Summer of Crows

by Hans Cummings

  “I don’t think she’s with our captors, Yun.” One of the seated feline creatures said a few words to the horned one. Aveline had difficulty understanding his words through his thick accent.

  “Please, you must help us.” He pressed his hand to his chest, bowing his head. “I am Ra-Jareez. This is my sister, Jazeera.” The other striped one bowed too. “Our bodyguard is Yun. Have you come to free us?”

  He displayed his shackled wrists. After securing her mace to her belt, Aveline gestured for Aerik and Therkla to join her. She knelt by them. Upon closer inspection, she discovered signs of bruising, even through their fur.

  “They’re not from around here.” Therkla examined their makeshift camp. Apart from the fire and a waste bucket, the three had only ratty furs on which to sleep. Their clothes, perhaps once well maintained, now clung to their bodies, torn and dirty.

  “We are traders from Gaer Griffon.” Ra-Jareez took his sister’s hand. “We were on our way to Reorvik to trade.”

  “From across the Sea of Lost Hopes.” Gasping, Vasco leaned on his staff.

  “Our ship crashed in a storm. We came ashore, what few of us survived, and were lost in the hills.” Jazeera coughed. “A great wyrm—a nasty, white beast—chased us into caves. We were starving, wounded, only three by then. We did not have strength enough to fight the draks when they found us and put these”—she jangled her shackles—“on us.”

  “Reorvik? In the Southern Watch?” Aveline glanced at Aerik. “Gaer Griffon is in Nakambe. What manner of creatures are you?”

  Ra-Jareez bowed his head. “We are faelixes. Yun is caprikin. Apologies, he does not speak your language.”

  Rising, Aveline regarded the caprikin. His countenance reminded her of a goat, complete with horizontal pupils in his bloodshot eyes. His steely gaze sent a shiver down her spine. “He’s your bodyguard?”

  “The last who remains.” Jazeera placed a hand across her chest. “The wyrm took the rest—may the Radiant Singer always shine down on them.”

  “Probably a trade caravan.” Aerik toed a smoldering log in the fire. “Ships dock in Reorvik, offload caravans, which then make their way across the Four Watches, up the Western Passage. Dangerous journey, but I hear there’s good money to be had if you survive it. There’s another port up that way, I don’t remember what it’s called.”

  “We were planning on going north from Reorvik to Haefstaad, then across the mountains.” Ra-Jareez flicked his ear.

  Jazeera smiled. “Raj had an idea that perhaps folk beyond the Gods’ Wall would have new things to trade with us.”

  Aveline scratched her head. “Gods’ Wall? What’s that?”

  Grimacing, Ra Jareez stretched his legs. “The mountains that surround the northeast lands of this continent, you call it Andelosia, yes? It is the Gods’ Wall…”

  “Because it walls us off from the Western Wastes and the Four Watches.” Aveline pondered the name. She learned from her tutors that the Iron Gate Mountains ran east to west in the south and the Dragon Spine Mountains ran north to south, joining near Muncifer, thus creating a natural sort of wall.

  “And the great plains beyond the badlands.” Ra-Jareez arched his back, hauling his sister to her feet as he did so. “We are told terrible faerie queens rule the lands beyond the Gods’ Wall, devouring all those who trespass. But I don’t believe it.”

  “I’m sure this is all fascinating, but I didn’t come down here for a geography lesson.” Using Yun’s wrist shackles, Therkla pulled the caprikin to his feet. Glaring at her, he uttered several words Aveline assumed were profanity. “If we’re going to free them, let’s get on with it. Otherwise, we have to figure out how to shut them up so we can find your missing folk.”

  “Indeed.” Aveline cursed herself for allowing her attention to drift. “Who has the keys to these shackles?”

  “Fifth?” Jezeera faced her brother.

  He shrugged. “I thought Third had them.”

  “Those are draks?” Aveline furrowed her brow.

  “They’re below, except the two guarding the mine entrance.”

  “We took care of them.” Chuckling, Therkla examined Yun’s shackles. “I don’t suppose one was Fifth or Third?”

  Raj posed the question to Yun. The caprikin snorted, shaking his head.

  “No.” Raj pulled at his shackles. “Just leave us here. Deal with the draks, find the keys, then free us. We swear we will keep quiet.”

  “Have the wizard bind and silence them.” Therkla moved Yun to stand next to Raj and Jazeera.

  The faelixes’ eyes widened. Aveline held up her hand. “I’m not sure that’s necessary. Aerik, take these three back to the camp and turn them over to Tasha. Vasco, Therkla, and I should be more than enough for these draks.”

  “What? Why me? Send the wizard.”

  “I beg your pardon.” Vasco puffed out his chest. “I may be useful. Two sword arms are enough. We can spare yours.”

  Therkla snarled. “It pains me, but the fancy man is right, Aerik, even if he can’t tell the difference between a sword and a mace. You’re strong enough to handle these three if they give you trouble, and the lady knight and I are more than a match for some draks.”

  “Draks can be wily.” Aerik kicked a log in the fire, embers scattering.

  “You’re not afraid of these northerners, are you?” Therkla licked a tusk.

  “Frost Queen freeze you all.” Aerik sighed, gesturing to the ascending corridor. “Let’s go, you three. Maybe the crows can pick those locks.”

  As Aerik led the three prisoners away, Therkla scouted the other passages leading deeper in the mine.

  Vasco prodded the fire with his blade. “You were wise to keep me. There’s some power down here. I can’t place it, but a wizard such as myself will prove more useful against it than that brutish man.”

  “Tasha said there’s a wizard in the cave system somewhere.” Aveline double-checked all her buckles and straps. “We’ll deal with him first.”

  Therkla returned. “I found the way down. The smell gets worse, if you can believe that. Follow me.”

  * * *

  Tasha perceived Aerik bringing three people out of the mine before her crows saw him. She watched through Revan’s eyes as the Watchman led them out, marveling at the sight of the black-and-white-striped feline creatures and their goat-like companion. Through her connection with Gaia, she felt fae magic about them.

  Could they have come through a fae nexus? She’d encountered an unlikely fae creature when she and Lorelei first visited Drak-Anor. He appeared to be demonic, but had, in fact, come from the fae realm. Sarvesh later claimed to be a variety of fire faerie. After Lorelei’s death, Tasha felt no desire to remain and learn more.

  Aerik paused at the tents outside the mine, eyeing Korbin and Revan. “The guard captain said I should bring these prisoners to the Crow Queen. I don’t suppose either of you can pick locks?”

  The crows remained silent. Tasha found Korbin’s mind, suggesting he lead Aerik and the prisoners to her. Korbin complied. After checking with Revan to see if anything else noteworthy required her attention, Tasha released him and prepared for Aerik’s impending arrival.

  She secured the horses to trees, then built a small fire. Waiting near their mounts, she hoped her presence would soothe the animals should they find the strange creatures objectionable.

  “Crow Queen,” Aerik called as he approached. Korbin flew past Tasha, landing on a nearby branch overlooking the camp.

  Tasha gritted her teeth. “Come ahead and stop calling me that. I’m just Tasha.”

  With eyes darting to and fro, the lanky goat-like creature followed Aerik, as if surveilling for danger. The two cat-like creatures followed him, hand in hand. All three hobbled, bound by shackles.

  She held out her hand. “Why didn’t you free them?”

  Shrugging, Aerik dug through his pack for a stick of jerky. “No key. I will guard you, Crow Queen.”

  Tasha bowed her head to the newcomers.
“I am Tasha, a sorceress and follower of the Earth Mother. No matter what this one says”—she glanced at Aerik—“I am not a queen. I’m just an herbalist.”

  The pair holding hands bowed. “I am Ra-Jareez. This is my sister Jazeera. The other is Yun. He does not speak your language.” After he spoke to Yun, the tall, goat-like person bowed his head.

  “Please, warm yourself by the fire. I’m sorry I have no means to loose your shackles.”

  “Crows are smart.” Aerik pointed at Korbin. “Have him find a twig to pick the locks.”

  “Why don’t you go back to the mine? Aveline… Therkla might need your help. There’s a powerful evil down there.”

  “Bah.” Aerik waved his hand. “They sent me here because they think that fancy wizard is enough.”

  Tasha held out her hand to Yun. In the firelight, she observed lacerations and bruising on all three. “Let me have a look at you. I can help with your wounds.”

  Ra-Jareez relayed the request to Yun. Nodding, he lowered himself to the ground. His shackles dug into his wrists, leaving crusty, dried blood caked in what wiry fur remained. His eyes followed her movements as she examined similar wounds on his ankles. After prying a jagged rock from between his cloven hoofs, she tossed it away.

  “He is caprikin.” Jazeera coughed. “Our bodyguard.”

  “They’re traders. Shipwrecked.” Aerik spoke around the jerky.

  “I’ve not met anyone from Nakambe before.” Tasha looked into his eyes. Despite their bestial appearance, she saw the intelligence behind them. “Are you fae? I sense fae magic around you all.”

  Ra-Jareez sucked in his breath. “You sense that?” Our people—faelixes, caprikins, and cathar too—we were created ages ago by elf magic from the beasts.”

  “In the Age of Dreams before The Sundering.” Jazeera spoke in a reverent whisper.

  “The elves created your people?” Her studies at the Arcane University told nothing of the people across the sea.

  “They were inspired by Adranus’s creation of oroqs and dwarves.” Ra-Jareez rubbed his hands together. “Lacking the ability to create life from nothing, they looked to their animal companions. Cats, goats, and birds.”

  Dwarves and oroqs are related? Tasha returned to Silvermane’s side, retrieving some herbs from her bag as well as a mortar and pestle.

  “Oh, Raj. Stop filling her head with nonsense.” Jazeera pinched her brother. “Maris created the oroqs. She stole away into the Celestial Forge in the dark of night to create them. Adranus merely gave them the spark of life she could not.”

  As she cleaned their wounds, Tasha listened to the faelixes debate various creation stories. Although Tasha recognized some, many of the tales related by the siblings bore little resemblance to the fables she heard as a child or to the ones she read while attending the Arcane University. She hoped she would have time to ask them more about their traditions later, when everyone was safely home again.

  Chapter 20

  Eyes watering, Aveline choked back bile as a wave of nausea engulfed her. Keeping to the shadows, she and Vasco crept behind Therkla.

  Rounding a corner, Aveline discovered the stench originated from the pile of mutilated bodies festering in the center of the room. With a quick glance, the knight-captain could not identify any of the rotting corpses as the missing people from town. So decayed were they few discernable features remained. Three draks poked and prodded the pile, humming to themselves.

  Screaming with rage, Aveline charged into the room with her mace held high. Bringing it down upon the head of the nearest drak, she caved in his skull.

  Kicking his body out of the way when he crumpled to the floor, she lowered her shield. Ramming the next drak, she pinned him to the wall. Snapping his teeth in her face, he snarled.

  She felt a tingling sensation as Vasco cast a binding charm on the one she held. Once her prisoner stopped moving, she released him, letting him fall.

  Therkla stood over the third drak. Her blade dripped with his blood. “Five down. Do you think there are ten, like fingers?”

  “That would make too much sense.” Aveline held no hope of any events in this mine working in their favor. “Check their pouches. Maybe one was Fifth or Third.”

  Vasco checked the still-living drak crumpled against the wall while Therkla and Aveline checked the dead ones. Aveline’s drak carried only polished rocks and a few pieces of dried meat in his pouch. Likewise, Therkla’s search came up empty.

  “Ah-ha! The luck of Dolios is with me.” Vasco held up a key.

  Aveline wiped bits of flesh and skull from her mace using the edge of her cloak. “Hang on to that. It resembles the key we use for shackles at the jail. Let’s find the rest of those draks and this master of theirs.”

  Vasco held his bladed staff to the throat of the magically bound drak. “What shall we do with this one? Leave him?”

  Therkla pushed past Aveline, then plunged her blade into his chest. “No need. We have one captive already.”

  Blood pooling around the slumped drak, the life-light in his eyes dimmed. Aveline considered confronting Therkla, but she turned her gaze to the pile of bodies instead. He got off easy.

  “Far be it from me to be the voice of reason.” Therkla sheathed her sword. After lifting the drak by his neck, she tossed him on the pile. “We should return to the surface to figure out what is going on here. This”—she gestured toward the rotting corpses—“is not just random killings.”

  “I’m not leaving here without the butcher’s daughter.” Aveline pointed at the pile with her mace. “Now, we can dig through that and see if she’s in there, or we can go deeper.”

  Placing her hands on her hips, Therkla approached Aveline. The knight-captain’s head barely reached the oroq’s chin. “We need to interrogate those prisoners. Find out what they know.”

  “Fine.” Aveline gritted her teeth. “You and Vasco head back to camp. I’ll keep searching for the girl.”

  “Now that’s just stupid.” Therkla poked Aveline in the chest. “You run in here with only half-assed reconnaissance, and now you want to go deeper and confront a wizard with gods know how many minions by yourself? Do you have a death wish? I thought knights had more sense than that.”

  Clenching her fists, Aveline felt her face grow hot. The urge to pummel the oroq woman threatened to overwhelm her.

  Vasco touched her arm. “Though I would not have said it quite that way, I agree with Therkla. We should regroup and consider our options.”

  Options? We leave… and Innya dies. If we keep going, we might be able to save her.

  “We don’t even know if this whore you’re looking for is still alive.” Therkla seized Aveline’s arm.

  Backhanding the oroq, Aveline shoved her. “She’s a young girl! She doesn’t deserve to rot at the bottom of a pile of corpses!”

  Stumbling, Therkla spat blood. She lunged, snarling, at Aveline.

  “Oh dear…” Backpedaling, Vasco gasped. The oroq slammed into the knight-captain’s midsection. The two crashed to the floor.

  Pinned under Therkla and gasping for breath, Aveline slammed a mailed fist into the side of the oroq’s head.

  “K’teep’ma tis astrapis!” An unfamiliar voice shouted the words just before Aveline felt the burning sting of electricity coursing through her body. Therkla convulsed, spewing bloody spittle in Aveline’s face.

  “Look, First. Two new ones for us to try.”

  Another voice, guttural and raspy, joined in. “Indeed, Master. Syndesi somatos.”

  Aveline felt a crushing weight on top of her as the oroq’s spasms stopped. Aveline saw fear in Therkla’s eyes. Grunting, she pushed at Therkla’s unmoving bulk.

  “Pity about the rest. We’ll deal with them later. Syndesi somatos.”

  Aveline’s muscles froze, and Therkla’s body pressed down upon her once again, forcing the air from her lungs. From its hood, the gnarled face of a man peered down at her, half of it drooping like the wax of a melted candle. A steel-colo
red eye peeked out from beneath folds of skin, while the other remained cloaked in the shadows of his hood.

  The gnarled man pulled Therkla off Aveline. “Get your brothers. Take this oroq below. She is strong. She may prove useful.”

  He wiped blood off Aveline’s face with a shaking, claw-like hand. “Oh, this one… beautiful. Strong. Pure of heart. She may be the one for whom we’ve searched, First. Tell the others.”

  Aveline strained to move against the enchantment holding her in place. The man pressed his palm against her forehead. “Did you get my note, I wonder? I heard Curton has a stunning lady knight as guard captain.” He chuckled. “Sleep now. We’ll make you presentable.”

  Despite fighting against it, her eyes closed. Aveline heard the man cackling in glee before she lost consciousness.

  * * *

  By the time Tasha finished cleaning the wounds around the prisoners’ shackles, fatigue from a long day threatened to overwhelm her. That Aerik snored as he leaned against the base of a tree did little to stave off her own growing desire for sleep.

  “I’m sorry I can’t do more until these irons come off.” She wadded the bloody rag she’d used to blot their wounds. “They’ve been gone longer than I expected.”

  She stretched. After centering herself, Tasha summoned Revan. The crow alerted her that Vasco fled the mine and headed for her, alone.

  Alone? Feeling her breath quicken, she stopped herself from dashing toward the mine. She risked passing Vasco and missing him in the dark, and she needed to know what happened before she decided what action to take.

  Tasha nudged Aerik’s feet until he awoke. “Something’s gone wrong. Vasco’s running back. Alone.”

  Aerik leapt to his feet, stumbling as he yanked his sword from its scabbard. “I’ll go to them.”

  “No, wait!” Tasha took his arm. “We don’t know what happened down there. We’ll wait for Vasco.”

  “Master…” Snuggling against his arm, Jazeera glanced at her brother. “Master came for them.”