Ravina blinked away her initial surprise. Poetry, in her eyes, was an excess of words with little melody, unlike music which wove harmonies that pleased her senses. Thus, being the subject of a poem was an unexpected turn, especially one about herself. Although, to be fair the poem was about Ravina, not her. That thought alone allowed her to breathe a sigh of relief. It was comforting to say the least. She smiled, “wonderful,” she lied.
Evelyn's response was immediate “Isn’t it just!” Evelyn cheerfully cooed, her face flush with excitement. “It’s the story of The Raven's Child!” she continued, her voice teetering on the edge of a squeal. Her hands clapped together in joy, eyes shimmering. "I've never seen the play myself, but Fred Morrison's writing is captivating. His words aren't just thrown together; they're chosen with a purpose that resonates." The girl's words furrowed Ravina’s brow.
“Fred Morrison?” Ravina repeated the unfamiliar name.
"Yes, absolutely!" Evelyn leaned in closer, her words seemed to dance with an almost tangible passion. "He's a visionary, really. His way with words—it's like he paints with them, creating scenes so vivid, you feel them in your soul!” she paused only long enough to take a breath. “Ah yes,” Evelyn's excitement burst forth in a high-pitched cheer, “and his voice is just so. Mhmmm!~” Ravina’s eyes widened as she could practically see the hearts that were floating around her in her excitement.
“I see…”
“Oh yes, he performs readings at Laues Café every Friday—oh my lady, you must join me tomorrow! I'm certain he could enchant you with 'The Raven’s Child.' You must experience his voice firsthand; it's utterly magnificent!” Evelyn's voice crescendoed into a squeal of delight. The cheerful outburst from Evelyn struck a chord of slight horror in Ravina, who found herself frozen in a mix of awe and bewilderment, listening to the impassioned praises of her favorite…poet.
Poet? Ravina couldn't believe it. She was fangirling over a poet? It seemed rather odd… but thinking about it, it wasn't like she could go to a concert here. Instead of music festivals perhaps they had… poetry readings… Great, poetry—her least favorite subject. Well, should desperation ever take the stage, she mused she could always pilfer a verse or two from Shakespeare... 'To borrow, or not to borrow? That is the question.
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“My Lady?” Evelyn’s words broke into her thoughts.
Ravina shook her head. “Ahem, sorry I was just thinking about some… poetry.” Ravina fibbed, a tad embarrassed.
“Oh yes my lady I understand, it's such a wondrous thing” Evelyn took a sharp breath. “For what is poetry, if not the heart's true voice,” she smiled at the little raven, her brown eyes full of satisfied joy. “A bridge from one soul to another.”
“R…right.” Ravina nodded. “Um, you said before that house Ravenshield has been of great help to you.” she quickly stated, a little desperate to change the subject. “Could you tell me in what way?”
Evelyn's smile faded. “You don't know?” she questioned.
Ravina smiled, “I have been away.” she excused herself. “I am still new in the house of the raven.”
“Right!” Eyelyn nodded, taking upon herself to sit down before Ravina, both young girls too excited and ill informed to understand the gravity of her disrespect.
“You see my lady, I am an orphan. My parents threw me away. If it wasn't for the Loraine Initiative I wouldn't have had a home and I may not have survived. Thanks to that I was able to grow up in the Sunlight Garden---an orphanage down in the Recents.” Evelyn held her hands over her heart as she continued. “Thanks to that I received an education and even was allowed to find work here.” her smile radiated the sunlight that streamed in from the window. “Its thanks to the kindness of the ravenshild family that, well despite where I came from…”
Her face suddenly turned. Her smile was gone and her brows furrowed. “My Lady…” she hesitated for only a moment, “you said you didn't know what the Loraine Initiative was right?”
“No… I am sorry.” Ravina didn't know why she was apologizing but she did so anyway. It felt right. Especially after Evelyn looked away from her. Something seemed… off.
“I see…” again she hesitated. But a breath of air fueled some sort of determination deep inside the young attendant. “My lady, can you please save the program?”
“Save the program?” she parrated
“Yes… recently… the Initiative is being shut down, the orphanages that were already built are going to lose the counts support. They say that the donations from the nobles and the care of the church will allow them to function but… My lady education isn't a priority. That's the first thing the kids would lose, and that's not the last… my lady, the initiative gives the orphans an equal chance… please.”
“I see. Why is the initiative being shut down?”
“We… we don't know. They say it's because the orphanages could function on their own now but that's just impossible. It built 142 homes for the abandoned across the county, there are a lot on the edges of the county as well… they won't survive.”