Notes: I've been sitting on the end of this chapter for a while now and it's good to finally get here. Also, I'm not sorry.
It felt as if the next auction came around all too quickly. Although that might have a lot to do with the fact that Badger had spent the last few days doing little else but dread its arrival. This would be the time where they'd find out for definite if their security changes were going to make any difference to the crowds that they needed to control.
In the run-up to the day of the auction, Badger had wondered if he was the only one who was nervous, given that all the others just seemed to be getting on with their preparations as if this was nothing. And once the night of the auction arrived, Badger had to confess that they'd been right not to worry – everything seemed to be going as well as it possibly could be.
There had indeed been a much rowdier commotion when these guests took to their seats. None of the guests had been expecting the extra security from the various Black Ravens placed around the room. But on the other hand, the only way they could object to this would be by outright leaving and no one seemed to want to do that either. Badger knew that once they were in this room, Crow had them. And they would not leave before he said it was time to do so.
As well as the attention their guard act got, Badger couldn't help but hear a few whispers from people who had been at the abandoned auction from the previous week. They were all curious about Arianna not being here tonight. Though they would have to go on being curious, as Crow did not address her situation directly. He merely explained that they were now going to keep a closer watch on the auctions in light of an incident.
The Black Ravens were naturally a bit more on edge for this auction than they had been during the test run. Save for Crow of course, whose confidence was unshakeable. Having him at the front of the room helped to focus them and remind them that it was okay. Or perhaps it was just Badger who he had that effect on. Either way, they managed to get through the evening without any mishaps.
"They wouldn't 'ave started anythin' tonight anyway," Crow explained, once the auction was over and the group were sat together, "We showed 'em that we're prepared now an' most puntahs just wanna 'ave a nice evenin' without any trouble. Right now the auctions will be the safest they could be, 'cause everyone's worried about bein' watched."
"All the same, we're not gonna let our guard down," grumbled Roddy.
"Nah, o' course not," Crow agreed, "We wouldn't want the Black Raven to look sloppy in front o' our guests. So keep ya backs straight an' all that. But right now I want all o' ya to go 'ome an' get some rest. Tomorrah we're 'eadin' up to Barde Manor to see wot we can do there, so it'll be an early start."
Without meaning to, Badger found himself waiting for Louis to complain about having to get out of bed in the morning. But then he reminded himself that Louis was not here, so this complaint wouldn't come. He risked a quick glance towards Marilyn and Gus, reckoning he wasn't the only one who was thinking of Louis right now.
Though as it stood, no one said anything other than agreement in regards to these plans. So the group left it there for that night, knowing that they'd meet up again tomorrow at an unspecified time.
Certainly by the time they left for Barde Manor the next day it seemed to feel too early for Crow, specified or not, as Badger walked with him up the long trek there. He yawned loudly and then shoved into his mouth the last bite of some toast Maureen had insisted they took with them. Badger couldn't help but wonder why he'd insisted on such an early start directly following their auction if he wasn't going to be prepared for it.
"I can't believe Bucky ain't about at this hour," he whined, "That's some good business 'e's just lost."
Badger chuckled, "I bet someone else just beat us to it. And besides, the exercise woun't do you any 'arm, Crowlo."
"Oi! I'll 'ave ya know that I do plenty o' runnin' as the Black Raven," huffed Crow, indignantly, "This is just a bit earliah than I'm use to."
"You were the one who arranged it," reminded Badger, quite enjoying this.
The rest of the walk was pleasant and uneventful. Near the top they were joined by Marilyn and Gus, who had been the culprits behind getting a lift up from Bucky before Crow and Badger could. Even Badger had to admit that he felt a little jealous when the two of them talked about what a nice morning it had been for a boat trip.
As they reached Barde Manor, all of them had to agree that it looked a good deal better than it had done a few years ago. The last time Badger had been here was when he'd been walking the siblings home with Marilyn and it had been dark then, so he couldn't fully appreciate it as he could right now. The well-trimmed garden basked in the sunlight and you could tell that this place was cared for. After the spectre attacks, the whole town had decided to help Tony and Arianna with a renewed conviction, so the two of them never found themselves at a loss for people to offer assistance with gardening and probably other household chores. Of course they deserved all the aid they could get, after what they'd been through. But at the same time a slightly horrible part of Badger wished that his own situation had been sympathetic enough so that someone could have come and helped him look after his house before... before his dad got taken away.
He shouldn't dwell on that though. And he especially shouldn't begrudge the Bardes for getting the support they needed.
"It would be nice to go have a proper look at that lake sometime," Gus suggested, as they reached the door, "You know, the one where Loosha lived."
"Maybe anothah time," hummed Crow, "Aftah all, that ain't wot we're 'ere for today."
They rung the doorbell, which echoed loudly in a rather grand chime. However, they didn't have to wait very long until Tony pulled the door open for them. It looked almost too heavy for him, but then again he must be use to it after so many years of practise.
"That's all of you then," Tony informed, as he ushered the four inside, "Roddy and Scraps arrived just a little while ago."
"I 'ope Scraps 'as bin behavin' 'imself. I know wot 'e can get like around rich people," checked Crow. He was trying to make light of it, but Badger knew that in that statement was genuine concern for keeping the friendships within the group.
"Roddy's kept him in line," assured Tony.
After a short walk through the hall, they joined Roddy, Scraps and Arianna in what Badger assumed was the living room. Though perhaps it was just one of many living rooms, given how big this place was. Badger couldn't even imagine what one house could do with that many different rooms, so maybe they just doubled over on the same rooms after a while. Regardless, this particular living room gave the impression that it was lived in. There was a sort of mismatched feel to the way the furniture lay and the wood flooring had the tell-tale signs of dried mud that might have been dragged in from outside. Clearly this was a room that the two Bardes used a lot, which did help the Black Ravens feel more at home within it.
"I'm glad that you could make it," Arianna greeted, "These two were just telling me that last night's auction went well."
"Yeah, I'm just sorry ya couldn't 'ave bin there," replied Crow.
"Nonsense. Helping the Black Ravens isn't all about being there on the night. There's much more to be done behind the scenes and I want to be ready for that," dismissed Arianna. Behind her Scraps was nodding eagerly along with the statement. Apparently hearing willingness to do hard work to help the auctions cancelled out his general mistrust of the rich.
"Any 'elp ya can give us we'll be grateful for," Crow confirmed.
"Right, well we'd best show you the rooms that I think would be more suited for your use," Arianna concluded, getting up to her feet.
What followed was a brief tour around the manor that confirmed Badger's suspicions in regards to the house having more rooms than anyone knew what to do with. It was possible that Evan Barde had, in his time, made use of all this space for whatever functions he was holding, but right now his children had more than they knew what to do with. So many of the rooms they were shown did little more than gather dust. In that respect they'd be perfect for the Black Ravens to use, both for storage and other work that they might wish to do on some of the wares that were in need of repair.
"I don't mind what you use these for," Arianna told them, as she opened the door to yet another dusty room, "All I ask is that you don't confuse my father's furniture for your own goods, unless I give you permission to sell them on. Of course Tony and myself have little need for all of this, but you never know what the future might bring, so we want to be prepared."
"Ya got our word that we won't take anything that's yours. The Black Ravens 'ave more honour than that," promised Crow.
"We're just glad that you're letting us do this at all," Roddy added, "That store room wasn't the best for keeping all our goods in."
"Was Wren and Socket's garage that big? You know, before they moved away and you could still use it?" asked Tony.
"Not really, but they were both geniuses," Marilyn explained, "Meaning that Wren could think up ideas and Socket could fix anything up based on her suggestions almost before you could blink. Stuff never stayed with them for long, because they knew how to make our customers want to buy them."
"I bet you miss having them around..." Tony mumbled.
"We do, but we also know that we can't replace 'em," answered Crow, "...Or Louis, for that mattah. Each member brings their own skills to the Black Ravens, they're all special. So when someone leaves, it wouldn't be fair just to train anothah up to follow in their footsteps. New members will 'ave somethin' different to offah than Wren, Socket or Louis did."
"And you've both done a great job of bringing skills that we've never had before," Marilyn continued.
At this, Badger noticed that Tony recoiled a little behind Arianna. He'd still never said if he wanted to be part of them again, beyond keeping an eye on his sister, so Badger wondered if he resented being grouped in with them like that. But then again, it might be something else that's been worrying him. Because in a few short weeks of being there, Arianna had stepped up to the table and found ways to make herself useful to the Black Ravens. By contrast, Tony had been an honourary member for a long time without doing much more than occasionally help push stock about behind the curtains.
Could it be that Tony was a little bit jealous of his sister's ambitions? Badger certainly knew how he felt to be overshadowed by a much more charismatic person, if that was the case.
Seemingly no one else had paid much mind to Tony's falter, however, as Scraps pressed on with the conversation.
"All the same, we do need someone to develop some skills with a hammer sometime soon," he insisted, "I'm not saying it has to be on Socket levels, but we do find a lot of stuff that can't be sold without a bit of fixing up."
"Well, now we all 'ave the space to develop our innah repair workahs," assured Crow, "It won't 'appen ovah night, but in time we'll see wot we can do. Movin' on though, I 'ate to be the one bringin' a sour note onto this, but it will be a long hike carryin' everythin' up 'ere. Especially for some o' the largah items, like chairs an' wot 'ave ya."
"Already dealt with that," Marilyn chimed in, "Gus and I spoke with Bucky on the way up and he said he'd be happy to help us transport whatever we need, as long as it isn't too heavy for his boat. And let's face it, we rarely get anything that big. Oh, don't look at me like that, Crow! If you think none of the adults who live around here have any idea that we're up to something, then you're a bigger fool than I'd guessed."
"I... suppose so... But all the same, I'd rathah ya checked with me before blurtin' out to anyone that we move second'and goods around," sulked Crow.
"Bucky's not going to tell anyone," Gus reasoned.
"And it's not as if we gave him any details about what we were doing with it," Marilyn added, "He's not really bothered as long as it means more business for his boats."
"So really we're just helping out another local business," mused Scraps, approvingly.
"If that's settled, then I suppose we can all get started," prompted Arianna, "Unless you'd all rather go out to the lake for an early lunch beforehand. Tony and I have a picnic basket ready just in case."
This was one time when taking a break won out over work, without even Crow protesting. So the group of friends spent the rest of the day outside in the garden, talking together and generally having a good time. It had been a while since they'd been able to settle like this, even if the topic of work was never far from conversation, and it helped settle tensions a lot. Unsurprisingly, all it took for those who'd been cautious of Arianna and Tony to realise there was no need to worry had been for them all to spend a bit of time together. Even Scraps seemed to be feeling that, despite their different backgrounds, the two weren't all that different from the rest of them. They were still just two teenagers trying to find their way in life and Arianna at least seemed to have quickly come to care about the black market just as much as the others all did.
The rest put them all into the right frame of mind for the weeks that followed, which were filled with much more intense work. Each of them gave it their all, no matter what they were doing for the Black Ravens. Be it gathering wares, gathering customers, spreading rumours, repairing damaged goods, holding the auctions, guarding the auctions or tricking customers into spending more money – everyone had their part to play.
And soon enough, it started to work.
It wouldn't be long before the idea that they were going to fall apart would be a distant memory that they'd look back on and proudly say that they'd got through. Everything was right now. It might be different from how it had been before, but that didn't make it better nor worse. Instead, it was the way that things were.
They were settled once more. Which was all the cue Badger needed to start worrying again. After all, Marilyn did say that Crow would be more likely to wander once he realised that he wasn't being challenged.
So he caught Crow on his own one day. The leader had been sending Gus and Roddy off to pick up some heavier furniture from Barde Manor when Badger found him. And Badger was determined to put some of his worries to rest, even if he didn't quite know what to say.
"Everythin's goin' right, Badge'," Crow sighed wistfully, as the other two disappeared out of sight.
"B-but it wouldn't be without you," pressed Badger, nervously, "Yer the glue that 'old us togetheh, Crow."
"Maybe I am, but that's just wot I'm 'ere for," assured Crow. He sounded as if he wasn't sure where this was going.
"N-no, doun't say that..." mumbled Badger, "You're 'ere fer lots of reasons. We couldn't 'old the auctions without you. A-and yer the best at everythin'..."
"I ain't," Crow said, with complete conviction, "...I ain't the best at everythin', but that's not wot I 'afta be anyway. My role is to organise, 'cause that's wot a leadah does. I can't run as fast as you can or lift as much as Gus can or do 'alf the things that the rest o' ya do. But that's okay, 'cause bein' a Black Raven isn't about bein' the best at everythin'. It's about all o' us doin' our part. My part just 'appens to be makin' sure everyone else knows wot to do."
"That isn't all you do though," Badger insisted, "Yer the one who stands on stage and makes the Black Raven come alive. Without you we couldn't even do the auctions, like."
"...I beg to differ."
The objection came not from Crow, but from Marilyn. She stood behind them with a basket of groceries she'd undoubtedly been carrying to or from her parents' stall. And as they turned to face her, Badger noted that her expression was harsher than he'd seen from her before. He wanted to wither away under that gaze. Had she heard all of that? All of Badger unsubtly seeking confirmation that Crow wouldn't leave, by convincing him just how much they needed him there? Was she... angry at Badger...?
"We could hold the auctions without Crow and do it just as well as we can with him," Marilyn went on, her voice as harsh as her expression.
"...W-we a-all 'ave our part t' play th-though..." whimpered Badger, "...Just like 'e were sayin' a few m-moments ago... C-crow is as important a-as us all... We could neveh not need Crow..."
"No, I wanna see where this is goin'," Crow cut in, his face fixed on Marilyn. And despite what Badger would expect, he was grinning; "Do it then, Marilyn. 'Ave an auction without me. Ya 'ave one week. I will watch."
"Shake on it under the Black Ravens' honour," insisted Marilyn, as she offered out her hand.
Crow took it and they both shook hands with the firm grip that could only come to two people as confident as them. They were smiling the whole while, even if Badger had no idea why. From where he was standing, this was the worst possible outcome and it had come out of nowhere. All he'd wanted was reassurance that Crow knew they needed him here. Now what he was getting was an open threat that the Black Ravens didn't need Crow at all!
"I'll be around, but that's all I'll be," Crow stated, as they finished shaking on it, "I won't talk, I won't 'elp an' I certainly won't present the auction as the Black Raven. Do ya worst, Mal."
"We'll all do our worst," assured Marilyn.
"In that case, I'd bettah be off," concluded Crow, "I've suddenly found myself with a lotta free time today."
Then, just like that, he turned on his heels and began to walk away. Naturally, Badger made to follow him-
"...No Badger, you're with me," Marilyn instructed, softly but firmly.
"She's right, Badge'," agreed Crow, as he looked back over his shoulder, "The condition was that the Black Ravens would do this without me. An' that includes you."
Badger wanted to protest that he hadn't agreed to any part of this. That he knew the whole thing would fail anyway, so they shouldn't even waste their time. The Black Ravens could not hold one single successful auction without Crow there to lead them. A-and if they were going to try, then he wouldn't be involved in their efforts. Badger belonged by Crow's side, be that in the Black Ravens or out of them.
...Of course, this was not what Badger said.
What Badger instead did was slowly nod and answer; "Y-yeah... I'll see you tonight when I get 'ome, per'aps..."
"That ya will. Though I assume that ya gonna 'ave a lotta work to do, so I won't be surprised if ya late," reasoned Crow.
Marilyn then hurried him along; "We don't talk about our work with bystanders, so if you'd be so kind..."
"By all means."
With that, Badger became powerless to do more than watch as their leader left him and temporarily left the Black Ravens as well. He did not cry, but he did feel deeply wounded by what was happening. And as he looked at Marilyn, he couldn't even begin to guess at what she was planning in that wise and cunning head of hers...
