2nd Lieutenant, Aeval, commander of scout sections Corvus and Beira, disciple of Cathubodua, Sister Militant, stood eyes closed 90 foot up on the balcony of the old lighthouse high on beacon hill. Hands resting lightly on the iron balustrade. Dressed in grey habit and black cowled scapular,colours of the hooded crow, sacred bird of her order.
Whipped by the ever-present wind, her red hair formed a nimbus around her head, giving truth to the meaning of her name "the burning fire". She liked this place, could feel the old power that permeated the granite isle.
The lightest of vibration through her fingers attested to the landing of the oldest of the resident Ravens, others circled further out and beyond them the crows.
He spoke to her mind.
"Sister, you call on the old pacts, and yet you plan to bring evil where there is only peace"
She could feel the trickery and humour as his words crackled in her head, she snorted her reply.
"War bird, you forget your calling. We are creatures of conflict you and I, what use is peace to us? I may not bring you a battle field, but death's banquet will be served here, I feel it, it is yours. If you would be my ears and eyes, you would honour me"
His laughter sounded as sandpaper in her skull.
"Well put little witch, little has fallen from our cliffs of late, a mild winter does not kill, and the storm tides have been empty, nothing moves here that you will not be aware, I promise." With that he launched into the wind.
She opened her eyes, the sun was settling into the ocean, a glowing streak of red running from the horizon across the sea towards her, the blood road she would one day cross.
(The Blood road to Lundy)
Tomorrow they'd gather for prayers at lookout cairn, the visitors would come soon, and with them an ancient evil she had been tasked to defeat, a cold gust made her shiver, time to prepare.