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[News] EM Bio: Daniel Ravens

S

Stupid Miner

Guest

(From the desk of your EM on Sonoma: A Bio)

Daniel Ravens

I see the shadows. They follow me; they lead me; they are one with
me. I do not remember the first time the shadow moved me, guided me. I
have walked the darkness for aeons both in the past and in the future.
Well gather around and I will tell you that which I still remember.

My parents walked me to the park when I was young. I was not Ravens
then though I have long since forgotten who I was. They thought the
swings and climbing things would amuse me. Indeed they were right. By
the time I was two years old I could climb higher and faster than any
other child. That was never enough. I had to do it more quietly and
unnoticed. Mum and Da thought it was a game. It was no game.

They watched from the side of the trees or under the benches. My
parents never saw them. My parents would "play" along; ask if they
should make lunch for my "invisible" friends. I left them cookies.
Everyone likes cookies.

A few years would pass and School was to start. I loathed the idea of
being with all the lovely small insignificant children. My Uniform was
a blue shirt with a lace up collar and grey leather shorts. I left for
my first day. The other children thought I was strange. A large boy
pushed and shoved me. Soon all the kids were pointing and laughing.
When they were done my shirt was no longer blue. It had mud and blood
splattered all over it. I was never going back. I could already read,
print and make change at the Chandler shop. I wanted more. I needed
more.

I walked to the corner, fixed my chin up and decided what I would
tell my parents. That was when I saw my shadow. Oh, not the one cast
by my body blocking the bright rays of the sun. Oh! No! The one I
would soon call master teacher. It flickered at the side of my vision
near the wall of the old brewery. He was following me, playing a game,
or testing me. So I kept him just in my vision, never stepping to far
ahead or too slowly. Always the same distance. When the chance arose I
would double back and catch him. I had it all figured out. There was a
bridge in the middle of the town over a small pond. I knew it had a
loose rail that would hold my weight. I would slip over it and under
the bridge. I had done it many times to fool my parents and other
children when playing Hide and
seek.

I got under the bridge as quickly and stealthily as I could. I would
jump out at the shadow and find out who or what he was! I crouched. My
heart skipped a beat and I jumped with a start when it said "hello
boy, bin waitin' for ye! What's this with yer chemise boy?"

"Naught fer ye t'care."

"Oh! Aye! D'n't say I be carin'"


It studied me. I felt like it was crawling under my skin. If it asked
again I knew I would blurt out my whole miserable morning. The
scrutiny was unbearable. What did he know of me?

"Ye need to go to school boy. Lots of learnin' t' be done."

I told him I did not need school. I was smarter than the teacher anyway.

"Oh! *nod* Aye. An' d' the teacher get hisself all bloody too?"


I felt like crying but I would not give it the satisfaction.

"Why did you let that happen?"

I shouted! "He was bigger an' stronger and he had all the others on his side."

"Oh! Aye! But aren't ye the smart one? The fast one? The clever one?"

He turned and pulled at a stone in the wall. I had never noticed
before that the hideaway was there. I will leave your assignments in
here boy. Come get them every day then go to school an' learn. I think
you shall be known as Ravens from now on.

Learn I did. My first lesson was never to get beat again and I
didn't. I learned that life was not always fair. Some people who
looked kind were not and some who looked wretched merely suffered
sever battle wounds. Wounds they got dedicating their life to the
service of others. I learned to observe people, learned their
weaknesses and strengths. I learned how to manipulate. I learned to
judge people after I watched them, searched into their soul and to
never believe my first impression.

By the time I was finished my prep schooling I had learned to trust no one.

"I am proud of ye boy." Stated my shadow, "Now you must decide what you are."

Not who you are or what you will do for an occupation. What I was!

"Follow me Raven and your life will be changed forever. Stay and be
filled with ennui always."


The choice was clear. I never saw my parents again. People look upon
us as evil. We do what others won't. Yet they come to us. They need a
favour but don't tell. They have a job they can't dirty their hands.
They need an elixir for health, love or hate and harm. Yeah these good
denizens live among you. They wear their fancy clothes and ride their
high horses. They look so pretty when you meet them at the Luna bank.
They are merchants, Paladins, Noblemen. We are the scum. Remember no
good coffee was ever made that did not produce dregs.
 
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