Summer of Crows

by Hans Cummings

  Grunting, Aveline shoved the creature backward just as the rift glimmered. Light from the rift extinguished, plunging them into darkness. A flash of lightning reflected off the remaining crystals as the creature wobbled, then disintegrated into a pile of rubble.

  “Great work, Tasha.” Aveline turned, witnessing her collapse. Racing to her side, she fell to her knees alongside her fallen friend. She pulled Tasha into her lap, ensuring the Crow Queen still breathed before noticing the abomination still fighting the others.

  “Damn it.” She set Tasha down. “Don’t you die on me.”

  Aveline rose to her feet, spotting her mace nearby. Scooping it up, she rejoined the battle.

  The abomination hauled itself over the edge of the crevasse, resting its bulk on the jagged rocks and rent earth. Wrapping the tentacle upon which Torben chewed around the werewolf, it lifted him before the drak maw. Torben snapped at it, writhing helplessly.

  As the fraying tentacle they attacked fractured, the draks cheered. Likewise, Maxim hacked through another. Abigail severed the final tentacle with a furious screech. The abomination slipped, teetering on the edge of the fissure. Thunder rumbled through the sky.

  The beast’s drak head spewed its oily miasma on Torben, washing it over his chest and abdomen before the weight of its body falling over the edge jerked it away. Abigail dove, slicing her sword through the tentacle holding the werewolf. Slamming into the mud, she slid toward the precipice. Charging, the assembled draks intercepted her. Together, they prevented her descent.

  Torben fell, whimpering. Dropping her mace and shield, Aveline raced to him. She observed pink tissue twitching behind a window of parallel bones. The fur and flesh of his stomach excoriated, and ropy coils of viscera spilled onto the ground. He yelped like a wounded puppy.

  Aveline searched his eyes, holding his hand. “Torben, can you understand me?”

  The werewolf nodded. “Tasha…”

  “She’s alive.” Aveline dared not convey she didn’t know the extent of her friend’s injuries.

  Torben’s voice became a guttural rasp. “Tell her… I…” His eyes fluttered closed. Behind the bare bones, the twitching ceased. Reverting to his human form, his body shrank, his fur shed in clumps, and his snout shortened. As he lay motionless and naked in the rain, Aveline witnessed his wounds closing. Finally, he drew a ragged breath.

  Abigail stood above Aveline and Torben, shivering, as she cradled her arm. “Damn, they’re hard to kill. I’m glad he’s on our side.”

  Grateful for the rain concealing her tears as they fell, Aveline studied the woman. “What about the wizard-Koloman beast?”

  “No idea. Can’t see anything down there.”

  Aveline approached the crevasse, then peered over the edge into the darkness. In the distance behind the hills, she saw the boundary of the weather front, beyond which followed lighter skies. She determined by the force of the wind they still had a while to wait.

  A flash of distant lightning answered Aveline’s question. A severed, shattered body lay hundreds of feet below. Rivers of blood and ichor splattered the rocks at the bottom. “I think it’s dead.”

  “Thank the gods for that.” Maxim limped over, joining the two warriors. “Perhaps when the rain stops, we can burn what’s left.”

  “Agreed. In the meantime, let’s get Tasha and Torben to the hut. Abigail, go on ahead of us. We’ll take care of that arm as soon as we bring them in.”

  The woman scowled at the skeletal hand dangling lifeless from her arm. “Damn it. That was my favorite arm.”

  * * *

  Tasha floated above the land. Calliome’s sun shone bright. Only a few clouds dotted the sky, creating soft shadows that sailed over the hills and trees. Below her, she viewed the drak village at the mine. The industrious, diminutive people worked to repair the damage caused by the abomination’s attack.

  A little way to the east, around the side of one of the hills, she found the hut, standing amidst a field of rubble. A new gorge spread east and slightly north from the sight of the collapsed cave, a gouge in the earth leading away from the now-closed chaos rift. At the bottom, she saw what remained of the beast that Koloman became, a bloated mass of rotting flesh. Sunlight glinting off sparkling jewels drew her eye to the mouth of the collapsed cave. She viewed the crumbled form of the crystal chaos creature that tried to prevent her from closing the rift.

  Already, she felt new life sprouting in the churned land surrounding the gorge. Seeds took root, feeding on the blood spilled that night and returning to the earth what remained behind. From the destruction, the cycle of life continued. Even the carcass of the abomination nourished carrion and fungus, a creature born of chaos feeding the order of life.

  Tasha searched for her friends, but she saw no sign of them. It made sense they would have moved away from the scene of the battle to care for the wounded, and she thought perhaps they had returned to the hut.

  Her eyes fluttered open. A foggy light filled her vision. Although she saw only the diffuse haze around her, she felt the comfort of her bed. Someone had undressed her before laying her under the covers. Nevertheless, she sat up and felt around her.

  “Oh good, you’re awake.” Aveline’s voice sounded nearby. Tasha turned toward the source.

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m here.” Aveline took her hand.

  Tasha turned toward her friend. “Aveline, I can’t see you.”

  The knight-captain gasped. “Your eyes… they’re…”

  Tasha felt her face. Her eyes still resided in their sockets, but they saw nothing except light and dark. “My cloak. Where’s the Mantle of the Crow Queen?”

  “It’s here.” Aveline released her hand. Tasha heard her take a few steps before returning. She put the cloak around Tasha’s shoulders. “We took it off to dry. I stripped everything else off you too. You wouldn’t believe how much mud and gore there was on everything except the mantle, of course. I wish my clothes stayed clean like that. I washed you up as best I could last night.”

  “Thank you.” Tasha pulled the cloak around her. Shapes appeared out of the haze. Aveline came into focus, peering into Tasha’s eyes.

  “They’re solid black, Tasha. What happened?”

  “I think it’s the price I paid for what I did yesterday. Curing the plague for the whole town cost Annika her youth and vitality. Ripping open the earth to expose the rift cost me my sight. A small price to pay, all things considered.”

  Tasha glanced around the room. Close objects seemed clear, although they appeared in shades of muted violet. Distant objects appeared fuzzier, but they were recognizable. “The cloak lets me see after a fashion. Though not in the way you see.”

  Aveline handed her a skirt and tunic. Tasha shrugged off her cloak before pulling the tunic over her head. She winced at the throbbing in her ribs as she bent to put on the skirt. “How are the others?”

  “Maxim and I got banged up, but we’ll be all right.” Aveline glanced toward the door to the main room. “Torben, well, if he weren’t a werewolf, he’d be dead. He’s sleeping in the other bed.”

  “Last night was a full moon.” Tasha wanted to go to him, but she felt it would be inappropriate to tell everyone else to leave. “He’ll need food when he awakens, a lot of it.”

  “Lukas… the abomination killed him. Abigail lost her arm, well, most of it. It’s pretty awful to look at. She needs a healer; they’re going to need to remove it below the elbow, I think.” Aveline chuckled. “She seems more annoyed by it than anything. I tell you… I may try to steal her from Maxim.”

  “I should go see them. The abomination that was Koloman is dead. I saw it… while I was sleeping.”

  Aveline raised her eyebrow. “I don’t understand how that’s possible, but after everything I’ve seen the last few days, I’ll take your word for it.”

  Tasha and Aveline entered the main room. Curled up on the bed, Torben lay in a deep sleep with his chest rising and falling. Maxim sat in the chair
by the window. Abigail sat in the other chair, cradling her injured arm in her lap. A blanket covered it. She nodded at Tasha and Aveline.

  “May I see?” Tasha gestured toward the warrior’s arm.

  “If you really want to. Sorry about the blanket, but it was all I could find.” Abigail revealed the skeletal arm protruding from a stump of gangrenous flesh.

  Wincing, Tasha lifted the hand. “Are you in much pain?”

  “You’d think so, wouldn’t you?” Abigail shook her head. “It doesn’t actually hurt at all. If the stump didn’t stink and I could move the fingers, I’d consider keeping it. Do you think that’s too macabre?”

  “Put a glove on and no one could tell.” Tasha returned the arm to Abigail’s lap before covering it. “Mother Anya has some good healers at Cybele’s Church in Curton. They’ll be able to remove it for you.”

  “Maxim?” Tasha approached the knight. “Are you ready to go back to Dawnwatch?”

  “I am.” The knight rose. “When I saw the skies were clear this morning, I returned to the gorge. What we fought is definitely dead. Carrion birds were already fattening themselves on its carcass.” He patted his pouch. “I took the liberty of taking some of the stones from that rock creature Lady Aveline defeated, as well. Along with the treasury we discovered at Dawnwatch, they’ll go a long way to funding the garrison until we receive our supplies from Almeria. I hope that’s all right.”

  Tasha smiled, nodding. “I’m happy someone is gaining use of it.”

  “You know, Curton needs an orphanage. A donation from the Dawnwatch Garrison would build goodwill.” Smirking, Aveline crossed her arms.

  Turning to the back door, Tasha summoned an image of Dawnwatch’s gatehouse. Abigail’s eyes widened at the sight.

  Maxim approached Abigail. “Obviously, your injury is grievous enough that you’re released from your obligation to me. However, there’s still a place for you at Dawnwatch, if you feel up to it. After you heal, of course.”

  “I appreciate that, sir.” Rising, Abigail saluted him with her left hand. “I’ll consider it.”

  “Lady Aveline.” Maxim fished through his pouch of gems, then placed several large ones on the edge of the basin before saluting. He nodded at Tasha before striding through the back door. As soon as he passed through, Tasha changed the scene to the alley next to Cybele’s Church in Curton.

  “Aveline? If you’re ready, you could take Abigail through. I’ll come back to town in a few days. I want to rest some more.”

  Aveline scooped up the gems, putting them in her pouch before hugging her friend. “Take all the time you need. I think life will be good and boring for a long while now.”

  “One can hope.”

  After Abigail and Aveline stepped through the doorway to Curton, Tasha closed the portal behind them. She grazed in the larder until she heard Torben stirring. She piled cured meat, cheese, and bread upon a plate for him.

  “Hungry?” She entered the main room, holding the meal before her.

  Bleary eyed, he sat up, the covers sliding off his bare chest. He ran his hands along his chest and stomach. The flesh, although pink, showed no other sign of injury. “Mm. That beast tasted awful. I’m famished and, frankly, amazed to be here.”

  Tasha sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m certainly happy you’re here.”

  Gasping, he studied her eyes. “Your…”

  “There was a price to pay for what I did last night. I’ll explain later, but I’m fine.” She handed him the plate, kissing his cheek. “Help yourself to what’s in the larder if you’re still hungry. I’m going to have a nice, hot bath.”

  Tasha left him to eat, passing through her bedroom to the bath. Steam permeated the room as the bathing vessel filled itself with fragrant water. She slipped out of her clothes, feeling for the edge of the vessel. She swung one leg over the edge at a time before lowering herself into the water. Gritting her teeth, she slowly grew accustomed to the temperature, and she let it soothe her aches and dissolve her stress.

  Chapter 70

  After delivering Maxim’s donation to Mother Anya and escorting Abigail to Mother Anya’s healers, Aveline headed straight for the baths in Old Town. She envied Tasha her private, self-filling bathing vessel, but she knew the temptation to fall asleep in the tub would be irresistible.

  Aveline resisted another temptation—the desire to return straight home and sleep the rest of the day. First checking in at the citadel, she then sought out the city council to inform them of their success.

  True to her prediction, the next several days proved uneventful, mercifully boring, in fact. She returned to her patrols with a fresh spring in her step, finding joy with each report of nothing unusual.

  Tasha returned to Curton a few days later, and they enjoyed several quiet evenings together reviewing the events that occurred.

  “How’s Abigail?” Sitting before the hearth in Aveline’s home, Tasha sipped her mug of mead.

  “Mending well. I’ve offered her a job on the city watch. Like you said, I need to employ more women. I think she’s tempted. And Torben?”

  His name brought a smile to Tasha’s lips. “He’s been helpful. I can see with the cloak, but I miss seeing colors. Flowers are different and brilliant, but I’m having to rely on him to tell me what they actually look like. I’m having to learn how things look with the cloak. He’s… I…”

  Tasha’s cheeks flushed.

  “You like him, don’t you?”

  The Crow Queen nodded. “More than that. He’s so kind, very devoted. I just have to break him of thinking he must serve me now. I haven’t felt this way about someone, especially a man, in many years.”

  “Before the elf woman, yes?” They didn’t talk about past loves often. Life seemed too short to spend reliving painful memories.

  “Lorelei.” Tasha regarded the ceiling. “You know, were it not for her, this all would have turned out very differently. I wouldn’t have been inspired to follow a mystic’s path. I wouldn’t be Crow Queen.”

  “Funny. Someone over a decade ago set you on the path that let you close that rift and defeat the Kolbomination.” Aveline raised her cup to Lorelei.

  “The what?” Tasha laughed.

  “Koloman the abomination. Kolbomination.” Aveline giggled. “Something Abigail came up with when I told her about how it all happened.”

  Tasha drained her mug. “I should go home. I want to tell Torben how I feel. I want to… well, you probably don’t want the details.”

  Aveline clucked her tongue. “Not right now, I don’t. Be careful, though, all right? I don’t trust him not to wolf out on you.”

  “I will, and I do trust him. He’s earned it.” Tasha hugged Aveline before snapping her cloak and disappearing in a cloud of crows.

  * * *

  When Tasha returned home, she found Torben sitting outside the hut, carving a hunk of walnut. A pair of rabbits, skinned and dressed, hung from a nearby branch. He pointed at them with his knife. “I resisted the urge to gorge myself. I’d hoped we could dine together tonight.”

  “That would be wonderful.” Tasha led Torben inside, then prepared a pot with vegetables and wine. She submerged the rabbits in the concoction, covered it, and slid it into the hearth.

  “I’m glad you’re here tonight, Torben. I’ve been wanting you… to talk to you.” Tasha bit her lip at the slip.

  He did not seem to notice. “I hope nothing is wrong. I’ve tried to be attentive and helpful.”

  She stroked his cheek. “Nothing is wrong.” Through her crow sight, she no longer saw his amber eyes. “I’ve grown to care about you very much, Torben. More so than I ever expected.”

  “I am your devoted…”

  She put her finger on his lips. “Is that all I am? Someone to be served? That’s not what I want.” Tasha took Torben by the hands, leading him to the bed. “It’ll be a few hours before the food is ready.”

  “Tasha… what I am…”

  “I cannot think of anyone I woul
d rather be with right now.” She put her hands on his face.

  Torben leaned toward her. When their lips joined, her heart soared. Warmth engulfed her. His arms slid around her waist, and she drew him back before lying on the bed and pulling him alongside her.

  When at last their passion was spent, Tasha smelled the aroma of the finished stew while they lay entwined in each other’s arms under the covers. Straddling Torben, she kissed his chest and then his chin before finding his lips with a giggle. She slid off him, fumbling for her cloak.

  Upon Torben wrapping it over her shoulders, her crow sight returned. He lifted the pot off the hearth while she retrieved bowls and bottles of ale from the larder. Watching him eat, she smiled. “You know, one day, I’ll learn where your lips are. It’s easy enough with the cloak on, but it tends to slip off when all the other clothes come off.”

  “I don’t mind if you leave it on, even if the feathers tickle a bit.” He chuckled.

  They returned to the bed after eating, not bothering to tidy their dishes. The next morning, Tasha decided the extra cleanup was worth their night of passion. She relished the next few days, just her and Torben alone in the woods, getting to know each other in ways she once feared she’d never know someone again.

  The next day, Tasha and Torben went to Curton to walk the city market and visit Aveline. Ra-Jareez and his sister worked from Tasha’s old apothecary full-time now, selling trinkets and bric-a-brac the faelix siblings acquired from traveling traders. They decided to browse Raj’s shop, after explaining all that had happened recently.

  “You should sell your carvings here, Torben.” Arm in arm, Tasha and he browsed the shop.

  “Ah, yes, we would make you a most excellent deal, friend of the Crow Queen.” Raj bared his fangs in a smile.

  “Split the sale? You take half, and I’ll take half?” Torben held his hand out to Raj. Behind the counter, Jazeera crossed her arms, nodding to her brother when he glanced at her for approval.

  “Fair enough for us.”

  They shook on the deal. Later, as Tasha and Torben paused to discuss buying sweets from the baker, they overheard a crier at the nearby intersection.