Summer of Crows

by Hans Cummings

  Tasha counted out ten crowns, two-thirds of the gold she’d brought with her. She hoped the coin she had left would be enough for the mead she wanted to take home for Aveline. “I haven’t heard any details of what happened, just that a new archmage took over. I guess I don’t go to the right tavern to hear all the gossip from folks passing through Curton.”

  “She challenged him to the Rite of Combat. Took him outside the city, then impaled him on a spike of rock as big as my old master’s tower. Never seen anything like it. She used elemental magic everyone here thought was lost.” Adina made some more notations in the ledger, tapped the page with the quill, and shut the book. “Now, your records are updated. You can pay more at any Arcane University.”

  “I tried to get a meeting with her to pay my respects.” Tasha wondered if Adina possessed more influence than the seneschal. “The old man at the court said she was indisposed.”

  “She has kin in town. I hear she does research in their home, to cloister herself from all the people demanding her attention here. I guess she finds her brother’s family less of a distraction than the high wizards.” Adina slid the tray of pastries toward Tasha. “Care for one? My husband runs a shop down the street.”

  Tasha selected a glazed sweet roll featuring some sort of berry jelly in a well in the center. “Thank you so much for your help, Adina. Is there anyone here who can answer a few questions about oneiromancy?”

  “Dream magic?” Adina chose a cinnamon-and-sugar-crusted breadstick. “Hm, divination has never been popular around these parts. Although, I think that silly girl Katka has been studying up on it. Great enchantress, head in the clouds.” Adina waved her half-eaten breadstick. “She’s the archmage’s apprentice. You can find her running around town at all hours doing errands. I can get a message to her to meet you here, if you like.”

  “That would be wonderful. I’d like to go to the library.” Tasha bit into the pastry. The dough, both flaky and buttery, practically melted in her mouth, and the rich raspberry jelly in the center provided a splash of sweetness. “Can she meet me there?”

  “I’ll let her know.” Adina gobbled the rest of the breadstick before invoking a messenger and sending the request to Katka. “Finish the pastry and clean your sticky fingers before getting to the library. The librarians get testy, you know.”

  “I will, thank you.”

  Tasha left Adina to her books and baked goods. Conversing with the older woman almost made her feel like a student again, except for the adulation she received for being Crow Queen. She finished her sweet roll as she made her way to the library, licking the sugary jam off her fingers when she finished. She anticipated perusing the stacks while she waited for the archmage’s apprentice.

  Chapter 46

  Aveline’s patrol through Hillside took her past many of the town’s most opulent homes. At least, they were lavish when Curton’s mine still produced a bounty of precious metals. Now, they decayed, still owned by the same families in many cases, the money for upkeep all but exhausted. Many of those families turned to trades or services like tailoring and laundry or gardening. A few remained solvent enough to maintain a relatively high standard of living despite Curton’s slow economy.

  She continued her patrol next in the market, perusing a vendor’s booth offering a variety of sausages, both cured and fresh. She selected several of the cured, dried sausages for her larder, and a rope of fresh ones for that night. Recognizing the vendor as one of butcher Myasnik’s nieces, Aveline paid while the girl tied the package. As she left the market, she noticed a furry arm waving at her.

  Ra-Jareez trotted up to her. “Ah, our esteemed Lady Aveline. Do you need a fine copper skillet in which to cook your fresh meats?”

  Aveline put her hand on her hip. “You’re not even at your booth. Are you seriously trying to sell me something from several rows away?”

  “No, but I knew it would annoy you.” Crossing his arms, Raj tapped his foot. “We heard the Crow Queen returned, yet you did not tell us. Now her hut is gone.”

  She bit back a retort when she realized the faelix spoke the truth. “You’re right. I’m sorry. There was some excitement around her return, and I forgot.”

  “Then tell me where she is. My sister and I still have questions about her old house.”

  Aveline noticed several people in the market paying close attention to her conversation with the faelix, no doubt listening to learn the location of the Crow Queen’s hut. “She went to Muncifer.”

  “Where is that? Is it far?”

  Aveline waited until the eavesdroppers moved on, discouraged by the news. Taking Raj by the arm, she lowered her voice. “She’s planning to be back tonight. If you come by my house, I’ll tell you where the hut is, then you can go out there tomorrow first thing.”

  “Very well.” Raj narrowed his eyes, wagging his finger at Aveline. “But if you are not home, I will sit on your steps until you return. I would not want you to forget again.”

  “I’m headed that way now, and I don’t intend to go out again.” Aveline hurried away before the faelix made additional demands. She got as far as Caravan Bridge before having to stop, this time for a textile-filled wagon whose wheel had fallen off.

  People crowded around the cart, straining to keep the broken side elevated while the driver slid the wheel onto the axle. A tall, dark-haired man, a southerner by the look of him, helped the driver struggling with the unwieldy circle. Aveline spotted a pin used to hold wheels in place rolling away. It had been kicked by one of the numerous helpers shuffling in the area. Lunging for it, she trapped it under her foot.

  When she returned with the peg, the group had wrangled the wheel into place. After handing the pin to the driver, Aveline noticed the southerner staring at her.

  “Is there something you need?”

  Shaking his head, he helped lower the wagon. “You’re Lady Aveline, aren’t you, the city watch commander?”

  “So they tell me.” Aveline pushed past the crowd to continue on her way home.

  “I am Torben. I understand you’re a close friend of Tasha, the apothecary.”

  Aveline gritted her teeth, in no mood to deal with folk pestering her about the Crow Queen’s whereabouts. “Her shop is closed now. The flood destroyed it.”

  “Yes, I know.” He increased his pace, proceeding alongside her. “I was hoping you could tell me where to find her. I have something for her.”

  Aveline moved out of the center of the street, stopping at the corner by a candlemaker’s shop. “She’s gone to Muncifer. I’m not sure when she’ll return.”

  “I see.” Torben removed his pack from his shoulder, then opened it. “Then perhaps you’d be so kind?” From the pack, he withdrew a package wrapped in a dark cloth. He pulled back the fabric, revealing a larger-than-life crow statue carved from a single piece of weathered lumber. “I made this using a piece of wood I found while helping the draks clean up after the flood. It broke off from her shop, I think. When I saw it, I immediately saw the crow within the wood. I would really like her to have it.”

  Examining the statue, Aveline sucked in her breath at the exquisite detailing. The textures of the feathers, the scales on the legs, down to holes for the nostrils, they all pointed to the work of a master wood-carver. “It’s beautiful, touched by the hand of Adranus himself.”

  “That’s kind of you. My father told me wood carving was a waste of time, a pointless affectation.”

  Aveline wrapped the figure with the cloth. “I can’t think of anyone in town who could rival this.” She held it out for him. “Would you mind carrying this to my house for me? I like to keep at least one hand free.” She patted the hilt of her mace with one hand while she hefted the package of sausages with the other.

  “Of course.”

  She led him through the winding streets of the shortcut to her house. “What inspired you to carve a crow for Tasha? How do you know her?”

  “I only just met her, as a customer in her shop. But I confess,
I was smitten from the moment I first saw her.”

  She glanced at him as they traveled, noting his cheeks burned red. “I know it sounds stupid, like something a child would say, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her.”

  “Hm.” Aveline thought little of concepts such as love at first sight. In her experience, men who claimed to be smitten so early and strongly tended to want one thing from women. Once they had it, they were usually off to the next town.

  “I know what you must think of me. I’ve tried to steal glances of her, when I can, to just look upon her once more.” He laughed. “I failed at that. I only saw her twice again, and I was able to speak to her only once.”

  Aveline’s free hand dropped to her mace. “You’ve been following her?”

  “No!” Torben shook his head. “Pacha’s balls, no. I would never do such a thing. I’ve been spending too much time in the market, hoping to catch her as she shopped. After the flood, I busied myself helping the draks clean and rebuild. They told me she was a good friend to their community, so I helped as much as I could, hoping to see her there.”

  “I’m sure the draks were appreciative of your help, even if you had an ulterior motive.”

  Torben grunted. “Judge me harshly, if you like. The draks needed help, so I saw an opportunity to accomplish two things at once.”

  “All right, fine.” Aveline wondered if the man was sincere in his intentions. He seemed more well-spoken than most of the Watchfolk who came through Curton, and most would just as soon spit on a drak than help them clean up and rebuild after a flood.

  “Where are you staying?” Aveline changed the subject.

  “The Bristled Boar, for now.”

  “It’s a good establishment. I’m surprised you’re not flopping at Danica’s Den. It’s much less expensive.”

  “Too loud. Fine if you want gambling or wenching and don’t mind sleeping listening to others pay for that, but I prefer quiet when I sleep.”

  Aveline stopped a few houses away from her own when she saw the furry form of Ra-Jareez sitting on her front step. “All right, this is close enough. I’ll give it to Tasha when I see her next, and I’ll tell her where you’re staying. How long will you be in town?”

  Torben handed the wrapped carving to Aveline. “I have no plans to leave before the harvest. I’ve agreed to help pick apples at some of the orchards.”

  Well, at least he’s not a vagabond. “Fine. I’ll let her know. You know”—Aveline chewed her lip—“if you’re still in a carving mood, I could use an owl of Anetha. I’d pay of course.”

  “I’ll keep my eyes open for a suitable piece of wood. See if inspiration strikes.”

  “Thank you.”

  Torben, bowing his head, left. Tucking the carving under her arm, Aveline approached Ra-Jareez. “I didn’t expect you this early. I didn’t even see you pass me.”

  “You know the short route. I ran the longer route faster.” Raj bared his teeth in a pointy smile. “I did not want to miss you.”

  “Fine, hold these.” She shoved the sausages and the carving into Raj’s arms so she could unlock her door. Once inside, she directed the faelix to set them on top of the dresser while she searched for a piece of parchment. She drew him a crude map with directions to the hut.

  “The hill overlooks the town. It’s probably half a day away or more, so don’t plan on just running out there and back before the market opens.”

  “Do you know when she’ll be closer?” He rolled the map.

  “I’m not her keeper. If you can wait a few more days, she’ll probably move closer to town again.”

  “Bah, and you’ll forget to tell us when that happens, no doubt.”

  Aveline pointed outside. “Don’t push it. She’s terribly busy now, and so am I.”

  Grumbling, he left. Aveline pushed the door shut with her foot. She turned her attention to removing her armor and eating as she waited for Tasha to return.

  * * *

  As Tasha pulled the door to the library open, a young woman with braided, raven hair charged out, crashing into her. The blow, knocking both women off their feet, sent them sprawling.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry. I got a message I’m supposed to meet the Crow Queen here, and I was already here, so I ran down from the upper stacks. I didn’t want to miss her, because we haven’t had a Crow Queen in so long and my parents always told me about her, but I never thought I’d get a chance to meet her—”

  Tasha held up her hand as she sat upright. “I’m the Crow Queen.”

  Holding her hands to her mouth, the young woman gasped. “I have Dolios’s worst luck lately. I’m so, so sorry. Please don’t turn me into a newt or make my nose disappear or something terrible. Hey… you’re pretty young. My parents always described her as, well, not old exactly, but not as young as you.”

  Groaning, Tasha picked herself up, smoothing her clothes. “I’m not that young.” She helped the young woman to her feet. “You must be Katka, the archmage’s apprentice.”

  Nodding, Katka brushed dirt off her black skirt. She wore her robes open, revealing a dark blue tunic underneath. “I got a messenger from Adina. She said you needed help with oneiromancy?”

  “I do, indeed. I sent my own messengers from Curton about a week ago, but I guess they haven’t arrived yet. The university still doesn’t teach divination?”

  Katka held the door open for Tasha. “The masters think divination is for fortune-tellers, grifters, and village witches. Not for real wizards like us. Wait”—she thrust her arm across Tasha’s path—“you sent the messengers a week ago and you beat them here? From Curton?”

  “I sent them before I learned how to travel with the hut.” Tasha gently pushed Katka’s arm aside. “The archmage can ignore them when they arrive.”

  “You brought the hut? The one on chicken legs?” Katka bounced up and down. “Please, I want to see it so bad. My parents used to tell me stories about how it would dance around on chicken’s feet.”

  “They’re crow’s feet.” Tasha tried not to laugh at the young woman’s exuberance. “And I used the portal in the hut to come here; it’s still in the hills overlooking Curton.”

  “Oh.” A gloom passed over Katka’s face. Suddenly, she stared at Tasha again, her eyes widening. “A portal? You used portal magic? The archmage is researching teleportation. She got the moon gates working again, at least, the ones that weren’t wrecked in The Sundering.”

  Katka pressed her hands to her mouth. “Oops. I’m not supposed to talk about that.” She glanced at the library entrance. No one paid them any mind. She lowered her voice. “But you’re the Crow Queen, so I think it’s all right.”

  Tasha took Katka’s hands. “Can you show me where the oneiromancy books are? Our Lord Mayor’s having nightmares so terrible he’s afraid to sleep. I need to help him.”

  “They’re over here.” Pointing to a poorly lit, deserted nook at the far side of the library, Katka led Tasha to it. “Since they kicked me out of alchemy for melting too many cauldrons, and the enchantment master is running out of things for me to do, I’ve been making up the time here. My little brother used to wake up screaming at night, terrified out of his mind, so I’ve been learning some oneiromancy to try to help him out.”

  “I had trouble with alchemy too. Did you help your brother?”

  “He kept dreaming about spiders, centipedes, and other nasty bugs crawling all over him, getting in his mouth and ears. Poor kid.” She scanned a shelf, running her finger along the spines of the books until she reached a thin tome with covers that appeared to be stiffened, tanned sheep’s hide. “I found something in here that helped him take control of his dreams. He dreamed one night where he stomped all the bugs into goo, and he sleeps like a rock now. Mother and Father can barely get him up in the morning for his chores.”

  Tasha strained to decipher the remains of the title on the worn cover. Too few letters of the text remained to be legible. Katka handed her another book. “This one has the basics.
How’s your scrying?”

  “Not bad. The hut has a basin I can use for that.”

  Katka flipped her braid over her shoulder. “Like a washbasin?”

  “It’s multipurpose, in the center of a stump.”

  “Huh… I want to try a crystal ball someday. They’re expensive, though.”

  Tasha thumbed through the books. At first glance, they appeared they might be useful. “Can I sit somewhere and read?”

  “Any of the chairs here are available for that.” Katka gestured toward the main hall of the library. “No one will bother you. They’re strict about that. Tyrannical, almost.”

  “While I’m doing that, there is something I forgot.”

  Katka raised her eyebrows. “What can I do?”

  “There’s a chaos rift near Curton I need to seal. I don’t know the ritual, and I would appreciate some help with that.”

  “I’ll talk to the archmage about it. She closed one last year, and she has a minotaur friend who has closed a couple. I think he’s up in Vlorey now, deputy headmaster and master of alchemy at that university, I think she said.”

  “Vlorey?” Tasha smiled. “I have a friend from Vlorey. She hasn’t been there since she was a child, though.”

  “I’ll see what the archmage has to say while you’re reading. Need anything else?”

  “No, thank you, Apprentice Katka. You’ve been quite helpful.” Tasha opened the book containing oneiromancy basics as Katka curtsied. “Wait, I could use parchment and a quill and ink. I should take notes.”

  Katka rushed off, soon returning with the supplies from the centrally located librarian’s desk. “If you need more, just ask one of the librarians. If you need a drink or get hungry, you’ll have to go outside.” Leaning down, Katka lowered her voice. “They get really tetchy if you bring food or drink in here. I got away with it once, but only because the librarians were distracted by my friend Conner’s candle. They thought he was going to burn the place down.” Only enchanted lights were permitted in the university library--open flames tended to be bad ideas around old books and stacks of dry papers.