The Bloody Raven will be handing out the sweet goods on Halloween.
And maybe a pretty little star this winter too. Curious? Then enter my YouTube Giveaway Double feature!
Show and Tell : Yeager’s Poured Silver
Since we’re almost on top of Halloween it the opportunity to show one of my favorite Gothic silver. From Yeager’s Poured Silver Commissioned in the name of a Popular YouTube Channel Silver Slacker! And his 2016 Coffin and Headstone set.
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Pirate Queen Ching Shih and the Raven’s Skull : Part 4
The raven easily ditched her chaperone and met up with Chang and John at the Quon Lu Exchange and Assay bank. At the counter Chang focused on each individual piles of boat shaped and coin money then worked a calculating device sliding its beads back and forth. Satisfied, he and John put the piles into pouches and tied them leaving one pile of silver. The manager himself worked the same rack of beads then set aside from the pile what appeared to be the business fee. Chang bristled, then slid a few more beads and drew back several large coins back into the original pile. After, a few more turns Chang mutters something, turns and placed a hefty pouch into the Raven's hand. "Cost of doing business is much higher than I last remember."
The Raven whispered to Chang, “Anything more about Captain Poa?”
“The Captain seems much more revered by the folks here than that of a villain,” Replied Chang.
“It doesn’t figure with what Madam Shih had described him to be.”
"This way." Said Chang as he turned into a dead end lane.
The shop appeared somewhat old, grey and dilapidated as if it stood frozen in time. Chang knocked on the door in a predetermined rhythm. The old weather worn door creaked open soon enough as her presence continue to attract attention. Her acute sense of smell was overwhelmed with variety of odors, scents, and a pungent aroma, the herb shop was a necessary stop. The shop walls were laden with hundreds of jars of dried ... something. Varieties of dried Flower, root plant, seed, fungal, animal parts, insects, and many others that defy identification other than a few Chinese characters scribbled on the jar. All for various human ailments tested over thousands of years of trial and error. Chang was as always as helpful with her delicate needs. Chang talked at length with the shopkeeper. To a point until Chang recognized him as distant relations. He introduced her to the Shopkeeper as a famous friend. A man who's fathers and mothers for generations before him practiced the old art of medicinal pharmacology. The requested formulation was new to Won as the acquaintance was strong enough to risk investing a lot of skill, time and energy into the final product to treat a very unique condition.
3It was her mask that made him apprehensive at first but have seen many men wear a menacing facial appliances, it was a first he's seen on a woman. It was more tham a year ago he received a letter from Chang as a special request along with a few ovoid shaped Japanese pieces of gold that have been authenticated by King Imperial chop marks, as a deposit for his services. He has first heard of the exploits of the Storm Crow over a Mah Jong game, again at a friend's home and again in talk in his own shop. Word had come that this famous Ship was invited by the personal invitation of Shih.
"I have what you need." Mr Won beckons two woman appearing from a backroom the older carrying a tea service and the younger a black colored bar on a plate. Won hangs a 'San – Private Closed (sī rén fēng bì) ' at the front door before baring it shut. He then shutters the windows denying the curious onlookers.
1"Please sit." Mr Won directs Chang and the Raven to a corner service table. The tea service is arranged in an simple elegant tradition. A shrine is situated at almost arm's length from the table as past generations overlook transactions to guarantee the future prosperity of the family business.
"I assure you that this is exactly as you requested."
The younger woman, the daughter, picked up the black bar clearly marked with a sanguine Chinese character xuè symbolizing blood and scraped a fine amount of powder into only one of three teacups. The older, the mother in ceremonial fashion pours warm tea into the Raven's cup turning into a crimson broth.
"This I expect works well with most teas including Jasmine and green tea"
The Raven looks at her Cook turned Counselor. Chang smiled, "I have known this man and his family for a long time and I trust them."
"Derived from the best new lambs no older than twenty weeks old, I personally inspected many farms to assure you that this is exactly what you ordered. What you see here is almost a year's work preserved in this bar."
1The Raven removed her mask. She recall it customary for the host to drink first, then Chang and herself together picking up their cups. Chang took a patient sip appeared satisfied then put his cup down and smiled, "Hai hó cha, Shi Shi." Interlocking his fingers in a gesture of gratitude for the tea. Whereas the Raven cautiously tasted reconstituted lambs blood with the tea. The taste drew her soul into a brief euphoric rush satiating the similar hungry craving that draws a shark to blood or a moth to flame such that it would drive any ordinary human mad. Lighting up the fear, hunger, pleasure centers, in magnitudes overcoming the reasoning centers of the brain while leaving the conscience hostage to witness the ferocity and fury of a Night Walker in Blood lust.
A primal drive stronger than any opiate denying life itself, stronger than the will to live or her drive for revenge. The air around the table became cold as if its darkness itself can consume both warmth and light.
Devouring the remaining drink, her hands trembled as her soul quickened her into another hell's decent. The porcelain teacup crumbled like rice paper in her weathered hands. The veins under her pale skin bulged, another deep breath her fangs bared when her feral instincts manifest only not brief enough terrifying the two women.
"Do not be afraid." Exclaimed Chang reassuringly.
In the next moment her soul became calm after a long relaxing breath she has control. Almost disoriented she was at some degree able to approximate Chang's etiquette.
"It works, the euphoria is shorter, better controlled and more satisfactory."
"For professional reasons I must know what this is exactly for. I can adjust my formulation to suit your needs better."
The Raven nodded, "I will trust you with this; The Lamb's blood curbs my craving for fresh human blood. It is vital for my constitution, healing, and power. But it is terribly addictive for a Night Walker as I am. I have found Lamb's blood as an imperfect but temporary substitute."
Chang chimed in, "You will be serving civilization a big favor preventing a race like her kind to go out if control."
"There are more?"
"Yes." Answered the Raven," Small in numbers so far as they stay out of public affairs and fight amongst themselves between the thirteen covens and clans. They don't care much for a cure but I do and I hope you can create one."
Excellent, It could take years but I believe I can improve it." Mr Won relaxed and slid a piece of paper to the center of the table, "The bill for my services my Lady."
With her mind still subjected to a fading swirl The Raven inspected the document listing his expenses and markup she was able to understand parts of the language. She opened her purse and slid a five Teal gold weight Sycee on the table to the shopkeeper. Almost two more teal weight than he demanded. Then she slid another five Teal gold Scyee next to the first, "And I would like to renew my supply for next year paid in advance." A third slid next to that, a total of fifteen Teal weights. "A gift to you, your descendants and your suppliers, I think you like a good incentive to build a reliable long term business relationship, and I do wish to keep our business private; however should anyone causes harm to you, your descendants or interfere in our business they will become my enemy."
2"Our business will not just be years but generations. But notice of three years may be satisfactory to end it on good terms."
The two women gaped at the real wealth represented on the table. The marks are clearly authentic of it's purity in Quon Lu but also legal for Imperial business as well without question.
The Shopkeeper smiled as her offer provided the kind of security beyond even what Shih could promise. The Raven's reputation was as Chang claimed. Mr Won smiled at his ancestor's shrine then turned to the Raven, "I accept your business terms."
Chang nodded to the Raven then grinned satisfied to Mr Won, "She likes you but don't let all this wealth go to your head, you have a business and family to support."
Previous Episodes
“Et lux in tenebris to serve laboro, sum sicarius” “I work in the shadows to serve the Light, I am an Assassin”
