Over the Hills and Over This Map

Written by izzithebengal

Raven clears his throat and repeats himself, this time in an unsteady sing-song. "I think… I think I've got it."
Speaking up is a gamble, but then, what isn't when it comes to this mission of insanity?
He shoots the recently-returned Tauren a hard look, hating how badly he feels for the beast. Raven knows all too well what it feels like to be judged on appearances only, but he really didn't intend to carry a burden of sympathy for someone he just met.
Mignon's great head rolls back and forth as if he is saying, I gave you the map for a reason, elf.
It strikes Raven: the map is in Thalassian. Mignon is just being speciesist and assuming Raven knows the elven language. Not that he's wrong.
A wave of bloodthistle withdrawal washes over Raven, all nausea and dizziness, and he puts his hand on Jika's neck to steady himself. His hawkstrider nibbles at locks of Raven's hair, a sure sign Jika knows how much distress Raven is in. "Less so with you here, friend," Raven whispers into the white feathers. And it's true - the civil war of anxiety in his guts has lulled and his fingertips have stopped tingling. Jika's steady, watchful presence does wonders for Raven's internal complexion, even without a supply of bloodthistle on hand.
One breath. Two. Three. I am alive. I am alive. The meditation is a technique his father taught him for centering before breaking wild hawkstriders.
"OK, so think of this, right," Raven says as he pushes off Jika, "a castle has its servants' quarters, staircases in the walls, secret passages between supply room and kitchen, that kind of thing. The less you see of the servants, the better, that's how royalty thinks."
Raven is studiously avoiding eye contact with Kinzin, because he'd rather not get scolded for white lies right now. That means he has to look deep into the troll woman's eyes, a deeply unsettling prospect. She's eyeing him like she might eat him, though whether as a snack or a special companion, Raven honestly can't tell.
"Now, the Bloodcraft Estate, being at the top of a big hill and all, operates a lot like a castle, grounds and all. Meaning…"
He catches Mignon's eye and arches a brow, but the bull doesn't take the hint, blinking back expectantly.
Raven sighs. "Meaning that there are a fair number of secret ways to get around the estate grounds. Including, apparently, a passage through the mountains near a tree with signs on it. Which, uh…" He holds the map up in front of his face, confusion scrunching at his brow. "…has all sorts of food words written around it…?"
He finally locks gazes with Kinzin, and embarrassment rushes hot across Raven's face. He drops the map to his side and busies himself picking invisible mites out of Jika's wing.
"That's, uh, about as much as I could gather," Raven mutters.