《Mark of the Lash》Early Morning Embarrassment
Advertisement
An assortment of bird cages lined the fabric walls of the wagon, in seemingly random patterns. The cages – both large and small – were strapped to the wooden poles that supported the thick canvas covering of the wagon. Stacked from floor to ceiling, any other worker would have trouble differentiating the order in which they were arranged. Yet, for Cruck’aa, there was a reason for their layout.
He had arranged the cages into groups, with each section filled with birds that were happy to be one another’s neighbor. The smaller, chattier birds stuck together, while the larger, solitary birds occupied a corner to themselves. Other birds were placed in the middle, with the those more likely to make friends sharing a border with the chatty ones, while the quieter birds were placed with the other, more introverted birds.
With this organization, Cruck’aa had changed the cacophony of shrieks and shrills to a chorus of song, something that his employer was amazed at.
Cruck’aa took the praise in stride – and didn’t tell him that he could simply ask the birds where they wished to be. Being an Aarakocra had its perks.
One of the chattier birds, a tiny grey cockatiel, hopped up and down in its cage, and yelled for Cruck’aa’s attention.
“Out! Out!” it shouted, jumping about like a rabbit. “Out! Out!”
“Yes, yes” Cruck’aa said evenly. He walked over, ensuring the movement of the wagon didn’t throw him off, and opened the cage. The cockatiel climbed onto his talon, a gleam in its eye. “Out, out.”
Each bird was allotted a specific time in which they were able to fly about the caravan and stretch their wings, something that his employer had never given thought to. However, Cruck’aa only let those out who he knew would come back; after the first escape, he knew which group of birds would make a break for it the moment they could.
Advertisement
If only he could accommodate them.
He walked to the back of the wagon, opened the flaps, and shot his hand out; the cockatiel flew out, and began fluttering about the top of the wagon. Cruck’aa grinned as he watched the small bird enjoy its freedom.
“But, boss, I don’t know what I did!”
Cruck’aa’s grin faded immediately as he sat down on the edge of the wagon, watching the cockatiel closely.
Down the road, Serena’s wagon followed just close enough for him to overhear their conversation. They same conversation they had been having for days.
And he was sick of it.
The teamster that called herself Werond was sitting rudely on the driver’s bench. She had leaned back and kicked her legs up on the wagon’s frame and had one arm laid out over the backrest. Cruck’aa couldn’t wrap his head around her instance of wearing clothes that looked worn beyond time. Her tunic and work pants were faded from the sun, with mended holes in various spots across the fabric, and worst of all, they seemed to be the only pair of clothes she owned.
She gripped the reins in her mouth, and pulled her thick hair back, throwing it over the frame of the bench as she leaned back into her original spot.
Serena sat next to her, skirt pulled tight around her legs, and bunched up under her. Her white tunic looked spotless next to Werond if a bit ruffled.
Cruck’aa could barely see her signs but still heard her voice, clear as day.
“No! I’m not talking about it!” Serena’s blue eyes were narrowed, face contorted in irritation. “I don’t want to talk about it! You need to take responsibility for your mistakes, not me!”
Werond grinned in confusion. “Serena, how am I going to do that…when I don’t know what I did?”
Advertisement
“You should know!” Serena yelled in Cruck’aa’s head, her hands a fury of motion; though she seemed furious, Cruck’aa thought that she was trying too hard, as though Serena was covering something else. “You should remember! I shouldn’t have to remind you –” She let loose a yell of frustration, and turned away, fists balled against her legs.
Werond’s grin hadn’t faded. “And I agree with you! I do! But I can’t fix something that I don’t remember doing. You’d agree with that, right?”
Serena didn’t respond; she stared her fingernails as though they held the secrets of the world.
“Hey, I didn’t know there was a spell to paint your nails, that’s pretty nifty.” Werond said, scooting over to Serena. “Think I could learn that sometime? Is it just black or is there a better color?”
Serena shot her a look that caused Werond to slide back to her side of the bench, laughing nervously.
“Okay, okay, sorry boss.”
The pair lapsed into silence, with Werond driving and Serena now stroking her braid of hair that lay against her chest.
Cruck’aa began to express his thanks to Aerdrie, when Werond opened her mouth again.
“Okay how ‘bout this,” she said, “you won’t tell me, and I can’t remember. So, I’ll start listing off stuff, and you tell me if I’m close to…whatever I did. That way I can figure things out, and you don’t have to talk about it. Sounds good?”
Serena shot Werond another look but this time, Werond wasn’t deterred.
“Okay, okay, so…I did something so bad that you’ve been holding a grudge for days. Is it…about the Zultans?” Serena shook her head. “Hmm. What about food? I know I forgot your soup a couple nights ago.” Serena furrowed her brows. “Oh, okay. Uh…did I mess up the sleeping spots in the wagon? I know I tore the blanket at some point…but wait, you fixed that, that’s not it. Uh…oh! You wanted to drink with Bo! And I drank all of it!”
“Close.” Serena signed angrily. Werond nodded, paying no heed to her irritation.
“Close huh? Okay, I can work with that. Wait, you said you don’t drink so it wasn’t that…but I did get shit-faced that night – oh, I said something, didn’t I!” Serena looked away, staring off into a distant forest that lay beyond the grass plains. “Yeah, I did! So, I said something bad to you…oh, but if I said something bad, then I bet anything that I did something bad too, huh?” Serena remained silent. “Oh…well if I did something then…”
Werond grinned.
She slid across the bench, and leaned into Serena’s ear, whispering something that Cruck’aa couldn’t hear.
Serena whipped around, face turning scarlet, and punched Werond in the chest. Werond threw her head back and let loose a deep throated laugh, as Serena continued her assault.
“Boss, boss!” Werond said through her laughter, sliding once more to her side. “I get it, too much! And sorry about…whatever I did that night. Hopefully, it wasn’t too enjoyable.”
Serena’s eyes went wide, and she opened her mouth as if to speak. Werond laughed as, to Cruck’aa’s surprise, Serena’s face became redder than the sun. Werond reached over and patted Serena on the back, as she buried her face into her hands.
Cruck’aa sighed. Perhaps now those two would shut up.
Advertisement
- In Serial16 Chapters
The Normal Dungeon Core: Lethe
Just a normal, standard, no extra frills or gills, dungeon core LitRPG novel in a fantastical world. And as usual, a system exists! Prologue: You know all those stories about reincarnation? Where our beloved (or hated) protagonists are transferred to a new world to conquer, defeat the demon lord, rescue the princess. or are made into mythical gems of power with control over Monsters and Men (psst..a dungeon core)? Where they get a cheat-like ability, are special, granted privileges, or have knowledge from another world? Well, I read about them too in my spare time before I came here. At least, I think I did. Now, you might be asking, where is 'here' ? To answer your somewhat specific, yet vague, question my dear audience...I don't know! But what I do know is that...well nothing other than I had a past life...I think... Anyway...You are correct in assuming that I was indeed reincarnated into a dungeon core! But... ..I have no idea who I was. ...I don't seem to have any special powers or skills or cheats. ....And I was specifically told by Mr. S that I am not, and never will be, "special." Now, if you are confused, then I'm doing a great job, because you probably have no idea what I'm talking about, I haven't given you a background story, or taken you through the last few hours of my new existence. We will get to that! I promise! The main reason I am telling you this absurd and completely delusional preface, is to introduce to you the idea that I, as in me, the new dungeon core, am not "special".............. With that out of the way, how about we rewind time a bit to when I...developed my consciousness? Yes? Great! Lets goooooo! ---------
8 157 - In Serial13 Chapters
LiMB: ZERO DARK ASCENSION ARMA
LiMB is a work of fiction inspired by webnovels such as "Re:Zero - Starting life in another world" and visual novels such as "Fate/Stay night" or "Sengoku Rance". Not unlike a visual novel LiMB has two main routes branching out from the the first chapter, with additional routes being added as the story progresses. There are also "ending routes", spinoffs or dead-ends that still need to be told. There is no recommended reading order, although a chapter in one path may shed light on another. When a choice appears in a chapter that choice will be branded as (R1), (R2) or (SR) for a special offshot ending. I hope you will enjoy this, more art will be added along the way // grunt
8 63 - In Serial6 Chapters
It's not Paranoia if you're Right!; A Talltale of Nervous Wreck become a Duke in Other World
You know, sometimes when a person, A tired, sleepy person that is. Sleep unto their bed they expect to wake in the same bed. No matter if that bed spring had sunken by two inches in the middle. It just you know, a expected, reliable, constant. But here I am now, getting chummy of (hope-not-to-be-evil-cultist) loyal-eternal-servant on a floating magick castle. LOOK PEOPLE how I am PROJECTING CONFIDENCE and ASSURANCE THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT. *cry in the corner* Read faster release at Liko Library "Fantasy Work" by Huw Allen is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
8 110 - In Serial34 Chapters
HELL NO!!! I'm Never Gonna Get Married To You!
Be careful what you wish for, because sometimes wishes come true... especially if you wish for something NOT to happen! Andy Carter ends up in the bed with Austin Blake, a rich arrogant guy, just before she gets to know she's going to have to marry him. Some family traditions and business deals made these two, totally opposite people, bind in an intangible force of.... LOVE... Hate transforming into unconditional Love.........Lust-filled intentions turning into unending Love.........But somethings won't just let them be together!Will Andy Carter ever going to get married to Austin Blake??A twisty, jealous, juicy, cranky, lustful, Arranged Love Story.......
8 113 - In Serial12 Chapters
Isekaid Friendship
Louis is living his best life until one of his friends, Andy drives him, Cristian and himself off a cliff. But even though it looks like the end it somehow isn't. He's getting reincarnated. In this new strange world they'll experience both new things and fight dangourus foes. But will they survive encounters with creatures that far more powerfull than they ever could imagine?
8 91 - In Serial44 Chapters
Persona 6: Fanmade redone!
Disclaimer! I do not own the concept of this or persona or the photo! That belongs to Atlus and Crosspawgames and red icing guy! Also updates are known to be really fucking sparce. So be prepared to wait.After the death of her mother, Suki Ichika has moved to the small rural town of Narhau to live with her estranged father. The town has been plagued with a mysterious flu for years, which everyone has. So when people turn up dead, it is up to Suki and her new group of friends to save both the town and the world from this mysterious threat.
8 198