Carrion Crow

by Talis Jones

  With a groan Jack pulled Adrianna close. Holding her with hope and goodbyes, love and regret, promises and secrets. Forcing himself to let her go he turned and left her room before he could change his mind and drag her with him. With his hands splayed against the wall outside her door and his head bowed he calmed his breathing, straightened his shoulders, and disappeared into the shadows as he trod silently to the Western Tower to wait for Nox. He would leave, for Adri. He would return, for Adri.

  * * *

  Adrianna did not sleep that night. Tears stained her pillow as she tossed and turned but she felt confident in her decision. She would not stand aside when she could be of help and as the sun rose above the horizon past the dawn she knew it was time to focus. Focus. There was no need to adjust her appearance, one glance in the mirror showed just how distraught she looked and it was exactly how she needed to appear. Tossing a robe over her nightclothes she raced towards Sarai’s quarters and fell into a shaking heap against her door.

  Disturbed by the sudden sound Sarai pulled open the door in search of its source. Her eyes fell upon Adrianna’s sobbing body and collapsed upon her knees pulling the girl into a firm hug. “What happened, Adrianna?”

  It took a moment to calm her erratic breathing enough to speak but at last she eked out a reply. “He’s gone.”

  Sarai knew “he” could only be one person. Sa was dead, Addar wavered, Pekka escaped, and now Jack had also abandoned her. She was not surprised the Whisper would desert her, but to leave behind Adrianna was surprising considering the strange bond Israfil had put on them. She could not fathom why he would leave the girl behind…

  “Why? Why did he leave Adrianna? When did he go?” her voice was gentle but urgent.

  Adrianna shook her head and hiccupped as her crying dwindled. Sarai put a strong arm around her and helped her stand, guiding her into her bedroom and seating her at her private breakfast table. Pouring a glass of water she placed it in front of the girl. “Drink,” she ordered.

  Adrianna obeyed silently. Sarai handed her a cloth to wipe her face and Adrianna did so. Sarai waited patiently for an explanation and at last Adrianna complied. “He came to my room just before dawn and woke me. He told me he was leaving. I begged him not to but he wouldn’t listen.”

  “And did he not offer to bring you along with him?” questioned Sarai surprised if not a bit suspicious.

  Adrianna looked down shamefully. “I asked him to take me but he refused. I’m sorry, Sarai.”

  “I am not offended,” Sarai assured her. “It was a natural desire to flee with him. I just don’t understand why he would leave so suddenly? Have I not provided for him? Kept him safe and occupied?”

  “Of course you have, mi suverenya,” exclaimed Adrianna with wide earnest eyes. “You’ve been so good to us when you didn’t have to. I tried to make him see that but he can be so stubborn. He said that he was leaving with Sa, that they were called back to the Whispers and they wouldn’t allow a Jourdie there.”

  Sarai blinked at Medusa’s name. But of course she wouldn’t know about that. The poor girl was ordinary, innocent, and utterly ignorant of the game whirling around her. So removed from the battles at place was one of the reasons Sarai had become attached to her. In some ways she missed having simple friends. They were like loyal pets except more amusing. Her life had become so full of secrets and games that betrayal kept friendships at bay. Adrianna, however, had proved herself loyal and innocent. She was simply a girl caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, wrapped up unawares in Cassandra’s elaborate web. She liked her, and she’d like to keep her…if the game would allow it.

  “Did he say what the Whispers were planning?”

  “No, I’m sorry. I…” Adrianna hesitated. “I don’t think they’re very happy with you.”

  Sarai rolled her eyes with a smile as she eased back in her chair. “No, I don’t think they are. I wonder why… You don’t think they’ve aligned with your brother, do you?”

  “I don’t see why they would,” she replied puzzled. “Geoffrey’s not very fond of them. He’s mad at everyone, the Whispers are mad at you, and you are mad in return. I’d be careful, if I were you.”

  Sarai’s calculating gaze roved across Adrianna as the girl took another shaky drink of water. “I don’t lose, Adrianna.”

  Adrianna’s hand paused on its journey back towards the table with the glass. “I’m glad to hear you sound so confident.” Putting the glass down she fidgeted in her seat. “Sometimes I feel like something is going on, something that everyone seems to know about except me. Geoffrey won’t talk to me, Jack won’t talk to me, and you hardly say anything at all.”

  Sarai reached out a hand and gently placed it atop Adrianna’s. “I’m sorry you feel I don’t talk to you. The Crown has to keep many secrets for the safety of the land.”

  “I know, I just wish…” Adrianna slid her hand out from under Sarai’s and hugged her arms to her chest. “Everyone seems to leave me. My brother, Jack, Titus, Sa, James, everyone I know in Oneiroi has come and gone. Please, you’re all I have left Sarai. Please don’t shut me out.”

  Sarai pursed her lips then threw a bit of caution to the wind. The life of Sarai Morrigan was a dull one and sixteen-year old Cassandra begged to be let out. Leaning forwards with a smile and a conspiratorial glint in her eye she asked, “Do you want to know a secret, Adrianna? One that no one here knows?” Adrianna nodded, curiosity pulling cautiously at her face. “I can do this.” With a snap of her fingers plates of food filled the table. Muffins, pancakes, oats, juice, and bacon, all laid out for the taking.

  Adrianna gasped. “How?” she breathed with disbelief. “Wait. Are you telling me all those weeks we walked in the woods eating berries and stale bread and dried meat, you’re telling me that you could have summoned us a delicious meal that whole time?”

  Sarai laughed. “Sorry, but no. I’d have to know where to summon the food from. In this case, I took it from the kitchens saving the maid a trip and probably giving the cook a panic.” At Adrianna’s look she added, “Don’t worry, I’ll send word that I’m not in need of breakfast this morning.”

  Smiling Adrianna picked up a warm muffin oozing with warm chocolate, her hand only trembling slightly. “This is really amazing, Sarai.”

  Sarai glowed at her praise.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Cries rang out, jeering taunts filled the breeze, and bloodthirsty barks caught Eisen’s attention. His head snapped up from the notes he’d been reviewing. Stepping out of his tent settled in the heart of camp he quickly located the disturbance. A fight. With quickened steps he strode towards the source finding a growing crowd of his soldiers forming a ring around Aleksander and a stranger. He watched as they matched each other blow for blow. His man increased his attacks leaving behind all etiquette as the stranger refused to be taken down but even so the stranger himself seemed able to shrug off his formal training and play just as dirty. Eisen studied them curiously.

  A loud crack rang through the air and Aleksander cradled his arm moaning in pain. The glass had shattered and the crowd moved to rush in and take their revenge. “Stop!” commanded Eisen. His voice was calm but it carried. The soldiers froze their attacks and parted as Eisen stalked towards the stranger standing bloodied in the center. The men and women grumbled and spat but made no move to hurt the man. He seemed completely unfazed by their hisses and leers, standing with a straight back. Despite his bleeding nose, split lip, and pummeled body, he looked Eisen straight in the eye as he approached him. “Who are you?”

  The man tilted his head. “Do you not remember me? We met but once, it’s true.”

  “I can hardly recognize you for a man under all that filth,” Eisen pointed out dully.

  “Ah yes, that is also true.” The man offered a horrible smile for blood coated his teeth. “I am well acquainted with your sister and I’ve come to join you.”

  Eisen blinked. “Your name,” he demanded.

  “Jack Cromwell,” the
man answered with a slight bow of the head. At the sound of his name several in the gathered crowd hissed and stories surfaced in Eisen’s memory. “Ah, I see some of my fans are here. Good to know,” the man smirked.

  Flashes of the man Adrianna had danced with in Mordréda all those months ago spun in Eisen’s mind. A man with dark hair, copper eyes, and footsteps laced with lethal grace. Not a white knight by far, but that night he hadn’t seemed like a dark one either. The man was so filthy from the muddy brawl he could not be sure, but if this was Adrianna’s Jack then she must be in trouble. “Show me your arm.”

  “Quit wastin’ time,” sneered a soldier with snake-like eyes and stringy hair. “Let’s kill ‘im! He’s got debts to pay for!” A few of those stood around him began to voice their agreement but without so much as a glance Eisen flung out his arm and the man crumpled. The others fell silent, their protests forgotten.

  “I know Israfil bonded my sister with a man named Jack Cromwell and if you are he then you will show me your arm.” Eisen held the man’s eyes with an unwavering stare filled with challenge and promised threats.

  Without breaking eye contact the muddy fighter rolled up his sleeve revealing a swirling jagged tattoo inked along his forearm. Rubbing his palm, a melting sun peeked through the dirt. “I am Jack Cromwell, bonded with Adrianna Dietrich Verdandi, sister to you, Geoffrey Martinez Verdandi. So don’t you dare turn me away, brother.”

  After their standoff threatened to burst from tension and cold stares Eisen nodded at last. “Wait for me in my tent,” he ordered, motioning his head in the general direction. As Jack slipped past him Eisen walked over to Aleksander and gingerly placed a hand on his arm. Alek gasped in both pain and relief as the broken bone stitched itself back together.

  “Thank you,” he muttered.

  “Find Xiomara and come to meet our new soldier,” he gruffed before striding away towards the center of camp.

  The moment he stepped inside he turned upon Jack angrily. “Why are you here? Why have you abandoned my sister?”

  Jack’s eyes flickered with guilt but he tightened his jaw sternly. “She would not come with me.”

  “So you left her there alone and unprotected?” exploded Eisen in rage as he sent papers and objects flying off his desk.

  “Of course not!” snapped Jack angrily. “One of our brothers has infiltrated the ranks and will watch out for her. I would never leave Adrianna without allies.”

  Aleksander and Xiomara slid into the tent wordlessly. Eisen glared at the man. “Explain yourself.”

  “Medusa is dead,” began Jack. “The Crown has brought a Whisper to her knees and shoved her into the final realm of death. The Crown has been using Adrianna against me, threatening to hurt her if I made any move against her. She did the same to Medusa. She’s keeping her for leverage, and for the moment friendship.”

  “Then you should have sent for me. You should have gotten her out of there,” growled Eisen full of disbelief.

  “I agree. She will use Adrianna against all of us. She is her leverage and without it we could strike without fear.”

  “So why didn’t you bring her?” seethed Eisen.

  “I told you,” growled Jack through gritted teeth. “She would not come.”

  Eisen sat heavily in his chair. “I don’t understand.”

  Sighing Jack attempted to explain what he barely understood himself. “Adrianna doesn’t want to be useless. She doesn’t want to be caged, protected, or dead weight. She knows she cannot fight with us and she feels that by staying with the Crown she is helping us the only way she can. Adrianna is still maintaining a friendship with Sarai and uses that to get information. In fact, without me there, an obvious enemy, the Crown will be far more willing to let Adrianna into her plans.”

  “She could help us by accepting escape and staying safe,” muttered Eisen.

  Jack snorted. “Once more I agree but it’s her choice. She can be very stubborn.”

  “I know,” smiled Eisen. He leaned back and looked at the man standing before him. Not a white knight, indeed. “I offered to rescue her before, you know.”

  “You did?” The infamous thief looked surprised.

  “Yes, I did. When I mastered how to magic in and out of places I went to her in Mordréda and tried to get her to leave with me. She refused of course.” Shaking his head, “She wouldn’t leave without you, and Medusa, and Addar, and a whole fleet of innocents she’d met by then from housemaids to guards. And so I let her stay. I told her ‘no’ and left.”

  “I wish you would have taken her anyway,” muttered Jack.

  “She would have hated me.”

  “So once more she stays behind, willingly trapped between the monster’s claws.”

  “You say she is safe?” asked Eisen sharply.

  Jack hesitated. “Yes, for now. It seems the Crown is attempting to keep a friend, or more like a pet, but I doubt the luxury will last for long. She would sacrifice Adrianna for her Crown without a second thought.”

  Eisen nodded. “Then we monitor her. As long as she’s safe we will accept any help and information she can root out. The moment the Crown’s feelings shift we move in.” Turning his attention to Aleksander and Xiomara still stood beside the tent’s opening he added, “We’ll need to be ready to move at any time.” They nodded.

  “I can sense Adrianna through our bond. I'll know if she’s in danger,” volunteered Jack quickly. “The Weepy, Nox, remains the go-between for Mordréda, Silvanus, and you.”

  “The Iron Army is strong. We will move up our timeline and continue poking holes in the Crown’s side to weaken her. And then we will strike.” Eisen stood and gestured to his second and third in command. “You may join us but you have to earn your keep. Rumor has it you’re handy with a blade. I want you working with Aleksander and Xiomara on training my soldiers.”

  Acknowledging the dismissal the two generals moved to exit the tent and Jack turned to follow but paused. “You seem to know an awful lot for a ten-year old,” he mused quietly.

  Eisen gave a tight smile. “When Titus transferred those eight years into my timeline it came with a few unexpected…gifts. I aged, and not just my body.”

  Jack’s eyes shone with curiosity but left it alone to follow his new comrades.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Cool air whipped through Eisen’s hair as he walked through the midnight darkness. No moon lit his path and no creatures offered company. The air twisted and furled as it wrapped him in an embrace of strangers, deliberate but uneasy. A sudden motion caught his eye but disappeared before he could spot it.

  “Who’s there?” he asked calmly. His words echoed through the darkness and disturbed a restless murder of crows from the branches. Eisen’s eyes narrowed searching between the trees surrounding him.

  “It’s just me, boy,” replied a voice at last. Eisen followed the sound.

  Stood in the middle of a dense forest full of skeletal lifeless trees stood a man a little more than twice Eisen’s age. Adorned in dark breeches, leather boots, and a long maroon and black striped coat stood none other than Titus, his scruffy beard and smooth hair perfectly defiant of the wind that whistled in Eisen’s ears. “What do you want, Titus?”

  “I have something to tell you. Perhaps I should have told you sooner, but I wanted to witness what choices you would make without the taint of knowledge.” Titus perched upon a large stone. “I have some good news to bring you first.”

  “What is it?” demanded Eisen cautiously. He didn't move from where he stood, just out of arm’s reach.

  “The Whispers are preparing for what will come. They will stand with you when the time arrives, boy.”

  “They haven’t shown any desire to make contact,” scoffed Eisen.

  “Someone will find you when they’re ready. The Whispers will stand with you.” Eisen shook his head but Titus continued. “Do you know the name Cassandra Böcklin?”

  “Yes. She was the ruler of Quidel and first Crown of Oneiroi. His
tory lessons are required by the Whispers, if you recall.” Suddenly uneasy he queried, “Why do you ask?”

  “She started something long ago and she is not yet finished.”

  “Well she seems pretty finished to me, seeing as she’s dead.”

  “Cassandra is not dead, boy. She is here on Oneiroi and she prepares to destroy you.”

  Eisen shook his head. “That’s impossible. We’d have heard about her if she held any such power. Besides, how could she possibly still be alive?”

  “But you have heard of her. She is your greatest enemy.”

  “You’re wrong. My greatest enemy is the snake who calls herself Crown.” Titus stared intently at him with a tight smile and dread chilled his flesh. “I don’t understand.”

  “Let me tell you a little story, Geoffrey. Sit down.” Titus waited until Eisen gave in and folded himself upon the dried grass. “There was once a woman who gave birth to a set of twins. They were as different as could be. One was a girl with skin white as milk and hair cold as gold. The other was a boy all darkness and warmth. The only thing they had in common were their eyes, green as envy and emeralds.

  “The mother died after giving birth but before she breathed her last breath she asked me to take her children to the Outer World to be raised separately. The woman grabbed my arm with surprising strength and begged me with great urgency that they should be kept as separate as I could make them. I accepted her odd request and as she fell back with her final heartbeat Israfil, the midwife, reeled back with a vision. The vision presented her with a prophecy about the twins. She wrote down the warning to deliver to the Whispers. Two weeks later I took the first youngling from this world.

  “Now time is a very mysterious thing. Oneiroi does not align with the Outer World’s timelines. It is fluid and inconsistent. When I sailed to the Outer World with the little girl my ship brought us to 19th Century Switzerland where I left her on a doorstep and continued on my travels. Two years later I left the boy in the 21st Century on American soil. She was given the name Cassandra Böcklin while he became Geoffrey Martinez. She died at sixteen and he at ten.”