Stolen Sister

Draka Corvidae sat in the center of the Great Raven Hall, her face riddled with tension as she studied the map of her tribe’s borderlands. The Doscarii had made incursions in the surrounding villages and it would only be a matter of time before they tried to enslave the Free Tribes of Temera. Draka knew she needed to call upon Clan Canidae and their ferocious leader Moranna; the Canidae were pledged to the Corvidae under the laws of the Raven Goddess. They would answer the call if called but Draka did not want to precipitate conflict if it could be avoided. As she carefully planned her next move the silence of her sanctuary was undone by an ungodly commotion at the hall’s door.

“Let me pass! I have terrible news…Draka must hear me!” the shrill alarmed tones belonged to Tala one of Draka’s closest friends and one of the only women in the tribe to refuse the warrior’s path and take on the healer’s garb. The guards stood firmly as Draka had commanded none be granted entry until after she had called her war council. However, she knew only a tremendous cataclysm would extol such behavior from the usually levelheaded healer. Draka calmly made her way to the door and sent her guardsmen away, much to Tala’s relief.

“Tala, you have never been one prone to hysterics. Please come and tell me what has disturbed you so.” Draka said as she motioned to a chair for the healer to sit. Tala refused the gesture and in an uncharacteristic burst unloaded her tale.

“Vara! She’s gone Draka! The whole hunting party… Gone! Elos is dead! All the men dead and the women have been taken! The Doscarii…Out by Talos Ridge! They ambushed the hunters and what’s worse it was a slaver caravan. They do not know who she is. Vara was not wearing the colors! She was wearing common hunter garb. They will sell her or kill her.” Tala finished the sentence in an anguished cry. Draka’s face darkened with rage as the news of her sister’s abduction sank in. The Doscarii slavers would often raid the free tribes for slaves but Corvidae women were particularly rich prizes as the Domari men were fascinated by their strength and independence and made a game of breaking any they captured.

“Tala call my brother and the bladeswomen we must ride to Aquilos and demand they return my sister to me.” Draka said in a voice that brooked no arguments. Tala shakily gathered herself and acknowledged her chieftain’s orders.

“By the Raven’s Blood I will call the council. - Briefly pausing, and turning paler with grief she timorously continued- Draka, I’m sorry I could not stop them. I am sorry I let them take Vara.” Tala said shakily. Draka’s face softened as she looked upon her distraught friend.

“Tala, your place is healing the sick. The warrior’s mantle is mine to bear. Go in peace sister of my heart.” And with that Draka dismissed her friend to her orders and she walked to the War Chamber to await her council. She would ensure Vara’s safe return or the Domari Imperator would have hell to pay from the Free Tribes.

Out on Talos ridge chained in the cage of the slavers caravan sat Vara Corvidae. Scowling as she stared at her fellow captives, she could not fathom how they had been so careless as to allow the Doscarii scum to catch them off guard. Eria, the youngest of the huntresses sat weeping in a corner as the wagon jostled across the Demeris Plains to Vara’s disgust. She would not give the valueless trash the satisfaction of her tears or her submission. She calmly tried to cobble together a plan to escape at the first opportunity. She addressed Velas, the tribe’s best huntress and signaled to Eria to huddle closer.

“We cannot show fear. They expect to break us and we must not bend or falter regardless of their torture.” Vara said and despite some of the younger girls’ apprehension they nodded in accord. Vara continued to describe her idea for their potential escape.

“As soon as we arrive at the Market in Aquilos I will create a distraction, those fools only took our bows and swords but they failed to take our Ravens claws. They think them mere necklaces and baubles; so when they reach for you Eria and you Kinara I will attack the older one and you all will run. Steal horses, steal weapons, and head home. We cannot allow them to take us as slaves.” Vara said. The girls nodded and settled back into their corners the sharp talon knives on their necks tightly clasped in their hands.

In Temera Draka and her war council assembled to discuss how they would proceed with the rescue of Vara and the surviving hunters. Draka’s brother Vrokas, Ryza the High Priestess, Eron the Chief Guard, and Tamaclos the Elder Healer formed the council and would weigh in on the options presented till Draka decided the final choice. The council room bowed with the tense weight of silence as the assembled pondered what approach was best as the Domari might not yet realize who they had captured amongst the other hunters. Tamaclos broke through the quite first.

“Draka, I feel that we must contact the Canidae and Ursidae. Domari people will want Vara as a slave as she is of an iron will not unlike your own. She is too fine a prize for them to return her willingly and given her temper she will likely reveal her true identity and then we will go to war regardless.” Tamaclos said solemnly. Draka was surprised at such a harsh assessment by the gentle old Tamaclos but she would judge nothing until the whole council had spoken. Vrokas spoke next.

“Tamaclos makes a good point Draka. We cannot allow the Doscarii to realize what they have taken.” Vrokas said solemnly then retook his seat at her side. At that moment Ryza, who had been silent and somewhat inscrutable to regard stood and quiet descended upon the council.

“Draka, the Goddess speaks. The message is clear: No Ravens to Doscarus shall fly, if a hatchling has been taken only the Mother can rescue supply.” Ryza’s eyes were blank as she spoke fully possessed by the Raven Goddess. The council shuddered under the weight of her decree. As all held their breath Ryza collapsed back into her seat and her eyes once more the raven’s gold filled with tears. The message was clear only the Mother, a title held by the ruling chieftain, could be spared for the rescue effort.

Draka’s face darkened, she knew that only one could ride and she needed to recover Vara and the girls. She turned and calmly addressed Eron and Vrokas.

“Eron, you will dispatch the Huntresses that are here to the other Free Tribes. Vrokas, you will hold the Corvidae together as my surrogate. Ryza, I need you to gather Tala, Tamaclos, Elon, and Tamarus and have the healing enclave prepared for my return. Eron, have my horse ready as I ride at dusk.” She ordered. As the others began to disperse Vrokas stood and addressed the council out of turn.

“How can you like field mice accept her word? She is mad! She risks our people’s stability by abandoning her post to rescue Vara by herself!” Vrokas shouted, his face drained of color.

Tamaclos grasped the hotheaded boy’s arm and gave a glare that shamed Vrokas into silence.

"Your sister needs you to hold our lands, as you are second in line to her position. Vara and Draka will be out of our reach and will need our strength. You must show our people a brave face, so they harness their power instead of their fear." the old man’s words sunk in despite Vrokas mercurial temperament.

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