“I don’t think she really wants the kitten gone,” the Diamond Raven commented, when they were out the gate and on another road. “And I don’t blame her.” “It’s pretty cute, isn’t it?” She looked down at it, and it looked up at her and mewled. “I bet it’s terrified. All this being moved around… Continue reading Twenty-One: Psst
The gardener in front of them cut a strange figure, her pockets wriggling. Raizel bowed politely anyway. If she had learned anything so far on this trip it was that she might find the god-touch or even stranger things in places she was expecting nothing of the sort. “I, uh. I offer apology? We… Continue reading Twenty: The Kitten
“For people who know about this thing—” the Diamond Raven warned. “For people to know about it is truth! Is all of us who rotted for the Tzar laid to rest! Is everything that went wrong put better!” The deserter was foaming at the mouth. Raizel took a step back. He only spoke louder. “This… Continue reading Nineteen: Evil and Escape
“No!!” The deserter shook his head, more as if to clear a bug from his ear than to negate a thought. “Not for me. ‘No aid for deserters,’ I know so well. Do it for the nation, then.” He pulled a tattered old piece of paper from an inner pocket. No, she realized, vellum. “Do… Continue reading Eighteen: Treason and Heresy
“You’re old enough to be out on your own, yes?” “Of course I am.” She wrinkled her nose at him. “I am here, aren’t I? Everyone may keep calling me child, but I have an apprenticeship, I am carrying the weight of my family to the capital, and I – yes. I’m old enough.” She… Continue reading Seventeen: Crossing, Cross
The Tzarin and his people wanted to leave slow and late the next day, so Raizel and the Diamond Raven left them behind, not without some relief. The Raven was quiet as they walked, which suited Raizel. It was early, the sun was low and rising lazily, and she wanted to make good time while the… Continue reading Sixteen: the Arrow Pulled
Diamond Raven was fussing at her as she walked over to the veiled Tzarin – but he walked with her the whole way. Raizel didn’t listen so much to his words as she listened to his tone. He wasn’t happy with her, no, but he was also worried for her. Worried about her? What could… Continue reading Fifteen: Singing of Fire
She missed the carriage immediately, but there wasn’t such a thing going from Esteronzerai to the train station for at least two days. In two days, if she made good time, Raizel could already be on the train. She and the Diamond Raven joined a small group of people leaving the fanciest hotel in Esteronzerai,… Continue reading Fourteen: Walking with the Veiled Prince
She could only see the glow at first, but as she straightened back up, she could make out features – plains-people, plains-straight hair and plains-flat nose. She bowed again, just to be safe. “Oh, none of that,” laughed the voice. Male, or male-like. “We’ll take care of this place. It doesn’t need these stones to… Continue reading Thirteen: Attracting Attention
The man who might or might not b the Diamond Raven struggled, but he couldn’t seem to do anything about the cord around his neck and, rather than have Raizel tug it tighter, he followed her. “I have things I should get-” he protested, but she didn’t listen, and then “I shouldn’t leave a candle… Continue reading Twelve: Watch What You Say