Last Will & Testament of the Raven King

Last Will & Testament of

Desmond A. Richards.

Article 1

Preliminary Declarations

I am married to Marie E. Dougherty and any and all references in this Will to my spouse refer to Marie E. Dougherty.

I am the foster brother to Corrin S. Richards and all references in this Will to my “partner” refer to Corrin S. Richards.

I have three living children, named Sean T. Richards, Andrew C. Richards, and Elizabeth D. Richards. All references in this Will to my “child” or “children” or “issue” or “student” or “students” include the above child or children, and any child or children hereafter born to or adopted by me. All references to “youngest ward” refer to Elizabeth D. Richards.

Article 2

Specific Bequests and Devises

I give the sum of Thirteen Million Dollars ($13,000,000) to a separate trust which shall provide for the perpetual care and maintenance of the property referred to as “the Cage” (see item C) and for the care and housing of my spouse. This trust shall be executed by Marie E. Dougherty until she is otherwise unable to do so, at which point the execution of this trust shall be the responsibility of Sean T. Richards.

I give the sum of Nine Million Dollars ($9,000,000) to my son Sean T. Richards, once he has reached the age of eighteen.

I give the sum of Nine Million Dollars ($9,000,000) to my son Andrew C. Richards, once he has reached the age of eighteen.

I give the sum of Nine Million Dollars ($9,000,000) to my daughter Elizabeth D. Richards, once she has reached the age of twenty.

I give the item referred to as “the Dream Loom” (see item B) to my daughter Elizaeth D. Richards, once she has reached the age of fifteen.

Article 7

Further Condition

Upon my death, my youngest ward shall not trespass the physical boundaries of “the Cage”, not disturb any of the contents there or of the adjoining property known as the “Richards’ Estate”, living, inert, linear, or non-linear, or the assets dealt with in this Will shall be redistributed instead to the Hampshire Society of Corvids, apart from the Trust established for Marie E. Dougherty’s continued care and “the Dream Loom”.

Article 2a

Further Bequests

I give my entire interest in the real property which was my residence at the time of my death (“the Cage”), together with any insurance on such property, and all contents there, to my youngest ward.

I give the entire contents of the real property which I owned in Yorkshire at the time of my death (“the Mirror Library”), together with any insurance on such contents, to my youngest ward, once she has reached the age of fifteen.

Desmond A. Richards was, at the time of so executing said Will, of sound mind, memory, wakefulness, and understanding and not under any restraint or in any respect incompetent to make a will. This Will stands as fact unless a newer document is created.

Signed this day: Lucem non uro rege. Somni, corvi, somni.

Art by Anonymous

Text by Lucie MacAulay