Well, I've been getting some pretty positive reviews so far, so I've decided to go ahead with Chapter 2. Sorry about the shortness... The rest of the chapers are much, much longer. This one just had to be short so I could get a good splitting point. Thanks for all of the input! Please feel free to continue to review!
Chapter 2 -- Wanted
Since that first raid, Lucrezia had gone with the crows on five more. Her sharp eyes had earned them an extra 40,000 gold in beorc currency, which made her a favorite among the pirates.
One night, after a long raid on a merchant vessel headed for Begnion, Lucrezia fluttered down to her room to rest.
"Man, how many archers can you stick on one ship?" she muttered as stretched her sore wings. "Good thing I stayed in the back and let the crows take care of them first." Then she stopped and realized what she had just said. In the back of her mind she could imagine the crow king shouting, "You're turning into a crow! You're just as selfish as the rest of us!"
"Damn crows... I really need to leave this place soon..." she sighed. She changed into her heron form so she could preen her feathers clean of the black dye that still clung to her wings from the previous raid. Just then, she felt someone grab her from behind.
"Good, I found you alone! Come, lady heron!"
Lucrezia instantly recognized the voice as Naesala's. Suddenly, he lifted her up and flew out of the window of her room.
"Naesala? What the heck are you doing?"
"Shh, it's a surprise."
Turning back to human form, Lucrezia tried kicking herself free of the crow king's grasp, but he was holding on to her tight around the waist. They landed on a balcony of the main palace. Still grabbing on to her, Naesala soared through the window and into the hallways of the palace until he stopped in front of a large, ornately carved door.
"Th-this is your room? Naesala--"
Naesala shoved her inside and shut the door behind them. Lucrezia started to realize what was going on and tried to fly out the window, but the crow grabbed her hand and thrust her onto the bed.
"Naesala, you dirty... Get your claws off of me!"
Lucrezia tried to struggle free, but just then Naesala pressed his lips against hers. In that moment of silence and shock, she heard the sound of soldiers running through the hallway outside the door.
One of them knocked against the door and shouted, "King Kilvas! Where is she?"
"Stay here and don't say a word," Naesala whispered.
Lucrezia could only stare back speechlessly, her pale blue eyes wide in fear.
He winked at her and then calmly strode over to the door, calling, "I'm coming, I'm coming!" He opened the door and said, "Look, I was trying to sleep. Do have to be so loud when you do these searches?"
"I'm sorry, sir, but--"
"Remember, you're in Kilvas, not Daein. Show some respect for an exhausted crow!"
"Yes, sir! But we can't find the heron girl!"
"Have you looked in her room, you idiots!"
"Ah, well..."
Naesala sighed, still blocking the doorway. "Go to the guest building and ask one of the soldiers. Now shut up and let me sleep."
"Yes, sir!" Then the soldier left, and Naesala quickly shut the door.
Before Lucrezia could speak, the crow shushed her and whispered, "The Daeins came during your raid. Apparently one of the crew members of that first ship you raided recognized you as the heron girl who used to sing throughout the continent. They're looking for you, so I had to find a way to hide you before they started searching."
"How... I never showed my wings to anyone! How would they have known?" Lucrezia stammered.
"You must not have been careful enough," Naesala replied bluntly. "Now you're wanted throughout all of Daein."
"And you told them I was here?!" Lucrezia squeaked.
"They paid me a lot of money. They would have paid more if I had handed you over directly," the crow explained with a smirk. "But I decided I would be nice, since after all you did make quite a bit of money for us during those raids."
"Oh, how kind of you." Lucrezia thought bitterly, He just does whatever gives him the most profit, stupid crow...
"Yes, aren't I nice? Now, I suggest you go on your way. The Daeins will be staying here for a few days to replenish their supplies and such, so I can't keep you hidden forever."
"I'm sure they're paying you for that, as well," she muttered. "But just one quick question. If you knew they were searching for me, why didn't you just tell me when you kidnapped me from my room, instead of acting like you were going to... you know?"
"Well, I figured I would add a little adventure to the situation. It does get quite boring being the ruler of a country, you know?" Naesala smirked. "Of course, if you would like to 'you know' for real, I would be glad to oblige."
Her response was a swift slap in the face.
"Fine, fine," Naesala muttered as he rubbed the sore spot on his cheek. "Now, get going, before I change my mind to hand you over. That 100,000 gold bribe is quite tempting. Which, by the way, I will be expecting as payment when I next see you. 100,000 gold. Keep it in mind."
"I don't care how hospitable you were while I stayed here," Lucrezia told him in an irritated tone. "I still hate you."
"I'm sure you do. Now come back and visit me some time, my lovely heron, Lady Lulu!"
"Good riddance," the lovely heron replied. With that, she flew out of the window and over the choppy seas.
I suppose it's time to start a new adventure after all, she thought as she soared toward the starry horizon.
