Rookery of Borrowed Hours — Clockwork Raven Characters Reference Sheet

The story of Rookery of Borrowed Hours

A fictional story inspired by the artwork.

A sailor brought the ravens a watch that gained an hour whenever she crossed the harbor. She had paid for three repairs already. This time she set the watch on the counter beside a ferry ticket and asked one of the clockmakers to come along before taking the case apart.

On the outward crossing the watch kept perfect time. On the return journey the raven saw the minute hand jump when the ferry passed the old breakwater. He opened the back and found a second set of hands folded flat beneath the first. Someone had built two harbors into one small watch.

The sailor remembered her father working on opposite shores before the towns agreed to keep the same hour. He had made the watch to tell him which shift was starting. Inside the lid the ravens found two worn initials, one for each daughter who had waited for him at a different dock.

The sailor asked them to leave both sets of hands in place. They painted one hand teal and fitted a tiny switch beneath the crown. Now she can see either hour whenever she chooses. Her sister meets her at the far landing every Friday. Neither has missed the ferry since, although they still disagree about whose turn it is to bring lunch.

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