i am the violence in the pouring rain
i am a hurricane The birds unnerve most everyone. She knows this. Of course she does. In truth, that’s part of what she loves about them. Anyone with half a brain should be unnerved around her to some slight degree. Not that she isn’t trustworthy, but she is the product of a monster with a family history of violence and destruction. And when you boil all the finer details of her away, she is the same as the rest of her family. She’s just more careful about trying not to burn the Chamber down with her.
She laughs at the title. “Indeed,” and it only takes a moment before her crown of raven feather’s materializes on her head. She hadn’t felt the need to wear it, not with Oksana, but of course it does serve as a useful tool to confirm the title. She would not be Queen of the Chamber forever, but she would be Queen of the Ravens till the day she died. If she died, that is.
She’ll probably just retire to the mountains and pester Atrox for eternity. Won’t he be thrilled?
“You should. You know the Chamber is always open to you, so long as I’m here.” It would never really be Oksana’s home, and so Straia doesn’t use the word. Oksana didn’t live and breathe for this kingdom the way Straia did. Didn’t really live and breathe for any kingdom. Oksana was simply Oksana, thrust on a throne once that she never wanted and now simply capable of going where the wind took her. Quite literally as they fly upward, the breeze tugging them over the heart of the Chamber. Though from here, she cannot see the burning tree or hear the beating of the heart.
Here, it is just Oksana and Straia. Even the ravens have disappeared now, back to their perches in the trees or their jobs spying on all the other kingdoms. They knew better than to disturb Straia right now.
“Oh, nothing worth worrying about, really. I’ve possibly started a war, but I doubt this will surprise you.” She laughs, because everyone who knows Straia knows she’s terribly capable of starting fights. “Stole the Gates Queen, destroyed their home. Not that this is news or much of a secret.” There’s no remorse in her voice. It’s a wonder, in this moment, that Oksana and Straia love each other so. Oksana would never condone what Straia has done, what she will still do, to bring the Chamber to greatness. Oksana would never steal a helpless Queen either, though if nothing else, Straia made sure Fiasko’s stay was comfortable.
They level out in the clouds, and the air is cool and brisk and invigorating. For a moment, Straia passes the time in silence, her overlarge raven wings pumping now and again to keep her aloft. But she is content in the silence, just the presence of her sister enough to remind her that she has not given everything for the Chamber. She gave up Rodrik (no great loss, but still, her only remaining parent), she gave up Lu. One day, she’d probably have to give up Weed should the Chamber no longer suit his plans.
But Oksana always came back. Perhaps not as much as either of them would like. But still, she came back.
Finally though, she knows she needs to ask, because the heaviness in her sister’s voice and the sorrow in her eyes is hard to miss. They grew up together. Secrets weren’t something they could easily keep. “Why do you seem so sad?”
straia
the raven queen of the chamber
Use of mild power playing is allowed; no injuries without permission