Summer of Crows

by Hans Cummings

  “Good idea.” Tasha fished in her pouch for a talon, then offered a gold crown to Aveline. “For my portion of the expenses.”

  Aveline shooed her away. “We’ll settle up when we get back. Go find that annoying man. If I finish before you return, I’ll take the horses and wait at Fairstone Mill.”

  Tasha squinted. “Is that the one upriver or down?”

  “Down, just by the river. I need to pick up some grain for the horses.”

  “See you there.” Tasha returned to the city proper. She made her way past the temples in Hillside, through the market, and over the bridge into Old Town, intending to check the obvious place first: the Drunken Horse Inn.

  Few people patronized the inn this early—mostly only those who’d stayed there the night before or who possessed no means of cooking or storing perishables in their own homes. After a few moments, Tasha’s eyes acclimated to the dim light provided by the hearth in a room whose windows were not yet touched by the morning sun.

  The sorceress recognized none of the patrons dining in the common room. She approached the bar, where the proprietor, Radu, eyed her with a raised, bushy eyebrow that reminded Tasha of a caterpillar stuck to an old leather glove.

  “Don’t normally see you in here breaking your fast.” His voice resembled the sound of gravel grinding beneath wagon wheels.

  “I’m looking for the mage from Maritropa. Vasco Dragonblade? He was staying here, last I heard.”

  Frowning, Radu nodded. “Still is. Right proper lad, though I think he’s a bit touched in the head.”

  Tasha glanced around again. “Is he upstairs? Or did he leave for the day already?”

  “I ain’t seen him. It’s early yet. He might be up there.” Radu leaned in close. “What you want with him, Tasha? Making a delivery?”

  Tasha recoiled from Radu’s fetid breath, despite her best efforts not to. “He has something of mine. I’m leaving with Lady Aveline, and I want to get it back. If you don’t want to tell me what room he’s in, maybe you could go fetch him for me?”

  “Hrm.” Radu scratched under his stringy beard. “Got any more witch hazel? I got me a fierce rash.”

  “There may be some in the satchel of mine he has.” Tasha shook her head. “Most of my supplies were wiped out in the flood, though.” If you’d bathe regularly, your itch would probably disappear.

  “Hrm.” Tossing his rag on the counter, Radu stomped his way around the bar and up the stairs of the tavern. After a few moments, Tasha heard him banging on a door, shouting for Vasco to awaken and go to the common room. Tromping down the stairs, the proprietor nodded at her before ducking into the kitchen. “That should rouse him.”

  To Radu’s credit, his coarse wake-up call did indeed stir Vasco, and the tall man stumbled downstairs in his nightclothes. His eyes widened when he saw Tasha at the bar. He ran to her, gathered her in his arms, and lifted her into the air.

  “I thought I’d lost you! The river was so swift and fierce. There was nothing I could do.”

  Tasha slapped him on the shoulders. “Put me down.”

  Bowing his head, Vasco lowered her to the floor. “My apologies, I couldn’t contain my enthusiasm.”

  “Aveline says you have my satchel with the herbs we gathered?”

  “Oh, yes!” Vasco’s eyes brightened. “I’ll fetch it straightaway!” Turning, he raced upstairs before she could utter another word. When he didn’t return after several minutes, she considered following him, but she decided against it. She feared he might forget himself again if she interrupted him.

  After an excruciating wait, sunlight began to stream in through the windows. Finally, Vasco returned, wearing a fine loose-cut shirt atop black leather breeches. Tasha’s satchel swung from one arm, and he cradled his bladed staff in the other.

  “I needed to make myself presentable, and I am prepared to assist you in whatever you need today.” Bowing, he held the bag toward her.

  Tasha retrieved the satchel from him. She dug through the pack, noting the herbs and flowers had wilted. No witch hazel, but if there had been, it’d probably be ruined now. “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary. Aveline and I have business out of town. We won’t be back for several days.”

  Vasco snapped to attention, crossing his arm over his chest before bowing again. “Then permit me to accompany you. I would be honored to be your protector.”

  Biting back an unkind retort and fighting to keep from rolling her eyes, Tasha forced a smile. “We don’t need protection.”

  Radu stomped in from the kitchen, carrying a steaming bowl of porridge. He shoveled bites into his mouth as he approached. “So? Got any witch hazel?”

  “No. Try bathing.” Hurrying out of the Drunken Horse, Tasha left the two men behind. She hoped to finish with Vasco well before Aveline completed saddling the horses, but, by now, the watch captain surely waited for her at the mill.

  Vasco called to her from the steps of the tavern, continuing to do so as she crossed the bridge into the market square. Sighing, Tasha stopped at the far end of the bridge and waited for him to catch up.

  “You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  Grinning, the Maritropan man planted the butt of his staff in the dirt. “In Maritropa, the first ‘no’ is simply a challenge to make a better offer.”

  “This is not Maritropa, and neither Aveline nor I want anything you have.” From the corner of her eye, Tasha saw a crow alight on the roof of a nearby stall. It cocked its head, regarding Vasco.

  “I would not be so sure. You’ve already told me the two of you aren’t lovers, and you have not seen what I have to offer.”

  “Aveline has armor and a heavy mace. My magic has been tested in battle.” Tasha clasped her hands behind her, leaning forward. “Do we understand each other?”

  Vasco placed his hand on his chest, then stepped backward. “My intentions are wholly honorable. I truly only wish to assist you in whatever task you’re undertaking. I feel I owe it to you. That is all. I swear on the graves of my ancestors to keep to myself otherwise.”

  Tasha pointed at the crow on the roof of the stall. “See that? They’ll be watching, and they like to pluck eyes.”

  As if on command, the crow cawed at Vasco, flapped its wings, and hopped closer. He jumped with a start as she struggled not to smirk at the crow’s excellent timing. “Since you’re not going to stay here in spite of what I say, hurry ahead and saddle your horse. We’re meeting Aveline at Fairstone Mill.”

  “I am your humble servant, Lady Tasha.”

  He raced away, leaving her no opportunity to correct him. Chuckling, Tasha followed him.

  Chapter 14

  When Tasha finally caught up to her, Aveline had finished her business with the miller. She found her friend sitting on a stone wall near the waterwheel of the mill watching the river rush over and around nearby rocks. Her chestnut stallion—named Socks for the white coloration of his legs—nuzzled the horse the livery had provided Tasha, a dapple-grey gelding.

  Aveline crossed her arms. “So, you’ve got crows following you, and now an annoying man as well?”

  Vasco rubbed Pepper’s neck, whispering in his horse’s ear as they slowed to let the women greet one another.

  Tasha bit her lip to keep from laughing. “He insisted on repaying his debt to me. You know, for not saving me from a flash flood. Besides”—she pointed at the weapon on Aveline’s saddle—“you brought your sword, so I’m not worried.”

  “I keep meaning to take it home. Put it above my mantle or something.” She patted the hilt, noticing a pair of crows landing on the far end of the wall. The watch captain narrowed her eyes. “There are two now?”

  “Are there?” Tasha scratched her head. “Huh. I didn’t notice that.”

  “Ah, Lady Aveline, your radiance outshines even that of the morning sun.” Vasco swept his arm as he bowed.

  “Oh, please,” Muttering under her breath, she hopped off the wall. She
handed the gelding’s reins to Tasha. The horse whinnied, stamping his feet at the sorceress’s hesitant hand. Aveline motioned to her companions. “Let’s get moving. We have a lot of ground to cover today.”

  Spurring Socks forward, Aveline galloped away from the mill, trusting Tasha would keep up. She directed Socks to cross the road, heading overland toward the mines. Rolling hills covered the land east of town, ranging from meadows and fields of flowers toward the north, to ever-thickening forests toward the south and mountains. Few hostile or predatory beasts called these lands home. Wolves and bears that lived in the area tended to avoid people and campfires.

  The road, now far behind them, vanished behind hills. Aveline slowed their pace to give the horses a breather. Adjusting her seat, she reflected on the last time she’d taken Socks out for a run. “It’s been too long, my friend.” Leaning forward, she rubbed his muscular neck.

  Tasha trotted to catch up, then slowed her horse to a walk alongside her. “Nice choice, by the way.” Tasha tousled her horse’s mane. “I assume he has a name?”

  “Silvermane. Nice choice on the clothes too. I noticed them last night. Ditching the robes, huh? Where are your boots?”

  Tasha regarded her loose-fitting blouse. “It was time for a change. I feel closer to the Earth Mother without boots, although I’ll probably regret not buying some for riding.” Her eyes searched the sky, and she pointed upward. “They’re still up there, following us.”

  “Has he noticed?” Aveline glanced over her shoulder at Vasco. He lagged behind, either unable to keep up or deliberately giving them space. “Do you have any ideas about them yet?”

  “If Vasco has taken note of the crows, he’s been quiet about it. And no, I don’t have any ideas.” Tasha watched the birds wheel overhead. “I’ve been having more success connecting with Gaia lately. Maybe they’re watching for her.”

  “Divine emissaries?” Aveline doubted the Earth Mother bothered sending creatures on reconnaissance missions, considering she was literally the world upon which they lived, or so the stories told.

  “Maybe they’re spies for someone else.” Tasha flicked the mane of her steed.

  The two women rode ahead of Vasco for several hours before Aveline, feeling a twinge guilty, slowed Socks until the man caught up. When the sun reached its zenith, she motioned for the group to stop before dismounting and stretching her legs. The heat of midsummer made riding in armor a sweaty proposition at best. It was downright uncomfortable on the worst of days. Aveline drained the first of her waterskins as they traveled on foot. A journey without armor, while more comfortable, risked danger if the abductors of Innya and the other people still occupied the mines.

  A tributary of the Copper Run River cut across their path, flowing down from the mountains and toward the coast. Letting their mounts cool down, they refilled their waterskins.

  Leaning on his staff, Vasco watched Pepper drink. “I don’t want to alarm you, but I think someone is following us.”

  Aveline stiffened. Her hand dropped unbidden to the haft of her mace. “Where?”

  The mage looked over his shoulder in the direction from which they’d ridden. “Should be about a hill back. You won’t be able to see them from here, but when we get underway, if we wait at the crest of the next hill, we should be able to watch them cross the creek.”

  Tasha rested her head on Aveline’s shoulder. “Probably just travelers, heading to Cliffport.”

  “Hrm, maybe.” Aveline retrieved her stallion’s reins. “But why didn’t they take the road? It’s much easier and more direct.”

  Crows landed on a boulder across the stream. Aveline narrowed her eyes.

  “They’re the same ones. In fact”—Tasha pointed at the crow on the right—“that one’s been following me for several days. I’m a little scared I’m starting to recognize them.”

  “They are not your familiars?” Vasco knelt at edge of the stream. Clicking his tongue, he held out his hand toward the crows.

  “I guess you did notice.” Tasha glanced at the watch captain. “I don’t know why they’re following me.”

  “We’ve been over this already.” Checking the position of the sun in the sky, Aveline shaded her eyes. “We’ll never reach the mines if we hang around talking to crows all day.”

  “Caw!” As if insulted, the crows took to the air.

  Aveline led Socks across the stream before mounting. “With any luck, we’ll cover more than half the remaining distance by nightfall.”

  * * *

  Tasha’s thighs and lower back ached from gripping the saddle and sitting in an unfamiliar position. She didn’t own a horse for good reason—the height at which a rider sat made her head spin. As their horses trotted, the sun now sinking at their backs, Tasha rubbed her sore thighs. Vasco babbled to Aveline about his lengthy journey from Maritropa, being chased out of Raven’s Forest by xenophobic elves, then traveling through Almeria and Muncifer before finally arriving in Curton. The knight-captain’s slumped posture, angled away from the oblivious man, conveyed her opinion of his conversation.

  As Vasco regaled Aveline with stories of his travels, Tasha noted he used more formal language than he had with her, as if he were a noble courting a lady. If he gets grabby with her like he tried with me, he’ll see just how receptive she is. The thought of Aveline laying him out brought a smile to her lips, even as she chastised herself for finding amusement in violence.

  Their shadows still trailed a few hours behind them. Aveline declined to stop at the crest of each hill, insisting their first priority remained covering as much distance between Curton and their destination as possible. When the sun dipped below the western horizon, they set up camp for the evening.

  “If they’re simply heading the same way we are, they’ll catch up while we’re stopped.” Aveline unbuckled the saddle, then removed it from her horse. She carried it to a spot near the pile of wood Vasco assembled.

  “And if they’re following us, they’ll keep their distance tonight.” Tasha nodded, fumbling with the straps on Silvermane’s saddle. Taking over for her, Aveline removed his saddle, then filled a feed bag for each horse.

  “We should keep watch, in case they do intend to stop us from reaching the mines.” Aveline’s lip curled. “I hate sleeping in armor.”

  “Not to fear.” Vasco rose as the fire took hold of the kindling. “I can enchant the perimeter of camp to notify us of anyone approaching. We can all sleep soundly.”

  Raising an eyebrow, Aveline glanced at Tasha.

  The sorceress learned of such magic in classes at the Arcane University, but she demonstrated little proficiency with it. She nodded at the watch captain. “Those sorts of enchantments are quite effective, I hear.”

  “With your permission?” Bowing to Aveline, Vasco awaited her response.

  “Very well. I suppose it beats missing out on sleep.” She nudged Tasha. “I’m still sleeping in my armor, though.”

  While Vasco secured the camp with enchantments, Tasha and Aveline set bread to warm on the rocks near the crackling fire, and they distributed portions of the meat and cheese they brought along. Owls called in the distance as nocturnal insects sang their evening songs.

  Aveline cradled a bottle of mead she’d withdrawn from her pack. “I brought this for us, but I guess I should share with him too.”

  “That’s up to you. He brought wine when we were out gathering herbs.” Reclining against a tree trunk, Tasha inhaled deeply, taking in the splendor of the forest around her. The scent of pine undercut the earthy aroma of the still-damp earth. Her feet ached from resting them in her stirrups; riding without boots proved more difficult than she expected. The sorceress drew her knees to her chest. Planting the soles of her feet on the ground, she curled her toes and dug into the bed of pine needles and leaves covering the earth. The ache faded, as if Gaia drew the pain away.

  “All finished.” Vasco strode into camp, cradling his bladed staff. “I created several layers of protection in the directio
n we came, in case our shadows have a mage among them. One enchantment they might look for and dispel, maybe even two? But I doubt they’ll look for four.”

  Aveline gestured for him to join them by the fire. “We’ve meat, cheese, and bread. Eat.” She held up a bottle. “There’s mead too.”

  “Ah, that is most generous of you, my lady.” Vasco rummaged in his pack, producing a bulbous bottle. “I have wine from Muncifer. Perhaps we can share and indulge a bit, eh?”

  The trio ate and laughed around the fire, sharing first the wine, then the mead. As Tasha enjoyed her third swig of mead, she noticed none of the exhilaration she normally experienced while drinking, just a slight tingling in her fingers.

  “All right.” Aveline, slurring her words, belched. “You’re well-dressed and well-spoken, Vasco Dragonbone. You’ve been to the Arcane University, and that horse you’re riding isn’t a mangy nag. Why did you leave Maritropa? What are you running from?”

  Tasha stifled a grin. Well-off folk did not travel to Curton lightly, and she had wondered how long it would take Aveline before she interrogated the man who insisted on traveling with them.

  “Running? Nonsense.” He spread his arms. “Can’t a man simply wish to see the world?”

  A log cracked in the fire, showering the air with sparks. Aveline shook her head. “Men like you don’t elect the hardship of the open road. Only fools go to Raven’s Forest, but then onto Almeria, all the way across Etrunia? Then down to Muncifer where there’s naught but draks and minotaurs before coming here. Here? Curton? We have all the mud you want but no money. No more copper, no more silver, just mud. We’re so remote the princess in Almeria forgets we’re part of her realm.”

  “Ah, it’s all politics.” Vasco waved his hand before drinking of the wine. He held the bottle toward Tasha. “Maritropan politics.”

  Tasha took the wine from Vasco, then, without drinking, she passed it to Aveline. The knight-captain peered into the bottle before swigging. “Tell us about Maritropan politics.”