Moon Scythe - Prologue
#1 of Moon Scythe Series
The cloaked Figure crested the hill and looked at the small village laid out before him. It was like most villages in Inner Cestial built in a circular manner, The Town "Square" at the center, with the inn and chandelier ringed with the laborers like blacksmiths and woodcutters, and on the outside the farmers with their large fields. He smiled to himself and set down his staff to adjust his pack. He gathered his staff and slowly made his way down to the village, the farmers stopping in their work as he passed shaking their heads and going back to it.
As the cloaked figure made it to the center of the small village he noticed the inn keeper, a portly Black Labrador of a man out on the porch of his inn smoking a pipe. "Hello there Traveler, do you need a room for the night?" The innkeeper smiled and rubbed his stomach as he spoke to the cloaked man. Removing his hood the raven looked at the dog, a smile touching his beak, "indeed I do good sir, But I have little In the way of coin, I was hoping to exchange my stay for my services" With that the dog's smile vanished and his head cocked to the side "I'm Listening".
"I am a Teller, and I was hoping to spend the night in exchange for a story or two for your village, getting everyone into your inn, and likely ordering something to drink." The Raven continued to smile as the innkeeper rubbed the underside of his muzzle in thought.
"Alright, come on in and let's get you settled, Then you can go around town and let them know you are here" the Lab waved his new guest into the inn and walked in. the Raven Adjusted his pack and followed the Lab into the inn, and was greeted by the smell of cooking meat. The Innkeeper was already behind the bar "your room is upstairs, All the way to the top" The dog handed Him the key and he made his way to the third floor, opening the door to a slant roofed room. The attic again He sighed and set down his gear, unable to stand at his full height. Leaving his walking stick and pack in the room he made his way back down to the main room of the inn, waving to the innkeeper as he walked out the door to go see the people of the town.
He made his way to the chandelier a small bell ringing as he opened the door "One minute!" a feminine voice called form the back, which was closely followed by a Grey mouse woman with green eyes and a dazzling smile, which she showed off to him now. "How may I help you?"
The Raven's eyes glittered as he smiled and bowed, "Hello Madam I am a Teller, visiting here on my travels, and was wondering if you would be able to help me by telling anyone that may come in here that I am staying at the Inn and will be telling a story or two this evening" He said with a wink "I certainly hope to see you there." The Mouse smiled, blushed, and nodded and the Raven Left the chandelier to continue his walk.
After finishing his rounds of the village, talking to anyone who would spare him a minute, the Raven made his way to the tree on the hill overlooking the village that he had stopped at on his way in. As he sat down he reached into his cloak and pulled out a travel biscuit, closed his eyes and leaned back against the tree, taking small bites and feeling the wind on his face.
He must have dosed off because the next thing he knew, He was being gently poked in the shoulder. He opened his right eye, and was greeted by the timid smile of a small kitten in a dress. "Hello, my name is Asureen and... the Innkeeper asked me to come and get you... its well after sundown." The Raven looked around and it indeed was dark, the top of the kill barely lit from the nightly fire lit in the center of the village, as was custom in Inner Cestial.
The Raven let out as sigh as he stood up, Stretching. "Nice to meet you Asureen my name is Crabanniel." He looked down at the Small Kitten, She was cute, a mottled brown color with a black patch over her eye, one of her canine teeth poking out form her lip as her "adult" teeth grew in. "Do you know who you are named after Asureen?" The kitten timidly shook her head no, and Crabanniel smiled down at her, "Ah, well I know what story I will be telling tonight and maybe for several nights to come. Come along, I have people to entertain." He placed his hand on the kitten's Back and they made their way back to the Inn.
Crabanniel made his way to an empty table near the fire place, Place a chair on top of it, and Sat down above everyone else, So that everyone could hear. "I apologize for being late, I seem to have dozed off in my old age" He chuckled as he said this and so did the crowd. "Tonight I had the chance meeting with a young kitten by the name of Asureen, and since she does not know the story of her name sake that is the story that I am going to tell."
"Now, there is only one way to tell the story of Asureen and that is to start with the story of her partner Caseel." Crabanniel looked around the room and everyone was listening intently. "Caseel was Born to a Blacksmith in the village of Oakhaven in Outer Cestial near the coast........"
To be continued.