the crow flies [luci]

[keri]

Throughout the market there had been whispers. The queen was searching for someone to protect her. With all the shit going on in the surrounding countries she needed some help. The whispers moved through Antiva like wildfire touching and scorching everything that it came in contact with save for one. Kieran had heard this news and was more curious, she was between jobs at the moment. Crows usually came back to Antiva when they didn’t have a mark, and she was rather happy to be home. Traveling was nice but nothing was like the Antivan City. Her heart truly belonged here. She was dressed in plain clothes for once, though beneath them was thick padding for protection. A crow was never so stupid as to walk around unarmed and unprotected. She wore a simple white shirt with dark green breeches, being a crow offered her some exclusion on how Antivan women were treated. Her long strawberry blond hair was pulled back in an intricate braid. Should someone try to pull her hair they would find spikes tipped in poison. She didn’t do well with people trying to mess with her one vanity in life.

Soft leather boots covered her up to mid-calf and made no sound as they hit the ground. She was headed to the palace to speak with the Queen. Within no time at all, the elf was at the palace, making her way through the door. She spoke softly with a lazy guard on the inside. ”I wish to speak with the Queen, I heard she has a job open” The guard waved her through without searching her. As Kieran walked away she made a tsk-ing noise under her breath. Stupid food would get his queen killed. Her feet stopped moving when she reached to door that would lead to the great hall. The queen was there and now the elf needed to wait to be called upon to enter.

She tapped a foot softly, not being on with lots of patience when it wasn’t necessary. She truthfully didn’t feel like waiting on the spoiled wench that the people of Antiva called their Queen, but there wasn’t much she could do if she wanted the job. Should she be hired things were going to change in this place. Kieran was only a little older than the Queen and already she could tell she was much more mature. Frankly it was a surprise the woman hadn’t died yet. With guards like the one she had already dealt with anyone could walk right in. As it was the Crow was carrying three blades hidden on her as it was, each one in a different place. She could kill the Queen right now, but that would lose her a job.

[shizukahotd]

Lucretia had desperately needed protection. After her father died she realized that she knew no one and had not a soul around worth trusting. She had let the word out that she was looking for a bodyguard to protect her. She wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to employ outside help, but at this point there was no choice. It was going to be easier for her to make her own judgment about applicants rather than have someone appointed to her.

She heard her guards had brought someone in as an inquirer. She only grew concerned when they told her that this person was brought into the hall especially for the Antivan Crows. This special hall was made to be secretive and accommodating. It had everything a Crow would need to be comfortable and was more than obliging to anyone who entered the area. She knew the visitor would be well kept and secure, but she was still a little nervous. Throughout her childhood, Lucretia had never actually met an Antivan Crow since her father was worried of what could happen to her. She didn’t know what one should look like or what they could do. She envisioned an elf covered in dirt and leather. She imaged large muscles and a man with scars on his face.

When she walked into the area and saw a little female elf in front of her she was shocked. ” You want to be my bodyguard??” she said quizzically. There was no way that a beautiful delicate elf woman would be able to do anything. This elf had gorgeous hair the color of sunlight and flowers. Lucretia was stunned at the sight for sure. She was never any good at concealing her emotions so she giggled a little, ”Exactly what can you do for me?”. She was not necessarily trying to mock, but she knew no other way to express what she was thinking. She hoped the woman did not have a bad attitude, but this job was worth a whole lot of money so she was sure someone else would show up if that were to happen.

[keri]

Impatience was beginning to settle in, a crow was not usually kept waiting. Who did this spoiled twit think she was? Did she think her being a queen would save her? A crow had killed royalty before and if necessary they would do it again. The room she had been lead to was comfortable enough and away from prying eyes which was something Kieran hadn’t expected. At least the little idiot knew how to treat a crow. Her ears caught the sound of footsteps coming down the hall, and she shook her head. Did this woman want everyone in the world to know where she was walking? Kieran knew that if she took this job she would have plenty of work to do. The Queen probably wouldn’t like it but if she wanted to live she would do as she was told.

” You want to be my bodyguard??” When that voice reached her ears Kieran had to force her face to remain blank. She wanted to wince, she wanted to give the Queen a look of pure anger but for now she knew that she must behave. Kieran turned to face the Queen, out of formality and nodded her head in a slight bow, but kept her dark blue eyes on the woman before her. In this light her eyes looked almost black, and all emotion was lost in them. Despite her size she looked every bit a killer. ”Exactly what can you do for me?” Kieran smiled, though it didn’t touch her eyes and it didn’t look pleasant. It was as if happy emotions turned to death on her face.

”Would you like me to demonstrate Your Majesty?” Her voice was empty, almost like there hadn’t been a sound at all. She doubted the queen would agree to this, but her temper had enough of the nonsense. Kieran couldn’t be outwardly rude, but she didn’t need to thickly lay her homage either. If the Queen wanted a bodyguard that could actually keep her safe, Kieran was the girl she wanted. ”If you’d like I can take out your stupid guard that allowed me to walk in here so heavily armed.” This time the smirk on her lips was real and it could easily be taken as menacing. She had blades on her and spiked in her hair, sadly for the people in the castle they didn’t even ruin her clothing lines. No one would see her blades, unless they were a fellow crow.

[shizukahotd]

The elf in front of her seemed to be serious. Her eyes said what her lips could not. Lucretia had seen most of the maids glare at her when she was a child, but non like this. These eyes were serious and Lucretia knew that. Still, she had to be careful, and most of all she had to be sure. This was no game for money, this was her life.

” Would you like me to demonstrate Your Majesty? If you’d like I can take out your stupid guard that allowed me to walk in here so heavily armed.”[/b]

Lucretia motioned for her guard to move forward. ”Do it. I have no need for useless people.” She was not bluffing and needed to know if this elf was. Lucretia was alone in this castle and had no care or concern for anybody in it. She was not about to take a chance on somebody who would not be able to help her. This was a threat and a test to make it very obvious that she would not stand around and let anyone talk down to her, and she sure the hell would not allow some pretty girl with daggers to take her money without proving herself. Lucretia was half expecting the elf to be jokeing and walk away.

As the guard moved forward hesitantly, he looked back at Lucretia with longing. He had not known why she had traded up his life and looked to her for mercy. Unlike Lucretia , he was painfully aware of what an Antivan Crow could do. If this girl was truly what she claimed to be, he was in trouble. He locked a stance with sweat trickling down his cheek. His breastplate showed symbols of the Antivan Empire and he wore a red cape attached to it. He carried a mighty greatsword with a hilt and sheath covered in gold and beautiful markings of the empire. He grabbed the handle and pulled his sword to ready. He had only thought he was doing as he should by letting inquirers see the queen.

”Your Majesty, I am…" he pleaded. Lucretia flicked her hand at him to tell him to silence. He immediately quieted and she was glad. She did not want him to look so weak in front of the girl, Crow or not.

[keri]

The young Queen motioned the guard forward. ”Do it. I have no need for useless people.” Kieran quirked a brow rather surprised that this would happen. She had expected some spoiled girl, but for the moment she was seeing something interesting. The guard stepped forward, his eyes full of fear. The look was one that made the elf smile. She liked when they knew her and feared her. So many times she had to hide in shadows for a quiet killing but this time she was allowed to have a little fun. His stance was pitiful and his knees were shaking. He was pathetic. Kieran reached her hand up to let her braid down, now instead of being folded to her neck her hair hung past her shoulders. The spikes were still hidden.

His sword slid out, and Kieran wondered if she was the only one that heard the shaking in his hands as he pulled it out. ”Your Majesty, I am…" A flick of the queen’s hand silenced him and that was when Kieran began. She darted in close, dodging his pitiful attempt to slice her down and turned her head sharply. Her braid came around to hit the man’s face, before she darted away again. Mirth danced in those dark eyes as they took in the tiny cuts, she had drawn first blood.

It took only seconds before half of his face began to droop. The poison on her hair spikes was blended to paralyze an opponent. Sure on his face it didn’t do much other than make Kieran smile but the Queen deserved a little show right? The guard stumbled around clutching his face, now came the pain. Many had heard the stories about the long haired elf. All of the Crows knew to never come close to her hair. Now the people of Antiva would hear of this.

Her small shapely mouth opened in a demure yawn. She was growing bored at watching the poor sap wallow in misery. Kieran was about to end it. She darted forward, as an elf she was far more agile than nearly all humans. With her training she was nothing more than a blur. A long dagger that had been in her boot was pulled out and thrown. The tip pierced the guard’s throat and continued through the man’s neck until the dagger had flesh to the hilt. Kieran’s smile was cold, as she pulled the blade out causing a mist of blood to shoot forth. She waited a moment before using the guard’s clothing to clean her blade. Her voice was ice as she turned to the Queen. ”Have you seen enough your majesty or would you like someone else to face me?

[shizukahotd]

The show that was in front of her was amazing. Lucretia had never thought that something so deadly could look so beautiful. The Antivan elf moved like wind across the sea. She made waves, but only kissed the water with her presence. She dodged Lucretia’s guard’s movements with ease and suddenly used her hair as a weapon. The guard became stunned as what seemed to be a poison seeped into his veins. He grabbed his face tightly as blood soaked out between his fingers. Lucretia had never seen such a sight. She was half excited and half terrified. Her heart was beating faster than it ever had, and she wasn’t sure which emotion had caused it.

Lucretia had an odd urge to help her guard as she watched him suffer. Before she knew it, her emotions were put on hold as a dagger suddenly went through the guard’s throat. In a shock the only things Lucretia could see were red blood and the cruel smile on the Crow’s lips. Inadvertently, Lucretia took a step back. At the sight of the blood, Lucretia froze up and her body seemed to do whatever it wanted. She tried to avert her gaze, but she was fixed on the poor guard whose existence was now void and whose body was now lifeless. As she watched, the girl wiped her blade on the guard's clothing showing no remorse or empathy for what she had just done. It was apparent that this girl was a killer, and nothing else.

Lucretia was not sure how to react. Should she hire this girl? The elf was so cold blooded. Would she be like this toward Lucretia? Even more than that, would she kill Lucretia like this? She tried not to show her emotions earlier, but now there was no stopping them. Her hands were unsteady and she could barely swallow. She had probably turned a bit pale by now as she had felt her blood rush from her face. Her head was swollen with ideas and horrors, but it still felt empty with fear.

”Have you seen enough your majesty or would you like someone else to face me?”[/i]

The elf’s words were spoken like icy daggers. They momentarily brought the Queen’s mind back in the room, but all she could muster out of her mouth was a faint ”No….”. Lucretia must have looked like such a child to this girl. She did not say anything else. There was no talk of the contract, her credentials, or even her name. Lucretia was still in shock and had no idea what to do next.

[keri]

As her dark blue eyes watched the Queen, Kieran kept her face blank. The aversion the Queen seemed to have towards blood was amusing. She had asked for this yet she didn’t see exactly happy with the outcome. The lovely Antivan woman in her finery and jewels was pale and shaking like someone who had just seen the worst of the worst. How could anyone ask for a display and then shy away from the outcome? Her hands were shaking and she seemed like she was choking on the air that was filling her lungs.

The young queen had held her composure earlier but now she looked like nothing more than a scared child. Without moving her gaze more than a fraction of an inch, Kieran knew that everyone that was in the room was staring at her. Some had a stare of blank horror, while others were staring open mouthed in shock. Thankfully all of her training made it easy to keep her stare forward and her face blank of emotion. The queen had wanted an audition and she had gotten what she had asked for.

”No….” The poor thing, even her voice was weak and pathetic. Kieran wondered why someone who was so weak needed a bodyguard. It wasn’t like anyone would have a problem taking her position from her. They could probably ply her with presents and Antiva’s throne would belong to them. It was a sad thought truth be told. ”I am Kieran of the Crows. If you need a bodyguard then I am currently looking for work. If I am not what you are looking let me know please so I can be on my way.” Her tone was pleasant enough but it wasn’t something one would normally use for proper royalty. Then again things here in Antiva weren’t exactly normal.

]

[shizukahotd]

”I am Kieran of the Crows. If you need a bodyguard then I am currently looking for work. If I am not what you are looking let me know please so I can be on my way.” [/i]

The girl, Kieran was her name, was so damn blunt. It seemed she had not patience nor care for anything but her money. Lucretia was a bit shocked and had no idea how to handle the situation. The fact that Kieran was so short to be on her way and seemed so ignorant to Lucretia’s feelings, got on her nerves. There was no excuse for haste or crassness. It was not fair that this Kieran get the whole show today and just leave it at that.

”I don’t know if you should be my bodyguard! Is this what you plan on doing to me someday? Is this how you will act toward me forever?” It was obvious that the Queen had insecurities. Loneliness has set in and it did not make for good company. It was not that she doubted the elf, but she did not trust her. Lucretia did not trust anybody, and she had no reason to. She was disliked by many for reasons she found juvenile, but none the less, she was disliked. She had hoped to find someone who would revel in the idea of working for her and being by her side. Instead there was this girl in front of her who seemed to not care either way as long as she got paid. It made Lucretia more nervous than anything. She desperately needed someone who she knew would be on her side. There was a lot that could happen soon and she needed to feel safe and not just protected. She wasn’t sure if this girl could provide that.

Lucretia motioned for the mess from the guard to be cleaned up and everyone to clear the room. They had seen enough of the massacre and enough of Lucretia’s temper. She was now past the point of stressed. This was going to be between the two of them. Kieran and Lucretia would now be alone, and she could see if she could really trust the girl.

[keri]

It was easy to see that the Antivan Queen was rather shocked about the whole situation. Frankly Kieran wasn’t sure about the reason. The Queen had made her demands and Kieran had done them, nothing more and nothing less. What was it that this woman wanted? She had asked for a show and she had gotten it. Kieran was sure she knew what the crows could do, so why was she so surprised at seeing it all in action. She had been silent after, so Kieran had told her what business she had and that was all. Apparently the Queen wasn’t quite thrilled with what she had heard. ”I don’t know if you should be my bodyguard! Is this what you plan on doing to me someday? Is this how you will act toward me forever?”

Kieran kept her face blank, though a slight smile twitched at the corner of her lips. She had done nothing wrong and she knew it. Obviously the Queen was a little overly sensitive. ”I apologize if I have offended your Majesty. That wasn’t my intention but when you said nothing I thought that you were waiting for me to speak.” Her tone was polite, and truthful enough. What the hell did this woman want? She had asked for a show and she had gotten it. Did she expect Kieran to do nothing and defy her? Kieran had done nothing more than do as she was told and now it seemed that the Queen was displeased.

The Queen motioned for the room to be cleaned and then waved her staff away. Kieran made no movement nor did she say anything. This wasn’t her palace and she was no one to question the Queen’s judgments. However had it been her, she would have kept someone to make it look like she was protected. It was obvious that if she got this job things would need to change, or the Queen would be dead much sooner than she was ready to go. Had Kieran been here to assassinate the Queen, she had just been given the perfect moment.

[shizukahotd]

”I apologize if I have offended your Majesty. That wasn’t my intention but when you said nothing I thought that you were waiting for me to speak,” said Kieran with a blank face but pleasant tone. Lucretia had not thought of the situation like that and now felt foolish. If she kept acting like this she was going to push someone else out of her life. But she couldn’t help but find this girl odd. The only emotion she had shown so far was in the midst of killing. The girl seemed empty…frozen…unreal. Lucretia had the urge to touch her just to see is she actually existed or if she was an apparitional nightmare. Maybe it was good that Kieran was the way she was, or maybe there was a reason for her broken attitude, but Luci was in no mood to figure it out now. Whatever would happen, this girl was most qualified and seemed to be respectful.

Honestly, Lucretia knew she should have conducted some sort of actual interview, but she would rather go with her gut. From this day forth Kieran Darcy would be at the side of the Queen of Antiva. Lucretia hoped it to be a noble joining, almost out of a fairy tale. She walked toward Kieran, the jingling of her jewelry almost like a music box. She was covered in expensive fine golds and wore a tight black dress that slid across the floor. Parts of it were bound by Antivan leather that gave off a distinct smell that mixed with the florals of her perfume. When she got closer she grabbed Kieran by the hands almost like a child would. ”Please forgive me. This entire world is new. I did not expect you to be so withdrawn and respectful. I would really love us to be friends, but answer this one question and you can surely be my bodyguard.” Lucretia held Kieran’s hands tighter and looked her directly in the eyes. The elf had gorgeous dark blue eyes that reminded her of the sea at night. She let out a sigh and then proceeded. ”Promise me that whatever will happen you will be by my side. A lot is changing in this world and I have little to trust. I am alone with you right now because I trust you. Tell me you will not betray that and you have a position of honor.”

She looked at the elf and waited for any response. This was Lucretia’s final decision and no one was going to change it. This was her first feat of real independence and no counselor or advisor would change what she decided was hers.

[keri]

Kieran had been waiting for the Queen to speak but was confused when instead the Queen began to walk towards her. Her face was kept impassive but she wasn’t sure what was about to happen. The Queen’s jewelry tinkled loudly in the silence, and Keri remembered why she never wore any. It would give one’s position away. Even when she had to blend in her jewels were minimal. Kieran’s nose twitched slightly as the floral perfume reached her nostrils; she never was a fan of the stuff. It made her head hurt. The queen was rather close, and the crow was fighting the urge to step back when her hands were grasped. It took all of her self-control not to hip check the Queen. Kieran wasn’t the touchy feely type.

”Please forgive me. This entire world is new. I did not expect you to be so withdrawn and respectful. I would really love us to be friends, but answer this one question and you can surely be my bodyguard.” It was like torture, this woman wanted to be friends and she was currently holding Kieran’s callused hands. This felt wrong on a million levels but Kieran was smart enough not to show that in her face or her body language. She wasn’t stupid enough to anger the Queen even though everyone knew it was the crows that ran Antiva. ”Promise me that whatever will happen you will be by my side. A lot is changing in this world and I have little to trust. I am alone with you right now because I trust you. Tell me you will not betray that and you have a position of honor.”

Kieran’s head was beginning to hurt, was this woman a total idiot or was the seriously that naïve? Surely she knew that a bodyguard couldn’t just follow their charge around. Oh well, if she didn’t she would be taught soon enough. Kieran wasn’t about to tolerate her acting like a fool no matter what her title was. With a polite nod she began to speak, her voice soft. ”I promise you can trust me, but I can’t promise to be at your side. If a time comes and I must leave to protect you then I will do that Su Majestad.” She offered a slight smile, knowing that she may be forced into more uncomfortable positions if she didn’t show a little more emotion to the Queen.

The more Kieran thought about it the more she was wondering about this job. It would pay rather well, but was she really up to dealing with this woman? She was only a year older than the Queen, but it felt like they had come from two different planets. She wanted to think of the Queen as a child because to Kieran she was more childlike than all the children she had seen training to become Crows, this job was probably going to make her absolutely crazy.

[shizukahotd]

As Lucretia touched Kieran, the girl seemed a bit unresponsive. Luci wasn’t really sure why, but she thought maybe the girl was just shy. And them Kieran responded, ” “.[/i] Lucretia was so excited she couldn’t contain it. She let out a noise that sounded almost like a squeak as she clapped her hands together. This was one of the most exciting moments of her life. She had just chosen a body guard of her own free will, and things were seeming like they could work themselves out. Lucretia actually did have a desire to impress and rule well, and she was hoping that people would take notice to some of her decisions. She felt like a weight had lifted from her shoulders and a new life was beginning. There was some deep down optimism that maybe these events could wash away the terrible taste of her father’s death out of her mouth, but it was unlikely that this small occurrence would completely do away with such a tragedy.

With all the excitement Lucretia had thought to run at Kieran and give her a hug, but then she remembered the hair. Thinking about how one fell swoop of Kieran’s hair had harmed her previous guard, set Luci back a bit and made her want to be a little less touchy feely. Instead she smiled and nodded to Keri, ”I am so glad we have come to this conclusion and that you will now be my guard. Your payment will come soon and you will receive a large monthly salary. Also you may call the palace your home. There are several areas open in this hall designated for the Crows, or you may pick another area of the palace to stay in if you wish. If you are to need anything else please feel free to come to me.” Lucretia desired with all her heart that Kieran would agree to say in the palace with her. It was a big place, but it would make her feel better just to know Keri was around. Plus if anything were to happen, she doubted the girl could make it in time from anywhere else. Luci wasn’t sure if this request was normal, but she just spoke her heart in hopes for a good outcome.

[keri]

This was all so strange. Kieran still wasn’t sure why she had been sent for this job but she was sure the Claudio had a purpose for it. The queen was something that Kieran had never dealt with before. Most of the women that she was around were either fellow crows or woman who worked in the taverns that she occasionally had to use as a cover story. Women like them were tired and subdued but not the Queen. She was vivacious and bright, full of a happiness that Kieran had never felt before. This was already giving her a headache, but the elf knew how to hide that well enough. It was all Kieran could do to now wince as the Queen squeaked like a child and clapped her hands. This was definitely not going to be an easy job.

Kieran’s dark blue eyes watched as the Queens body language gave it away that she was thinking of hugging the grow. Kieran held back a sigh of happiness when the woman didn’t act on that thought. A smile and a nod was all she was given and Kieran was much more comfortable with that to be perfectly honest. ”I am so glad we have come to this conclusion and that you will now be my guard. Your payment will come soon and you will receive a large monthly salary. Also you may call the palace your home. There are several areas open in this hall designated for the Crows, or you may pick another area of the palace to stay in if you wish. If you are to need anything else please feel free to come to me.”

Kieran thought for a moment, wondering how to phrase this without sounding as cold as she had before. She offered slight smile, though it was probably obvious that she didn’t do it often enough. As a crow you weren’t usually given a reason to genuinely smile. ”If there is a room near yours that would be best. That way I can hear if something is happening no matter the time. If there is one with a secret passage to your quarters that would be even better.”

[shizukahotd]

Luci was elated to hear Keri was going to be staying with her! But so close!? Luci was a bit embarrassed and began to blush. She didn’t really know how to explain her problem with that set up. She thought for a long while and began trying to speak about the situation, but only a couple numbers came out of her mouth. She had never really talked to anyone, except her tutors, about “you know what” and didn’t know how to bring it up to someone she had just met. She tried again and began blushing harder and fidgeting. ”Um…Keri…” she started, ”what if…I had a..ya know…boy..”

Her words were choppy and quiet as she turned her head to the side so that Keri would not look at her. She did not know how experienced Keri was, so Luci thought she must have looked stupid in this Crow’s eyes. The thing that bothered her most was that Keri would know what men Luci was with every time. It’s not that Luci was loose, but she had no idea where her future would bring her. She was a hormonal adult and things happened.

”Keri…I’m trying to say…I don’t know what I’m going to be doing in my room all the time.” She probably looked like such a promiscuous floozy. She didn’t mean to look as such, but she was nervous. Kieran might not care or she might see Luci as a terrible person. Luci didn’t know how conservative the girl was. It would be really nice to have her so close in case anything were to happen, though. Maybe Keri could kick out a man Luci didn’t like. Ha!! She laughed to herself. That would be a riot to see! Unfortunately, Keri was not just a servant that was here for Luci’s amusement. She was a bodyguard, and Luci needed to treat her that way. But it would be hard for her to treat anyone with their allotted amount of respect. Luci had trouble distinguishing between those who were her playthings and those who were more than that. Her father made sure that the world was her playground growing up. Even he would adhere to her every whim. So now trying to get along with someone on a professional level would be hard to do. Luci wanted to grab Keri and start running around all of Antiva. She wanted to adventure everywhere and know she was out of danger.

[keri]

The Queen began to blush making Kieran feel rather uneasy. It was easy to tell that the girl was baffled and it was obvious that whatever was on her mind was making her bush grow even worse. ”Um…Keri what if…I had a..ya know…boy..” The Queen stammered and blushed. Kieran commented on nothing, not even the fact that the Queen had apparently given her a new nickname. What was her problem? She couldn’t be talking about what Kieran thought she was talking about could she? ”Keri…I’m trying to say…I don’t know what I’m going to be doing in my room all the time.”
Actually she was. This was a little awkward but Kieran but she should have known that the Queen would be naive and a little silly. Kieran swallowed, before pulling in air through her teeth to calm herself. If she had a little more time she would have been happier, but she needed to do this now. The problem was that she needed to be firm. ”Your Majesty what you do on your own time is your business. If I am to be an effective body guard then I need to be close. If I am halfway across the castle and you scream you are dead before I can make it to you.”
Her tone was as polite as she could make it while it still sounded firm. This was not up for negotiation. To do her job she needed to be close, and that was that. Kieran refused to work for someone who couldn’t listen to her. Claudio wanted his sister safe, that was why he had sent her here, but she wasn’t going to just take all of this money offered and not do her job right. Kieran smiled slightly, to show she was trying to be friendly, and she honestly didn’t care whether the Queen had guests or not. Sure a Queen should protect her maidenhead but it wasn’t Kieran’s place to say anything about that.