very early on. He did not play, or sing, or smile. He was in the Gifted House; such frivolity was beneath him.
His twin had a harder time of things. He was a bright and curious child, always rushing off from one game to another, disturbing the grim tranquility of the household. No one gave him much thought, except to yell at him when he was in their way. He was not instructed, except for what teaching his mother could give him. No matter what the Raven said, any son of hers was important to her.
Telikos, of course, knew nothing of this. He had never met his twin, not since the day they were born, and didn't even know of his existence. And they would never meet until the day they died.
That particular day, the day they died, was the day Telikos ran his first errand for the Raven. He was a nearly fifteen, and had been tagging along on his relatives' excursions for some time, but today he went alone. His raven hopped excitedly around his shoulders.
For as long as he could remember, he had had his own raven. Usually, a raven was passed around the members of the household, unless there was a scheduling conflict, in which case a raven from the woods would come to help out. But Telikos was special. As soon as he was old enough to talk, a raven had come and begun whispering things in his ears. His father and grandfather thought he was making things up, but he knew they were only jealous; the Raven told him so.
So when he set out on his first errand, he was well practiced in being the voice of the Raven. His family had ceased to truly take him seriously, but outside the House, his was the most powerful force in a thousand miles. Everyone was terrified of the Raven' messengers.
He was almost looking forward to this.
He slid surreptitiously through the wall of the wooden shack. It was dim inside; the only light came through the single open window, and the sky was clouded over. There was a robin sitting on a branch outside the window, but it flew off in alarm when Telikos came in. Inside, a woman was wailing, her face in her hands. He stood in silence, watching her. Her dirty hair fell in matted streaks around her face.
His twin had a harder time of things. He was a bright and curious child, always rushing off from one game to another, disturbing the grim tranquility of the household. No one gave him much thought, except to yell at him when he was in their way. He was not instructed, except for what teaching his mother could give him. No matter what the Raven said, any son of hers was important to her.
Telikos, of course, knew nothing of this. He had never met his twin, not since the day they were born, and didn't even know of his existence. And they would never meet until the day they died.
That particular day, the day they died, was the day Telikos ran his first errand for the Raven. He was a nearly fifteen, and had been tagging along on his relatives' excursions for some time, but today he went alone. His raven hopped excitedly around his shoulders.
For as long as he could remember, he had had his own raven. Usually, a raven was passed around the members of the household, unless there was a scheduling conflict, in which case a raven from the woods would come to help out. But Telikos was special. As soon as he was old enough to talk, a raven had come and begun whispering things in his ears. His father and grandfather thought he was making things up, but he knew they were only jealous; the Raven told him so.
So when he set out on his first errand, he was well practiced in being the voice of the Raven. His family had ceased to truly take him seriously, but outside the House, his was the most powerful force in a thousand miles. Everyone was terrified of the Raven' messengers.
He was almost looking forward to this.
He slid surreptitiously through the wall of the wooden shack. It was dim inside; the only light came through the single open window, and the sky was clouded over. There was a robin sitting on a branch outside the window, but it flew off in alarm when Telikos came in. Inside, a woman was wailing, her face in her hands. He stood in silence, watching her. Her dirty hair fell in matted streaks around her face.
