Drabble 273

Finished 00:51.

Araziel and Blue had taken to playing Noughts and crosses in the dirt, since neither of them knew where they were and attempting to up and leave would likely result in them both getting even more lost than they were already, if that were possible. “You know we can't just sit here forever, right?” asked Araziel.

“I disagree,” said Blue.

“At some point we're going to have to leave,” Araziel continued; “and we need to figure out how we're going to do that without knowing where we are, since I'd rather not die out here if I can help it.”

Drabble 272

Finished 5:11.

Although Anansi had eventually agreed to untie Raven, he still wasn't taking any chances with security. Two guards had been posted outside the door and another one was standing in the corner of the room, taking up as much space as he possibly could without taking up any space at all. Anansi was pouring over maps, throwing information at Raven so fast he could hardly keep up; where Mary-Tzu was camped, how many men she had with her, the rotation of her guards... With as much information as Anansi already had Raven wasn't entirely sure what he was needed for.

Drabble 271

Finished 2:48.

Raven didn't have long to think things through before Anansi demanded answer. He hadn't really thought at all, but was just trying to buy himself more time, when he said: “Alright; tell me what you want me to do.” Anansi moved closer to him, sitting on the edge of his desk right beside him and resting a hand on his cheek. “See? I knew you'd come around eventually,” he said, moving to ruffle Raven's hair. Raven would have slapped his hand away if he'd been able to, but as it was all he could do was sit there feeling ill.

Drabble 270

Finished 5:03.

Blue and Araziel had managed to find a small patch of woodland where the trees were a little less dense to sit down, but hadn't yet found there way back to a path or located any landmark that Blue recognised. They had been sitting there in awkward silence for a while when Blue finally spoke. “We are hopelessly lost, aren't we?” he said.

“Blue, I'm not even entirely certain we're in Acellevin any more,” replied Araziel.

“If we're not in Acellevin, then where are we?” asked Blue.

“I don't know,” Araziel answered, “but wherever this is, I don't like it.”

Drabble 269

 Finished 6:03.

Araziel had been following the rustling through the woods for about twenty minutes when she suddenly found a large weight pinning her down. “Get OFF me, you bloody great oaf!” she snapped, hitting Blue off the back of the head.

“Sorry, I thought you were the leprechaun,” Blue said. He rolled off of her and sat on the ground, rubbing the sore spot on the back of his head where Araziel had hit him. “Do I look like a leprechaun to you?” she spat as she climed to her feet, dusted off he skirt and hit Blue a second time.

Drabble 268

Finished 1:26.

A few servants came in throughout the day with water and to make sure that Raven wasn't up to anything, but he didn't see Anansi again until that evening. By that point he had most of a plan pieced together, but he had no idea how he was going to get the leprechaun there to instigate it all. He wasn't sure how long he would have to put things into action, but judging by the impatient tapping of Anansi's foot and his sharp: “I'm going to give you one last chance to change your mind,” it wouldn't be very long.

Drabble 267

Finished 21:33.

Raven was still sitting in Anansi's office, trying to figure out how he was supposed to get himself out of this mess. Since Blue and Araziel were likely still looking for his horse, he couldn't depend on one of them realising he was gone. Many years ago he might have considered appealing to Anansi's better nature, but he was old enough now that he knew that would be pointless; he'd have more chance of being rescued by the leprechaun. With that thought in mind he leaned back against his chair, as much as the bind would allow, and began plotting.