Summer of Crows

by Hans Cummings

  Slumping, Vasco reached for his staff, flailing fruitlessly. Finding it nearly beyond reach, he grabbed hold of it, but he tipped over. Righting himself, he brushed leaves off his face. “I was betrothed to be married. She was a beautiful young woman, one of the finest in the city. Her house, perhaps, was not as influential as mine. Marrying me was more a step up for her than it would have been for me.”

  “I knew it involved a woman.” Nodding, Aveline frowned at Tasha.

  Marriages for political and economic alliances were foreign to the small farming community in which Tasha grew up, although during her studies at the Arcane University in Maritropa, she’d met others in similar situations.

  “So, you fled from an arranged marriage, despite the beauty of your bride-to-be?” Tasha gathered her cloak around her as a cool breeze blew through.

  Closing his eyes, Vasco sighed. “That’s not how it was. A rival family saw the wedding as an opportunity. They decided to take advantage of her entire family and mine, all gathered at our estate—”

  From the trees on the west side of camp, flashes of green light preceded a whooping clamor. Seizing his staff, Vasco leapt to his feet. Tasha helped Aveline up, straining against the weight of her armor-bedecked friend.

  “Dammit, Aerik!” The trio heard a gruff, yet feminine, voice followed by a meaty thud.

  Green, smoky tendrils coalesced around Vasco’s staff as he glanced over his shoulder at the two women. Aveline dropped her hand away from her mace.

  “Therkla Fire-Eyes and Aerik Devil… head”—Aveline enunciated each word with deliberate effort to keep from slurring—“approach the fire and be seen.” Shaking her head, she stepped toward Vasco.

  “You know them?” The emerald wisps around Vasco’s staff vanished. Relaxing his stance, he circled the fire, joining Tasha and Aveline on the far side of the camp. To Tasha’s surprise, an oroq woman emerged from the woods. She led a southern, wild-haired man who wore the fur-lined armor indicative of a Watchman.

  Aveline rubbed her eyes. “Why did you follow us? What do you want?” Tipping her head toward Tasha, she lowered her voice. “I drank too much to put up with these two tonight.”

  The sorceress squeezed her friend’s arm. As she pondered why she didn’t feel the effects of the libations as much as Aveline, despite having drunk just as much and never having shared her friend’s tolerance in the past, she noticed two crows on a branch near Therkla and Aerik. Firelight reflected in the birds’ beady black eyes as, cocking their heads, they observed the conversation.

  “We didn’t think much of your suggestion to help the Lord Mayor.” Therkla narrowed her eyes. “Kalamar?”

  “Koloman.” Tasha almost laughed at the thought of Aveline sending an oroq and a Watchman to help the Lord Mayor with any endeavor.

  “That’s him.” Using his toe, Aerik prodded a protruding stick, until it dislodged a log, spitting embers over the perimeter of the campfire. “The way people talk around town, he’s a right bastard, so we came looking for you.”

  Aveline stepped backward to lean against a tree. “Why? Why do you seek me?”

  Vasco knelt by the fire, keeping his staff in one hand as he stoked the flames. “Following two wizards at night is not very smart.”

  Therkla pushed Aerik aside. “If we wait for him to get to the point, we’ll be here all night. Our gambling money is gone. We figure, we help you find this missing girl, maybe her father gives us a reward. Whoever took her is bound to have some valuables, too, probably more than you can confiscate yourself, right? We’ll lend you our swords for no money out of your pocket.”

  Visions of the warlock-led oroq army responsible for Lorelei’s death flooded Tasha’s vision. She clenched her fists. “Why should we trust you? Either of you?”

  Nearby branches twisted and groaned. Vines burst from the earth, showering the group with soil and decaying leaves as they snaked toward Therkla and Aerik. Screeching, the crows launched themselves at the pair. The Watchman and oroq ducked, lunging out of the crows’ path. Therkla’s foot caught on a root. She fell toward the fire, jerking to a stop only when vines coiled around her legs. Swearing, Aerik swatted at assaulting branches. They wrapped around him, pinning him against a tree.

  “Tasha!” Aveline gripped her friend’s shoulders. “Stop it! What are you doing?”

  Hordes of grey-skinned warriors covered in blood fleeing from a cloud of black crows filled the sorceress’s vision. They swatted in vain as the birds drove them to a cliff. The caw-cry of crows filled the air as they fell to their death.

  Tasha smiled.

  Chapter 15

  “Tasha!” Aveline recoiled at the azure glow in her friend’s eyes. A quick glance revealed the amulet around Tasha’s neck lay dormant. Aveline slapped the sorceress across the face. “Stop it!”

  Freeing herself from Aveline’s grip, she held her reddening cheek. The vines and branches holding Therkla and Aerik relaxed, releasing the two before returning to the earth. Trembling, Tasha kept her eyes fixed on the oroq and her companion. She stepped backward until her heel caught on her pack and she fell.

  “Aita’s bones, woman! Has your witch gone mad?” Aerik picked himself up, removing leaves and pine needles stuck in his beard and hair.

  Snarling, Therkla drew her sword. She swung her weapon in an overhead arc toward Tasha, lunging forward. Vasco leapt to his feet, thrusting his staff. He caught the oroq woman’s blade, managing to spin it safely away. He then rammed the butt of his staff into her gut. She doubled over, coughing.

  “Everyone, stop!” Aveline jumped between Tasha and the newcomers. Her head pounded from the combination of libations and the rush of adrenaline caused by Tasha’s unexpected attack. “Just stop.”

  Raising her hands before her, Aveline glared at the oroq woman. “Tasha isn’t going to hurt anyone, are you?” She glanced over her shoulder at her friend.

  Tears streaming, she shook her head. “I don’t know what just happened.”

  “Caw! Caw!” The crows fluttered through camp before alighting on a branch above Tasha’s head.

  “Tinian’s lance…” Pointing at Tasha, his mouth agape, Aerik took Therkla’s arm. “Are… are you the Crow Queen?”

  “What?” Tasha, wiping her face, swallowed. “No. No. I’m just… I’m sorry. I had a bad run-in with oroqs years ago, and I thought”—lowering her head, she suppressed a sob—“I thought I was over that by now.”

  Aveline squeezed her eyes shut, but doing so did not ease the throbbing at the back of her skull. She then knelt alongside her friend. Putting her hand on Tasha’s shoulder, she felt her balance falter, so she sat on the ground next to her. “I’ve never seen you do that kind of magic before.”

  “That’s not arcane power.” Vasco regarded the crows above Tasha’s head. “I’ve only heard of mystics of Gaia controlling the trees and animals like that.”

  “Blood and rust, Aerik.” Therkla spat into the fire. “We should’ve stayed in town and helped that arrogant bastard clean his house.”

  “I swear to you, that wasn’t me.”

  Aveline searched Tasha’s red-rimmed eyes. She stroked the amulet around Tasha’s neck. “Your amulet wasn’t glowing, but your eyes were.” She searched for words to describe what she saw. “It was—”

  “It was you, Tasha.” Vasco approached, then knelt next to the two women. “I don’t know how, but the forest was under your command. What happened to you after the river swept you away?”

  “All right, we’re done.” Therkla smacked Aerik on the shoulder. “Let’s get moving. We’re going back to Curton. With luck, we’ll get there before dawn.”

  “Wait.” Aveline held out her hands to steady herself before approaching the oroq and the human, noting Therkla had not yet sheathed her sword. “I don’t know exactly what’s going on here, but I’ll take your help if you’re still willing. I’ll even throw in some compensation when we return to Curton. I don’t know—maybe pay for your room for a week or just pay you outright.�
�� She glanced down at her friend. Tasha buried her head in her knees. Vasco rubbed her shoulder.

  Aerik picked leaves from his hair, while Therkla returned her sword to its sheath. She stood toe to toe with Aveline. The oroq woman drew herself up to her full height, a head above Aveline. Crossing her arms, she looked down upon the knight-captain. “All right. But I’m keeping an eye on your witch. If she sends those birds after me again or commands the forest to try to take me on, you won’t be able to kill me fast enough to stop me from putting my blade through her heart.”

  “It won’t come to that.” Clenching her jaw, Aveline offered her hand to Therkla. The oroq regarded the knight-captain for a moment. Upon spitting in her hand, she grasped Aveline’s.

  “Fine.”

  Aveline suppressed a cringe at the sensation of spittle oozing between her fingers. She waited until Therkla turned away to address Aerik before wiping her palm on the seat of her breeches. Resolution of the potential conflict only slightly lessened the throbbing in her head, and she regretted overindulging around the campfire. She returned to her pack to drain the entirety of one of her waterskins.

  After drinking her fill, Aveline sat next to Tasha and put her arm around the still-trembling sorceress. Vasco hovered nearby for a few minutes before reclining against his saddle. After Therkla and Aerik settled in for the night on the opposite side of the fire, Aveline allowed herself to relax enough to fall asleep.

  * * *

  Tasha awoke to the sound of Therkla and Aerik bickering over breaking their fast. Aveline helped Vasco tend to the horses. The sorceress realized the others had been stirring for quite some time. She stretched, working out the kinks from her neck and back muscles before using the nearby tree to pull herself to her feet.

  “Why didn’t anyone wake me? I thought we were in a hurry.”

  “I tried. You were out cold.” Aveline left Vasco to finish saddling the horses, bringing her friend a piece of bread.

  Aerik held up a jar. “Honey for the bread? From my family’s hives.”

  “Thank you.” Tasha accepted the honey, in spite of Therkla’s snarl at her approach. Ignoring the oroq, she drizzled the viscous amber liquid on her bread. Honey from the Four Watches tasted floral and sweet minus the pungent, urine-tinged flavor local buckwheat honey often possessed. Nearby meaderies cultivated wildflowers for their bees, but, unfortunately, they refused to sell the honey.

  “Now we’re all awake, I want to talk about the plan.” Aveline’s puffy eyes betrayed her hangover. Tasha lamented the loss of her stockpile of herbs. A tea made from chamomile, fennel, and rosemary would ease the watch-captain’s symptoms.

  “Once we’re closer to the mine, Vasco will ride ahead and determine how far we need to go on foot, if at all.” Aveline stowed gear in her saddlebags. “It’s possible we’ll find nothing but cobwebs and vermin, but if someone is occupying the mine, I don’t want to charge in there and spook them.”

  “You realize there may be so many there’ll be no way for us to sneak into the mine?” Therkla tore the loaf of bread Aerik held in half. “What then?”

  “No plan survives contact with the enemy.” Aveline secured her shield to her saddle. “We’ll make the rest up as we go. Just remember—we’re here to find and return the abducted people. We’re not doing this for glory or loot.”

  “Excellent.” Therkla drew her blade edge across a whetstone. “I’m sure absolutely nothing will go wrong.”

  “Frankly, I’m counting on everything to go wrong. I tarried too long in investigating this matter seriously.” Aveline approached Tasha. “How much time do you need to get ready?”

  Tasha licked the honey from her fingers. “I just need a few minutes of privacy. Is Silvermane saddled?”

  “I took care of that for you, lovely lady.” Vasco, sweeping his arm as he bowed, gestured to Tasha’s steed.

  The sorceress smiled her thanks before ducking into the underbrush. When she finished relieving herself of last night’s libations, she leaned against a beech tree. Tasha closed her eyes to center herself, taking in the morning scents and sounds of the forest. Insects buzzed, and birds sang their morning songs. The energy of life surrounded her. She felt the rough bark of the tree, the soft layer of leaves beneath her feet, and the warmth of the dying embers in their campfire.

  Aveline spoke to the rest of the group, but Tasha found distinguishing between Aerik and Vasco difficult. She focused on the oroq. Therkla’s energy reminded her of stone, cold and unyielding, but with an underlying chaos that spoke of her volatile temperament. The ire she felt toward the oroqs who laid siege to Drak-Anor all those years ago still dwelt in her heart. Tasha embraced it, feeling it fill her with rage and grief. A tear fell down her cheek as she aimed her attention at the oroq’s aura.

  “She wasn’t there. The cathar killed Lorelei. It’s past. It’s done. She’s with Gaia now.” Tasha whispered the words over and over to herself, like a mantra, until the rage subsided. Two new forms entered the camp from above.

  The crows.

  Tasha wiped her face, focusing on the crows. For a brief moment, she saw the camp through their eyes, but then a cold hand touched hers.

  With a start, her eyes snapped open. She stood alone against the tree. Tasha examined her hand where she’d felt the icy touch.

  Nothing.

  After taking a deep breath, Tasha released it slowly and returned to camp.

  Therkla slammed her blade into its sheath. “All done?”

  “Yes.” Tasha approached her horse, then mounted. “Let’s get going.”

  Aveline kept their pace slow, so Aerik and Therkla could keep up on foot. Tasha swayed in her saddle with Silvermane’s lazy gait, feeling her eyelids grow heavy. After the second time her head fell forward, she pulled her horse to a halt and dismounted.

  After assuring the group she felt fine and preferred walking, they continued. The sun rose across the sky, burning off the morning dew and mist. Seeming close enough to touch, the Iron Gate Mountains rose from the hills to greet them as they exited the grove.

  “Not long to the mine now.” Aveline twisted in her saddle to address those who followed her.

  “Is there just the one?” Vasco removed the stopper from his waterskin before taking a drink. “Surely the town operated more than just one.”

  “Most are little more than flooded holes now.” Aveline rose in her saddle to gain a better view of the area ahead. “The one we’re going to connects to an extensive network of caves. If anyone is running a nefarious operation, that’ll be the mine they’re using.”

  “How deep do the caves go?” A rock Aerik kicked skittered into the underbrush.

  Aveline regarded the Watchman. “I’ve never been in them, mind you, but I hear they go all the way through. Into the Four Watches.”

  “We might see some action after all, Aerik.” Therkla, licking a tusk, shoved her human companion.

  “Yeah, frost wyrms and dread wolves live all through the range in that area. Those caves might make a nice hidey hole for them.”

  “Bah, we should be so lucky to find dread wolves.” Therkla spat at a beetle crawling along the ground. “Their pelts fetch a good price. With our luck, we’ll find a nasty clan of ettins.”

  In disgust, Tasha curled her lip. Brutish, two-headed giants, ettins existed as living proof that two heads were not better than one. They fought with each other, and they enjoyed nothing more than smashing almost every other living creature into a pulp before devouring it. Most people viewed them as only barely intelligent, for they lived only to eat, destroy, and make little ettins.

  “I heard stories of such beasts at the Arcane University.” Vasco patted the shaft of his bladed staff. “I’m certain we can handle them, the Lady Tasha and I.”

  “Please, that pig-sticker of yours would only piss them off.” Laughing, Therkla smacked Aerik on the shoulder. “Devilhand here likes to run between their legs, then gut them from the ground up.”

  Aerik shoved Therkla away
. “Ugh, remember the one that decided to attack that village north of Haefstaad?” He drew his sword, then waved it above his head. “I split him right between the legs. I think everything inside of that beast fell out. Took a bath in entrails and worse.”

  The oroq burst out laughing. “We had to burn all your clothes. You met Jarl Freydis naked and covered in blood and guts. I thought she was going to add her lunch to your gore.”

  “Ah, good times, yeah?” Chuckling, Aerik shook his head. “Bitch could have at least given me some new clothes. Instead, she ranted at me for daring to appear before her naked. It’s not my fault she didn’t wait for me to make myself presentable before charging out to meet us.”

  Tasha found herself smiling, despite her disgust. They’re certainly not like that last bunch I traveled with. If Lorelei and I had abandoned them before that winter, things would be much different.

  She led her horse alongside Therkla. “I want to apologize for last night. I lost control over something from my past I didn’t expect to feel again, and I don’t hold you responsible for those events. I try to be better than that.”

  Therkla grunted in response.

  Tasha continued. “You’re the first oroq I’ve ever encountered who didn’t try to kill me, and, well, I’m sorry I’ve misjudged your people for so long.”

  The oroq turned her blazing eyes on Tasha. “Well, that makes me feel all better now.” Turning her back to Tasha, she strode away. “Stay away from me, witch.”

  Chapter 16

  After Therkla’s declaration, Aveline encouraged Tasha to ride close to her. To her credit, Therkla kept her distance as well, bantering with Aerik while Vasco rode between the two pairs. Focusing on the mission at hand, Aveline crammed her concerns about Tasha’s reaction to Therkla and the oroq’s subsequent, justifiable anger into a deep pit within her stomach. Repercussions to the campsite incident would wait until after they investigated the mine.

  By her best guess, they would reach the mine around dusk. When she was a squire, her guardian brought her out this way on patrol, during the days before Curton’s constabulary was run by a knight of Etrunia. She tried to remember whether groves stood near the mine, but those days seemed so long ago, and her recollection failed her.