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Description

Farhad reached the upper balcony from where he observed the scene in the courtyard with great speed. He held the bundle with the owl firmly so that the bird wouldn’t struggle and he picked up the crossbow that he had dropped to the ground in his haste to catch the little beast.
Before going through the door he glanced back down at the courtyard, Laurenz was looking up at him, they gave each other a nod of acknowledgement and continued on.

Quietly and through the shadows, Farhad moved towards his chamber, this is where they decided to meet after they had caught the bird. He made sure to not be noticed by any of the castle residents or the servants. When he reached his room he set the crossbow aside and tied a knot around the bundle so the owl couldn’t get out. The bird still struggled, its wing was partially broken and was probably in pain. He set the bundle on the ground and waited for Laurenz to join him.

He waited for about ten minutes before there was a knock on his door, he went to open the door swiftly and gestured to Laurenz to get in quickly.
The town men stood alone in the room looking at that bundle on the floor.

“So…how do we do this, Farhad? This thing is struggling.”

“Yeah, and it’s quite large, that’s a big bird, my friend.”

Laurenz chuckled. “Yeah, I didn't notice just how big from a distance…do you think it might be…you know, supernaturally enhanced?”

“It is a possibility, but does it matter? It’s a bird, we’re stronger, probably.”

“Probably? That’s a bit concerning, I have never dealt with an owl before, you know.”

“Well, my friend, neither have I, but i managed to carry it till here, so i’m confident that it won’t be a problem, you look stronger than me, you can handle it.”
Laurenz looked at the bundle then back at Farhad for a bit.

“Ok, what do you need for this, do you need anything special?”

“Yeah, eye of a newt, a waterhag’s tongue and the scales of a dragon.”
Farhad responded and then burst into laughter.

Laurenz frowned.
“I’m glad you can find amusement in everything, but this thing might still be listening in.”

Farhad composed himself once more.
“Do not worry, as far as I know, the shock of the injury probably severed the connection, for now, but don’t know how long that will last, so let’s waste no time.”

“Alright, what do we do?”

Farhad pulled out the chairs in front of his table and placed them close facing each other.
“Ok, now to a serious answer to your query, my friend. I want you to sit on the chair and hold the owl as steady as you can, so I can look into its eyes.”

“Sounds simple enough.” Laurenz replied and made a move towards the bundle.
Farhad stopped him.
“Hold on, this thing has talons, make sure you also hold its legs, it could probably scratch you pretty badly and we don’t know how normal of an owl it is.”

Laurenz nodded and went to grab the bundle from the floor.

“Are you ready, Farhad?”

“Let’s do this.”

Farhad held the bundle and was ready to untie the knot for Laurenz to grab the bird inside.
They had good coordination, when the knot was untied, Farhad still held on to the opening firmly and only allowed enough space for Laurenz hands to reach inside the bundle.

“I think it’s trying to bite me…”

Farhad felt around the bundle from the outside and when he found the head part of the bird he held it in place.

“Should be ok now, try to wrap your arm around its wings, careful though, i think the wing i shot is broken.”

Laurenz nodded silently and was concentrating on grabbing the owl as best as he could, he also knew full well that if he squeezed it too hard he could break it and all this effort would be in vain.
After a couple of minutes struggling his right arm was wrapped around the owl and he was able to lift it out of the bundle, then proceeded to use his free hand to keep its legs held tight so it wouldn’t move. The owl let out some cries, it seems terrified at this point.

“The bird is scared, come sit, so this can be over.” Farhad helped Laurenz to the chair and then sat across from him.

He reached out with his hands and gently grabbed the sides of the bird’s head.

“Calm down little fellow…” He prompted the bird, his attempt worked, Laurenz could no longer feel it shaking or struggling but still he held on to it firmly enough.

Farhad was looking deep into the bird’s eyes and concentrating.

“Let’s see what secrets this majestic beast holds…”

For a few moments it looked as if he was in a trance, he was going through the owls memories, he could see the things the owls had seen, all the goings around the castle courtyard from the last couple of days, Laurenz’s little excursion in the forest and a long flight above forests and mountains and towns. Until he reached the point of origin, he didn’t know which place this was, but it had a bigger castle and within it a magnificent ballroom. There in the center he saw the face of a woman.

“This bird came from far…flew over some mountains and forests…hm, that’s a big castle, much bigger than this one, and luxurious too, such a shiny floor.”

“Did you see which direction it was?” asked Laurenz

“Hm, not sure, I think it was North West, but I could be wrong.”

Laurenz started to feel some irritation, he had suspicions.

“Hm, that room is interesting, spacious but not decorated, wait, there is someone there…Oh, an interesting beauty…A woman of high stature it seems, valuable jewelry, dark hair, very severe face, beautiful cheekbones, her lips are thin but plump and she has a set of gorgeous emerald eyes. She…she’s the master of the owl.”

Laurenz is visibly angry at this point.
“Sibylle…of course…are you done?” he asked coldly.

Farhad broke eye contact with the bird and regained his normal vision.
“I suppose we have enough?”
Laurenz without a second thought snapped the bird’s neck and tossed it aside.

“Ok, judging by your anger this means there is history with this, Sibylle?”

Laurenz was walking back and forth agitated.

“She took everything from me, my family, my property ... my life… but i guess it’s not enough, nothing is ever enough, she has to have everything, especially the things she can’t have. I despise her.”

“My friend, killing the bird may not be too wise, we could perhaps get more information from it.”

“Too late for that, but don’t worry, we have what we need.”

“So you know the place?”

Laurenz nodded.

“Wait, that was your home, wasn’t it?”

“It hasn’t been that in a very long time, Farhad, but I still know it like the back of my hand.”

“Ok, so what is our next move, Laurenz, I fully intend to keep my word, if that’s what you want to do.”

Laurenz seemed to calm down somewhat with Farhad’s words.

“Thank you Farhad, I hate to ask you this, but I see no other way, Sibylle must die.”

“Then regardless of how I feel about her beauty, that’s what her fate shall be.”

“Farhad, I don't know how strong she is.”

“It’s two of us, Laurenz. And I can hide well, if we plan this right, I bet two brains are better than one.”

“I suppose you’re right, it’s time I stop hiding from her and reclaim everything she took from me.I will make preparations for our departure.”

Farhad nodded.
“What should I do with the bird?”

“I’ll take it to the kitchens, they can feed it to the cats…Now, please excuse me, Farhad, I need some time to think and prepare, will you be alright?”

Farhad smiled at him warmly.

“I’m fine, do what you need to do, I’ll be ready.”

And with that Laurenz grabbed the bird and left the room, leaving Farhad with his own thoughts.

Description

Farhad reached the upper balcony from where he observed the scene in the courtyard with great speed. He held the bundle with the owl firmly so that the bird wouldn’t struggle and he picked up the crossbow that he had dropped to the ground in his haste to catch the little beast.
Before going through the door he glanced back down at the courtyard, Laurenz was looking up at him, they gave each other a nod of acknowledgement and continued on.

Quietly and through the shadows, Farhad moved towards his chamber, this is where they decided to meet after they had caught the bird. He made sure to not be noticed by any of the castle residents or the servants. When he reached his room he set the crossbow aside and tied a knot around the bundle so the owl couldn’t get out. The bird still struggled, its wing was partially broken and was probably in pain. He set the bundle on the ground and waited for Laurenz to join him.

He waited for about ten minutes before there was a knock on his door, he went to open the door swiftly and gestured to Laurenz to get in quickly.
The town men stood alone in the room looking at that bundle on the floor.

“So…how do we do this, Farhad? This thing is struggling.”

“Yeah, and it’s quite large, that’s a big bird, my friend.”

Laurenz chuckled. “Yeah, I didn't notice just how big from a distance…do you think it might be…you know, supernaturally enhanced?”

“It is a possibility, but does it matter? It’s a bird, we’re stronger, probably.”

“Probably? That’s a bit concerning, I have never dealt with an owl before, you know.”

“Well, my friend, neither have I, but i managed to carry it till here, so i’m confident that it won’t be a problem, you look stronger than me, you can handle it.”
Laurenz looked at the bundle then back at Farhad for a bit.

“Ok, what do you need for this, do you need anything special?”

“Yeah, eye of a newt, a waterhag’s tongue and the scales of a dragon.”
Farhad responded and then burst into laughter.

Laurenz frowned.
“I’m glad you can find amusement in everything, but this thing might still be listening in.”

Farhad composed himself once more.
“Do not worry, as far as I know, the shock of the injury probably severed the connection, for now, but don’t know how long that will last, so let’s waste no time.”

“Alright, what do we do?”

Farhad pulled out the chairs in front of his table and placed them close facing each other.
“Ok, now to a serious answer to your query, my friend. I want you to sit on the chair and hold the owl as steady as you can, so I can look into its eyes.”

“Sounds simple enough.” Laurenz replied and made a move towards the bundle.
Farhad stopped him.
“Hold on, this thing has talons, make sure you also hold its legs, it could probably scratch you pretty badly and we don’t know how normal of an owl it is.”

Laurenz nodded and went to grab the bundle from the floor.

“Are you ready, Farhad?”

“Let’s do this.”

Farhad held the bundle and was ready to untie the knot for Laurenz to grab the bird inside.
They had good coordination, when the knot was untied, Farhad still held on to the opening firmly and only allowed enough space for Laurenz hands to reach inside the bundle.

“I think it’s trying to bite me…”

Farhad felt around the bundle from the outside and when he found the head part of the bird he held it in place.

“Should be ok now, try to wrap your arm around its wings, careful though, i think the wing i shot is broken.”

Laurenz nodded silently and was concentrating on grabbing the owl as best as he could, he also knew full well that if he squeezed it too hard he could break it and all this effort would be in vain.
After a couple of minutes struggling his right arm was wrapped around the owl and he was able to lift it out of the bundle, then proceeded to use his free hand to keep its legs held tight so it wouldn’t move. The owl let out some cries, it seems terrified at this point.

“The bird is scared, come sit, so this can be over.” Farhad helped Laurenz to the chair and then sat across from him.

He reached out with his hands and gently grabbed the sides of the bird’s head.

“Calm down little fellow…” He prompted the bird, his attempt worked, Laurenz could no longer feel it shaking or struggling but still he held on to it firmly enough.

Farhad was looking deep into the bird’s eyes and concentrating.

“Let’s see what secrets this majestic beast holds…”

For a few moments it looked as if he was in a trance, he was going through the owls memories, he could see the things the owls had seen, all the goings around the castle courtyard from the last couple of days, Laurenz’s little excursion in the forest and a long flight above forests and mountains and towns. Until he reached the point of origin, he didn’t know which place this was, but it had a bigger castle and within it a magnificent ballroom. There in the center he saw the face of a woman.

“This bird came from far…flew over some mountains and forests…hm, that’s a big castle, much bigger than this one, and luxurious too, such a shiny floor.”

“Did you see which direction it was?” asked Laurenz

“Hm, not sure, I think it was North West, but I could be wrong.”

Laurenz started to feel some irritation, he had suspicions.

“Hm, that room is interesting, spacious but not decorated, wait, there is someone there…Oh, an interesting beauty…A woman of high stature it seems, valuable jewelry, dark hair, very severe face, beautiful cheekbones, her lips are thin but plump and she has a set of gorgeous emerald eyes. She…she’s the master of the owl.”

Laurenz is visibly angry at this point.
“Sibylle…of course…are you done?” he asked coldly.

Farhad broke eye contact with the bird and regained his normal vision.
“I suppose we have enough?”
Laurenz without a second thought snapped the bird’s neck and tossed it aside.

“Ok, judging by your anger this means there is history with this, Sibylle?”

Laurenz was walking back and forth agitated.

“She took everything from me, my family, my property ... my life… but i guess it’s not enough, nothing is ever enough, she has to have everything, especially the things she can’t have. I despise her.”

“My friend, killing the bird may not be too wise, we could perhaps get more information from it.”

“Too late for that, but don’t worry, we have what we need.”

“So you know the place?”

Laurenz nodded.

“Wait, that was your home, wasn’t it?”

“It hasn’t been that in a very long time, Farhad, but I still know it like the back of my hand.”

“Ok, so what is our next move, Laurenz, I fully intend to keep my word, if that’s what you want to do.”

Laurenz seemed to calm down somewhat with Farhad’s words.

“Thank you Farhad, I hate to ask you this, but I see no other way, Sibylle must die.”

“Then regardless of how I feel about her beauty, that’s what her fate shall be.”

“Farhad, I don't know how strong she is.”

“It’s two of us, Laurenz. And I can hide well, if we plan this right, I bet two brains are better than one.”

“I suppose you’re right, it’s time I stop hiding from her and reclaim everything she took from me.I will make preparations for our departure.”

Farhad nodded.
“What should I do with the bird?”

“I’ll take it to the kitchens, they can feed it to the cats…Now, please excuse me, Farhad, I need some time to think and prepare, will you be alright?”

Farhad smiled at him warmly.

“I’m fine, do what you need to do, I’ll be ready.”

And with that Laurenz grabbed the bird and left the room, leaving Farhad with his own thoughts.