Robert assessed the situation. He was a rugged outdoorsman, but he was not a fighter and would not match up well with a hardened criminal or a determined person who would do anything to get what he wanted, even if he was much smaller. Be careful. Don’t underestimate him. He always intended to be silent anyway. “What if I say no?”
“On this issue and with me, you do not want to say no,” he said and gave a cold, steel stare.
“I will do as you ask,” Robert said, but did not know himself if he meant it.
“I hope, for both our interests, you do so unwaveringly,” Raith said. “You know what I ask. Think about your actions. One misstep might lead to tragedy. There will be no warnings or second chances.”
The dark man turned around and within seconds was out of sight.
Robert said he agreed but was not sure how seriously he should take this threat. In a fair fight, he could not foresee the man getting the better of him. Of course, it might not be a fair fight. He could be cunning or ruthless or use weapons or attack when unexpected. It would not be difficult to keep quiet. Years will pass and the incident will be hidden in the recesses of distant memory. Still, he did not like being told what to do. He did not like being intimidated. However, was he willing to be defiant and risk the wrath of this strange man? He was leaning towards no.
He then wondered, why was this man so interested in what he saw and so invested in his silence? One scenario, as outlandish as it sounded, was that some sort of creature did exist, and this man was connected with it. Was he the person in control of the creature, using him for whatever schemes, good or evil, that he had? Even more absurd was the idea that the creature and this man were one in the same and that one could become the other. He never heard of a hybrid creature in any aboriginal stories, though ravens could take the form of men in some tales.
There are stories of werewolves and vampires, and their abilities make little sense in the context of modern reality. A man being able to change into a raven makes little sense as well if one knows anything of biology. If no such being exists, why suppress it? Not wanting tourists to flock here makes sense, but would one not threaten another with murder for that alone? At least, no sane person would. Very strange situation indeed.
“ShadowWing,” Raith addressed his best intelligence-gathering raven. “I must return home in the next couple of days. The artist, the large fellow, either saw my hybrid form, or worse, a raven transforming into said form. I warned him not to speak of what he saw or my subsequent encounter with him. He agreed, but I would like you to watch him and let me know if he is doing anything he should not be.”
“As you command, Exalted Raith,” the raven said.
The next evening, close to midnight, the raven returned to the tree where Raith was roosting.
“Exalted Raith, Robert is drinking heavily and not sleeping well. I overheard him ask one of the elder cottagers here if there were any hermits in the area who saw themselves as protectors of the forest. The older man said no. He then asked about ravens in the area and if there are any myths about them. The other said, not that he knows of.”
Raith’s expression did not change, but ShadowWing knew this was not the news he wished to hear.
Robert went alone to a new location to sketch. As he was setting up, Raith appeared out of nowhere and grabbed him by the front of his shirt and forced him violently to the ground. Robert tried to fight back, but somehow the small man was faster and stronger and had a counter to everything the bigger man attempted.
“You are going to yourself killed,” Raith said as he sat on his stomach and had one hand on his throat. “I could kill you this very moment, but that doesn’t do either of us any good. I ask you to please stop all of this and forget me and what you think you saw. Alternatively, do not forget but never speak of it. Your life is in peril. Your actions will be the death of you. There will be no further warning. I hope you finally understand how dire your situation is.”
“I do. It haunts me. I can’t stop thinking about it. It changes everything I think I know, but I will stop. I swear,” Robert promised. Raith then departed as quickly as he had appeared.
That evening, Raith, himself, watched the artist with ShadowWing. His curtains were closed this night, and little could be heard from the other side. They thought they heard tossing and turning but could not be sure. The evening after that was uneventful which was how he wanted it. The next two days were the same, and Raith felt some relief and prepared to leave with peace of mind.
The afternoon of the next day, ShadowWing flew towards Raith, something in its beak, slim and rectangular. “Exalted Raith, I found this in Robert’s room, next to his typewriter. There was also a sketch of a raven man in his sketch book which I removed and hid to be later destroyed.”
Raith thought, good work, but only nodded and took the letter.
