The stink of wet, moldy herbs permeated the air. Objects on high shelves remained dry, but as far as Aveline could tell, the water ruined at least half of Tasha’s inventory. A drak stuck his head through the doorway.
“She kept them in that cabinet behind the counter.” The drak picked his way through the rubble.
Although it bore a high-water stain, Tasha’s apothecary cabinet stood unmoved by the flood. Aveline helped the drak through the debris surrounding the counter, then looked for the packets Tasha used for reagents. The drak searched through the lower drawers of the cabinet.
Every stash of packets and pouches Aveline found dripped with fetid water. The drak showed her handfuls of herbs. “I think we’ll be all right without the packets. How much money should we leave?”
“That’s a good question.” Upon rubbing the nape of her neck, Aveline found her fingers clammy. “Look, just tell me who you are and where you live. I’ll make sure Tasha settles up with you when she returns, all right?”
“Oh, thank you, Captain.” The drak bowed, struggling to keep hold of the herbs in his hands. “May Hon keep your hearth warm and comforting. I am Zadok of the Ashenscale clan. My kin and I live across the river, in Drakton, at the base of the tower.”
Aveline nodded. “I know the area.” Situated near the guard towers, stone and timber buildings gave way to hovels and lean-tos in the shantytown in which less affluent draks lived. “All right. I’ll let her know. I’m going to lock up now, so you best be on your way.”
“Yes, Captain. Thank you again.” The drak bowed as he backed away, stumbling over bits of wreckage until he exited the shop.
The watch captain locked Tasha’s shop by securing the remains of the door with an armchair. Aveline stepped through the opening, then leaned loose boards against the gap. Returning to her rounds and surveying storm damage, she searched for a member of the city watch.
Trotting toward her, a pair of officers saluted. Aveline pointed over her shoulder toward Tasha’s shop. “The door is smashed on the apothecary. You there”—she gestured at the short-bearded guard.
“Constable Boboc, Captain.” He stood at attention.
“Find Lieutenant Valon and let him know about the apothecary. Have him assign rotating shifts.”
Boboc saluted and left the area. His comrade remained at attention. “Captain, the Lord Mayor is looking for you. He’s in the market.”
Aveline clenched her jaw. What does that petulant man-child want now? “Very well, Constable…”
“Grecu.”
“Thank you, Constable Grecu.” Dropping her hand to the haft of her mace, she squeezed the unyielding wood in lieu of Lord Mayor Koloman’s neck. “See to the apothecary until you’re relieved.”
“Right away, Captain.” He saluted, then headed toward the shop.
Once more, rain fell from the sky, a light drizzle at first. However, Aveline observed from the advancing clouds another imminent downpour. Shutting her eyes, she offered a prayer to whichever god listened that Koloman’s demands would be reasonable.
* * *
Tasha awoke lying on a rocky embankment, her soggy clothes clinging to her body. Albeit rain no longer fell, but dark clouds continued casting a gloom across the sky. Shivering accompanied the pounding in her head as she rolled over and retched. She pulled herself through the mud, away from the river. A glance backward showed the water level already lower than when it first swept her away.
After crawling a few minutes, Tasha rose to her feet. Her water-laden, mud-coated robes weighed her down, heightening the icy feeling in her bones. Groping at her neck, she breathed a sigh of relief when her fingers closed around her amulet. She anticipated using much of her old magic to get through the rest of the day.
Despite grey skies, the heat of summer pushed through the dank air. Tasha shrugged off her robes, deciding to carry them. With the warm breeze against her skin, Tasha felt the chill dissipate. Traveling in her smallclothes, she decided to search for Vasco by following the river south. Depending on how far it had carried her, she might find him as much as half a day away, assuming he followed the river downstream. Tasha recognized the terrain from their journey to the grotto together, but as the day dragged on, she feared they might have missed each other.
She paused at the base of an uprooted tree. Water collected in the gash by its base, pointing to the storm as the cause of the tree’s demise. Cawing, a bird alighted on a nearby root.
The crow stared with beady, black eyes, cocking its head at Tasha. She stepped away from it. Cawing, it hopped once. It blinked, then turned its head to its right. She studied the bird for a moment before pivoting in the same direction. From her position at the base of the uprooted tree, she noticed nothing out of the ordinary, just more forest. Tasha returned her attention to the bird.
“Caw!”
“Well, you’re a lot of help.”
“Caw! Caw!” Hopping, it fluttered its wings.
Tasha dropped her robes on the ground, then removed her soggy boots. She flexed her toes, digging them into the blanket of moss and pine needles covering the forest floor. Closing her eyes, she reached out with her mind, feeling the life of the forest around her.
“Caw!”
Opening one eye, she stared at the bird. “It’s hard to concentrate when you keep doing that.”
“Caw!” The crow flew past Tasha to alight on another tree. She gathered up her robes and boots. Am I seriously going to follow this bird? I must have cracked my head pretty hard. The throbbing in her head had subsided slightly, especially before the crow interrupted her attempt to connect to the forest. Each time she caught up to the crow, it flew off again, leading her from tree to tree.
By the time they reached the road, Tasha’s robes had dried. Encrusted mud broke off as she shook the garment and pulled it over her head. Before crossing the road, she paused to search for signs of Vasco. Lacking tracking experience, she could not determine which of the myriad hoof marks and footprints were freshest. Likewise, she found it impossible to ascertain if any belonged to her companion or his mount. The crow watched her until she finished assessing the tracks before it flapped away again.
Farther away from the river, the terrain became rocky. As the day progressed, the dark overcast sky gave way to scattered clouds. Droning insects and birds serenaded her trek with the crow. Tasha followed the bird until the waning light of dusk fell over the forest. When she realized the crow no longer accompanied her, she stood motionless. Trees surrounded her. Tasha focused solely on following the bird, she failed to keep track of her location with regard to the road.
This is ridiculous. I’ve wandered these woods for years. I can’t be lost.
As the sun set and twilight gave way to night, Tasha admitted she was, in fact, lost. Upon removing her amulet from around her neck, she held it aloft. “Fos.”
Light bloomed from the stone within the amulet, illuminating the area around her. She pivoted in a slow circle, scanning the canopy for any sign of the crow she’d been following.
Nothing.
Cursing her foolishness, Tasha extinguished the amulet. She dropped her boots on the ground, closing her eyes. The forest came alive in her mind. She felt life all around her: an ant carrying a scrap of leaf to its colony, a mother sparrow keeping guard over her nest, a fox some distance away on the prowl, and an overwhelming sense of death just ahead of her.
Shivering, her eyes snapped open. The sensation of death brought memories of Lorelei’s battered, bloodied, and crushed body back to her. The feeling left as quickly as it arrived. Despite the cold pall of death, she detected no malice. Instead, feelings of grief tinged with anger washed over her. She picked up her boots, then strode in the direction she decided was the right one.
Tightening the grip on her amulet, she prepared to unleash her arcane power on any threat that lay before her. Tasha passed through a thick cluster of spruce trees into a small clearing. Two structures jutted from the earth in the center of the space, their
stark white color prominent against the blackness of night in the deep forest. Covered with moss, the weathered pillars were irregular in shape, unlike stone columns. Running her hand along one of them, she discovered they were bones, enormous leg bones. Beyond them, she noticed a partially collapsed structure at the far edge of the clearing. In the distance, a wolf howled, sending a chill down her spine.
Tasha illuminated her amulet. Ahead, the collapsed building appeared to be a hut. The roof appeared flat, while one of the sides sloped up steeply from the forest floor. Tilting her head, Tasha examined the toppled dwelling. Upon inspection of the flora growing out of its windows and climbing up its sides, she determined the building had been abandoned for years.
Holding her light aloft, Tasha approached the cottage. A glint of light near the gable caught her eye. A crow.
Is that the same one?
It watched her creep toward the hut. Another crow flew by and landed alongside it, then another and another, until the birds lined the edge of the roof. They all stared at her with unblinking black eyes, watching in unison as she continued her approach.
Rotten planks dangled from the doorframe, a curtain of wood obscuring her view of the interior. She pushed one piece of timber aside. Snapping, it fell to the ground. A cloud of white spores swirled from the impact. She pulled the neckline of her robes over her nose and mouth, then proceeded through the door.
Unsurprisingly, the interior of the structure resembled an overgrown garden. Shrubs and creepers covered every surface, despite large furniture, such as the bed and a table, poking through in places. She noted the wooden floor, now occupying the place where the wall should’ve been, remained intact and in good repair. A stump with a hollowed-out core dominated the center of it.
She recoiled from shards of broken pots and jugs scattered in the area. Crouching, she discovered the pieces appeared to be from standard pottery one might use for water or wine. Wrought-iron utensils intertwined with the grasses.
A flash of light from outside illuminated the interior with more intensity than the glow from her amulet, and the rumble of thunder identified the source. As she blinked away spots in her vision, she noticed what appeared to be an upended shrine.
Tasha let her glowing amulet dangle at her neck while she righted the overturned altar. Carvings on the sides depicted symbols of harvest and fertility. A bow-wielding maiden and a deer flanked the relief of a tree on the top surface of the altar.
Running her fingers over the figures, Tasha identified the goddesses associated with the iconography. “Cybele, Artume, Gaia.”
The wolf howled again, sounding as if it stood just outside the clearing. Another flash of light and rumble of thunder shook the hut, followed by a downpour. Despite its ramshackle appearance, little water seeped in. Extinguishing her amulet and folding her legs beneath her, Tasha prepared to wait out the storm.
Chapter 10
To Aveline’s dismay, Lord Mayor Koloman awaited her in the market, in spite of the storm. Rivulets of water streamed down the drooping corners of the tarp his servants held for him to stand under. The watch sergeant near him snapped to attention as she approached.
“Now, Lord Mayor”—Aveline drew nearer—“what could possibly be so important you’re out here in this foul weather rather than safe in your warm, dry home?”
“My home”—Koloman crossed his arms—“is nothing of the sort! Tree limbs have smashed my windows, and this cursed storm has wreaked havoc with my parlor.”
Aveline clenched her jaw. “And what would you like me to do about that? Look around.” She gestured to the buildings behind her. “Many homes and businesses are damaged. No one can complete repairs until the storm lets up.”
“Have your men round up some vagabonds from Drakton, then send them to my estate immediately.” He sniffed, scowling at the servant behind him as the tarp drooped. “I’ll put them to work repairing my home.”
“In the rain?” Aveline pinched the bridge of her nose.
“Did you not hear me, woman? The rain is coming into my house. This must be rectified at once!”
Closing her eyes, Aveline counted to three before replying. “Yes, very well. I’ll get some guards right on that. In the meantime, you can stay dry at the jail until they’ve finished. There are only a couple of drunks in there today. Hopefully, someone has cleaned up the vomit by now.”
Even in the dim, overcast light, Aveline noticed the color drain from Koloman’s face. He shook his head. “No. I believe I shall return to my estate now. My bed is warm and dry, at least.” Raising an eyebrow, he smiled. “Care to indulge with me, Lady Aveline? Down comforters? Mulled wine? I am quite—”
Aveline held up her hand. “I have duties to attend. I was on my way to help clear debris when I received your summons.”
“Hm. Pity.” Shrugging, he laughed. “Well, you know where I live if you grow tired of being cold.”
Turning, she strode away without further acknowledgment. The sergeant followed her. “Lady Aveline? Who shall I send to round up the draks?”
“Send no one. Let that slimy git pay a fair wage if he wants laborers to fix his house.” She put her hand on the sergeant’s shoulder, facing him. “Go home to your family. Get out of this damned rain.”
The sergeant saluted. “Yes, m’lady. Thank you.”
Aveline, noting the river was lower than it had been during the flood, crossed the bridge over the Copper Run. Although she worried more flooding would follow the current downpour, she put those dark thoughts out of her head as she passed the Drunken Horse—open for business by the look of it—and proceeded south toward Mudders’ Gate. Smoke rose from the chimneys of the bakery. Even in a storm, the city’s artisans worked their trades as long as the weather didn’t intrude.
A man, holding the reins of his horse, pounded on the livery door. His once fine clothes, now sodden with mud, clung to his body. “Don’t you know it’s pouring out here? I can’t leave Pepper out in this!”
She recognized Vasco’s distinctive Maritropan accent, noticing he stood alone. Dropping her hand to the haft of her mace, she approached him. “Where’s Tasha?”
Pausing mid-knock, Vasco turned. “Ah! Lady Aveline… a beautiful sight on such a horrid afternoon.”
“You left with Tasha. I didn’t expect to see either of you back so soon. Where is she?”
The tall man fell to his knees before her. “Please forgive me. We were caught by the flood, and she was swept away. There was nothing I could do.”
“What?” Aveline staggered backward. Tasha?
“She threw me the pack of herbs we’d gathered, then was gone.” He glanced at his horse. “I kept them safe and dry, but I was unable to locate her after. The river was swift, and I had to seek higher ground lest it swept Pepper and me to our doom.”
Aveline pushed the groveling mage aside. Unbidden tears blinded her as she raced toward Miners’ Gate. Sliding in the mud, she stopped just outside the gatehouse. She pounded on the door until someone answered.
“Lady Aveline!” A bearded man wearing the livery of a watch sergeant opened the door. “Best come in out of the rain.”
She stomped the mud off her boots as he closed the door behind her. “How many can you spare to search for someone?”
The city watch sergeant scratched his wiry beard. “A handful, no more. Once the rain stops, that is.”
“Have them search the banks of the river, both sides. Up from Miners’ Gate and down from Mudders’ Gate.”
“What are they looking for?” He shuffled to the stove to tend a bubbling pot, serving Aveline a steaming mug of mulled wine before helping himself.
“Tasha, my frie… the herbalist. The apothecary.” Cupping the steaming mug, Aveline blew across the top of the liquid.
“If she was swept away—”
“Just do it!” Unwilling to hear talk of there being no hope, Aveline glared at the watch sergeant. Upon returning the mug to him, she exited, slamming the door behind her. Following a ne
arby alley toward the city wall, she headed toward Curton’s south gate. Her home, a few blocks south of the gate, stood secure and undamaged in its protected location. She threw open the door, immediately slamming it behind herself.
After doffing her sodden clothes, she picked up the open bottle of mead from her table and poured herself a drink. The liquid burned its way into her empty stomach.
Steadying herself on the table, she wiped her eyes. “Dammit.”
* * *
Tasha awoke, uncertain for how long she’d slept. A wan smile spread across her face when she realized she maintained a seated, meditative position the entire time she slumbered. However, as she uncrossed her legs from beneath her, tingling pains spread through her feet and her pride faded. Filtered by the forest canopy, dappled light streamed through the windows of the hut. Chirping their morning songs, birds heralded a new day. After emerging from the upended structure, the cawing of crows drew her attention to the surrounding tree branches. Rows of black birds watched her.
She regarded the crows. “So, do you think Vasco actually got my herbs back to town, or is he lost in the wilderness somewhere?”
“Caw!”
“That’s what I thought.” Tasha turned away from the hut to find her bearings in the forest. Unfamiliar with the area, she decided to head toward the rising sun until she found a landmark.
Tasha figured walking toward the sun would lead her to either the Copper Run or into the eastern mountains, depending on which side of the river she had awakened. As she hiked through the forest, she cursed herself for not paying attention to that detail when she dragged herself ashore. I suppose, with all the twists and bends in the river, the distinction between left and right bank is meaningless.
As she traveled, she noticed a crow flying from tree to tree to keep pace with her. “Left, right, east, west. As long as I get my bearings soon, I don’t much care, right?”
“Caw! Caw!”
Summer of Crows Page 8