RAVEN STORY - (KILIAN)

3° part

My name is Raven, born Silas, the son of a simple farming family. I lived on Earth in Scotland. How did I end up on GOR? My family comes from an ancient bloodline, obligated to serve its land, its people, and its nobility as warriors. We were called up at the age of 18 to undergo special training.

My brother Kilian, who was a few years older than me, went to this camp before me and never returned. I couldn't understand why. No one knew anything about his whereabouts, and since it was soon my turn to go to that very camp, I took my curiosity and worry with me.

To make a long story short, my curiosity was too obvious, and I soon discovered quite a bit. It was pure chance that I landed on GOR; the spaceship crashed, so I really had nothing to do with it, even if some people don't believe me, but that's how it was.

I'm just a farm boy, what can I possibly do? Anyway, I awoke after the crash, floating on flotsam in the middle of the Thassa River, where a ship fished me out of the water. I had no idea they were pirates, and frankly, I didn't care. Better to be a pirate than fish food.

And here begins my story.

My time on the ship was an incredible experience. I can't pinpoint the exact spot where I was pulled aboard—or rather, fished out of the water.

According to the captain, it was near Asperiche Island, far from the route we took weeks later.

Time passed, and we often sailed along the coast. We passed Tabor and Teletus, where we stopped because the captain had business there. Days later, after loading fresh water and provisions, we sailed on.

Between Kasra on Tyre and Selnar, where there was a busy trade route, we often lay in wait. We plundered what we could. From fine fabrics to slaves, piracy wasn't unfamiliar to me, but slavery was—young girls as well as men were among them. That was new to me and terrifying.

But I didn't have much time to dwell on it.The door opened. And so it was.

How vividly I remember it. We were still quite a way from the city of Victoria. A city without any real rules. Might makes right. But in the past, the city's citizens had shown that they stood together, and their defenses back then were not to be underestimated.

Anyway, the Thassa lay still that morning. There wasn't a breath of wind. The water was like a mirror. Still and calm. So we put our backs into the oars. The sails were useless that day.

So we entered the harbor. We moored the ship, and after all the work was done, I left the ship. I had three days, then we would set sail again. So I shouldered my bag and walked through the city. I looked around. Yes, it wasn't as if I didn't know the city; we had often anchored there. The city was inviting, like Port Kar, which was another anchorage and a popular town.

So, as so often before, I was walking through the town, past the many taverns, shops, and, of course, the numerous slave girls, all beckoning me to visit their tavern, which they claimed was the best.

I was just passing one of the girls when a beautiful redhead caught my eye. She was wearing only a short tunic that revealed more than it concealed. She had graceful features and bright green eyes. Her skin was so fair, so delicate. Well, months at sea had made me hungry, so I made a mental note of the tavern where the little one could be found. I knew it quite well. But first, I had something to take care of, so I found myself at the tavern towards evening.

I ordered

 some food and a glass of rum. It wasn't long before the little redhead appeared, brought me the food, and squatted down beside me. I placed a piece of meat on some bread and offered it to her, who eagerly devoured it.

My fighting skills soon earned me respect among the crew.

We stopped again in Lydius to take on a healer. The battles had been fierce and brutal. There were many wounded, and so we sailed toward home. Past Skjern to Skagnar, where we finally arrived after a long time.

The home of my captain and his crew, and now probably mine too? I wasn't sure, but that was the way it was.

Winter was near, and I couldn't leave anyway. The waves would engulf me, and if not the waves, then the ice. So what other choice did I have?

It was my first winter on Gor. The ship was brought ashore and secured for the winter.

The loot was divided.

I stayed with the pirates for almost four years. Forgive me if I'm calculating that in Earth years.

Yes, we were pirates, sailing the Thassa and the rivers of Gor. It was an exhilarating feeling.

I saw a lot of Gor during that time, even if it was mostly from the water. This planet was still incredible; trying to understand it almost drove me mad in quiet moments. So at some point, I just didn't want to think about it anymore. "Take it as it is, Raven!" Those were the words of my crew whenever I was lost in my thoughts again.

But I never had much time for that. There was always so much to do on the ship. If it wasn't scrubbing or mending the sails, it was keeping the weapons in working order. Because salt and steel weren't a good combination.

On top of that, there were the frequent raids on other ships, but also the shore leave and my tireless search for my brother, Kilian.

``` The search dragged on, fruitless, but I'd already been told how unlikely it was to find him. And besides, he didn't know I'd be here too. If I was, he'd be looking for me as well. He was my brother, my spitting image—no, we weren't twins, he was considerably older, but we were very similar. Where I was the brawler, he was the level-headed type, the calm, even more thoughtful one. How often did he grab me by the scruff of the neck and beat me into a lesson with his fists. So he wasn't gentle, but I didn't know any different. He was my father figure, the one who looked after me. Tried to instill good manners in me. Which often wasn't easy.

But I digress. My search, then, went on and on. Every ship we boarded, every city we raided, every damned heist where the opportunity arose, I investigated. I searched for him. It was like looking for a needle in a haystack, and when you reach a point where you think: Okay, that's it. You'll never find him, accept it, that's exactly when something happens.

who was in for some trouble.

At first, nothing happened, everything seemed normal, people walked past me without taking any notice.

In the evening, I went to the aforementioned tavern, picked up the red-haired Kajira, whose name was Sonja, ate my meal there, and waited.

I had told my captain that I had a lead on my brother and would now continue my search overland. He understood and was reluctant to let me go, but it had only been a matter of time.

Meanwhile, the ship had set sail, and for the first time, I was on my own. Gor was still unfamiliar to me, but I tried not to draw attention to myself.

I looked for a job at the harbor and found one in a warehouse. Day in and day out, I hauled crates, sacks, and all sorts of other things. I paid for my room and everything else I needed to live.

I had told my captain that I had a lead on my brother and would now continue my search overland. Almost two months passed before Sonja told me that Kilian was in town, but she didn't know when he'd be around. It was frustrating; I'd missed him. In a foul mood, I left the little place late that evening to enjoy the night air before I had to go back to that warehouse the next day.

I didn't see the shadows; I was careless. I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings and didn't notice that people were following me and blocking my way in a narrow alley. "You look exactly like him. I thought the beast was lying to us." It was a mocking laugh from the fat sack with the thin, long hair. There were three of them, and they all had clubs in their hands, which didn't bode well.

"You're a pretty decoy for your brother. He'll definitely come for you, and then we'll have him," spat the second asshole, who was so skinny he could be blown away in a strong wind.

But the third guy worried me. He had a thick chain with him in addition to the club. He didn't say anything. He stayed silent. He just looked me over. He kept his distance.

And that's how it was. I dealt with the two thugs quickly, but the third was a tough nut to crack. He knew how to defend himself, how to time his punches and kicks.

That I escaped him was pure luck. I'd always been agile, and he wasn't. So I turned, dodged him, slid past him, and kicked his legs out from under him so he toppled forward. One more blow to the back of the neck and he was in dreamland.

Well, just when you think you've got it, things don't always go as planned. I didn't see the fourth guy; he was standing in the dark, well-disguised, but just as he was about to swing, he toppled sideways and lay dead at my feet. A dagger was sticking out of his side where his kidney was. A quick death. Inevitable, as certain as the sun rising tomorrow.

It was a brief moment, from understanding to realizing what had just happened. "Come with me and don't ask any questions. You'll have plenty of time for that later." I looked at the figure in black. His face was veiled, but I knew who was standing before me.

Half-dazed, shaken, I ran after him, through various alleys, until we stopped in front of a door. He unlocked it and pulled me inside.

I was breathless, speechless. I looked around and found myself in a small, elegant hallway. And the figure in black was right in front of me.

"Now don't just stare blankly, tell me what brought you here? What are you looking for on GOR!"

Yes, it was Kilian. I only had to hear his voice and see how he reacted, the worry in his voice. I was still his little brother, the one who needed help. Man, was I annoyed. It was astonishing how quickly one slips back into old habits.

"Yeah, always straight to the point, how about...oh brother, you're alive, I'm so happy for you. That would have been a start."

He folded his arms across his chest. I had imagined it differently. What a cold fish!

But then, after he'd taken off his scarf and removed most of his clothes, he grinned broadly at me. He pulled me close and hugged me like never before.

"How's Mom?" "You know what?" But all I could do was shake my head. "She died the winter when I was drafted."

I pressed myself against him; it felt so good to see him.

That night, I stayed at his house, told him how I came to GOR, and he frowned at the appropriate parts. He shook his head.

"Pirate, a privateer. Scoundrel. My brother! I can't believe it! But maybe it was the best thing that could have happened to you, because Raven...!"

He stammered, and I knew him too well to know that he was about to say something I wouldn't like.

"Is the ship still in port?" When I said no, he cursed loudly.

"You have to leave Victoria; you realized yourself that it's too dangerous."

And so he made it clear to me why I had to leave the city.

He was an agent fromHe was working undercover for the Priest Kings. He had come to Gor and gotten caught up in a small war, where he was freed. As time went on, he joined the opposing side and worked undercover as an agent for the Kurii.

That's where I'll stop for now.

I'll tell you more about how my brother became who he is today, if that's alright.

Look at his Khan. He was uncertain because it was a sensitive topic.story

by Raven (kilian)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

darian editor