Summer of Crows

by Hans Cummings

  Meditating on what she learned brought no new insights. Koloman’s ranting about a melted man, however, convinced Tasha his new madness was, in some way, related to the wizard they defeated at the chaos rift. After a frustrating and fruitless hour of seeking answers within, she moved the hut before retiring for the night.

  Perhaps answers can be found at the Arcane University.

  Using the portal the next morning, Tasha traveled to Muncifer once again after breaking her fast. Having visited several times now, she stepped through into the street just adjacent to the gate of the Arcane University. The librarian, accustomed to seeing her, greeted her as she entered. In the dim, far corner of the library, she saw a familiar face.

  “Good morning, Apprentice Katka.”

  The young sorceress, glancing up from her book, recognized Tasha. Upon stumbling out of her chair, she curtsied. “Crow Queen, what an honor to see you again. I mean, that you even remember me. I’ve been reading up on you.”

  Tasha smirked. “On me personally, or on the previous Crow Queens?”

  “Oh, uh”—Katka glanced at her book—“the previous Crow Queens, I guess.”

  “Don’t let me interrupt. I came to research chaos rifts. I don’t suppose you know where books on those are located?”

  “Should be in the section covering primal magic.” Pointing toward a nearby set of shelves, she took her seat. “Having trouble with that one you mentioned?”

  “Not as such, but I think someone who fell into the rift is causing trouble. I’m hoping to learn what happens when someone enters one.”

  “Oh, the archmage’s brother fell into a chaos rift a couple of years ago.”

  Tasha seated herself in a chair across the table from the apprentice. “Oh, what happened to him?”

  “He was just a regular drak before. Now he has wings and can breathe fire, like a dragon.”

  Blinking, Tasha recalled from her studies that drak were dragon kin. “It made him more dragon-like?”

  “Mm-hm.” Katka nodded. “The archmage says he’s lucky. He could have come out with two heads or tentacle arms and legs. Imagine walking around on those. What happened to the guy you know who fell in?”

  “I’m not sure. We assumed he died, but if he didn’t…”

  “There’s no telling what he came out as. Chaos is… well, unpredictable.”

  Tasha chuckled. “Hence, the name.” She chewed her bottom lip for a moment. “I don’t suppose it would be possible to meet with the archmage today? Or someone who knows about chaos magic?”

  “The archmage has gone to Vlorey.” Katka frowned. “She left me behind again. I think she’s afraid if I go up there, I’ll like it better than here. It’s warm and sunny, and there’s water everywhere. So I hear.”

  “That’s what I hear too.” Tasha raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say that wizard who closed several chaos rifts was in Vlorey at the Arcane University? Maybe I should go up there and see both of them.”

  Katka’s cheeks flushed red. She covered her mouth with her hands. “I wasn’t supposed to say where she went. She took her brother and his family up there for a wedding. If you just show up, she’ll be really angry with me.”

  Leaning forward, the apprentice took Tasha’s hands. “Please, please, please don’t go up there. I promise I’ll tell her you have an urgent need as soon as she gets back, but she swore me to secrecy, and I’m really bad at keeping secrets.”

  Tasha laughed. “All right, all right. Why the secrecy?”

  “The Council of Wizards has been a pain in her arse lately, and she just wants them to leave her alone for a few days so she can spend time at the wedding with her brother, his mate, and their baby. They’ve been pestering her about petty stuff every day for weeks. She gets irritable.”

  “I understand.” Tasha rubbed her head. “It’s inconvenient, but I understand. I suppose I’ll read up on these chaos rifts on my own. See what I can learn.”

  Chapter 54

  Brana and Jolan carried Koloman down the hall toward the cellblock. Often, Aveline had fantasized about imprisoning the Lord Mayor in the cold stone walls of the jail with spiders and the iron bars as his only companions; however, she never imagined she’d ever have a valid reason to do it.

  Lieutenant Valon approached from behind. “The magistrate left for Cliffport yesterday.”

  She slumped against the wall. “What? For how long?”

  Jolan supported Koloman’s limp form as Brana opened the cell. She helped him maneuver the Lord Mayor through the doorway, then settled him on the cot.

  “A couple of weeks at least.”

  Shaking her head, Aveline covered her eyes with her hand. “What excellent timing he has.” The magistrate officially lived in Cliffport, but he visited Curton regularly to preside over trials. Most of the time, the cases were simple civil disputes, which could usually wait until he made himself available.

  “The one time I need him for an important tribunal.”

  “If Koloman confesses”—Valon peered down the hallway while Jolan and Brana returned from the cell —“you could dispense summary judgment, like with the smith, Piotr.”

  “I really don’t believe that will happen.” Aveline narrowed her eyes. “Do you?”

  “He was ranting about a melted man when we caught up to him, m’lady.” Brana handed the cell keys to Valon.

  “Didn’t put up much of a fight, either.” Jolan regarded his captured quarry. “Passed out right in the middle of it.”

  Aveline accompanied them to the vestibule. “Hopefully, he won’t be a raving madman the entire time after he wakes up.”

  “So, what do we do?” Valon threw another log on the fire in the stove.

  “Our duty is clear: unless he confesses to one or both murders, we hold him until the magistrate returns and convenes a tribunal.” Aveline sighed. “In the meantime, I need to inform the city council.”

  Upon retrieving her mace and shield from the rack, the knight-captain left Valon to finish with Brana and Jolan. The city council met in a private room reserved for them at the Bristled Boar, despite her suggestions they make use of available space in the citadel. Most members felt their duties did not require such formality since Koloman possessed the power to overrule them and Aveline kept the peace well enough without their interference.

  Skirting the edges of the market shortened her trip, and she observed even the least desirable market stalls facing the river enjoyed bustling business this day. Stopping on Caravan Bridge, she watched a couple of children feeding ducks near the water’s edge. When the children ran out of morsels and became bored, she resumed her trek to the inn.

  This early in the morning, few people patronized the Bristled Boar. Members of the city council, however, spent much of their time in the private dining room of the establishment. In fact, some came to the tavern daily. On this morning, Aveline found five members of the seven-member council seated around a table playing cards as they discussed city business.

  Valentina, the head of the city council, frowned when Aveline entered. After placing her cards on the table, the tall, slender woman, wearing her salt-and-pepper hair arranged in a tight bun, steepled her hands in front of her. “This cannot be good.”

  The other members of the council likewise set down their cards. Grigori, the youngest and a bricklayer by trade, pursed his thin lips, huffing. “What is the meaning of this, Captain? Can’t you see we’re terribly busy?”

  Josef, the former head of the council and the eldest, wiped his bald pate with a rag. “Yes, Grigori, I’m certain Lady Aveline can see she interrupted our card game.”

  Aveline informed them of recent events concerning Koloman, including his involvement with the dead woman at Danica’s Den. “Now, we have no eyewitnesses who can confirm Koloman killed either the woman or Alik, but he was at both scenes just prior to their deaths. For that reason, I am holding him until the magistrate returns from Cliffport.”

  One of a handful of humans who lived in Drakt
on, Alik’s cousin Yuri, slumped in his seat. “Poor Alik. We were supposed to meet tomorrow.”

  Nikolai, a man of considerable girth and jowls, tapped sausage-like fingers against the table. “What has Koloman to say for himself? Has he offered any defense?”

  Aveline shook her head. “He seems afflicted by some sort of madness. When captured, he was ranting about a melted man, but he spends so much time unconscious I haven’t had a chance to properly question him.”

  “A melted man? What does that mean?” Valentina nodded across the table to Josef.

  “He’s gone mad.” Grigori clapped his hands. “This is an excellent opportunity to replace him with someone more amenable to the citizenry.”

  Nikolia scowled. “Like you?”

  “Well”—Grigori put his hand on his chest—“I would not turn down such an honor.”

  Valentina rapped her knuckles on the table. “The town charter is clear on the order of succession. In the event the Lord Mayor is unable to serve, the council leads the city until the Lord Mayor is no longer incapacitated. If he is unable to reclaim his office, then we appoint a provisional replacement or continue to serve in that capacity ourselves until such time that the crown says otherwise.”

  “Neither of which involve me.” Aveline rested her hand on the hilt of her mace. “In the meantime, I will continue to ascertain the truth, and I will keep Koloman safe until justice can be dispensed. Councilor Yuri, does Alik have any other kin in Curton?”

  Running his hand through his thinning hair, he shook his head. “I was the only kin he had here. We have kin in Almeria, but we haven’t seen them since we were children.”

  “Very well. When you’re ready, come to the citadel. One of my people can take you to Koloman’s estate to collect Alik’s possessions.” Aveline left the council to their card game.

  * * *

  After spending most of the day reading every book in the Arcane University library on the topic of chaos rifts, Tasha understood little more than when she started. Each author presented different ideas, some more outlandish than others, and no two agreed on the exact effects of chaos energy. She voiced her complaints to Katka as the apprentice returned with a lumpy package concealed under a blanket. She placed it on the table next to Tasha.

  “The mead you wanted.” Katka winked, whispering, “That’s the whole point about chaos, though, isn’t it? It’s unpredictable. If it weren’t, it wouldn’t be chaos.”

  “Obviously. I just kept hoping some bit of insight would help me understand.” Tasha buried her face in her hands. Thus far, she felt as if her time conducting research had been a waste. “Infinite possibilities where literally anything can happen. But the gods made everything out of primal chaos.”

  “And they say everything eventually falls back into chaos.” Katka picked at a knot on the table. “I mean, think about it. You build a house, you must keep maintaining it or it falls apart and the land eventually reclaims it. Within decades, you can’t even tell it was there, right? Unless it was stone, then it just lasts longer.”

  “Yes.” Tasha met Katka’s gaze. “Yes. Gaia reclaims it. And that”—she scowled, slumping—“and that doesn’t help me at all. Chaos energy could cause someone’s flesh to melt off their bones, right?”

  Curling her lip, Katka recoiled. “It can do anything. You can’t predict what or when or how.”

  “But how did Koloman do it?” Tasha slammed shut the book in front of her. “Assuming he was even involved. He’s not a wizard. He doesn’t even know enough about magic to know I couldn’t turn him into a frog until I told him I couldn’t.”

  “You said there was someone in his dreams?” Katka tapped her finger against her chin. “He could be possessed. Maybe the dream man did it through Kolormen’s body.”

  Tasha leaned back in her chair until her view of the library behind her appeared upside down. “I suppose that’s possible. How do I prove it?”

  “Why do you need to prove it? If your theory fits the facts, it’s enough to act on. You’re trying to figure out how to fix something, not defend someone in front of a tribunal, right?”

  Leaning forward, Tasha righted herself. “You’re right. So, a wizard falls into a chaos rift. He survives, yet somehow possesses Koloman? Haunts his dreams until I go in and defeat him, only he melted away in the dream—melted into Koloman—and can now bring the power of the chaos rift through him? Does that even work?”

  “Anything is possible.” Katka waved in greeting to a passing student.

  “But why Koloman?” Tasha leaned on the table. “Why not me or Aveline? Or any of the others who fought him at the rift?”

  Katka shrugged. “Some people are more susceptible to certain effects. I’ve tried enchantments that just fizzle on some people and are wildly successful on others. I don’t change the spell, just the person. Maybe Kalormon was the first person your melted wizard found he could actually attach himself to.”

  “Koloman. Perhaps.” Tasha contemplated the apprentice’s words. “I couldn’t get into Aveline’s dreams. She even felt me scrying on her. I slipped easily into Koloman’s mind both times I tried. I thought it was just because Aveline was my first attempt ever, but she’s pretty strong-willed. Koloman is a man ruled by his vices, and the creature in his dreams was appealing to his base desires.”

  “See? Makes enough sense to me.” Smiling, Katka laced her hands behind her head. “I wish I could go with you to this chaos rift to see it.”

  “Maybe you and the archmage can come out and help me when she returns.”

  “Unless you can give us a lift, it’ll take weeks to get there from here. We can’t all zip around like you.”

  Tasha chuckled. “I have to admit, it beats walking or riding a horse.”

  “I really want to see your walking hut.”

  “When all this is over”—Tasha leaned toward Katka—“I promise I’ll bring it here.”

  The pledge brought a grin to Katka’s face. “I’ll bet Delilah would love to see it and learn about that portal you have.”

  “As long as she doesn’t expect me to explain how it works.” Tasha chewed on her finger. “What do you suppose happens if we close the rift? Will the thing controlling Koloman die?”

  Throwing up her hands, Katka shrugged. “I’m the wrong person to ask. Probably can’t hurt, but it might not change anything about Koloman.”

  “Looks like I have to wait for the guild to send a mage to help with that rift. I’ll try to figure out how to get it unburied in the meantime.” Upon gathering up the tomes she had read, Tasha took them to the shelving cart.

  The librarian glared. “You should restrict yourself to one at a time. Other students might need these books.”

  Tasha apologized before returning to Katka. “I’m going back to Curton now. I’ll check in every couple of days. Maybe you can signal me or something when the archmage can meet or has someone who can help with the rift.”

  “Right.” Katka scratched her head. “How?”

  Tasha frowned. “A colored lantern or something in a tower window?”

  “I know!”

  “Hush!” A nearby librarian hissed.

  Katka lowered her voice. “I can enchant a candle to sparkle and glitter, and I’ll put it in the archmage’s tower window. If you see it, come immediately. I’ll make sure she knows to stick around if I light it.”

  “And she’ll listen to you?” Tasha raised an eyebrow.

  “We were friends before she became archmage. It’ll work. Trust me.”

  Picking up the bundle, Tasha took her leave of Katka and returned to Curton. Although night had fallen already, she only took a few moments inside her hut to freshen up before calling up the image of Aveline’s house in the back door. She collected her notes and chose a bottle of mead from the package Katka had brought to her in the library.

  “Caw! Caw!” Korbin’s cries stopped her just before she stepped through the portal. She glanced over her shoulder. He hopped along the windowsill, fla
pping and squawking. Revan joined him. First setting down the papers and mead, Tasha went to comfort them.

  “What’s wrong? What’s got you so upset?” She peered through the window. Lying on the forest floor below her hut, in an expanding pool of blood staining the grass, a man reached toward her before he collapsed.

  Tasha flung open the door, running down the steps as fast as they formed. Dropping to her knees at the man’s side before turning him over, she cradled his head in her arms.

  Torben’s eyes fluttered open. A deep laceration marred the side of his face, and a half-dozen gouges shredded his tunic. Soaking what remained of his clothes, blood flowed in bright crimson rivulets down his chest. White streaks gleaming in several of the gouges, exposed his ribs. He reached toward her with a trembling, blood-covered hand before falling unconscious.

  Chapter 55

  After leaving the city council, Aveline returned home to fill a pack with clean clothes so she could stay at the citadel while Koloman remained unconscious or incoherent. After locking her home, she notified her neighbors so they could keep an eye on her house and inform the Crow Queen should she come calling.

  Once settled in quarters at the citadel, Aveline paid Koloman a visit down in the cellblock. The guard, Niko, leapt to his feet, saluting as she entered.

  “Has he woken yet?” From the doorway, she could not see the interior of Koloman’s cell.

  Smoothing his mustache, the guard shook his head. “The last time I looked, he was still sleeping. Shall I wake him?”

  “No, but if he wakes, I want to be notified. I’m staying here tonight. Probably tomorrow too.”

  “As you say, m’lady.”

  Aveline gestured for Niko to return to his seat while she proceeded toward Koloman’s cell. The other cells currently sat vacant with their doors hanging open. Koloman slept sprawled on the cot. Even from the door, Aveline saw the chamber pot remained unused. Gripping the bars, she studied him.