The Call of Crows

Chapter 41: The Cruelty of Fate

Bjorn looked up from his meal of bread, cheese, and olives as Ruhak walked into the dining room.

While everyone else had been packing, Bjorn was waiting. He had packed his bags for the march far in advance.

They had all known today was the day that Koinelia would start making their way to meet the Nikan. Bjorn had wanted to savor proper food one last time before being forced to resort to stale bread and dried meat for who knows how long.

"Bjorn. Everyone's ready. Let's head out." Ruhak gestured towards the house's entrance with his head.

Bjorn stood from his seat, "I'll go get Taya."

"She's still getting ready?" Ruhak asked, "I thought she of all people would be the first one to lead the charge. Is she okay?"

Taya had refused to move from Bjorn's bed this morning after her talk with her Shedim. He wasn't entirely sure if she was just tired and still sleeping or if she was awake. Being that tired was a bad sign, but if she was awake...well, that'd be worse.

"I'll go check on her and meet you guys outside." Bjorn said.

He started to leave before Ruhak blurted out, "Bjorn."

He glanced back at his friend. Ruhak was looking at the ground. His shoulders seemed more tense than before.

"She...is okay, right?"

Bjorn bit his lip in indecision. He'd been on an honest streak with himself lately.

"I don't know, Ruhak." Bjorn said, "But we'll be alright in the end. All of us." For the first time in a while, he believed every word that came out of his mouth.

Ruhak nodded, his eyes flicking back up to meet Bjorn's. With that, he ran off to wherever the others had gathered.

Bjorn meandered back to his room, thinking about what he would say to her in the worst-case scenario and then trying to convince himself that wasn't the case. But expecting the worst and being right was a skill he had mastery over for years. It was going to be a challenge to unlearn that.

He reached his door and knocked on it before he could let himself think about it anymore.

"Yeah?" Taya's voice, though groggy, came through.

"The Legions are ready to march. It's time for us to go." Bjorn said.

"I...I can't go quite yet."

"Why is that?" Bjorn asked.

"I'm, er...I'm really not feeling well. I think I'm burning up."

"I could get Cecile to-"

"No." She said a little quickly, "No, you guys are about to march. If she catches what I have, I won't be able to forgive myself. I'll sweat it out, okay?"

"And when you're better?"

"You'll be just a few jumps away." She said softly, "Super strength, remember?"

She was lying. He didn't know how he knew, but he did.

How could you even think such a thing? She's never, never lied to anyone before.

Something was different now. It could've been her demeanor, her tone, anything. It was different. There was something she didn't want him and the others to know.

Bjorn pursed his lips. "Okay. I'll go tell the others. Though my bag is still inside."

Taya cracked the door open and squeezed his travel bag through, followed by his weapons. Bjorn looked into the one eye he could see through the crack.