Published at 27th of July 2019 12:01:22 PM
Chapter 23.2
Episode 5: I Mean No Harm – Chapter 23 . 2
“Two, three, four… I guess this is it . ”
When Calian had passed by three alleys of the Western Market and led himself into the fourth, there was only one shop that was lit in the darkness . Birdcages of various sizes and colours in front of the entryway caught his eye . Calian looked up at the nameboard of the store and nodded in satisfaction . He seemed to be at the right place .
— Nieransha Bird Shop (Rental Carrier Pigeons)
If the store was simply selling pet birds, it would have been strange for them to be open at this hour . However, it was understandable for carrier pigeon services to operate during late hours as people would come looking for a way to deliver their messages both day and night .
Whether it was because the building was small or because the hour was late, they didn’t seem to have an attendant who could take his horse . There weren’t any posts that he could use to tie his horse to, either .
“What should I do?”
Raven climbed down from Raven’s back and stood still, stumped by the lack of posts that he could use to tie his horse to . Calian knew best that Raven would never wander off without his rich owner who could and was very willing to pamper him . He was worried that someone might try to steal him; to be precise, worried about that unlucky someone who would be kicked by a raving horse .
In the end, Calian resigned and gathered Raven’s reigns on top of his saddle . “Wait for me here, and don’t make any trouble . ”
Raven whinnied as if to answer Calian and positioned himself by the wall of the building . His black body was hidden under the dark shade of the building, and only the white patch of hair on his front right fetlock stood out .
Calian turned away from Raven . He pulled his hood further down his face and entered the shop .
— ting-ling!
A chime sounded a little louder than the bell that Yan rang every morning, indicating that a customer was here . The birds inside the shop seemed to have been woken up by the chime and started chirping all at once . It was almost as if he were walking in a forest rather than in a shop located at one corner of a market .
It’s larger than it seemed from the outside . A large selection of birdcages and birds were scattered throughout the shop . There were pet birds smaller than Calian’s fists all the way to hawks that could be used for hunting . In fact, it was harder to think of birds that weren’t in the shop .
The owner, who was wearing a monocle and feeding the birds, turned his head towards Calian and stood up . “Are you looking for a carrier pigeon?”
Instead of raising his guard, that’s what he had asked a stranger who had stepped into the shop with a black robe covering their face after the night had settled in .
Calian silently turned towards a birdcage that seemed oddly silent . Two white domestic birds were asleep in it, leaning their bodies on each other . It looked like a pair of real birds without doubt, but Calian knew that they were just a pair of very well-crafted decorations .
“These birds don’t seem to wake,” murmured Calian quietly .
It didn’t matter that his voice sounded young, but he had been worried that his nervousness might show . Thankfully, a calm voice echoed in the shop .
“They sleep a lot,” answered the owner .
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It was the same reply as Bern remembered .
That marked the beginning of a scripted conversation .
“They must have come from afar . They seem very tired . ”
“…that must be why they’re sleeping so much . ”
Calian felt the owner scanning Calian during his short pause . Nothing from his appearance should give away his identity . Calian lowered his gaze concentrated on not letting the owner see the colour of his eyes .
“That makes sense . This sure seems like a perfect place for an exhausted bird to take a rest . ”
“That’s good to hear,” replied the owner nonchalantly, taking off his monocle and wiping it with his sleeve . He put it back on and asked, “What are you looking for?”
Calian’s next answer was crucial . If he accidentally failed to answer correctly or showed any suspicious actions, his head would fall right off his shoulders .
“I need some bird feed . ”
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“Yes, we do sell bird feed here . ”
While the two continued on with their placid exchange, the birds had stopped chirping and fallen back to sleep . In no time, the shop was silent . One could even hear the sound of their own clothes brushing against their body .
“But…” The owner walked over to Calian and stood behind him .
Calian didn’t hear the man’s footsteps . He didn’t need to see the sharp knife under the owner’s clothes to know that it was there .
The owner silently gazed at Calian’s back for what seemed like an eternity . Calian’s breath softly rang his own ears as the viscous air pressed against his lungs . A chill ran across his whole body .
Murderous intent .
The owner’s voice continued amidst the suffocating tension . “I don’t remember selling birds to anyone recently . I can’t say that I recall seeing you before . ”
This was not a scripted question . Calian had to think of an answer himself .
Right away, a small chuckle leaked out of Calian’s mouth . “My bird has only just left its nest to find food . It’s only obvious for you not to have sold it to me . ”
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The owner halted his footsteps that were slowly approaching Calian . “Do you know where the bird came from?”
The script resumed . Calian replied without hesitation . “I heard that it drifted along with the southeastern wind . ”
“Whose bird is it, then?”
Calian slowly turned around and faced the owner .
Under his hood, his lips drew a long smile . The final answer to this exchange spilled out .
“The bird belongs to Nevlad . ”
Devlan, the King of Secretia . Nevlad was an anagram of Devlan .
In other words, Calian was—
The first Kailisian prince attempting to obtain information about Kailis in the headquarters of Secretian spies .