During the midday, the sun high, Red approaches Gustav. The group is moving through the endless grasslands. Rask and Ca’armine are in conversation. As Red engages Gustav in conversation he slows his pace, forcing Gus to slow down.
“Gustav, it such a warm day should you not let your Crow fly free for a bit? That is where I would want to be, up in the breeze. Who knows what your Crow could see from such a lofty position…
As they move far back from Rask and Ca’armine Red lowers his voice, and side steps closer to Gus, shoulders almost touching.
“I am concerned about Rask and the soul that seems to be trapped within him. I sadly understand little of the whole mess. How it happened, and how can be resolved. But I had a thought. Rask is aligned with Raiden. Removing as soul from a body…”
Red’s seem stunned for a moment, has a slight shiver.
“What I am trying to say is Rask needs to lean into Raiden more now than ever. You have spoken of the protective Raiden powers that your mantel offers. Would you be willing to allow Rask the privilege of wearing the Mantle of Raiden?”
Red peers ahead and tries and sense if Rask suspects anything about his conversation with Gustav.
Gustav looks confused at the subterfuge that Red is deploying but goes along with it. Gus matches Red’s whispering and closeness. He tells the crow to follow behind them so the crow doesn’t get in the way of conversation since it is usually on Gus’s shoulder.
“Of course Rask can use the Mantle. It was never mine to begin with, I am just a passenger in it. I will of course relinquish it to Rask if Alexis thinks it is a good idea. I certainly wouldn’t want Rask to be controlled by some evil force.
Rask seems concerned as well. I am guessing you want to avoid giving the soul a heads up is why you are being quiet and moving me away from Rask, rather than keeping secrets from Rask?
As for the crow, I am working up to more complex tasks. It isn’t just training the crow, I need to learn how to understand what the crow gives me. I could send the crow up to the air and it might see plenty up there. But would I be able to understand what the crow is trying to tell me about what it saw. Probably not that well. I suppose I need to connect deeper with the crow. Which is what I was afraid of. The deeper my connection, when it is hurt or killed, the greater affect it will have on me. It’s death could mean my death. I don’t know. Most of you don’t seem to understand this and think of it as a ladder or a glass tube. You think it is just a tool.
I have given into connecting deeper with it and that means if it is in danger from a falcon attack, I am in danger. It should not be taken lightly. I will keep you all aware of it’s capabilities as I work with it. For now it can fetch me small items in the close surrounding area. It can also alert me of danger when I am napping.”
As Gustav talk Red is relived that the Mantle of Raiden may be used to help bolster Rask.
“I love the way you weave the two conversations together. Very clever you are my friend.
I agree that we must make hast to break the connection Rask and Zithrack. Much the opposite for you and your crow. Clever.”
Gustav looks confused. He thinks for a moment and then says:
“Weave conversations together? We have been having one conversation right? I don’t think anyone has ever called me ‘clever’.”