Summer of Crows

by Hans Cummings

  “Hopefully, this inn we’re meeting the others at tonight has a room and it’s not too expensive.” Jazeera took the weight of the bust from her brother, guiding it into place as Mother Anya stepped away from the pedestal. Once the sculpture stood firm, the faelix turned to Tasha.

  “I owe you an apology. I was too harsh on you in the mine.” Jazeera bowed her head to Tasha. “You had faith in your friend, and Mother Anya has explained the significance of your cloak.”

  Tasha put her hand on Jazeera’s shoulder. “Really? Maybe she can explain it to me someday. This is all overwhelming.”

  Yun called Ra-Jareez over to help him with the pew.

  “How much time do you have, child?” A smile overtook Mother Anya’s face.

  “Perhaps after I make sure Aveline receives the help she needs.” Tasha did not doubt Mother Anya would proselytize all day, given the chance.

  “Ah, yes.” Mother Anya held up her hand. “I have sent several acolytes out to scour the city for volunteer grave diggers. I instructed them to assemble here as soon as possible. Were you able to find who you were looking for?”

  “No.” Tasha shook her head. “I left word for him to find me as soon as possible, though, either here, at the Bristled Boar, or at Aveline’s home.” She shrugged. “I guess I’m staying there since my own place was destroyed in the flood.”

  Raj glanced up from the pew he and Yun worked on. “We could help you rebuild.”

  Immediately, Tasha’s thoughts strayed toward the abandoned hut in the forest. She shook her head to clear her mind. “Thanks, I… I think I’ll stay with Aveline until we get everything sorted. There’s a lot of work to be done at the mine.”

  An acolyte carrying a bundle of robes returned from the back rooms. “I found them, Mother Anya.”

  “Excellent. Here, friends.” She distributed the robes to the faelix siblings and Yun. “They’re going to be uncomfortably hot until the chill of winter is upon us, but they’ll let you move about town without everyone gawking at you.”

  Once Yun and Raj finished repairing the pew, Mother Anya and Tasha helped the refugees into the garments. All three vanished within their voluminous depths.

  Jazeera twisted this way and that. “They’re hard to move in, and I cannot see that well with this cursed hood.”

  “Yes, you’ll have to keep your heads down to watch your feet, and you won’t be running in them.” Mother Anya adjusted the sleeves of Yun’s robe. “But everyone will dismiss you as acolytes running errands or perhaps pilgrims.”

  “I can’t thank you enough for your kindness, Mother Anya.” Tasha bowed to the old woman. “We should head to the Bristled Boar now.”

  “Think nothing of it. You’ll be helping the people of Curton for years to come”—the matriarch smiled, returning Tasha’s bow—“Crow Queen.”

  * * *

  Wiping the sweat from her brow, Aveline leaned on the shovel as she gazed across Vasco’s grave toward the setting sun. She hoped the rectangular pit she dug was deep enough to deter scavengers. She measured the depth using the handle of the shovel as a guide, figuring a hole as deep as the length of the shovel would be sufficient.

  She hoisted Vasco onto her shoulder, then carried him over to the pit. She laid him on the grass before lowering herself into it. After pulling him over to her, she positioned his corpse at the bottom of the grave. Finally, she climbed out, catching her breath, before picking up her shovel and positioning herself at the head of the hole.

  “I don’t know what gods you prayed to, Vasco. Honestly, you never struck me as a pious man.” Aveline studied the shrouded corpse below her. “Selene, perhaps? Maybe Pacha or Dolios? I know nothing about their funerary rites and precious little about those practiced here by the followers of Cybele and Adranus. Please don’t think poorly of me for not having the tongue for this.”

  Sighing, Aveline bowed her head. “You fought beside us with bravery and sacrificed yourself for people you didn’t even know. That makes you a hero by anyone’s reckoning, and I’ll make sure this place is marked with honor.”

  She plunged the shovel into the pile of dirt, then emptied it into the grave. “Wherever you dwell now, may you find that which eluded you in this life.”

  Night overtook her efforts to cover Vasco, and she finished by the dim light of the waxing moons. Once she had finished, Aveline plodded to the campsite, ate, and turned in for the night. The next day would bring fresh challenges—a day filled with cemetery design.

  Chapter 28

  By the time Tasha guided the faelix siblings and Yun to the Bristled Boar, she managed to shove her discomfort with Mother Anya calling her “Crow Queen” into a dark pit in her stomach.

  Raucous laugher spilled into the street, evidence of a lively crowd within the inn and tavern. Sighing, she opened the door for her companions, urging them to seek out a corner table, if possible. To her disappointment, the only open table stood in the middle of the common area, near the bar. She scanned the crowd for Therkla and Aerik but did not see them, so she directed the siblings and Yun to the table.

  At least my ale won’t need to travel far.

  As her three companions shrugged off their robes, a gasp circled the room. Tasha observed the assembled townsfolk whispering and staring.

  Climbing upon a chair, she raised her arms. “Good people, these faelixes and this caprikin have traveled far and suffered much when they were stranded here. Please, do not be troubled by them. Let them enjoy a hot meal in peace.”

  “There’ll be peace enough as long as you have coin to pay.” The barkeep approached them, rubbing his hands with a grey, greasy cloth. The skinny, balding man glared at Tasha as he banged on the table. “Here now, get down off that chair. They’re for sitting, not standing.”

  He scowled at the other patrons. “Go about your business. We’ll have no trouble here, or you’ll be out on your arses.”

  The barkeep circled the table as Tasha and the others took their seats. “We never had your kind here before. I don’t know if our roast will be to your liking.” He narrowed his eyes as he faced Yun. “It’s mutton.”

  Raj rubbed his hands together. “Excellent. I have not had that in ages.”

  Grunting, Yun shook his head. “No meat.”

  “Mutton will be fine for the three of us, and ales all around.” Tasha gestured at the caprikin. “I don’t suppose you have any vegetables that weren’t cooked with the meat for Yun there?”

  The barkeep huffed. “We have some roots roasted with butter and some herbs, sweetened with maple. Potatoes, carrots, turnips, eh, others too, I reckon. I don’t know what all the boy scrounged up today.”

  Tasha raised her eyebrows, glancing at Yun. “Will that be all right?”

  The caprikin asked Raj a question. The faelix replied to him before nodding at Tasha. “Yes, that will be fine. Meat only for my sister and me.”

  “I’ll have some of the roots, too, please.” Tasha tapped the barkeep on the sleeve as he passed her. Grunting an acknowledgment, he returned to his place behind the bar, barking orders to two young girls. They rushed off toward the kitchen. The barkeep returned with four mugs of ale, setting them in the center of the table.

  Tasha observed as Yun gazed around the room, taking stock of each person in turn. Noticing the sorceress watching him, the caprikin leaned forward. He nudged Raj, then spoke at Tasha in his native tongue.

  “Oh, Yun says he’s watching for robbers. Doing the job we hired him to do.” Chuckling, the faelix whispered across the table at Tasha, “I don’t know if he realizes we have no money to pay him now.”

  “We’ll start earning coin soon enough, brother…” Jazeera regarded the armored man approaching their table.

  Tasha recognized Lieutenant Valon standing at attention. “Good lady, Tasha.” He bowed. “I sought you out as soon as I received your message.”

  “It took all day?” Jaz snorted into her ale.

  The constable narrowed his eyes. “There’s still much di
sorder from the flood.”

  “It’s fine, Valon.” Tasha pointed to the remaining chair at their table. “Please sit, there is much to explain.”

  After introducing him to the faelix siblings and Yun, she briefly explained how they came to be so far from home. Their meals arrived as she was taking Valon through the events of the last several days. By the time she finished, her supper was cold, and Valon sat with his head in his hands. The faelix siblings consumed the contents of each dish placed before them, beckoning for the barkeep to bring more. Yun seemed sated by his single plate of vegetables.

  Tasha slid a mug of ale toward the constable. “Drink?”

  Holding up his hand, Valon shook his head. “I’ll pass, thanks.” He pushed himself away from the table. “I’ll round up strong backs from the citadel and gather equipment. We’ll head out at first light.”

  “Aveline said to make sure everyone brings tools for digging. You’ll need provisions too. And ale or wine.” Tasha reached for his arm to gain his attention. “There are a lot of bodies, Valon. Some have been there a while.”

  “Understood.” He forced a smile to his lips. “Do you have some way of letting her know we’re on our way?”

  “I’ll let her know.”

  Valon left them to their dinner. Despite its tepid temperature, she nevertheless found it tasty and filling. Tasha appreciated eating in peace, even while she overheard snippets of conversation commenting on Raj, Jazeera, and Yun from time to time.

  “So, what do you plan to do while your friend digs graves?” After Jazeera shoved away her empty plate, she leaned on the table, staring at Tasha.

  Again, Tasha’s thoughts drifted to the abandoned hut, and she pulled the feathered cloak tighter around her. “My shop flooded. All the inventory is spoiled. I don’t even know if the house is salvageable.”

  If there was ever a time to start over…

  “Our offer to help you clean and rebuild still stands.” Raj picked at the remains of a mutton shank.

  His sister slapped his shoulder. “We need to earn money for food, clothes. Think before you speak, Raj.”

  Tasha smiled. “I appreciate the offer. I need to evaluate what I actually have before I make plans. I—”

  “There they are! I told you we weren’t too late.” Therkla shoved a passing patron aside to plop into the seat next to Tasha. Aerik gripped the back of her chair to steady himself.

  “And I told you…” Aerik’s words slurred together as he swayed. “We should have come here straightaway instead of going to Danica’s Den.”

  “I needed to relax. No one told you to play drinking games while I was busy.” Licking one of her tusks, Therkla glanced at Tasha. “We’ve come for our money.”

  The sorceress rubbed her brow. She neglected to mention Aveline’s commitment to Valon before he left. “I told you already. I don’t have access to Aveline’s funds. You’ll have to talk to Lieutenant Valon at the citadel. He should be there now.”

  Therkla snorted. “I figured you’d say that. We’ll go in the morning.”

  “He and several others are leaving after dawn to go to the mine.” Tasha reached for her ale, Finding the mug empty, she shoved it away.

  “You should go with them.” Raj picked at bits of meat stuck in his teeth. “Earn more money digging graves for all those poor, dead townsfolk.”

  “I’d rather spend the night in jail.” Therkla slapped Aerik’s chest, causing him to stumble backward. “Come, Aerik, let’s pick a fight so we’ll have a bed tonight.”

  Belching, Aerik shook his head. “I have enough money for that.” Grinning, he patted his bulging pouch. “I won it… drinking.”

  “If you see that lieutenant, tell him we want to be paid before they leave.” Therkla shoved the chair under the table, never taking her eyes off Tasha. “See you around, Crow Queen.”

  “Oh, I hope not.” Tasha waited until they left before turning toward her three companions. “There’s a hut in the woods. I need to go there and see what I can scrounge. It’ll help me get the apothecary up and running.” I’m absolutely not going there to avoid Therkla and Aerik. Surely something in that hut will help me understand this Crow Queen thing.

  “Far from here?” Upon gaining the attention of a passing server, Jaz ordered more ale.

  “Not really. Tomorrow, I can take you around to people I know, see if they have any odd jobs.”

  “That would be most appreciated.” Raj bowed his head.

  “Meanwhile”—Tasha pushed herself up from the table—“I’ll get you rooms here for the night, then I’m going home. I’m tired. I’ll be back in the morning, so don’t go wandering.”

  * * *

  Tossing and turning, Aveline found no comfortable position on her bedroll amidst the lingering stench of death. She found herself staring at the ceiling of her tent, trying not to envision the scores of dead in the mine below.

  With a swear and a sigh, she crawled out of the temporary dwelling. Despite the light breeze, the night remained warm from the heat of the day. Yet, Aveline hoped whoever arrived to help brought extra clothing. She didn’t fancy wearing only her shift at night while sharing the camp with townsfolk she may or may not know.

  Stoking the smoldering embers of the fire, she coaxed a low flame to return. Aveline heard the flapping of wings behind her. Turning, she saw a crow alight on her tent, its eyes fixed on her.

  “Tasha send you to check up on me?”

  Cocking its head, the crow remained silent.

  Spreading her arms, Aveline spun in a circle. “Well, here I am. Safe, nearly naked, and alone in front of a mine filled with corpses. Not quite how I like to spend summer evenings.”

  Crossing her arms, she regarded the preening bird. “When Dorian and I were first married, we’d go out to the fields north of town on nights like this.”

  Peering upward, she gazed at the whirlpool of Nethuns, its fine details obscured by moonlight from the King and Queen. “There was a grove of apple trees, and we’d lie there all night. Sleeping, talking, making love.”

  She laughed. “Tasha knows all this already. Can she even hear me through you, or are you just some random crow that stopped by to keep me company?”

  The crow said nothing.

  “I guess it’s better than talking to myself, right?”

  Evidently disagreeing, the crow took off into the night. Aveline lost sight of it in the darkness almost immediately. She had not thought of Dorian in ages. They weren’t married that long, just a few months, when his horse, spooked by some raucous children playing in the marketplace, threw him onto the unforgiving cobblestones.

  Shivering, she stopped her reminiscing and paced through camp. The fire sputtered and sparked, a dissonant accompaniment to the orchestra of crickets and distant wolf howls that filled the night.

  As Aveline wandered, she saw points of light in the shadows around camp. Eyes, reflecting the dim firelight, watched her every move. She returned to the safety of the fire. The eyes seemed content to watch from a distance.

  I hope those are just wolves, or maybe those draks are spying on me. Hurriedly, she ducked into the tent and pulled the flap closed. As she sat in the dark, she cradled her mace in her lap, holding her shield close. The sounds of night surrounded her. Through the music of insect and animal calls, she heard no footsteps approach the fire. After a time, she lay down.

  Aveline shut her eyes, thinking of Dorian. Finally, sleep came for her as she let thoughts of her late husband transport her to comforting nights. After awakening with the dawn, she crawled out onto dew-covered grass. The remains of her fire still sent wisps of smoke from dying embers into the air. She considered coaxing it back to life, but she decided against it when she remembered she had nothing to eat but bread and cheese.

  She found no evidence of her watchers from the previous night in the campsite. While dressing, Aveline concluded they must have been passing wolves, curious about the fire and her activity, but uninterested in confrontation.

/>   Dew still clung to the grass as she returned to the future site of the graveyard. After verifying Vasco’s grave survived the night undisturbed, she busied herself with planning burial plots for the unfortunate souls she arrived too late to save.

  Chapter 29

  A good night’s sleep in Aveline’s bed energized Tasha, but she still felt burdened by recent events. Though it lay out of the way, she broke her fast at the city market. As she bought her favorite treats from her favorite merchants, she inquired as to whether any needed help in their shops. Heartened by positive responses, she hurried to the Bristled Boar.

  Raj and Jazeera awaited Tasha at the bar. Their heavy robes hung over the backs of their chairs. As she approached, they finished eating their morning meal of bacon and eggs. She did not see Yun anywhere in the common area.

  “I see you’ve eaten.”

  Jazeera swallowed a hunk of bacon. “The rude man said this came with the room, but we would have to pay for other meals.”

  “I’ll try to help you secure an income by the end of the day.” Tasha gazed around the deserted room again. “Where’s Yun?”

  “A woman from Dadi”—Raj forced his lips around the unfamiliar name—“Dakida’s Den hired him already. She said she needed someone strong to watch for unruly drunks.”

  “Danica’s Den?” Tasha grimaced. While she had no issue with brothels or gambling establishments, Danica attracted the types of rough customers Tasha preferred to avoid in her day-to-day life.

  “That’s the place.” Jazeera hopped off her barstool. “We could run games for her, but she said she doesn’t need dealers, and I am not interested in selling my body.”

  “Things aren’t that desperate, yet.” Raj nudged his sister, then turned to Tasha. “Where are you going to take us?”

  “I thought we might go to the market. Several of the vendors there indicated they might be interested in hiring some extra help. It might only be for the rest of the summer, or through the harvest, but it’s better than nothing, yes?”