Silently, he picked up his mask and swung its loosened strap over his head, allowing the demon-faced façade to dangle at his back. Then, taking up his oar, he began assisting them downstream ... toward the next archway and Cuniculum Amoris ... and beyond.
Somewhere above them, a raven called. And an instant later its shadow appeared overhead. Peering skyward, he followed the raven’s progress across the blackened glitter-dome of the evening sky—fearful that the shadowy courier might even then be rushing back to the Lucitor with news of his treachery. It raced along against the backdrop of crowded stars, a stark silhouette, a shape in moonlight, and it passed into the black space which was the maw of one of the jagged rents in the sky ... and was swallowed up. The raven entered, but did not
