Return to Roost (L 1.3)

Location: The Roost
Time: late night


Litch,

You ride Merlin's jet ski with Mynah and Kestrel back to The Roost. Javan's on top of the roof keeping watch while the rest of the Talons are inside. Mynah heads up to the roof to chat with Javan. Inside, you find Zeph tending to Plover while Shrike sings Aloe a bedtime song. What's the song about, Litch? Who taught it to her?

Tell us a bit about The Roost. When you arrive at your home, what do you do?

Mynah beats us back home. Kestrel thought it best to give her space alone on the sea to grieve, so once away from Poseidon's Belly, we throttled down to slower speeds to give her that. When the two of us also docked, the anguish Mynah had carried was hidden by a determined set in her eyes and jawline. As she set to work refueling all of our rides and doing routine maintenance, I left her to it. Kestrel stayed behind to offer physical and emotional support, but even that was short. We both know Mynah processes by doing. Out of the public's eye afforded us liberty to embrace; a gentle caress and kiss, heads together. After a time, we both headed inside our home.

When the floodwaters rose, the Roost - an old, domed cathedral - benefited greatly from its location. Sitting atop a large hill overlooking what used to be a river meant that more of it was above the surface than below, giving us more space in which to live. Though the age and materials of the construction also mean that it's prone to draftiness. At least we can stay dry, mostly. My father, The Gray Wing grant him eternal flight, commandeered, fortified, and defended the structure for several years before his eventual disappearance in the mists of the horizon. It was to honor his legacy as High Bishop that we continue to build up and out, furnishing with utility and finery, as we are able.

Jetties affixed by ropes and scaffolding connect all of the walkways under the grand cupola and lower mansard. Various platforms have been erected and walled off, serving as the private rooms of our home. My own chambers are reached by an extravagant, circular staircase to a platform mirroring the circumference of the cupola. It is the closest to the heavens. A few charcoal and silver tapestries bearing a faded wing cover the interior of our domicile. The sanctuary below is entirely covered by water. Several vaults full of money and other precious objects lie in the depths below. Those of us with the greatest lung capacities discovered these treasures, but without oxygen tanks, the items cannot be moved from their watery mausoleums.

We enter to the alto timbre of Shrike softly soothing her patient. The water and walls glides over us. She sings of sunshine and fields of grass to run through, of eternal joys and painless existence. Mostly she just hums. It's a balm for troubled souls. I stride over to Zephyr and Plover and embrace my girls. "Well done today, my darlings. Zeph, excellent work on the flanks today. You and your brother perfected our maneuvers. Plover, my dear, wonderful shooting. I'm very proud of you both." My lips form a thin, but warm smile. The skin around my eyes crinkling with affection. On the waters, I am the Protector. In my home I am simply the Father. Two Wings to shelter my children.

"She's outside...working. Harpy murdered someone at the Belly. She wants to be alone right now." Which is code for "wait ten minutes before you go see her." I catch her eye, dropping my smile. I think she knew about Kiwi. Nobody talks openly about his connection with us, but if Mynah were to be transparent with anyone, it's her daughter.

I turn my neck back to face Plover. "Perhaps. Though even Jack could hit a target if he used as many bullets as the Rafters did." Jackdaw, one of the other Talons, has business savvy and is a sweet talker, but he's sh*t with shooting anything and barely passible with melee weapons. "Your skill is growing, Plover. Keep at it...after you heal." I lean over to kiss the top of her head, then squeeze Zephyr's shoulder with affection before asking, "Have the boys been fed?" Zephyr didn't want cats or dogs for pets as a child. When she was eleven, I gifted her with two ravens - Mage and Minstrel - though in truth they had already been living here. I suppose they are mascots, of a sort, though only the two of us actively look after them.

"Good, lass." I nod, pleased that my house is in order. "Where is Jack? Has he returned from the Towers yet?" Jackdaw has been working out a deal with those in power about providing us with the tools to finally start retrieving loot from the lower levels. Or at least he is supposed to be negotiating a deal. Half of the time he is hunting for baubles of interest only to him or sleeping off another night of hard carousing. When his attentions can be properly focused, he's one hell of a deal-maker. The adults in our family find him irritating; the young ones adore him. I'm on the fence, but I can't deny he has valuable talents.

I don't respond at first to his attempt to hook me with his newest distraction. Instead, I stare at him for the span of twenty seconds, before holding out my hand, beckoning for a piece of his candy. "Perhaps." Is all I say.

My first reaction is to give him a quizzical look. "Yes...I know of them. What about it, man?" I bite back the exasperation bubbling inside of me. I hope he doesn't make me drag it out of him. I need to be patient. Jackdaw is a sensitive man, where his ideas or half-thought-through plans are concerned. If I blow up, he's likely to sulk.

My tongue glides back and forth over my lower lip inside my mouth, apparently it's my facial tic when I'm pondering an idea. Mynah tells me it makes me look like I have a severe underbite. With that thought popping into my mind, I immediately stop and force myself not to look around for her. I inhale and bite my lip instead. "Hm..." I murmur aloud, then nod my head slowly. It's not a terrible idea. But what happens if they decide they want a cut of what they find? Or decide to keep it all to themselves?

"What exactly do they owe you, Jackdaw?"

And should they ever discover that it wasn't entirely altruistic, they'll balance the scales in their favor. I've often wondered about the beings the Shark Eaters venerate. Could they be other aspects of the Gray Wing? Does the divine being we serve manifest as different entities based on the person they commune with? I've not been shown an answer, but I've never formally asked.

"Good work, Jack. I'll consider it further." I clap him on the shoulder, but without the tender warmth I showed the girls, and end the conversation. I stride across the hall toward the stairs leading to my sanctum. "I'm going to pray." I say simply as I ascend the steps. My family know I tend to commune with my own god alone in my chambers. Corporate prayer is done below in the nave.

When I reach my room, I proceed with my ritual. I light four candles and the incense altar. Above a separate brazier I light a small, smoky fire. While it burns, I cross the space to where Mage likes to roost on the top of my canopy bed and select a feather, carefully selecting among the several options from his recent molt. From my nightstand drawer, I pull out a black-handled buck knife. Returning to the brazier, I kneel down, setting the feather in the brazier. Then I carefully prick the tip of my thumb and add my own life to the vessel, murmuring an incantation to sanctify this space, before I open my soul, I clear my throat with a raven-like croak and then breathe out slowly, emptying myself so that I may be filled with a greater essence.

Gray Wing above. Enlighten the path before me. Do I dare allow the unworthy to enter your sanctuary? What dangers do they pose to me? What opportunity can I exploit? I beseech thee, holy master.

The Shark Eaters is a small community of outsiders who are very insular. They worship strange gods and some say they have gills hidden under their hair or clothes. Everyone knows to never cross the Shark Eaters - they are notorious for seeking their own feral form of justice when wronged. That said, most of the other holdings trade with them because of the treasures they can provide.

For anything more specific, you can ask it of the maelstrom and open your brain, Litch.

Your prayers to Gray Wing are granted.

You gain visions of the Shark Eaters diving repeatedly below your Roost and gathering treasures and wonders - enough for plenty. One of the divers will become greedy and try to hide away a relic. You now know who the thief will be. They are named Lis.

If you refuse Lis, the others will refuse to dive.

---

When you rouse yourself from your prayers, you see that the Roost is quiet. Your mates have not entered the room you share, respecting your privacy.

What do you do?

The Gray Wing has deemed me worthy and provided me not only with foresight, but wisdom and determination to take the next step. After the visions dissipate, I take a few moments to myself, lingering in the peaceful quiet and aromatic atmosphere, meditating. These are the few minutes when I can have a quiet mind, when I am not beholden to anyone. It restores my soul.

Those minutes pass, not too short, not too long, just the right amount. "Well then. On to business. Thank you." I rise to clean out the vestments and set the candles into lanterns to continue to provide light. Once I finish, I head for the stairs. As I near the bottom, I call out. "Alright Jack. Make it happen. Kestrel?" I look around the area for my mate.

"An opportunity." I say to her in response. When she comes near, I place both of my hands on her shoulders, my eyes illuminated with spiritual fervor and ardor as a plan starts to form. "I saw that one of the Shark Eaters is going to steal from us. We can use that to our advantage. Perhaps for our vengeance." I glance up toward the direction of the boat hangar where Mynah is likely still working.

I shift back to Kestrel. "But for now, we need to go see Edmund." I anticipate her puzzled look and add, "He's been working on something for me. Plus, we need more medicine and bandages."

I smirk and throw an arm around her shoulder. "You are not wrong. Still, I'd like to talk to him. Maybe we'll find something nice for you while we're at it." I add, already feeling her eyes roll before I look at her. Kestrel is imminently practical and rarely treats herself. Plover might be her only child, but she is a mother to all of us and puts the needs of the family above her own. "Maybe...some jewelry or...a fancy hat?"

I'm grinning broadly now, a change of emotional scenery to the gloom that often pervades our existence. We're both often so stoic - out of necessity perhaps. I can feel the light moment slipping as quickly as it came. "I...I've been looking into Argyle's disappearance." I admit to her, borrowing Zephyr's convention and naming my father. "I don't know if Sterling has the ability to help me, but he's connected to those who might. So...it's a lead worth following. Maybe there's an existence beyond all of this. Somewhere our children could give more attention to living life than to finding a meaningful end to it." I sigh. "Or maybe that's just the musings of a tired old cynic."

I snort and shake my head, hand rubbing my forehead and between my eyes. "That boy. At least he can make things happen more often than he screws them up. His heart is in the right place. His head?" I don't continue, knowing Kestrel agrees with my conclusion without me having to voice the opinion aloud. I look across to where our own skis float. I know Mynah refueled our rides first. She always make sure our transportation is ready to go before she takes to any other tasks. She's reliable. They both are.

"Thank you, Kes. In all likelihood, he merely drowned at sea, like so many others. I'm not going to get my hopes up." It sounds fatalistic. She knows I want him to be alive, but emotions can cloud my mind and the hopeful are so easily found with empty hands. "Get your ride started. I'll tell Mynah where we're headed and we'll set off. Hopefully this will be a short trip."

Kestrel heads over to check both of your rides to make sure they're safe - a force of habit. You head over to the small workshop Mynah keeps and find her there by herself, cleaning some gears and keeping herself busy.

"Just a quick jaunt to the Tower. Shouldn't be long." I shake my head no. "Not tonight. Take as much time as you need for yourself, Mynah." I hesitate, then lean forward to kiss her forehead before departing. With my back to her, I trudge away, saying. "It will be done. I will make it so."

Mynah watches you go. She doesn't say thank you, but you feel the gratitude through the connection you share. You trudge down the dock to find Kestrel sitting on her ski idling and waiting. You mount up and ride off.

End Scene