Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the last Airbender or Teen Titans. I own only the plots/idea/situations that I have placed the characters in and any OCs.
Important notes: This chapter has undergone the most drastic change from its previous incarnation since I began the rewrite. I approached it a little differently than before and I'm lot happier with it. The other version of this was terrible. To me it felt like a cop out on certain aspects of this fic, mainly Azula's insanity. I like this chapter a lot better and I hope that all of you do as well. Also changed how the word 'Bookkeeper' was said in Raven's native tongue. It's 'Zizallen'
Fractured Minds
Chapter 13: White Light/Black Sight
Titans Tower, 9:06 P.M; the Roof
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos. Azarath Metrion Zinthos. Azarath Metrion Zinthos." The familiar chant that pierced the air and the cool breeze on her face did nothing to ease the raging inferno of emotions that threatened to destroy the tower. Still she chanted, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos. Azarath Metrion Zinthos. Azarath Metrion Zinthos-"
"Shouldn't you be down there with Starfire and Zen?" He learned a long time ago that it was better to interrupt her meditation chant after 'Zinthos' rather then in the middle of her mantra, there was a lot less blood shed that way.
"Shouldn't you have retired the traffic light gimmick already?" His wince and the subsequent flood of conflicting emotions helped drown out the ones from Azula. She grabbed a hold of his emotions like a drowning man would a life preserver.
"I still have time." She felt his frown and mouthed his next words with him. "And don't deflect, why aren't you with Starfire."
She looses a sigh and stretches like a cat in the air before setting both feet on the ground. Rather then face him directly she stares out over the ocean. "I can't stay at the tower."
"Stop deflecting." He tried to keep the frustration from showing in his voice. They both know he failed miserably.
"I'm not." He snorts and takes a step toward her, she sighs again. "Something happened the night I met her. She...somehow managed to pull my soul-self into her mind."
He kept his face carefully neutral as he joins her at the railing and gestures to her that he's listening.
"Its exactly like what happened with Slade's mask. A connection was established between our minds. I fought her Rage with my soul-self and now my Rage is more sensitive to her emotions. My empathy amplifies it and I don't want to control it." She could sense his alarm. She let him simmer in it for a moment, "I gave into Rage on Crescent Isles. I wanted to kill them all and no, it wasn't Rage controlling me. For the first time in my life I was in control, I was half-demon. But what really scares me is if it happens again, that I will be half-demon without a second thought."
He was quiet. Too quiet. She was still afraid that her friends would reject her. Then he spoke, "What little you told me about her last night was the watered down version, wasn't it? I won't ask for details." He paused for breath and as he did so, his mounting frustration and unease fizzled into nothing. "Just from hearing you say that, it tells me that her life was hell. And Ashfall was even worse if you went to extremes to get her out of there."
"That's putting it mildly." She muttered under her breath too low for him to hear.
"And," His tone of voice told her that he did, in fact, hear her and would appreciate it if she wouldn't interrupt him. "I will let you stay at one of your safe houses in North America but, you have to make an appearance at the tower if Azula asks to speak with you."
He was unprepared for the bone crushing hug that he got as a response and as she vanished to go pack or to leave, he was worried. "I should have told the JL to eat it."
Day 1
She was still in the containment room when she woke again. "Well this is certainly a step up from that frozen hell."
She wanted to close her eyes and go back to sleep but she knew it was an exercise in futility; the black dragon plagued her dreams just as the white dragon plagued her every waking moment.
"Are you ignoring me?" She turned away from its glimmering scales, they burned bright and hurt her eyes. I wish I still had those sunglasses.
"You are ignoring me. Princess," She heard the falsity and mocking in its tone. "I'm hurt. But it is no matter to me, eventually you will talk."
Her eyes clouded over. The next time she was 'conscious' of her actions, she was breathing raggedly and there were black scorch marks on the floor, walls, and ceiling. The black was flashing at the edges of her vision and just before she passed out, she noted that the strange blue symbols on the wall were completely untouched and glowing faintly.
Day 4
Starfire was next to her on the floor of the containment cell. They were meditating, a single candle in front of them. As her breathing fell in to a steady rhythm, she reflected on how drastically her life had changed.
She was no longer a prisoner, of course she didn't actually believe that, not at first. And it was quite the shock when they let her leave the room after she'd asked. Especially so soon after she'd had an episode and attacked Starfire. Though she wasn't allowed to roam about their home unaccompanied, in case of further episodes.
On the topic of Starfire, she was unsettled. Here was a woman who reminded her so much of Ty Lee, always so kind and quick to forgive. Except that hardness that rested in emerald eyes, that have seen and experienced too much. Ghosts and malevolence just waiting beneath the surface. Ty Lee could get angry and possessed a deadliness if pushed but the acrobat wasn't disabused of the inherent goodness in the world. Not the way Starfire was and herself for that matter.
Then there was the waterbender, Zen Ji. The waterbender was Fire Nation nobility and seemed alright enough. But Zen was also her self-appointed doctor. The waterbender was smart though, only asking her to eat what she could of the rather tasty broth that they fed her.
And finally Raven. She was a complete mystery. The woman had single handedly subjugated Rage with the very shadows and then healed her injuries with three words. Though there was that moment of panic when those shadows had prevent her from moving however it was not pain that followed, but hope.
"Yes that's right." Its voice threw off her breathing and when she opened her eyes it was slowly coiling its too warm body around hers.
"Such weakness to depend on someone else's power." She clenched her jaw and barely stopped words from leaving her mouth.
"What happened to 'weakness is unacceptable'? Come on kid, it wouldn't take much to over power that weakling next to you. And the waterbender she's easily crushed." She felt the space between them become stifling.
"Then the true test of your power and proof of your strength, killing Raven. She's the reason I'm here. Make her suffer, make her feel what we do." Her world exploded with orange fire and flashes of black.
Day 8
Today she was outside and got her first glimpse of the tower. It was huge and shaped like a 'T', it was amazing; even more so when she was told that her minder for today, Cyborg, had built it from the ground up. Too many windows and not easily defensible from the air or sea.
Eventually her eyes returned to the ocean and stared out over the tranquil surface. The very sight of it made her angry. She was once like it, at peace. No stupid dragons, visions, or fear that this was all some ruse cooked up by her family; by Zuzu. It was just like him to paint her as the villain. He got mother's love and attention even her uncle liked him better. Zuzu was pathetic and stupid but once, a long time ago, he was hers.
Her memories of that time were hazy and overshadowed by her father. Even then she was drawn in like a moth to a flame. He praised her, gave her what she craved, and when she'd lash out, he smiled. Oh how she loved that smile once, before it became a snarl, before it promised suffering for failure and weakness. Then there was cousin Lu Ten, he always had time for her even when her father didn't. Lu Ten never had expectations of her just, easy acceptance. Then he died and she hid her grief from everyone because her father would have been disgusted at the weakness.
I just wanted them to accept me. Mother, Zuzu, and even uncle fuddy duddy. I wonder if they...
"Well go on. I'm dying to know what it is that you think would have been different?" She repressed the urge to scream as well as spit fire at the white muzzle that broke the surface of the ocean.
"Still not talking, eh?" The dragon grinned at her lack of response. Its teeth were stained red and its breath smelled like rotten meat. "Let me tell you that if those obstacles accepted you, like Lu Ten, you'd be even weaker than you are now. Rage and domination is in your blood. You can not escape it. Given into it, drown in it, and make the world tremble at your might."
The door clanged shut. The laughter echoing off of the walls made her want to plunge an ice pick in her ears, just to drown it out. Darkness rushes in and the cell disappears. A scream wakes her. Her mind is racing as abruptly the sound cuts off and then there is a terrible scrunch of metal. The shadow over the door had just crushed it into nothingness. The fluttering of a cloak and a pair of familiar violet eyes meet hers through the darkness. The next few minutes pass in confusion and then blessed relief, her injuries are simply gone.
She is heedless of the other presence and before she can stop it, "Why? Why are you doing all this? Who the hell are you?"
"Your uncle showed me great kindness..."
Her eyes and mind had drowned the dragon out. Uncle fuddy duddy sent her but why.
"That is unimportant kid. I'll be surprised if you can bare to ask for that which makes you weak." The surge of white-hot heat was familiar and it was a near thing but for once she did not give into its taunts. And for the first time she held her head high as Cyborg led her back to the containment cell. It was only after he closed the door that the flames poured forth.
Later as she collapsed onto the bed from her episode she smiled for the first time since that accursed Agni Kai but this time it wasn't crooked or forced, it was easy. One step forward.
"So naive." She was too tired to firebend. Her smile vanished as the dragon burned even brighter. Two steps back.
Blackness was all that answered her thoughts.
Day 13
When her eyes opened the dragon was gone. She didn't trust it to remain gone for long. Might as well as take advantage of the reprieve.
It was a long shot but never the less when Starfire entered the containment cell she spoke and for the first time it wasn't to drown out the white dragon or escape it. "I'd like to practice my bending tomorrow."
"Good luck." And there it was, the black dragon. It had finally switched places with the white one. It's presence wasn't as overwhelming as the white one nor did it try to actively provoke her like the white one either.
"Of course Friend Azula."
As they settled on the floor for mediation she easily fell into a steady breathing rhythm. It didn't even break when she felt the soothing coolness of the black scales as they closed around her, its breath in sync with hers.
Jump City, 10:00 A.M./Day 14
The sky was clear, the sun made the streets of the city sparkle, and a pleasant breeze hailed it as a perfect day. But the denizens of Jump grew wary of days like today because such perfection would often come to an abrupt and violent end.
WHOOSH, glass, fragments of steel, and particles of dust hung suspended in the air, rather than rain down on the screaming crowd below. The massive explosion ripped a hole through the side of one of Jump's many buildings in the city's bank district.
"Ha," A slim figure in a hideous black jumpsuit with white armor attached in various places laughed at the destruction. "Nothing can withstand the power of light."
"Of course not. Light is great and powerful, like you." He was all smiles as he turned to the speaker. "Ah another whose seen the l-l-li-ght."
It was her turn to grin as the sharp edges to his fear saturated the air between them. That little catch in his voice was very satisfying as well as the stutter. "Re-"
"I'd like to go to jail now, p-please." The color drained from his face when no other Titan stepped out of the shadows to slap him in hand cuffs. The rest of the warmth fled his body when the amused grin on her face turned into a sneer.
For the last two weeks she hunted him with a whole new viciousness, that she took a sick pleasure in. "It is rude to interrupt someone when they are talking."
6 miles outside of Jump; Headquarters of the meta-human prison facility, 10:04 A.M./Day 14
"I think you've misplaced something," She glared up at the monitor as she threw Dr. Light from the inside of her cloak's shadow. "and would it kill you to hold him for more than a couple of days at a time?"
She did not wait for a reply and as she slowly descended into a pool of shadow at her feet she leveled an emotionless gaze at Dr. Light. "If you break out again. The darkness will be a permanence in your mind."
Her destination and 'safe house' would've surprised all of her teammates; the old library. The library was more of a fortified bunker than safe house but that was only if someone managed to get inside. She left the outside architecture the same, crumbling marble columns and archways. The only thing that was destroyed beyond recognition was the mark of Scath above the main entrance.
Though nobody but a teleporter could even get inside but if they didn't want to end up a black scorch mark, they'd better have an affinity for fire magic to even breach the initial wards. Then they'd have to be capable of nullifying hellfire and demon rune-warriors. That's assuming they made it passed her minions that sprung up and stalked anyone who crossed the boundaries of her protective rune array, that spread fifteen feet in every direction.
Humans were easily directed away from the general area but meta-humans that wandered in were detained until she got around to checking the holding cells. It left a bad taste in her mouth after she finished the ten month project. But it was necessary. Shortly after Trigon's ascension the church of Blood started raiding the place, trying to gain access to the chambers below.
She fell exhausted into a black leather lazy boy and released a breath.
'Azula's agitated more than usual today.' Intelligence sounded as worn as she felt. Over the last two weeks all of the inhabitants of Nevermore were affected by the emotional connection to Azula. It was bad enough that she could barely keep control of the eldritch fire before the connection. But now they were practically shedding the stuff like dandruff.
'I thought distance would have worked.' The silence from her mistress was distressing to say the least.
'I'd still like to know how we were pulled in.' At the affronted look from Intelligence she rushed to get out, 'I did apologize and I'm not trying to start another fight. I'm just frustrated. We can't even mediate to mitigate the fluctuations.'
The two fell silent, content to wallow in the mire of misery and confusion. Until, 'We can't just cool our heels. Sooner or later Azula's going to ask to see us.'
Raven shot the emote an incredulous look. 'We've done everything we can. Its up to Starfire and Zen to help her out of the pit of madness.'
'I don't think it will be that simple.' Intelligence frowned, brow furrowed as she absentmindedly sifted through the book containing what they saw of Azula's life. Then as she turned the page to Azula's fight with Aang in the caverns below Ba Sing Sei, she felt an incredible surge of power or memory echo. The Echo sounded throughout Intelligence's library.
"If you ever find that you have more questions then answers, Wan Shi Tong requested that I pass on a message; the words of home and a collector's trove of paper and ink will bring you through the well."
Raven leveled a glare at the emote whose expression was a touch annoyed. 'Don't look at me like that. I had nothing to do with that Echo.'
'Besides we do have more questions then answers.'
A long suffering sigh was the response. 'Fine we'll go to his library.'
Intelligence almost jumped up and danced a jig then and there but with a herculean effort, got the urge under control as their mistress left the library. But as soon as she was gone, the emote danced for all she was worth. And as Intelligence finally finished, 'I'll give you five points for effort and four for originality.'
White faced and embarrassed beyond belief Intelligence turned but rather then Candy, she was met with Affection. 'Please inform our mistress that we need to talk the next time she's here.'
As she watched Affection saunter off, she breathed a sigh of relief.
'Oh and,' Suddenly Affection was behind her, pressed against her back, warm breath exhaling past her ear. 'Thirty points for how captivating your dance was.'
Her throat had gone dry and her blood thrummed uncomfortably hot beneath her skin, even more so when she felt Affection's arms moved to encircle her waist. She knew her face had a light dusting of pink. 'S-so glad you liked it.'
Her voice shook as her ear was nipped gently by Affection, 'Liked?'
Was that disappointment she detected, it was hard to tell by their tone. But then she felt a hand on her chin and it was turned slightly to the left. Soft lips were pressed to her cheek. 'I loved it.'
'O-Oh.' Her knees were weak and her heart was racing as those lips captured hers. It was chaste and over far too soon but her ever accursed curiosity reared its ugly head, 'W-What are you doing?'
She didn't want to it to stop but their mistress would feel the shift of their thoughts.
'Practice. You're going to need it.' She gulped and perhaps, it was anticipation or their empathy but the questions had died as those deviously soft lips were on hers once more. Fortunately for the two emotes Raven was far too distracted by informing Starfire of her imminent departure to notice anything amiss with her thoughts.
"Zizallen."
There were bookshelves as far as the eye could see; books, scrolls, and stone tablets were every which way. There was no denying it, she was drooling and contemplated never leaving. There wasn't a single obnoxious person or a creepy librarian in sight. And it was even better than she imagined, better than the images that Azar's descriptions painted for her of Wan Shi Tong's library.
Footsteps cruelly shattered the illusion of abandonment as they drew near. She turned to face the person approaching and froze. The woman walking closer was none other than librarian Ashlin. Raven had met her at a small specialized library that dealt with authentic magical tomes on the outskirts of Jump.
"It's been too long Raven." Ashlin's smile was genuine and her eyes danced with mischief.
"Ash," She was shocked at seeing the librarian here of all places. "what are you doing here?"
A perfectly sculpted brow rose. "I should be asking you that but it isn't every day that Wan Shi Tong tells me to greet his guests. Please follow me, he doesn't like to wait."
The journey through miles of bookshelves and columns carved with intricate spirals was silent. A set of massive green oak doors slowly creaked open as they turned down a long hallway, devoid of bookshelves. "Ash go attend to your other duties and make sure professor Zei isn't slacking off again."
Her guide bowed low and turned back the way they'd come. She didn't take another step forward as she assessed Wan Shi Tong. When Iroh first told her of the knowledge spirit, she'd thought of owls and snakes.
"Please step into my office."
She made no move to do so. She saw his muscles tense and his eyes narrowed. "I don't think so. I don't trust shady spirits who kidnap innocent people and horde knowledge for knowledge's sake."
The tension in the air was thick. Almost suffocating as he took a step toward her.
"They abused it."
She snorted, "You got burned once and then threw a tantrum when a couple of kids were trying to end a war by lying to you."
He bristled and reared back, then he struck. Only to be flung back as talons of shadow rose up to protect the woman.
"You want something from me." His struggles stopped as she spoke. He felt a chill spread as she took as step toward him. "I will perform this task. But you will surrender Ashlin's contract and professor Zei's."
"You dare-"
"Or I could have Uncle Koh come and steal your face." Her face was as inexpressive as her tone of voice. She drew level with him, her cloak billowing in a non-existent wind. "Its funny that you think I need you when, really, its you that needs me. Take my deal or leave it. I could always seek other sources for information."
When he remained silent for too long, she turned and started walking away from him. "I bid you farewell Wan Shi Tong."
"Wait," The talons that were holding him down vanished and he was dismayed to see her still walking away from him. "I accept." When even that didn't stop her, he grew desperate and he threw himself in the air. He landed awkwardly in front of her.
"What now?" He was taken aback at how she could sound so thoroughly annoyed yet speak with no inflection.
"You don't even know what it is that I wish from you."
She answered him with two words. "Time travel."
Titans Tower; Training room/Day 14
"Is Star going to be okay in there?" The waterbender wasn't sure that it was a good idea to let Azula practice her bending, at least not until her episodes were less frequent. But the waterbender relented after helping the Titans fire proof their training room. Still she was worried.
"Heh." She glanced away from the observation window to see if he was, in fact, chuckling, he was. "You should be asking if Azula will be okay. Starfire is no push over and she can handle anything that the princess can throw at her."
She looked at him like he'd grown a second head. "No, really, Starfire is stronger than I am. I even have some instructional training videos to prove it."
She wasn't convinced as she turned her attention back to the window.
I can't believe they're actually going to let me do this. It was surreal how free she appeared to be. But she couldn't trust it despite the fact that she did. She took a moment to study the area and immediately noticed a lot of strange equipment that was off to one side. No distractions, focus.
As she began stretching she ignored the black dragon at the edge of her vision. If she had to choose between the two and seeing them for the rest of her life, she pick the black one. "Of course you'd choose the weaker path."
Her mind froze but her body went through the motions. She had never seen both dragons at once, at least not while she was awake.
"That's enough out of you." She wanted to shake her head but she was hyper aware of Starfire's presence behind her. The two dragons were talking to each other.
"Starfire you shouldn't be in here."
"Tch, why are you even worried for that thing's safety." A huge plume of smoke enveloped him and an agitated hiss made the smoke ripple.
"Silence you."
She couldn't take it anymore. "What do you want from me."
Both dragons turned from their staring contest to gaze at her.
"Oh so now you want to talk." He was annoyed.
"Better late then never." Her voice was kind.
"What. Do. You. Want. From. Me." This wasn't going to be pretty.
Both dragons were circling now and with each rotation they got closer and closer, the white dragon spoke first. "I want to see how weak you've made yourself. Your bending won't be anything special. I bet even a beginner could best you. And lightning? Forget about it."
She tossed a fireball at him, he dodged it easily. "Hehe. See I told you, weakness is unacceptable."
A vortex of black-gray flame engulfed the whiteness. "Don't listen to him, his words are poison."
"Like you're one to talk." He was completely unharmed as he rose above the ashes to loom over her. "She prefers the strictly hands off approach. Allowing your weakness to fester beneath your skin like an infection."
A black tail slashed through the air so fast that a blazing line of flames was left behind in its wake. The white dragon went flying across the training room. "I, at least, don't pressure the little firefly."
Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.
With a snarl the white dragon lunged for its counterpart, clawing and biting. The black dragon nimbly shifted away from each attack, humming softly as it did so. The humming enraged the white dragon further, driving it into a frenzy. White flames and smoke filled the room. Then she felt it. It was too hot. She was losing control. Static was crackling in the air.
The dragons were snapping at each other, flames, lashing tails, and enraged growls filled the air. Too loud. Her breathing was out of control. Her arms were in motion as a cold soothing emptiness slowed the world around her.
The black dragon was frozen above the white, the black one's lower serpentine body coiled around the white one's fore and back limbs. Glimmering white teeth poised an inch before they met with the white scales across the white one's belly, a dark cloud interspersed with flashes of white building at the back of its throat. The white dragon's upper body was entwined around the black one's wings, its mouth closed around one wing where it met the back of the black one, its neck muscles tensed to rip the black one's left wing off.
The crackling grew to fever pitch and then her world was plunged into darkness as the cold soothing emptiness slipped away.
Wan Shi Tong's Library; Fire Nation Archives/Day 17
She resisted the urge to slam the delicate tome closed but her soul-self was another matter as a copy of the book was perforated by talons of shadows. "I've been here for three days and still can't find it."
"You know," Her soul-self conjured a miniature version of her Uncle Koh that crawled across her shoulders as she turned to glare at the owner of the voice. Ash's smile just grew wider. "there's a reason why Wan Shi Tong entrapped me here."
"To scare the hell out of unsuspecting patrons?" Her eyebrow twitched and the mini-Koh screeched as Ash started giggling and made no attempts to be quiet about it.
"Sorry." An unrepentant smile was directed at her. "What are you trying to find?"
"Information about the royal family." She said and was too absorbed in fighting back her soul-self as a torrent of emotions from Azula hit her like a sledge hammer, to notice Ash's frown.
"I guess there's no choice." At this she looked at Ash and was struck by how forlorn her friend seemed.
"I'm from the Fire Nation. A noble family that was close to the ruling class during Azulon's reign."
"Wha- how are you? But you were..." She brought her hands up to massage her temples and stave off her growing migraine. "I'm so confused."
"Its the library or specifically Wan Shi Tong's. You see he can move it to any world or dimension of his choosing. He's a very ancient and powerful knowledge spirit. If there is a library in the world he chooses, he can move his library or anyone of his agents to it and then-"
"Inverse occupation." She couldn't help interrupting Ash's explanation as the dots connected.
Ash nodded and continued, "Anyways I was inside the royal library roughly eleven years ago when one of Wan Shi Tong's knowledge seekers abducted me. And I've been in his service ever since. It was five years later that he desired a change of location and brought us to your world; I quickly fell in love with it. But sooner or later I know that he'll move it or me."
"So what do you want to know?"
"You wouldn't happen to know if Azula was related to an avatar, would you?" She knew her question had surprised Ash.
"What makes you think she is?" Ash said, a hint of curiosity coloring her tone.
She pursed her lips and thought of how much or little to say. After a few moments of indecision passed. "Her bending is unusually powerful. Not a single avatar has ever been capable of bending blue flames; despite them supposedly being the most powerful bender. Her morals often slid from one extreme to another and she constantly seeks balance. Right now her mind and heart are locked in a constant cycle of imbalance, each one fighting the other."
"Avatar Roku is her great-grandfather. I overheard lady Ursa and general Iroh-
Before any more could be said, an out of breath middle aged man burst into the room. "You have to leave! Wan Shi Tong has begun sealing the library."
With a speed that would make Kid Flash jealous she was across the room and standing in front of the panting man. "Professor Zei," When his attention was on her, "Do you know where Wan Shi Tong imprisoned Rorek?"
Both the professor and Ash were alarmed at her question. She waved both of them off. "Time travel is weird and is one of very few things that are set in stone. I was always meant to travel back in time and save this section of the library. Just as I was meant to leave behind a certain book. Do you know where Rorek is?"
Professor Zei nodded stiffly.
"Good both of you need to go free him. I wish I could help but..."
She was very caught off guard when Ash gave her a bone crushing hug and when the woman stepped back, flashed her a wide grin. "But time travel is also costly."
"Go. The professor and I will be just fine." And in the blink of an eye, Professor Zei and Ash were gone.
'You're not seriously thinking of leaving them?!'
'Not that I'm not happy to see you Courage but where's Intelligence?' She was taken aback at their mistress's lax attitude to their situation.
'Is now really the time to be...' She trailed off as she realized what their mistress was doing. 'So that's why you left Rorek's book with him.'
Raven was officially confused even more so then when Ash revealed her secret to her ten minutes ago. Her emotions were beyond hopeless right now and she could not deal with anymore emotional upheaval. 'Never mind. And yes, as much as I hate this. We're leaving them.'
'I won't let you.'
She quirked a brow at the emote. 'So how are we going to beat Wan Shi Tong?'
'With fire obviously.'
Her eyebrow twitched but if she was honest with herself, she could probably manage to control a blast of it. 'What about Malchior?'
She detected the slightest moment of hesitation in the emote. Then all the blood drained from Courage's face. 'Rorek can handle it.'
She made sure that Courage could feel the amusement and the shake of her head. 'Courage?'
'Yes?'
'Timid's rubbing off on you.' At her indigent squawk, Raven chuckled. A breath later and out loud she said, "Izenilanlzi."