Raizel watched the conversations move around in circles. They were trying to be deferential, but she was a kid by their reckoning (and they weren’t far off), and she wasn’t firm or authoritative enough to make it easy for them. Raven got up after a bit and went wandering, came back, and murmured in Cailing’s… Continue reading Thirty-One: Whispers
“Why did you even buy us?” “Kid,” Weckel sighed, “you are going to get yourself and everyone else in a world of hurt. Would you stop that?” “Come here. Cory, right?” She had no idea what she was doing. Did it show? “Cory. Mistress.” He was only a couple seats away from her; he settled… Continue reading Thirty: Teamwork
Raizel napped for a while, only to wake to very quiet conversation circling around her. Her head was on the Raven’s shoulder, and his was resting on her head. It felt cozy, the way she’d only ever felt with – she felt a stab of guilt. It had been days since she last thought of… Continue reading Twenty-Nine: Overheard
The Raven had done something, she was sure of it. She had expected to be in the part of the train where people crowded onto benches or sat in the aisles. That was cheap part, the part where most people like her rode. Instead, she and the Raven and six people wearing what looked like… Continue reading Twenty-Eight: The People
“Am I really here?” Raizel muttered to the Diamond Raven. It felt unlikely. She had been trying for this for what seemed like months, even if it had only been days, and here they were, on the platform, buying two tickets for the train. That she had the Diamond Raven with her, that she… Continue reading Twenty-Seven: The Train
Raizel shared a look with the Raven. He looked at her, then at the two attendant, at the woman, and back at her. She cleared her throat. “Your husband is a sword?” “My husband is The Blessed Sword. It was given to him by the gods. To become the sword so that he not die!… Continue reading Twenty-Six: The Price
“You’re amassing quite a reputation,” the Diamond Raven commented, as they made their way out of the Judge’s office. “We should hurry if we’re going to catch the train today. I know you’re on a deadline here.” “I don’t understand it.” Raizel shook her head. “It has to be you, people know you.” “The-” He… Continue reading Twenty-Five: The Ruminant of Roelkia
Raizel sat down. She wasn’t sure she had another option. The Diamond Raven stood behind her, his hands on her chair. She wondered at that, but she could ask him later. “I have to get to the capital,” she told the Judge. “That has to be what I have to do first. If I miss… Continue reading Twenty-Four: The Judge
They made it to the bathhouse without further incident. Raizel had never been inside a place like this, but she’d heard the stories and descriptions from people in the town that went down into the flatter lands: There were rainfall devices where you soaped off, and then big drinking-trough tubs to soak in and bathhouse… Continue reading Twenty-Three: Cleaner
“Why her?” The Diamond Raven shifted so he was standing almost between Raizel and the Left Hand. “Why this stranger on the street?” “Because she’s not a stranger, is she? She’s the one that everyone’s been muttering about. She’s got you, which is interesting in and of itself. She’s made it through some pretty strange… Continue reading Twenty-Two: Lost and Found