Some Sort of Glitch

by Wade Adrian

  "She has spent her life being dutiful to my cause. I didn't give her to you, I gave you to her. A pretty bauble, a prize for all that she has done in my name. She was not payment, or merely some attempt to tie you emotionally to my cause through her. You were a gift to my wonderful daughter.

  "And she enjoyed you, truly. She even shared her new toy with her friends, the dear, sweet child. She was happy, and I am glad of it. Just as I am glad that you've turned out to be such a useful tool.

  "But I warn you, never speak so of my daughter again. You are a weapon. Useful... for the time being. Tovi is my blood. Know your place."

  Max's wings locked up.

  Try as he might he could not move.

  Wind whistled past his ears as he fell, tumbling down to the earth.

  He struggled to let go of Skip, to free his mind...

  It didn't work.

  The ground rushed up to meet him.

  He panicked. Somewhere he could feel his heart pounding in his chest, but he could do nothing to help himself.

  The tops of trees grew worryingly close. He wasn't sure if he would be skewered or make it all the way to the ground to bash against the rocky terrain...

  His wings fluttered.

  He swept his arms out to his sides, everything working just as it should.

  His wings flapped for all he was worth and he managed to right himself, but the momentum was too great...

  He turned, facing down, spreading his wings wide as he rode the wind above the side of a steep mountain, following it down until he built up enough speed to pull up and return to the sky.

  Corvi's voice lacked its usual friendly tones. "I do hope we understand one another better now."

  26

  Brynjar's castle was easier to find in daylight, the midday sun overhead.

  The rest of the flight had been quiet. Max didn't have anything to say to Corvi, and she seemed to have said everything she wanted him to hear.

  Max's angle of approach put him closer to facing the front this time, but he turned, circling around the castle.

  "Surely you know the way by now."

  He ignored her, moving around the back.

  It was difficult to be sure, since he had only been inside, wandering up and down stairs, and only for the one night, but... he had a good idea of where Tovi's window should be.

  She hadn't been kidding about the drop from the balcony to the lake. The water was well below the back of the castle.

  Unfortunately there were several balconies.

  Corvi seemed to figure him out. Not hard when someone can crawl around in your head. "The top level, the last on your right."

  Well, she knew better than him. He followed the instructions.

  A pair of glass doors were standing open. He flapped his wings, slowing to land on the table inside.

  The room hadn't changed much. A fire was burning low in the hearth.

  "Hello?" He turned, looking around.

  It probably came out as a caw. Meh, that would work too.

  A few moments later Tovi appeared from an adjoining room. She was still wearing a nightgown and silk robe, her hair a mess.

  She seemed rather surprised to see the bird, her eyes wide. "Well, hello there little friend."

  He hopped a few steps closer, standing on the edge of the table, holding out his leg with the note tied to it.

  "Etiquette, dear."

  It felt like a small car landed on his back, the crow bending down in a bow.

  He almost fell off the table.

  Tovi didn't seem to notice as she stooped and carefully removed the note. "I'm not sure how you learned this trick, little friend, but it's amazing. Perhaps we can teach more birds to be like you."

  Corvi seemed amused. "Maybe if you do get stuck you can be her pet. That would be nice for everyone involved."

  Tovi blinked at the message. "The Spider conquered so soon, really? Hmm. What is a narwhal?"

  Tom had insisted. Max just did what he was told.

  Tovi clutched the message as she turned and walked to the door before stopping and looking down at herself. "Ah, no." She shook her head and turned, slipping out of her robe.

  And her nightgown.

  She combed her hair as she stepped around a screen with clothes hanging on it. From this angle, he could still see everything. He hopped a few times, turning away.

  Corvi laughed. "Nothing you haven't seen before, dear."

  "Still rude." He tried to keep his voice down. It came out as a few quite bird pip noises.

  Corvi sighed. "You have strange notions of rudeness. You won't look upon your naked lover, but you insist on trying the patience of a god at every turn. I can be naked too, if it will help you to be civil."

  He shook his bird head back and forth.

  "Mmm. I grow to enjoy the idea, actually. And I do feel I need to apologize for my... temper earlier. You have been quite the helpful young man. I just prize my daughter so. I'm sure I'll find a way to make it up to you. Tonight, perhaps."

  Tovi returned wearing a black dress, hopping on one foot as she put on slippers, some sort of hair clip thing in her mouth. She carefully lifted her hair and put the clip thing in before looking herself over in a mirror.

  She nodded a few times before noticing the bird's reflection. She turned, smiling. "Ah, my sweet little friend." She leaned in close, patting him on the head. "I wish I knew what you eat. I'd have one slaughtered just for you."

  That sounded a bit violent... and nice of her.

  Corvi laughed softly.

  This whole place was nuts.

  Tovi placed the message into a small pouch at her waist. "I'll inform my father, and several of the high ranking soldiers on the way, just in case he doesn't feel like sharing. We are running quite low on soldiers to send, unfortunately. It's been some time since we staffed all these forts at once." She sighed, before shaking her head. "Listen to me, prattling on to a bird who has no idea what I'm saying."

  He bowed his head. "I understand."

  It would only come out as caws and pips, of course, but maybe it would help?

  She stared at him, eyes wide. "You... do?"

  Right. Corvi did it.

  He nodded his head. "Yes."

  Corvi sounded close, like she was beside his ear. "It's alright, tell her."

  She didn't always give great advice... but it's not like Tovi wasn't in the loop on all this craziness.

  "It's me, Talren."

  Tovi stared for a moment, before leaning in closer. "Really? Did mother do this?"

  He nodded again. "I'm not a bird, just sort of borrowing it."

  She grinned like a school girl. "Amazing. But now I understand how you've been so helpful." She leaned back and forth, looking him over. "Simply astonishing. If you weren't a filthy bird swimming with disease, I'd kiss you." She made a face, leaning down to adjust her slipper. A moment later she looked back at him, narrowing her eyes. "You watched me change."

  "No." Max shook his head. "I turned away."

  She laughed softly. "So sweet." She reached up to the neck of her dress, tugging on it slightly. "Would you like to watch, then?"

  Corvi's laugh was quite loud.

  Max bowed his head. "No time, I'm afraid. I have to get back. I'm sitting on top of the tower, basically asleep. Dangerous to stay unaware of the world."

  Tovi frowned. "Really? Then yes, do head back with all possible haste."

  He bowed low, spreading his wings a bit.

  Her smile returned. "Still amazing. What's flying like?" She held out a hand.

  He stepped onto her outstretched finger, wrapping his talons around it. "I like flying. Most of the time."

  She started for the door to the balcony, though her eyes were mostly on him. "Most of the time?"

  "Took some getting used to."

  She laughed softly. "I imagine." She stopped on the balcony. "As I said, I'll have them send whatever they can. The prevailing opinion is that this will be the last batch we have to sen
d, and your troops will remain in the last fort while you return. Honestly, you're not giving us much time to find soldiers. Though I won't tell you your business, you clearly know it."

  He stretched his wings a few times. It would be a lot easier to get started outside. "We have some of your neighbors as prisoners, too. A few soldiers. More normal people. Any suggestions?"

  She frowned. "Ah. A sticky problem. You have them confined?"

  "Yes."

  "Good. That's fine for now. Treat them well. You may have more after the next fort. We'll deal with that all at once."

  He nodded. "As you wish."

  "And Talren, please be careful. I'd like you to come back in one piece."

  He bowed his head. "I'd like to stay in one piece, too."

  She patted him on the head with one finger. "And say hello to Eira for me. It's too quiet and downright boring around here without her." She tilted her head slightly. "Have you been enjoying her company?"

  Err... odd question. They'd had some disagreements, but he didn't feel like complaining. "She's been quite helpful."

  Tovi smiled. "Very well, I've kept you long enough. Have a safe trip."

  "Bye." Max leapt from her finger, flapping to climb into the sky.

  "Simply amazing..." Tovi's voice faded behind him.

  He found his way up, letting the castle shrink beneath him. It took some turning to be heading the right way, but he figured if he at least got Skip going, he could make it back on his own in the daylight.

  Corvi's laugh bubbled up slowly.

  "What's so funny?"

  "You, dear."

  He tried to ignore her as he searched for how he had come in... the sun being more or less directly overhead didn't help.

  "She asked if you'd been enjoying Eira's company."

  "Yeah, so?"

  "She assumes you're sharing a tent at night."

  "That would be weird, and pointless. We have plenty of tents and we rarely even use them."

  She laughed again. "You're precious."

  Max let out a grunt as he sat up straight. "Oww." He rubbed at his neck. "Hope this gets easier some day."

  "I doubt it."

  He turned to find Eira right beside him, arm looped through his. She pulled it away when he noticed, stretching.

  Tom was still up there. Good for him. He was passed out next to the nearly dead fire, but he hadn't left.

  Eira climbed to her feet. "I'm not sure you need my help anymore. Your connection to mother has become quite strong."

  "Yeah." Max nodded as he stood up, his legs a bit wobbly. "That's what I'm afraid of. Even if I don't need help, I appreciate it and would like it. I don't like being alone with her."

  Eira frowned at him for a moment, but it found its way into a smile. "Well, I'm delighted to be of help." She stretched her arms high over her head. "Maybe not for so long, though." She stared up at the sky for a moment. "Already late afternoon. We've missed a few meals."

  Max's stomach grumbled, confirming her suspicions. "Seems like it."

  "I'll see if I can't find something for us." She noticed Tom, or more likely his soft snoring. "For all of us."

  "Thanks. I owe you."

  She shook her head. "I kind of doubt that." She opened the trap door down and disappeared into it before he could say anything.

  Strange girl sometimes.

  He wandered the handful of steps over to the fire. Simple enough to build it back up, but they were unlikely to stay. He nudged Tom with the toe of his boot. "Hey, wakey wakey."

  Tom's eyes fluttered open. He let out a groan and covered them. "Piss off. You got to take a nap."

  "Not exactly." He was exhausted. Part of flying seemed to come from him. He'd left Skip closer to here than the castle. Corvi had assured him the bird could find his way alone. He trusted her with that, at least. "Good job with the guard duty."

  "Bleh. You're alive, aren't you?"

  "It was touch a go for a minute there..."

  Tom uncovered his eyes. "Really?"

  Max nodded. "Pro tip, when knee deep in a god's power, don't say things they might take offense to."

  Tom sat up straight. "Pretty sure most people call that common sense."

  "Guess the trick is knowing what might offend them."

  Tom stifled a yawn. "I'm surprised you offended anyone, captain diplomacy."

  "They seem to have thinner skin of late."

  "Mmm." Tom nodded as he stood. "Well, I guess we could just not talk to people."

  Max couldn't help it. He laughed. It just burst out.

  Tom narrowed his eyes at him. "What?"

  "Sorry, sorry. But you, not talking? Yeah, I don't see that happening."

  The cleric crossed his arms... and didn't say a word.

  Well, at least he was trying.

  "For the record," Max wandered over to the trap door and knelt to open it, "Tovi says to treat the prisoners well for now."

  Tom tilted his head. "How did she know about that? Wasn't much room on that scrap of paper."

  "I talked to her." Max shrugged. "Corvi did it. Basically, she'll try to get them to send what they can with all due haste, but we're giving them a run for their proverbial, and possibly literal, money. Coming up with troops is a problem."

  Tom scoffed. "Not my problem."

  "She said as much, too. Seems we'll take our people to the last one, but probably leave them there as the troops to operate the fort for now."

  "So then what's to keep us from running off?"

  "Why would we? After we're done, we'd just be walking away from our reward."

  "Ah. Good point." Tom yawned. "I won't leave money on the table, that's your thing. Man, I need some coffee."

  "Good luck with that." Max started down the ladder. "Probably scorched your kettle, too."

  Tom frowned at his kettle, which was indeed covered in black soot marks. "Damn it."

  Whatever the foreign types might be on a spiritual or cultural level, they were not drinkers. The Narwhal, formerly the Spider, had a wine cellar courtesy of its one-time local inhabitants, though. Tom wasn't sure if the other forts had started with something similar, but the bandits had cleaned those places out.

  Most of it was old enough to be bordering on vinegar, but a few bottles were more recent and promising. Not that Tom had much of an eye for that sort of thing... but some of his troops did, and they had carried everything up to the "floor" level. Where the bridge came in. Anything below was basement in his mind.

  He didn't see a reason to stop them. It was early, and they were likely to have new troops there before long. Besides, it wasn't like they were watching out for some invading army knocking over forts.

  That was them.

  He had decided to let them celebrate before he hit the bottom of the stairs. Well, those not on duty. They were good about that sort of thing, already had a duty roster all worked out.

  He wasn't on it, of course, so he took the bottle that was offered... but he didn't open it. His attention was drawn to a corner of the first floor where the soldiers were tending wounds.

  None of them looked serious. A few cuts and bruises no doubt won in the battle, or rounding up prisoners. One guy had a crutch.

  One of the scouts that worked with Eira and Talren was nursing a bottle with one arm but had the other in a bloody sling. She didn't seem to mind the wound at all, but that might have been the wine.

  Tom sat down beside her with his own bottle. "You know, I can fix your arm."

  "Hmm?" She lowered the wine bottle. "Oh, commander." She attempted to salute, hitting herself over the heart with the bottle. She winced and looked down, but it faded into a bit of a giggle when she noticed the wine on her shirt.

  She was rather striking, really. Dark eyes behind dark curly hair.

  So far all his attempts at making friends here had fallen on deaf ears. Yar was a touchy enough subject that they all steered clear of him. Soon enough it might just be him and Max on the road again, but he might have built u
p some good will here. Might as well try to leave a good impression. For Yar's sake, of course.

  "I can clean your shirt, too. But you'll, uh, have to take it off first."

  She blinked at him a few times. "I'm not sure that's appropriate talk for a commanding officer."

  "And yet I'm told I'm not actually in charge of anything. I'm really more of an adviser."

  "Is that so?" She took another swig.

  He opened his own bottle. It wasn't exactly going swimmingly. "Well, offer stands. Healing is kind of my thing these days."

  She looked down at her arm. "Uh, okay, sure. I don't want to miss the next battle."

  Well... that was progress. He hadn't had many chances to keep people in fighting form since the ladder. Granted, they didn't tend to end up with a lot of casualties given their unorthodox methods, and he'd fixed the worst of them because they couldn't argue, but most everyone else had been shying away from him and just dealing with minor stuff.

  He'd never seen her in the infirmary, though. Scouts tended to avoid the worst of the melee... well, until he had ordered them there.

  He summoned a middling healing spell, happy to let anything additional spill over to top off anything else wrong with her. He kind of owed her. This was probably his fault.

  Her eyes grew wide at the sight of magic. It wasn't big in this part of the world.

  He gently laid his hand on her arm, careful not to jostle her.

  Her breath caught as the spell washed over her, the light moving over her skin before sinking in.

  She blinked a few times and looked down at her hand. She wiggled her fingers. "Holy crap."

  He smiled. "And here I thought it was pretty good. But if it was crap, I can do it again."

  She tilted her head back and forth a few times, looking him over. Her eyes settled on the bottle in his hand. "What have you got there?"

  "Don't know." He held it out to her. "Let me know what you think. I'll be back in a second." He stood up and dusted himself off.

  The rest of the injuries were easy to treat, but the response he got for his efforts was par for the course. Lots of people looking the other way, mumbling half hearted thanks.