Monday, February 18, 2008

Kidnapped

Jay sat chained to the back of the cave, looking forlornly around. Not that he was really able to see much, as the bird had left him without any light. But he could tell that it wasn’t a particularly large cave. There were two passages that led outside of the cave, the large one that the bird had flown out of, and a smaller one, hidden just to the right of where he sat. The only reason he knew about the hidden passage was from the draft that was coming from it.

His thoughts turned once again to how he had gotten himself into this mess. He had been stuck in that room with the soul of Elara, listening to the crazy woman with the knife talking to two possibly crazier people, when suddenly, he was standing in front of his house. He had started to walk up to the door, when the largest raven he had ever seen swooped out of the sky and snatched him up. They had flown for a long time, when suddenly the raven deposited him here.

The raven had then changed into a tall, lean, dark haired man, who had looked him over carefully, before scowling. "You have the stink of Spacelord powers all over you, but you’re not who I’m after!"

"What are you talking about? What do you mean ‘Spacelord powers?’" Jay asked, shrinking back from the man.

"I thought you were the old Starlord’s child. The one who’s been missing all these years. The one the new Spacelord just freed." The man spat. "But no, I can tell already. The stink’s fading."

The man chained him to the cave wall anyway, then changed back into the large bird. Cawing once, a low, evil sound, he launched himself into the air and was gone.

And so Jay had been left alone. He tried to loosen the chains from the wall, but they remained firm. When he stopped to examine how they were attached to the cave wall, he discovered that they were newly fixed in place; there wasn’t a trace of rust on any of the metal. And from the look of them, whoever had fixed them to the wall really knew what they were doing; Jay would need more than his own strength to break free of them.

His muscles gradually stiffened up, so he fidgeted in an effort to relieve the cramps. At least the fidgeting gave him something to do. Jay had never been this bored in his life. So he sat, trying in vain to amuse himself, waiting for the bird man to come back.

Jay had just finished singing his favourite song for about the fiftieth time when he heard a triumphant cawing gradually getting closer. The raven reappeared, depositing another form into the cave. The form struggled to its feet. Jay had yet another shock: the form turned out to be Elara. She looked around wildly as the bird man changed back to his human form.

"Where have you taken me?" she demanded. "What do you want?"

The bird man looked her up and down, before smiling in triumph. "Yes, you are the old Starlord’s daughter! He’ll come for you!" He said, grabbing her by the wrist and chaining her next to Jay. Then he turned back into a bird and flew away once again. His caws echoed after him like cruel laughter.

After a few moments the echoes died away. "Well, he seems happier with you than he was with me," Jay said into the silence.

Elara gasped, spinning around. "I recognize you! You’re the last person I remember from the witch’s place!"

"I’m Jay," Jay tried to hold out his hand, but couldn’t reach her. He gave up with a shrug. "I know who you are. You were the witch’s slave."

"Yes. I’m Elara." She glanced around the cave. "How long have you been here?"

"A couple of hours. I’m not entirely sure." He watched as Elara tried testing the chains that were holding her. "I already tried breaking free. Whoever put these here sure knew what they were doing; I think we’re thoroughly trapped."

An uncomfortable silence followed his last remark. Jay couldn’t think of anything else to say to the dark haired beauty. Or at least nothing intelligent.

"So what do you think that bird man wants with us?" she finally asked, breaking the silence.

Monday, February 11, 2008

A Visit

Lubic stood in his driveway for another few moments, unsure of what to do. How could he find a giant bird? Who would even believe this story, especially when he wasn’t altogether certain he believed it himself.

With a sinking feeling, he was able to think of three people right away who would probably believe him. One of them he had no intention of talking to ever again if he could help it. So that left Azalyn and Jaleesa. He quickly decided on the witch, as she had promised she would help him find information whenever he needed it. And at least he knew where she lived. He had no idea how to find Azalyn.

With a word and a thought, Lubic found himself standing directly in front of Jaleesa. Her ancient dark eyes showed her surprise, but she quickly mastered her features. She was no longer in animal skins, but was instead in baggy silk trews, with an ornate vest. Her long hair was partially up, but for the most part still loose.

"Lubic, what a surprise! I did not expect to see you again so soon."

"Well, Jaleesa, I didn’t really expect to be visiting you again so soon, either," Lubic replied. He glanced around. They were in a smaller room, one he had not seen before. They were right beside a dressing table. Behind him was a rather large and ornate bed. Lubic’s face reddened. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to meet you in here."

"It is quite alright." Jaleesa turned and led Lubic to an anteroom that had many plush cushions arrayed around for sitting on. Jaleesa clapped and a servant entered, bearing refreshments. The servant placed the tray in front of Lubic, bowed, then quickly disappeared the way she came. "Now Lubic, what can I do for you?"

Lubic quickly outlined what had happened to him upon arriving home, ending with the raven carrying the girl away.

"I see," Jaleesa mused. "And I suppose you want me to find her for you?"

"Yes please. And any other information that might be useful. I’ve never heard of a raven that size before!"

"Well, to me it sounds like a shifter of some sort," Jaleesa said, clapping her hands once again. "But I will be able to tell you more momentarily."

The servant once again appeared, but this time with an ornately carved box on a tray. She placed the tray in front of Jaleesa, before bowing and disappearing once again. Jaleesa opened the box and removed a small package, wrapped in silk. She moved the box off of the tray, then unwrapped the silk, revealing a deck of cards.

"The old ways work best," she smiled, beginning to shuffle. She quickly lay the cards in a complex pattern on the tray. Then, as Lubic sat fidgeting across from her, she contemplated what the cards revealed to her.

"Are you sure this will work," Lubic asked, unable to bear the silence any longer.

"Shhh!" Jaleesa shushed him. She remained silent for a long while after, her attention firmly on the spread. Lubic was just about to speak again, when she looked up.

"It is as I thought: a shifter. A were-raven, to be more exact. But it looks to me like he is not happy remaining as he is; he wants more power," she said, tapping a series of the cards. "I will tell you where he has taken the girl, but I warn you, this has the looks of a trap of some sort."

"I’m not leaving her."