off the ground and held him high over the houses. The man tried to yell but was silenced by a long cut that formed across his neck. He gasped for air as blood fell to the ground. "You will know what it is like to be helpless. What it is like to be afraid." Darin’s voice grew in his mind and became more menacing and warped. The shadows began to pull and, bit by bit, ripped the flesh away from the man’s bones. Writhing pain, the man’s body spasmed. A lake of blood dribbled onto the ground beneath him. Then he was dropped into it with his skin ripped and only flesh and bone remaining on his arms and legs. Suddenly, The cut around his neck was quickly sewed back together and the man could breathe once again. His skin began to form once more unto his bones. But when he went to shout, nothing would come out. "Did you really think I would let you die that easily?" Darin’s voice echoed once again in his mind. "Not at all. I have plenty of things to do with you. But not here. You are going to be sent somewhere a little more," he paused for a moment. "Friendly." A large hole formed around him which seemed to have no bottom. Darin chuckled as the man fell along with all the blood he had created. Once he could no longer see any remnants of what had happened, the circle closed, and he proceeded back towards the lodge. "That was most entertaining. More than I thought there would be." He thought.

As Darin approached the entrance to the lodge, he saw Mira standing in the cold staring out over the ocean of grass.

“It is quiet now. Everything is so very still.” She said softly.

"It is. What are you doing out here? It is getting cold." Darin said.

“Killian will be training with Wolarian soon. I must be ready again.” Darin walked up behind her and looked out with her.

"May I ask you something, Mira?"

“Absolutely.” She replied.

"What did you give up to become a Hunter? This is not the life anyone would willing choose to take."

Mira looked over at him and touched his chest. “There must have been something you found was worth more than your ability to speak. We all have our reasons for joining. However, my reasoning will stay with me and lady Kiara. But for my sacrifice, I chose to give up having a family of my own.” Darin took a step to the side in shock. “It is alright, my sweet angel of the night. My line should end with me. My family were horrible people. Ruthless and hateful.” She said and looked back out towards the woods. “They are beginning. Will you please stay with me for the night? I would feel much better if you did.” She asked with an innocent smile. Darin nodded in agreement as they both sat on the same bench as before. Mira’s eyes shone bright pink in the darkness, like small butterfly wings fluttering.

"I will stay with you till the end, princess."