Carrion Crow

by Talis Jones

  When Addar told her of Sarai’s threats she’d wondered if at last her betrayal had been found out. But her life had been threatened before. It was simply a tactic to keep others in line. As she looked at herself in the mirror, staring hard, she knew her ruse had finally ended.

  Giving herself an encouraging nod that only succeeded in eliciting a sharp wince from the pain in her hair, she tucked the ring hanging from the chain about her neck inside her bodice sending an unbidden flurry of nerves to Fenwick before turning and allowing the servants to escort her out the room. Waiting for her were two soldiers. With a sigh of relief she recognized Seamus but wariness prickled at the dark look in his comrade’s eyes.

  The Whisper betrayed no look of apology or kindness towards her. Crouching down he clamped dainty ornate shackles around her ankles then another set around her wrists. With a grunt the other soldier grabbed her arm and escorted her down the hall. Seamus trailed behind with no remark.

  The chain between the shackles was inconveniently short keeping her steps dainty and small with no hope of a longer running stride. Wincing slightly at the soldier’s bruising grip above her elbow they finally entered the grand dining hall reserved for larger gatherings. The seats were full, the room bathed in the warm glow of torchlight and smell of hot food. The sounds of merriment washed over her but she ignored it all. Keeping her head held high (both out of necessity and pride) and betraying no emotion upon her face, she allowed the soldiers to bring her before the Crown at the table’s head. She was very aware of all the stares, both curious and hungry, that followed her movements.

  Sarai’s eyes assessed the girl coolly. “Sit,” she ordered. Adrianna obeyed, folding herself onto the floor with her legs tucked to her side and her hands folded carefully in her lap, head still high. Sarai dismissed the men who moved to stand along the walls with the other guards. Leaning down so only Adrianna could hear Sarai whispered, “I know your heart, you traitorous cub. I gave you everything and you betrayed me. I will be like lightening upon the sand, turning your heart into glass until standing before your brother and before your lover I shatter it with a flick of my wrist.”

  Adrianna muttered something with murder in her eyes.

  “What did you say?” Sarai hissed angrily.

  “I said irrumabotu,” she spat. To Jack’s amusement and dismay all those training sessions in the military quarters had taught Adrianna a few of the less charming words of Oneiroian slang but even this one she had not dared unleash before.

  With a flash of fury the Crown grabbed the back of Adrianna’s head and shoved it down causing her to cry out in pain as the hair from her head remained stuck fast in the ribbons pulling it from her scalp. “Look down, Adrianna. Meet the dirt at your feet. Befriend it because when I’m finished with you it will swallow you whole and devour you with no one left to hear your cries for not even death will lie with you. Death will wait patiently as your lungs darken, as your spine seizes, as your eyes cry blindly, as your mind abandons you leaving you drowning in panic and pain. You will die slow, Adrianna. But before I even bless you with that mercy I will have my fun and break you in the process.” A deep cavernous anger heated her voice. “At least my other enemies were honest about what they were.”

  The moment Sarai removed her harsh hand Adrianna’s head sprang back up while tears stung her eyes from the pain. She kept her eyes downcast upon the floor as commanded not wanting to taunt the Crown into giving another brutal pull of her hair but that became the least of her fears for Sarai meant every word she had uttered.

  Christophe eyed her from his seat beside the Crown’s with an appreciative smile but his eyes remained cold. Such restraint could not be said for the other guests. The more drink in their bellies the looser their facades became. Sarai tugged her hair like a dog’s leash and tossed her scraps from her plate much to the uproarious party’s delight. Adrianna took each stab in stride. She would not be so easily degraded. She refused. But she also knew better than to fight back.

  Time seemed to drag by slowly when at last the Crown stood. “Enemies may rise against us but we are stronger. This feast honors not I, but all of us. We celebrate for the might of the Crown and those protected by the Crown.” The crowd clapped and roared enthusiastically. “Before I send you off to your beds we shall conclude the night with a little music. My companion, Adrianna, has been studying music, learning our Oneiroian tunes since first welcomed into these halls. Perhaps if we ask nicely she will gift us with a performance.”

  Adrianna’s insides turned to liquid. Nerves buzzed loudly through her veins and the pounding of her heart muted her hearing. Turning her wide-eyed stare up to Sarai’s she was met with a beseeching smile and eyes promising murder. Standing slowly the chains about her wrists and ankles clinked darkly but she brushed one finger over her tattoo and tucked away her fears. The crowd managed to quiet themselves eager for her song.

  She swallowed deeply.

  Dampened her lips.

  Fixed her gaze far away.

  Breathed in. Out.

  And she vanished from the room taken instead to an in-between place that opened her heart but kept her nerves at bay. It was a place where her eyes could almost see another world, a place far away from here. And in this place she sang.

  A young boy had drifted at sea

  Stranded on a raft alone

  Thirsty and empty he drifted to sleep

  and a vision did his mind see

  Touch the horizon

  Sail to the east

  Touch the horizon

  Look towards the west

  Touch the horizon

  Where the north and south meet

  There you shall find the home that you seek

  A grown man made his fortune at sea

  Full of lovely riches was his name

  Wealthy but lonely he drifted to sleep

  and a vision did his mind see

  Touch the horizon

  Sail to the east

  Touch the horizon

  Look towards the west

  Touch the horizon

  Where the north and south meet

  There you shall find the home that you seek

  An old man stood tired at sea

  All his possessions abandoned behind

  His weary bones finally laid to rest

  and a vision did his soul see

  Touch the horizon

  Sail to the east

  Touch the horizon

  Look towards the west

  Touch the horizon

  Where the north and south meet

  There you shall find the home that you seek

  The music hung in the air, melancholy, haunting, defiantly hopeful, suspiciously futile. Melody cast its spell upon the revelers bidding them to remain silent and transfixed upon the alluring songbird caged before them. Breaths caught in throats and hearts shivered in chests. Tenuous lingered the magic but steady it held. In a dreamy quiet did the guests drift to their beds falling quickly into sleep where they found themselves tossed in turn with unsettling dreams.

  Yet with dawn’s light the song had faded within them and to their normal selves they were returned. Adrianna held no formal magic within her yet music held her hand and reached where she could not.

  Every week’s beginning held a feast. Every feast the Crown lounged with her pet perched at her feet, a tethered creature to be passed around and played with. Every meal had a few bold guests tossing scraps at the floor, jeering and cooing at the pretty little companion. Every proposition, every insult, every tug of her hair brought the girl further into the dark where she hid until forced to step out. Every night’s end dragged the half-clothed creature to her feet and upon a small dais where she sang.

  Every song she silently prayed for strength and thirsted for blood. She’d chosen to stay behind and play spy. Now the game was up and although no one came to rescue the caged bird she stood tall for she was right where she needed to be. Do not leave the Crown’s side. You will be needed t
here when battle strikes. She would not be weak.

  So.

  She.

  Waited.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  What felt like eternity had passed since the infamous Jack Cromwell joined the ranks of the Iron Army. At least it would have felt akin to an eternity if he did not count every day that passed. He had fallen quickly into stride with the others but made no moves to befriend them. Jack would train the rebels, he would remain by Eisen’s side, but he would not lose sight of his purpose.

  Twirling a beautiful dagger in his hand he launched it watching as it struck his target without so much as a quiver. He smiled.

  “Care to go a round?” asked a familiar voice.

  Jack turned and saw Eisen leaning against a post holding a torch against the night watching with a smile and sharp eyes. He shrugged. “If you’d like.”

  Sliding two daggers from his sleeves Jack spun quickly beginning the attack, which Eisen met swiftly with a raised sword. Lunge, attack, defend, feint…and on they danced.

  Despite the rumors and information gathered by the Whispers, Jack had clung to the stories Adri shared with him about Geoffrey. He knew he had changed since those days but serving in his army showed just how altered Eisen had become.

  The morning after Titus visited the avenger, Eisen had called him along with Xiomara and Aleksander into his tent. He looked particularly disheveled and spoke with harsh agitation as he shared the Crown’s true identity. Only when he had dismissed the mercenaries did he round on Jack demanding what he knew. While Jack had known Sarai’s identity truthfully he knew little about the prophecy. It hadn’t ever interested him really. It was all drama from before his arrival and he’d been hung up and clouded by his own problems besides.

  Despite Eisen’s tunneled vision Jack had to admit he was rather impressed. Eisen’s plan stood quite simple: rescue Adrianna and destroy Cassandra. He held no qualms with either goal. What struck him most, however, was how quickly the boy had risen to the nigh impossible challenge. It seemed time had but blinked and the Iron Army had already begun clawing up out of the ashes ready and willing to serve.

  The puzzle of Llyr had been solved rather efficiently. Addar wanted to leave the Crown’s cage and Eisen wanted the Llyrian troops. The cold effortless way that Eisen had snuck into the Adhan palace, poisoned Mulazim, and made sure the right people found his body had chilled Jack but a part of him had also applauded. So swift. So simple. In one journey they had replaced the Llyrian head with a willing pawn of their choosing just as Sarai had been planning to do following her marriage.

  Jack had accompanied Eisen on that particular quest relieved to know that his power had some limits. Having never been to Adhan he could not simply magic himself there. Eisen and a few other soldiers made the long trek with him and served as his guide, but of course now that he knew what it looked like he could pop up within the palace walls whenever he liked. He still wondered how he knew how to find Adri…

  “Ach,” he hissed grabbing his left bicep tightly. A small trickle of blood oozed through his fingers.

  Eisen rolled his eyes. “It’s only a scratch. Maybe if your head weren’t elsewhere you could have blocked me properly.”

  Jack frowned. The cut barely stung. Something else had bothered him. A jagged tug deep within him had pulled taut with a sudden desperation. Ouch. There it was again. It cut painfully in his chest.

  “Come on, you can’t be that upset I—” Eisen’s words cut off as Jack raised his hand sharply halting him. “What is it?” he asked suddenly.

  Jack looked up with a slight pant. “We need to visit your sister.”

  “What’s happened?” Eisen demanded icily.

  “I don’t know. I’ve been feeling her growing with dread but her emotions have been so scattered lately. Some days she’s calm and others she’s burning. I’d assumed it was just Sarai being a cow but it’s been getting worse.”

  “Anyone would be murderous living with that snake,” spat Eisen.

  “No, it’s not the anger that concerns me,” muttered Jack worriedly. “It’s gone past that. She was filling with hatred and guilt. But she’s begun to feel…empty.” Jack fixed the brother with a looked that left no room for argument. “Eisen, we need to go to her. I feel her breaking.”

  Eisen’s eyes widened slightly with fear. “I’ll go now—”

  “You’ll take me with you,” growled Jack, spinning a dagger threateningly by his side. Eisen eyed him carefully for a moment then nodded. Holding out his hand Jack grabbed on tightly and vanished.

  Jack’s lungs squeezed as if holding the last of his breath while the rest of his body loosened, feeling weightless. The experience pounded his heart near panic but as quick as he drowned, he surfaced. Staggering slightly away from Eisen, Jack blinked his eyes attempting to focus them. Shaking off the uncomfortable journey he met his companion’s eyes, both faces etched with concern.

  “Adri?” called Jack softly.

  No answer reached them. However he felt her closeness in their bond and just as he made to call to her through it the bedroom door swung open and they hid quickly – Jack behind a curtain and Eisen in a cloak of shadows. The sound of clinking chains chimed in their ears and shadows shifted as torchlight disappeared down the hall leaving a resounding thud of a closed door in its wake.

  Footsteps shuffled slowly…lightly…silence.

  Jack carefully left his hiding place as Eisen dropped his own. Their eyes widened at the sight before them. Adrianna stood transfixed, her eyes upon the moon, watching the stars like a fallen sister calling out to them, praying that one night they might hear her and sweep her back up into the sky once more.

  “Adri?” he whispered as he moved slowly towards his heart.

  Adrianna smiled sadly. “I knew you were here. I could feel you. I almost wish you hadn’t come.”

  The two boys took in the girl. Shadows clung beneath her rosewood eyes and bruises adorned her wrists and ankles. A tiny trickle of blood colored her lips. Her rumpled dress clung to her slight frame in gauzy fabric panels that kissed the floor. Anger flushed Eisen’s cheeks and fire lit Jack’s veins causing Adri to wince.

  “What’s been done to you?” demanded Eisen in a low growl.

  “Only what was bound to happen,” Adrianna dismissed shaking her head.

  “What? Chains and,” Eisen waved a hand over her appearance, “this?”

  “Tell us, Adri,” pleaded Jack gently.

  Adrianna shrugged. “She wasn’t happy about losing Addar, she knows he won’t come back. She decided to use me as insurance. Again. It’s hardly original. If Llyr pledges its troops to you then I’ll have served the last drop of my usefulness to her. Her promise to protect me is revoked. She knows it was me who’s been passing you information. Took her long enough to figure it out, honestly.” Adrianna sighed with a wince and dread rounded her eyes. “She’s done being friends.”

  Eisen bowed his head angrily. “I should have planned for this.” Jack said nothing but his eyes tight with guilt never left her face. “But that still doesn’t explain this,” Eisen continued.

  Playing it off she answered, “I guess even royals get bored.”

  “Adri,” he snapped. She held his fierce stare but made no response.

  “Adri,” Jack spoke at last, hesitant. “Turn around.” Her eyes swung to his defiantly. “Turn around, Adri.” After another moment she sighed and turned so her laced back faced them. They saw her long tresses braided into the laces of her bodice and Eisen growled as he noticed the pricks of dried blood and bruised skin at her hairline.

  “What the hell is that for?” he snarled. Adrianna turned to face them again, gaze fixed on the floor.

  “Cassandra used to do that to the other Whispers when she lived there. She’d offer to braid their hair and the next thing they knew they couldn’t bend their neck. It was just a joke…” Jack explained as his voice trailed off following some lost memory. He cleared his throat. “Sa told me the joke turned
sour whenever one of them upset her. She’d push your head down until the hair pulled slowly and painfully from your scalp, waiting for you to concede.” His eyes remained locked upon her.

  Her gaze lifted to meet his. “Never,” she answered proudly and he felt the lick of flames in her words. Fenwick turned away with a proud smile that didn’t quite reach the surface. “She sometimes asks about how I communicate with you,” she added. “I’ll be her dancing monkey, her singing canary, her show dog, but I’m no rat.”

  Jack nodded, a true yet rueful smile upon his face now.

  “What did you say to her?” Eisen asked quickly.

  Adrianna’s tired face lifted in a smug grin, steel in her eyes. “Irrumabotu.”

  Jack snorted with brief laughter but Eisen looked at his sister with disapproval written plain on his face. “I highly doubt she took that well.”

  “Mm,” she agreed. “Funny, every time I say it she seems to grow more irritated. You’d think if she didn’t like my answer then she’d stop asking the same silly questions.”

  Eisen shook his head. “I should have gotten you out the moment we took away Llyr. But you never sent word. Nox never came and while Jack’s noticed your shifts it hadn’t raised concern until recently. What have you been playing at?”

  His sister fixed him with an ice-cold glare. “I’m not playing anything, Geoffrey. I stayed to help and help I did. Even now I’ve managed to scrounge up a bone to throw your way. By the way, did you have something to do with Mulazim’s convenient death?”

  Eisen gave a noncommittal shrug.

  “I don’t think that’s exactly what Addar had in mind when he asked for an escape plan,” she chastised.

  “Well, it worked didn’t it?” he defended. Adrianna rolled her eyes.

  “Where has Nox been during all this?” asked Jack suddenly. “Why the hell hasn’t he come to get us? Or Seamus?” Anger bloomed fresh in his chest.

  Eisen scoffed. “Never trust the Whispers to deviate from their agenda.”