Summer of Crows

by Hans Cummings

  The admission caused Aveline’s skin to crawl. “I don’t want anything to help me sleep. All this digging is doing fine with that. Just be careful with this place, all right? I’m not sure you should trust strange magical homes.”

  After extracting a promise she’d be careful, Aveline left Tasha to her tea. As she turned in for the evening, she hoped Tasha proved correct about not being able to manipulate dreams. She loved her friend dearly, but she preferred her dreams to remain her own.

  * * *

  After Aveline headed to her tent, Tasha returned to poring over the books and scrolls left by Annika for more information about oneiromancy and using the basin in the hut for scrying. While she managed to figure out basic scrying on her own, she hoped to find a nugget of wisdom that could reveal more insight.

  To her dismay, she found nothing before she finished the tea. Finally, the time to attempt scrying into Aveline’s dreams arrived. She put away the books and scrolls before pulling up a chair by the stump. Tasha leaned over the basin, focusing to keep the water still even as she conjured arcane energy to power the divination.

  Tasha found success more quickly than during her first attempt earlier in the day. Within a few moments, she viewed her friend’s sleeping form. Unsure of how to proceed, the Crow Queen fixed her attention on Aveline’s head, thinking the knight-captain’s mind might open to her if she exerted sufficient mental effort. Her head filled Tasha’s view, growing larger and larger until it filled her sight.

  Yet, Aveline’s mind remained closed. Tasha continued to concentrate on breaking through, seeing Aveline’s thoughts, her dreams, but she accomplished only staring at her friend’s forehead until her back ached from hunching over the bowl. Slumping her shoulders, she winced, breaking the connection.

  “It figures it wouldn’t be that easy.” Tasha leaned back in her chair, catching a flutter of movement out of the corner of her eye. Korbin and Revan perched on the open windowsill. As yet, Tasha found no way to close the windows. There never seemed to be a breeze coming through the opening. Despite having a roaring fire, the interior of the hut maintained a comfortable temperature.

  “I suppose there’s no shame in asking for help, eh, guys? Girls?” Tasha smirked as she regarded the birds in her windows. “I suppose I should figure that out sooner rather than later.”

  She grasped her necklace, pulling wisps of aether toward her. “Ageliofedros.” An emerald crow formed from the aetherial threads hopping onto the stump as it awaited her message.

  “Seek out the archmage of the Arcane University in Muncifer. Try to catch up to my previous messenger. I need a book, a scroll, even an instructor in oneiromancy. I… I realize you’ve no obligation to assist me, but if you’ve heard of the Crow Queen, well, her mantle has been reclaimed and she’s back, helping the people of Curton. I’m assisting her with this.”

  Tasha figured the lie would play better than just saying outright that she, herself, took possession of the mantle and was the Crow Queen. “At least tell me if I’m on the right track in using a scrying apparatus to access dreams. I’m not seeking to manipulate, or enter them, I’ve just been asked to help someone, the Lord Mayor of Curton, deal with some disturbing dreams, and he’s very vague on what they entail. I thought if I could see them for myself, I’d maybe have a place to start. When our current… crisis… is over, I’ll be happy to compensate the Arcane University in whatever way you think is appropriate. Thank you.”

  She sent the messenger on its way. After she did so, a thought occurred to her. Headmasters of the various Arcane Universities possessed Herald Stones, magical devices that allowed them to communicate with their peers across vast distances. They allowed the Council of Wizardry to meet, even if their members lived in remote cities.

  Tasha activated the scrying basin again, this time, focusing on moving across the countryside toward the Arcane University in Muncifer. She kept one thought in her mind as she did so. Herald stone, herald stone, herald stone.

  After a few moments of flying over fields and foothills, the craggy mountain city of Muncifer came into view. Towers flanked massive granite gates, beyond which lay rows of block-like buildings. A crescent canyon split the city. Lights from homes and shops dotted the rim and down into the canyon in some places. A citadel, which appeared to have been sculpted from the very mountains themselves, overlooked a city.

  Tasha focused on the inner city, toward an area with spires and tall buildings. She approached a walled compound containing several of the spires. A force slammed into her, throwing her backward and breaking the connection.

  She crashed into the floor, flipping her chair, before she landed on her legs. Squawking from the window revealed the event had not gone unnoticed by Korbin and Revan, but by the time she picked herself off the floor, they had flown away.

  The room spun. Tasha grasped for a handhold within reach to keep her feet, collapsing onto the bed as darkness took her.

  Chapter 35

  Aveline awoke to the crash of thunder. Rain pelted her tent. The downpour seeped under the staked edges, wicking into her bedroll. Swearing, she pulled on damp clothes before crawling out of the tent into the muck. Observing most of the workers huddled in the kitchen and dining area of the camp under the pavilion tent, Aveline entered the crowd to search for Valon.

  She found the lieutenant near the fire, hugging another man from town. The sky flashed with light, and another roll of thunder soon followed.

  The knight-captain rubbed her hands before the fire to dry them as she greeted Valon and his friend. “I was hoping to finish up today.”

  “Bloody weather. Couldn’t hold out for one more day.” Valon’s friend scowled, leaning toward the lieutenant.

  “I don’t believe we’ve met.” Aveline regarded the man standing alongside Valon. Possessing arms like tree trunks and a head of short, wiry black hair, he stood slightly shorter than the lieutenant. “Care to introduce us, Valon?”

  The lieutenant glanced at his companion. “Sorry, Captain. This is my betrothed, Skender.”

  “Oh, first I’ve heard.” Aveline offered her hand to the man. “Congratulations to you both, nice to meet you, and I couldn’t agree more about the weather.”

  Skender clasped her hand. “Thanks. Valon doesn’t talk about work much at home, and vice versa.”

  Staring into the fire, Valon lowered his head. “Oh, uh, the stone masons should arrive later today. They’ll be able to start work on the monument and more permanent grave markers.”

  “Good. Their first priority should be the grave markers.” Aveline remained unsure what form the monument should take, if any. “I don’t suppose we’ve identified anyone at all yet?”

  Valon’s expression brightened. “Two yesterday, just before dusk. They found the young girl, Innya, and one of the working ladies from Danica’s Den who’d gone missing.”

  “Yana.” Skender lowered his gaze, shaking his head.

  “You knew her?” Biting her lip, Aveline maintained a neutral expression upon hearing the name of the butcher’s daughter. “Yana, I mean?”

  “I ran into her a few times at the Den.” Skender shrugged. “She was an unpleasant woman. Everyone assumed she just ran off with some trader passing through, chasing the promise of gold or a better life. Most people assumed it was gold.”

  “That may be how they lured her out here.” Aveline chewed her lip. “At least they won’t all be anonymous. I suppose we should make sure Butcher Myasnik knows we’ve found his daughter, at last.”

  Valon exhaled. “Make sure he doesn’t have any knives within reach. Do you think they’ll want her back in town? Bury her there?”

  Nearly on top of the blinding flash of lightning, a peal of thunder shook the earth. The downpour showed little sign of abating. Aveline rubbed her eyes. “I don’t want to deal with hauling a body that’s been dead for weeks to town. It’ll attract animals from all over these hills. We’ll be fighting off wolves the entire trip, maybe worse.”

  Ske
nder raised his eyebrow. “You don’t think wolves got better things to eat than dead girls?”

  Valon shrugged. “She’s really ripe. Sorry, but she’d been dead long enough that there’s no other way to say it.”

  Aveline glanced at the sky. “Maybe it’ll let up enough we can finish digging. The rain will help keep the stench at bay. It’ll be better than when the sun’s beating down on us.”

  “Thank Tinian for that.” Skender raised a finger to the sky. “Though we could do without the lightning.”

  Aveline ran her fingers through her hair, squeezing some water out of the tight curls. “Maybe it’ll blow over soon. It seems to be moving through pretty fast.”

  “Maybe your friend can help with that.” Nudging Aveline, Valon gestured toward the hut in the distance.

  I don’t think Tasha’s up for that. However, she didn’t want to diminish anyone’s confidence in the newly returned Crow Queen. “Don’t the stories tell of the Crow Queen only stepping in during catastrophic storms, not just everyday squalls?”

  “Yeah.” Skender grinned. “But she weren’t around yet when Curton flooded, so maybe she owes us one.”

  Aveline looked daggers at Skender. “I’ll remind you Tasha lost her home, shop, and nearly her life in that flood. She wasn’t Crow Queen yet, besides.”

  “Can’t hurt to ask. She’s not going to turn you into anything unnatural. You’re her friend.”

  Valon nudged his betrothed. “Stop it. Lady Aveline will do what she thinks is best.”

  “Yes.” Aveline nodded at Valon. “I will.” She glanced over her shoulder at the hut. “I think I’ll go see if Tasha can do anything about this rain.”

  Having borrowed a cloak from a nearby worker, Aveline pulled the hood over her head and strode into the soggy grass. While others praised Tinian for rain suppressing the ever-present stench of rot, Aveline cursed him in silence for not waiting until they had finished interring bodies for the day.

  The hut squatted above the sodden turf. Despite it sitting lower than it had the night before, the door still stood out of reach. No earthen steps led up to it.

  Aveline cupped her hands around her mouth. “Tasha! Tasha Crow Queen!” Upon hearing no response, she continued shouting until the rain penetrated her cloak. Finally conceding defeat, Aveline returned to the crowded food pavilion, returned the now-soaked cloak, and joined Valon and Skender by the fire.

  “I couldn’t get her attention.” Aveline rubbed her hands over the fire to dry them. “For all I know, she can’t hear people outside, even if the windows look open. That hut is… very strange.”

  Aveline’s stomach grumbled, and she let others take her place by the fire while she sought out sustenance. Porridge was the meal of the morning, as usual, although someone had possessed sense enough to add berries to it. As Silvie slopped a ladleful into a bowl for Aveline, the knight-captain assessed the array of cups, mugs, and bowls on the table.

  “Still no cream?”

  “I guess the draks only brought us two deer last night.” She thrust a steaming bowl at Aveline. “You could pour mead over it.”

  “I don’t think I’m ready for that, thanks.” Aveline took the bowl, then sat at the first table that made room for her. As she broke her fast, she did the only thing she could do—wait for the rain to stop.

  * * *

  With a groan, Tasha rolled over. Thud. She lay motionless, wondering why the floor chose to attack her before realizing she had fallen out of bed. Sitting up, she felt a sharp, stabbing pain in her skull. Dim grey light filtered in through the window, and she heard thunder in the distance.

  Risking a peek at the window through a cracked-open eye, Tasha observed her crows huddled together, still perched where she last saw them when she attempted to contact the Arcane University in Muncifer via the basin.

  Closing her eyes again, she sat on the hard wooden floor for a moment. Her headache grew less intense. When it subsided to a pounding sensation, she gripped the bedframe and pulled herself to her feet.

  Upon standing, the pain returned. She climbed into bed, pulled the covers over her head, and basked in the darkness. Burying her head under fur blankets despite the heat of summer, Tasha drifted in and out of consciousness.

  She became aware of a rhythmic pain on the back of her hand. A sort of pecking sensation. Tasha removed the covers from her head, cracking an eye to view the offending appendage.

  “Caw!” Korbin hopped away from her hand and into the air, flying out the window.

  Rubbing the back of her hand, Tasha rolled over, then sat on the edge of the bed. Feeling no pain in her head when she stood, she shuffled to the window. Outside, she noted evidence of an earlier storm, and she judged it to be midafternoon based on the location of the brightest area of the overcast sky.

  Stifling a yawn, she retrieved the kettle from the hearth. Tasha filled it with water, then rummaged through the apothecary drawers. She made a small sachet containing willow bark, turmeric, and cloves before dropping it into the kettle.

  While waiting for the tea to brew, she stretched. “I could use a bath.”

  Shimmering, the mysterious doorframe displayed an image of a sylvan glade. Tasha craned her neck, peering through it. Trees with brilliant purple and cerulean leaves swayed in the breeze against a pastel sky streaked with rosy clouds. Water cascaded down a cliff into a crystalline pool, and the scent of lilacs and lavender wafted into the hut.

  When she reached the door, Tasha extended her hand. It passed through with only a hint of resistance. The air on the other side felt comfortable and warm. For a moment, Tasha considered exploring the glade.

  “No… I don’t know enough yet. What if I can’t get back?”

  She returned to the hearth to pour her tea. The bitter brew would chase away any lingering traces of her headache. While she sipped the hot liquid, she searched through the larder. She settled on a block of hard, yellow cheese, finger-sized dried sausages, and an apple. Without bothering to find a plate, Tasha set them all on the table. She noted the doorway to the wooded clearing reverted to its plain appearance sometime during her search for nourishment.

  After she ate, Tasha splashed water from the basin onto her face, made her hair appear as though she hadn’t just rolled out of bed with a hangover, and left the hut to search among the workers for Aveline.

  Tasha contemplated her discarded boots as she traveled through the camp, acknowledging her connection with Gaia was stronger without foot coverings. Forcing herself to ignore the discomfort, she hoped, in time, she’d become accustomed to the sensation of wet grass and mud squishing between her toes.

  Tasha found Aveline talking with Lieutenant Valon near the mine entrance. She waited for them to finish their conversation before approaching and greeting each in turn. Valon bowed and went about his business.

  “Where have you been? I tried shouting up at you during the storm this morning.” Aveline’s clothes still remained damp from working in the rain earlier. A streak of dried mud stained her cheek.

  “I’m sorry. I was… out.”

  “Out where?”

  Tasha pursed her lips. “Out. Unconscious. I had a brilliant thought last night.”

  “Oh, what was that?” Aveline’s face remained expressionless despite Tasha’s revelation.

  “Well, I sent a message to the Arcane University asking for help with dream magic. Then I remembered all the headmasters have Herald Stones.” Tasha clenched her hand. “They’re magical crystals about the size of my fist that let them communicate across great distances. I thought maybe I could use the basin, find one by scrying, and communicate to the Arcane University directly.”

  Aveline shook her head. “I have no idea if that makes sense or not.” Crossing her arms, she leaned against a boulder.

  “The principle is logically sound.” Tasha nodded in assurance of her conviction. “I successfully scried on Muncifer, but I think the Arcane University has a scrying shield or something. When I got close to it, it was l
ike I suddenly slammed into a wall.”

  Tasha punched her palm. “It broke the connection, and I was thrown backward. It was all I could do to make it into bed before I passed out. When I awoke, it was raining, but I had the worst headache of my life. I pulled the covers over my head and fell back to sleep until just a little while ago.”

  Aveline patted her friend’s arm. “But you’re all right? You’re not hurt?”

  Holding up her hand, Tasha shook her head. “I’m fine. The headache is gone. But I discovered something new about the hut.”

  “Dare I ask?” Aveline raised an eyebrow. “I’m wary of that thing, you know.”

  “I haven’t sensed any malevolence from it. It just… is. Anyway, I thought about how much I’d like to have a bath, and that back door that isn’t a door disappeared. I saw a glade through it.”

  “Like a forest or something?”

  Tasha ran her fingers through her tangled hair. “The colors were bright and otherworldly. There was a waterfall and a pool. It looked so inviting and warm. Like a secret pool just for me. That doorway is a portal of some sort. It might be one way the Crow Queen always seemed to travel to so many places so quickly in the old stories.”

  Aveline exhaled. “Well, I don’t know anything about that. You didn’t go through it, did you?”

  “No.” Tasha shook her head. “I was afraid I wouldn’t know how to get back.”

  “Good thinking.” Aveline pointed at the cemetery. “We’re almost finished here. We’re going to start packing up tonight, break camp tomorrow, and head back to town. Then, I guess after we leave, the draks are going to move into the mine. I’ve got some folk down there now making sure the passages to the crystal cave and such are all blocked off.”

  Tasha worked a knot out of her hair. “I suppose someone should tell the draks about the chaos rift.”

  “You got here pretty quick. You found the hut about a day out of town, right, in the other direction?”