The Eagle and the Crow
Chapter 1
A Kind Stranger
I rose at dawn, watching as the sun rose over the vast city of Acre. I saw its rosy rays, but the warmth did not reach my skin. I heard the soft groans of my younger sister as she slowly came forth from her deep sleep. My brother coughed lightly as dust from the house stirred in a light draft.
For two as young as they, the life they were born into was not an easy one. Far from it. It was filled with hardships that no one should ever have to endure. It was the life of the poor. Meals were excruciatingly small and far between. Winters were frigid and harsh, with no adequate clothing to keep warm with. I did my best to raise them, but times were getting desperate.
I tip toed as quietly as I could to where my siblings were sleeping on their pallet. Their faces were peaceful as they dreamed of better things. How I wished that I could give them something better. Something to really live for, instead of just existing.
I watched my sister's eyes flutter open, her brown eyes hazy and dull. My heart wrenched. It had been three days since her last meal. I couldn't even remember the last time I had eaten. But the children came first, always. They needed the food more than I did.
"I'm going out," I whispered. She nodded slightly.
"When will you be home again, Afya?"
"Late," I said quietly. "But I will return. Take care of Asif."
She nodded. Since our parents left us, Anjum worried that I would leave her. But the children were my life, and I couldn't imagine leaving them for any reason. They were all I had left of a life long gone. A life that they had never known. A life full of love and happiness. But that life was far away, and we were left in the shell of what had been.
I made my way out into the streets of the city, which was rising with the sun. Merchants made their way to their stalls, and early shoppers were trying to get the best bargains of the day. I made my way to Acre's souk, hoping to find more citizens. And it did not disappoint.
Despite the early hour, the souk was crawling with a mass of writhing bodies. I stood off to the side, by one of the dusty walls. I scanned the crowd for the perfect person. Someone who looked sympathetic , yet wealthy. Finding the right person, I struck.
"Please! Spare a few coins, sir," I wailed. I stood in the man's way, impeding movement so that he had to pay attention to me. "I'm poor and hungry, and I have siblings to feed! Could you spare a few coins? Please!"
The man gave a disapproving look, but bulled a pouch from his waist and spilled a few copper coins into my waiting hands.
"Thank you, sir! You are saving lives." The man walked away quickly, hoping that I wouldn't ask for more. But I never did. I took what was given, and was thankful. Those few copper coins meant another meal to fill the children's bellies.
Some days I made a good profit from begging. Others, I made nothing. The children went hungry, and I felt as if I had failed them. I set out each morning, telling myself that today would be a good day; that I would make enough money to feed the children for a few days. But it never happened. I never got more money than that which would pay for one meal for each of them.
I resumed my place at the wall, and searched the crowd again. I saw a woman leading her three small children towards a stall that sold various useful items. The youngest child, looking to be about three, glanced my way, and I smiled. The girl hid in the folds of her mother's skirts, grinning shyly.
I began searching the crowd again, and saw a woman-obviously a noble of high birth- weaving her way through the crowd, nose upturned. She wore a beautiful dress of the deepest purple, and a veil covered the lower half of her face. I decided not to prey on her. She looked like one to call the guards.
As I resumed searching, I saw a flash of white in the thick of the crowd. It grabbed and held my interest, so that I was waiting for the moment it reappeared. As soon as I thought it was gone, it was there again. But it was not just a flash of white.
It was a man, dressed in pure white robes, with a red sash around his waist. The man looked familiar, but I could not remember where I had seen him before. He wore a hood that left all but his mouth in shadow. But I knew him…. I felt that I had seen him before, somewhere bright and warm.
He looked sympathetic enough, and I wanted to get a better look at him, so I launched towards him, pushing my way through the crowd. About halfway to him, I had second thoughts. The man had weapons strapped all over his body. Swords, an assortment of knives, and armor that shone silver in the rising sun. But I was already halfway there, and I needed the money bad enough to risk my life for it.
"Sir, please," I said, stopping him. In an instant, his eyes were on me, searching my face. They were bright and intelligent, and a brilliant tawny color that seemed almost like molten gold. It was unnerving, like he was looking into my soul.
"Can I help you?" he said politely. Hearing him speak brought me back to my senses somewhat.
"Umm… C-could you spare a few coins? I have children to f-f-feed," I stammered. With one look, this strange man took my confidence away, as well as my ability to think clearly.
Without a word, the man pulled out a pouch and held it out to me. I reached out slowly and grabbed it, unsure if he wanted me to take the whole purse. It was heavy. I stared down at it in my hands, the weight unfamiliar, yet comforting. When I looked up again, the man was gone.
I walked back to my spot against the wall, leaning back against it. I help the pouch tightly in my hands, almost afraid to open it. But my curiosity overcame me. I opened the purse and poured its contents into the palm of my right hand. Twelve gold coins and seven silver coins fell into my hands, glinting brightly in the growing light.
My breath came in a gasp, and my head reeled. This could feed us every night for three months if rationed correctly. We could get new clothes, and blankets…. I looked up, searching for the stranger amidst the crush of people in the souk. I saw nothing of him, no sign that he had been there at all.
I poured the money back in the bag and clutched it tightly to my chest. I hurried home in a rush, tears blinding me as I went. For the first time in years, I cried.
A/N: So I was sort of surprised at how many reviews this has gotten so far. I updated so that people could get a better feel for what the hell is going on with this thing, but since this is a side story, it probably wont be updated very often. I'm *hopefully* gonna work harder on Against the Creed and work on this when I don't feel like writing other things anymore. So yeah. Updates will probably be sporadic, and comments containing constructive criticism are greatly- get it, GREATLY- appreciated. Thanks to all of you who did review the prologue, and I hope you enjoyed this first chapter.
