The Lord of the Crows

Part 21 - All the Magpies and Crows

The view from the Watchtower Hill seemed soothing. The rain stopped as we climbed up and the clouds partially parted, enough for the sun to break through and illuminate the hills covered with forest that surrounded us. Observing the greenery flowing from the light green in front of us to the bluish gray on the peaks that bordered the view, I thought about how well the Sanctuary was hidden. Even from here, from a height, it was not possible to see the village itself, but only a few houses, not so different from the houses of other mountain villages scattered on the slopes of the Mount Strife range and Doomed Mountain.

On the porch with the canopy of a shabby and abandoned summer house, we sat at a wobbly table waiting for our guest. Peck followed my gaze and stared into the distance as Lela tried to pour us some water. The hands, usually calm and precise, trembled and water spilled over the rim of the jug in bursts, splashing both where it should and where it shouldn't.

"Lela," I whispered, taking her hand , "leave the water and just sit, please ..."

She nooded and I looked up at her.

"Everything will be fine. Don't worry, you're safe."

"I'm not warried about myself, son", she struggled to keep her voice calmed.

I clenched her cold, old hand.

"Everything will be fine. Trust me."

I took a deep breath and continued:

"You two have to promise me something. Whatever happens, you will not interfere until everything is over. Please. Both of you. Swear that you will not interfere until everything is done."

When they nodded, so I got up and turned my back on them.

"Time is up. Our guest has arrived."

I crossed my arms over my chest and raised my voice.

"Step out."

A tall, slim man stepped out of the shadow of a nearby tree and headed to us. I was painfully aware of the old woman shock, as if she was watching a younger and healthier version of me, filled with hatred, cruelty and cold-bloodedness.

"A cripple, a grandmother and a kid. Makes me ask myself why I wasted my time coming here."

"Because you love gold," I replied.

He laughed and looked at Lela and then Peck.

"Will you offer me gold? 'Cause it doesn't seem like you have it."

"No."

He jerked and raised his eyebrows.

"No?"

"No," I repeated. "But the royal treasury pays for the wanted ones pretty generously."

I felt two pairs of eyes rise towards me, but I remained determined not to pay attention to them. I owed them a lot, especially to Lela, and mostly answers about myself, stories behind stories and half-truths, and then and there was neither time nor place for that.

"Yeah," he nodded and stopped a few steps away from us. "And you will come with me in peace? Is that what you're offering me?"

"No."

He frowned. I noticed his hand rise slightly, ready to draw his weapon.

"What kind of game are you playing then?"

I shrugged.

"Play along, and you'll see."

"Aaaah, how dramatic. You sound like a woman," a grimace distorted his face, making his tiny eyes two barely noticeable slits. "Never thought to see that happen. The Crow's Lord softened ... became a Lady. Honestly, I never crossed my mind the Red Crow might have gone so crazy for the Lagrenian's ass to spit on everything he had ever said, done and thought about the Lagrenians. Just for the sake of a whore. Still," he raised a finger, "she has my respect for breaking you down."

I turned to Lela and smiled.

"Old woman, do you hear this? This is a magpie crying, because that's all it can do. If I hear you call me a magpie one more time ...!"

She was silent and stared at the newcomer. I turned to him again and stepped down from the porch.

"This magpie may be crying around", he replied, "but then again, you yourself are nothing more but an another magpie, aren't you? You are no longer the Lord of the Crows and this uniform you're wearing is no longer yours to wear. You're an outlaw, too. Landless, without master and a state. A magpie."

I shook my head and looked up at the sky. This was the moment of truth. Did I risk everything in vain?

"You don't know, do you?" I laughed.

"I don't know what?" He said, clearly annoyed.

A click echoed through the sky above us and a familiar shadow hovered above the ground in front of me. I tilted my head to the side and felt sharp claws sink into my shoulder. A large, black wing gently touched my cheek in greeting. I raised my hand and stroked the bird's neck.

My crow did not leave me. I turned my head, touched bright, sooty feathers with my lips and muttered: Bring them here, my beautiful girl!

The bird screamed and rose back into the sky. My gaze followed her until she disappeared behind the trees and only then I lowered my head and looked at the serious and frowning Magpie in front of me.

"The Lord of the Crows is not a title," I finally replied.

He attacked me violently, quickly and withoutprior notice.