The Tea Sorcerer
The Ravens

Raven's tent was surprisingly luxurious, like a tent belonging to a maharajah out of an old fairy tale. Garfield had honestly imagined that the tea sorcerer was an old woman who lived alone in a run down shack that balanced precariously under an ancient tree, and who talked to herself. He did not even think to entertain the idea that she was a woman his own age who kept two ravens for company and lived in a comfortable tent with two rooms and plush rugs lining the floor.

Not to mention she was surprisingly beautiful… in a wild, ethereal kind of way; like a ghost or a specter.

He sat on the floor of her tent with his legs crossed as she chopped up the raw meat that was in the package she had brought with her. The smell of blood and flesh made him nearly sick, but he would deal with it to get what he needed. It was only temporary after all. His stomach churned and his nostrils flared, but he just wrapped his scarf tighter around his face to try to staunch the smell from getting too close to him.

"It's the dead of summer, Garfield Logan. You do know there's no need to wear a woolen scarf?" She separated the meat into two small bowls, never looking up into his face. "I'd be more worried about the heat trapped under your clothes than whatever you are trying to hide."

"I'm not hiding anything." He tried not to feel self conscious, but it was a lost cause. He wasn't exactly willing to show complete strangers his imperfections. "I'm just cold."

She finally lifted her eyes to meet his, but said nothing. A few moments passed between them and Raven returned her focus to the raw mean in front of her. She picked up one of the bowls and placed it outside her tent, but the other one she handed to Garfield with a smile.

"Please take off your scarf."

"You don't expect me to eat this!?" Beautiful she might have been, but cruel was not something he anticipated either. His stomach churned again at the idea of having to put something like this in his mouth.

She chuckled, the sound low and playful, as if teasing him. "No. Of course not. It's obvious you're not fold of it. But Metrion is quite interested in you, and I am most certain he would like to see your face." She reached out and pulled at the edges of his scarf, unwinding it from around his neck and jaw.

Garfield cringed, waiting to hear the shocked gasp of fear. Several years ago he had been near death with illness. His family had tried everything in their power to save him, but a crack-pot witch and a misprinted spellbook had left him with features he was wont to hide. Namely, skin the color of clover. He struggled against her hands for a moment, but finally admitted defeat and let her undress him.

"You take very good care of your skin. It's lovely." She stood up and folded the scarf in her hands, setting it by the door. "I suppose you use some kind of salve on it?"

He did, but he had always hoped it would have gotten rid of the atrocious green color, not left him with "lovely skin". Garfield looked up at her, eyes wide as he watched her calmly move through the space. "You're not… frightened?"

She ignored the question, obviously thinking it was rather stupid. "I will make you some tea while my friends eat, and then we will talk."

As if understanding the word "eat", Metrion poked a black beak into the tent and tilted his head around. He looked into Garfield's face before hopping over to the boy and picking a chunk of meat from the bowl in his hands. He pulled it out and then hopped away from Garfield, choosing to nibble on the chunk in the corner, but never taking his eyes off the guest.

"I am surprised that Metrion has taken such a liking to you." Raven pulled out two earthenware cups and set them close to the fire. "He's not normally so social."

Zinthos stuck her head in the tent and cried as if to agree, then hopped back out, choosing to eat alone outside.

"He's beautiful." Garfield watched as Metrion snagged another piece of meat, but this time stayed a little closer to him. "But why have two?"

"Ravens are typically monogamous. They were already mated by the time I found Zinthos, and I could not break them up. I kept them both… although I suppose they are a little more wild than expected from domesticated birds." She reached into one of the many jars that lined the small, low shelves stacked around the tent walls, and pulled out two scoops of simple, black tea.

"Oh." He stared at Metrion in interest. "I think he seems kinda nice."

Metrion had finished the last slice of meat, and had taken to poking around in the bowl for any scraps. Garfield reached out and stroked his feathers from head to tail, enjoying the soft feeling of black silk slide under his fingertips. Metrion made a strange grumbling noise and sqwaked, playfully nipping at Garfield's fingertips as he settled in front of him, happy to be petted.

"Very strange indeed."

Garfield looked up into Raven's face as she stared at him from across the small room. Her eyes were locked onto her pet, sitting happily on the floor and being petted. Garfield blushed and moved to take his hand away. "Should I not touch him?"

"Oh no, he's very content. Feel free to keep petting him if you wish. Although I will admit that he's never let me indulge like that before." There was a hint of jealousy in her voice, but nothing that showed on her face. "The tea is almost finished." She paused and tilted her head to the side. "You like things sweet, right?"

Garfield jerked a little, surprised she had managed to read that from him. Blushing he nodded. "I do."

"I'm afraid that sugar is a commodity I do not possess. It's a bit too expensive for my meager earnings. However, I do have some wild honey, will that do?"

"O-of course."

"Good." She broke off a small piece of honeycomb and let it fall into the earthen cup before pouring hot tea over it. Garfield watched her with genuine curiosity as she carefully poured the tea and placed it in front of him.

After she had poured her own cup, she looked up at him with interest lining her eyes. She settled down in front of him, leaning her back against a heavy trunk placed in the middle of the room. A moment passed where nothing was said, and all she did was sip at her tea.

Finally, she offered him a wisp of a smile. "Now that we are settled, let us discuss your friend, Garfield Logan."

Oh. Right. Tara. He'd almost forgotten.