[center][h2]Contemplation[/h2][/center]
[center][b]Croweater[/b][/center]
[center][i]Themerlinhawk[/i][/center]


The night breeze ruffled the black robes Crow had doned earlier. Climbing the stairs to the forecastle; Crow perched on the railing hanging his legs of the edge of Blackwing. The ceremony had been more or less enjoyable from his vantage above it. The staff rested in the crook of his arm as he sat tapping his foot against the railing. The reception was in full swing behind him but it didn’t seem to phase Crow as he continued to kick his foot. 

It really was a beautiful sight from the top of Blackwing. Funny how such things contrasted; the aura from the other side of the Veil was almost palpable. One of the great battles of the first Stygian War had occurred just a few hundred miles away at Westhaven. The destruction had been so grand that even to this day he could feel the restless dead moving. And to think that Raven and Christian had taken part in it. The memory records that Shard kept under lock and key had shown Crow everything he’d wanted to know. 

[i]Thousands of Stygian Deatheaters had climbed the sheer cliffs of Westhaven. Christian’s form leaping from roof to roof with Raven on his back as they had taken the city by storm and steel.Years later the city would be destroyed by a group of Galendar’s defenders as they made their escape via airship. The young Garick Darksand among them as Westhaven burned. Another strike back at the Stygian invaders[/i]

Shaking his head to clear the memories Crow turned over the Deathmask in his hands. There really wasn’t a reason to peer beyond the Veil. He knew what he’d find. 

It was so tempting to just leave. 

A voice floated up from the deck of Blackwing; Crow’s eyes almost popped out of his head as he heard the unmistakable tone of Kaela the Tarot. This was bad. Very very very bad. Slowly Crow looked over his shoulder towards the deck of Blackwing where the voice was coming from. This night just kept getting better.