Crowman Cont

"You want Sergei, are you sure?" Crow nervously asked the larger Guardian. "He's very impudent. I'm sure you would not like him." Crow knew exactly what Screech was trying to do, deprive him of someone he loved in order to cause him pain. And as much as he was loath to, he had to play along with Screech's demand if he was to succeed in getting the information that he needed. There was no risk of Screech tricking him. The Guardian was malicious but incapable of manipulation.

'Don't worry Sergei. I'll get you back. And if Screech or anyone else harms you we'll tear them apart together' Crow promised.

Screech smiled like a predator bearing down on their trapped prey. "Oh I'm sure. Strongmeky told me about your bond with Sergei, said he's your biggest weakness. Strongmeky will be very pleased to see Sergei at the gathering. Now give him to me before I have your crow's killed."

"Crowman if you hand Sergei over I'll"

"no doubt do something imbecilic which will result in an immeasurable amount of infinitely prolonged pain for you and more work for Leon. Now be quiet Seamus. Sorry about him Screech. I take it you have something about your person to make sure that Sergei doesn't take an unscheduled free falling lesson?"

"Aye. I'll strap him to me with these" Screech answered, still grinning as he showed off a series of buckles and ropes wrapped around his bulky chest. Horrified with at how close in proximity Sergei would be to the foul Guardian, , Crow shuddered, a motion which unfortunately for his pride, Screech noticed.

"Aw, how sweet, you love him!" Screech crooned mockingly as his gulls cackled with malicious glee. "It's a good thing I'm taking him then, wouldn't want what happened to your dear wife and daughter to happen to him." Crowman froze, the sea below roaring his rage while the crows screamed insults at the seagull guardian.

"Deplorable! Outrageous!" roared Tun.

"Disgusting", shrieked one.

"Foul words oddly suited for a foul creature like you Screech" Irodia intoned. Screech bared his yellow teeth and shot upwards with his gulls. Irodia's yell of agony, followed by a flare of pain up Crow's left arm yanked him sharply out of the turret of torment that the mention of his deceased loved ones had caused, and in an instant Crow's right arm burst through the mosquito net to seize Screech's ankle and haul him down, slicing the belts and ropes around his chest as he did so with his dagger so that Screech's grey and white feather covered wings fell down to the sea.

"DROP HER!" Crow bellowed at the seagull that had one of Irodia's wings trapped in it's sharp orange beak. "Drop her or your master dies!" The gull looked at his companions, most of whom were struggling under the assault of a murderous murder of crow's then down at his struggling master. The gull opened it's beak and dropped Irodia who fell into Leon's outstretched cupped hands. "Bad move. Weren't you ever taught never to trust a traitor" Crow grinned, then the sea exploded upwards and Crow let go of Screech's ankle.

As one, the dirigible and crow's raced up to avoid the mass of water that threatened to crush them while Screech and his gulls were pummelled by the water and sent crashing into the freezing depths of the British Channel.

Published 11th February 2017