He sat cross legged on the cold floor of an abandoned cottage. Moonlight filtered through where the roof had been. He was laying out the cards. All he got was l'empereur. Over and over again, it was like reliving that night at the Pineapple. The same dark, arrogant king staring out at him. And yet he turned over them again and again. An odd wind blew in and the cards flew into the air. They spiraled to where the roof would have been. Each card became a black bird which flew through the air and flocked together. The birds became translucent shadow of a bird. The shadows flowed together into a far corner of the ruined cottage. He watched it unfold before him, wondering what could happen next. A man stepped from the shadow or rather the shadow seemed to become the man. Whoever this ma n he knew how to make an entrance. The man was dressed in black, his hair was straight and black, he had a pale handsome face. Childermass recognized him. "Who are you, sir? I know we've met before."

The man smiled and spoke. "Yes, we have." He spoke with a Northern accent tinged with French. "Perhaps this will give you a better idea"
The man's fashionable clothing became a black cloak, over his head a peaked helmet with was mantling of raven feathers appeared and covered his face.

Childermass's eyes widened, he sank to his knees. "I'm sorry I did not know you, lord."

"Get up." ordered The Raven King. Once more he was in contemporary garb.
Childermass got up and dusted himself off.

The Raven King took a step closer.

"What do want from me, Lord?" Childermass said in his most respectful tone.

The King smiled. He was now very close to Childermass, He leant forward and ran his hand over Childermass's face. He tenderly brushed aside his long dark hair. This was somewhat familiar there had been encounters like this when he was at sea. But why had The Raven King picked him? Of the people in all the worlds there surely were ones fairer and more pleasing then him. The King smiled again as if he knew the other man's thoughts. "Because I wish it"
And with that he kissed Childermass on the lips.
Childermass returned The King's kiss.

In this dream they made love, sometimes on the floor of the cottage, sometimes on in a featherbed and sometimes high in the night sky or against a wall. It was all one. Every sensation was heightened, every touch carried pleasure.
And it ended. Childermass woke up, he was in the inn bed, but he felt exhausted. He couldn't quite remebre the contents of the dream, it was fuzzy and came only in fragments. But outside the window there was black bird perched on a branch.