Gift of Passage

"Wise child." Then crone peered up towards Luna, her empty sockets dull and black. "Onwards you must go." The crone waved her hand and the iron gates began to groan and creek as they opened inwards.

Balar turned to Kespin, "I fear we have little choice." He replied to the old man's question.

The group started to move forward but the crone raised a hand.

"Not so fast and not so easy." She hissed, "the gift of passage is mine to give but one of you in payment Must carry my burden." She held up the bundle of squirming rags and the covers fell away to reveal a featherless crow, its skin milky white and its eyes black as coal. It opened its beak and the sound of a crying babe came from within. It shifted pathetically in the crones hands and hissed.

"What woman amongst you will take this gift unto herself?"