Lazarin Estate
Summer 6, 518
3rd Bell
A flash of lightning streaked across the sky, followed swiftly by a boom of thunder that rattled the paintings on the walls. Rook froze in place against the wall. His heart fluttered in his chest like a failing bird, and the kelvic forced himself to take two dozen deep, calm breaths until his frightened chest finally stilled.
The inside of the Lazarin estate was pitch black, only illuminated by the occasional stabs of lightning flashing through the glass windows. Rook’s eyes were not made for seeing in the deep dark, so he found himself feeling his way along the walls, and freezing with each flash of light. The Lazarin estate was quiet and very very still. The majority of the masters and servants of the household had gone to bed bells ago and now only the occasional stirring punctuated the manor’s stifling walls. But despite Rook’s exhaustion from the day’s work, he was awake and very alert, perhaps too alert considering the pounding of his heart, but it was only to be expected. He hadn’t been getting enough information, and Radcliff was becoming impatient. It was time to take a risk. Rook had to be daring.
Which was why now, in the still dead hours if the early morning, Rook found himself edging his way through the drafty corridors of the place he was now forced to call home. In the season he’d been under Jessica’s thumb, the kelvic had come to know the estate intimately. He’d visited Jessica in her private study many times to receive orders and could probably find it in his sleep. He had never stayed there long enough to catch more than a glimpse of the tantalizing documents sitting on his master’s back. Tonight, the kelvic aimed to correct that.
Finally, Rook found himself standing in front of the door to the study. There was no light creeping underneath the door frame, but Rook still nervously pressed his ear against the door for an achingly long moment. Silence. Another boom of thunder shook the walls and Rook flinched. Once more he froze until his frantic breathing and rapid heartbeat quieted. When he was once more sure of himself, the kelvic tested the door knob. To Rook’s surprise, the door clicked cleanly open.
Cautiously Rook peered inside. The wolf boy knew very well that his master’s study was leapt locked when Jessica went to bed for the night. He had fashioned himself a makeshift lock pick out of a piece of scrap metal he had found on the ground, but he had no idea how to use it. Perhaps he had expected to try at it a few passes, then give up and go to bed. But with it unlocked, Rook had no excuse. He had to proceed. He studied the shadows of the room for an achingly long moment, but detected no movement. Bolstering his nerve, the kelvic stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
The blackness in the room was all consuming, but a flash from the sky lit the room for a moment as bright as day. Rook rushed to the window and drew the dark curtains up, obscuring any prying eyes who might be watching from outside. Then with a breath, he turned around to face the room.
(Words 547, Total 547)
Summer 6, 518
3rd Bell
A flash of lightning streaked across the sky, followed swiftly by a boom of thunder that rattled the paintings on the walls. Rook froze in place against the wall. His heart fluttered in his chest like a failing bird, and the kelvic forced himself to take two dozen deep, calm breaths until his frightened chest finally stilled.
The inside of the Lazarin estate was pitch black, only illuminated by the occasional stabs of lightning flashing through the glass windows. Rook’s eyes were not made for seeing in the deep dark, so he found himself feeling his way along the walls, and freezing with each flash of light. The Lazarin estate was quiet and very very still. The majority of the masters and servants of the household had gone to bed bells ago and now only the occasional stirring punctuated the manor’s stifling walls. But despite Rook’s exhaustion from the day’s work, he was awake and very alert, perhaps too alert considering the pounding of his heart, but it was only to be expected. He hadn’t been getting enough information, and Radcliff was becoming impatient. It was time to take a risk. Rook had to be daring.
Which was why now, in the still dead hours if the early morning, Rook found himself edging his way through the drafty corridors of the place he was now forced to call home. In the season he’d been under Jessica’s thumb, the kelvic had come to know the estate intimately. He’d visited Jessica in her private study many times to receive orders and could probably find it in his sleep. He had never stayed there long enough to catch more than a glimpse of the tantalizing documents sitting on his master’s back. Tonight, the kelvic aimed to correct that.
Finally, Rook found himself standing in front of the door to the study. There was no light creeping underneath the door frame, but Rook still nervously pressed his ear against the door for an achingly long moment. Silence. Another boom of thunder shook the walls and Rook flinched. Once more he froze until his frantic breathing and rapid heartbeat quieted. When he was once more sure of himself, the kelvic tested the door knob. To Rook’s surprise, the door clicked cleanly open.
Cautiously Rook peered inside. The wolf boy knew very well that his master’s study was leapt locked when Jessica went to bed for the night. He had fashioned himself a makeshift lock pick out of a piece of scrap metal he had found on the ground, but he had no idea how to use it. Perhaps he had expected to try at it a few passes, then give up and go to bed. But with it unlocked, Rook had no excuse. He had to proceed. He studied the shadows of the room for an achingly long moment, but detected no movement. Bolstering his nerve, the kelvic stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
The blackness in the room was all consuming, but a flash from the sky lit the room for a moment as bright as day. Rook rushed to the window and drew the dark curtains up, obscuring any prying eyes who might be watching from outside. Then with a breath, he turned around to face the room.
(Words 547, Total 547)
Rook
