• “Caw!” The raven, black as night, perched atop the building, full of glee from the the events unraveling before it. Its seemingly dead eyes reflected the dark forms running along the rooftops. shouts of “Assassin!” rose from the shadow-filled streets, as the town guards pursued, their lanterns and torches expelling the shadows only for a moment before darkness ravenously covered the streets once more.

    “Kale, I'm scared!” The raven's head quirked to the side, black glossy eyes fell upon the pair of children. The orphaned brother and sister immediately noticed the movement, raven's were killed on sight in this country, they were believed to be the work of evil.

    “caw!” black wings flapped, and abruptly it disappeared from the sight of the children. 'strange times...' Kale thought to himself. “Joran, I don't think it's safe here.” Kale silently rose, his 8 year old sister pulled herself upright, bumping something over the edge of the roof, the item only took seconds before smashing on the paving stones below with a sound that seemed loud enough to raise the dead.

    “Aye! Cap'n, the assassin do be right above us!” The man sounded every bit the brainless thug that his massive shadow portrayed in the darkness. Kale covered Joran's mouth and gave a slow breath before looking over the edge of the roof. “There 'e is cap'n!” The brutish man pointed strait at Kale's face. Immediately arrows flew at the building, some sticking, others just bouncing away.

    “Run!” He took Joran's hand, leading her over planks that joined the rooftops together, leaving at least a twenty foot drop to either side of them. Joran was sniffing, holding back her tears of fear. Kale was proud of her for being so strong in a situation like this. Something glistened just ahead of them, Kale realized it to be a helmet of one of the city guards. The man pulled himself completely onto the roof, stood, and suddenly a shadow flashed, quick and silent as a viper, the scraping sound of a knife being unsheathed, followed by a glistening flash. The guard's head fell from his shoulders, the body stiffly falling backwards, thudding on the street below.

    Just as quickly the figure stuck out it's arm, precise exact moves controlled the figures' movements. The raven suddenly appeared, firmly grasping the arm with its talons. The figure whispered to the bird in a beautiful flowing language that Kale could not begin to understand. The voice sounded like a woman's voice. Again it took flight, and the woman turned to the horrified children. “Run.” the whispered word was simple, but it came to both children as a fierce command.