Tane stood outside of the room, clicking her talons against the ground. “Figure anything out?” “It’s a set up,” I said. And the last realization slid into place. “It’s a set up, and they fed us the information I found.” Tane blinked. “What’d you find?” “A history book on why Jay’s an Outcast. It’d only … Read moreA Court For Crows (Part 32)
They were still shouting at each other when I woke up from reading the history of the conflict. The names of those who served with the King. I could… Jay’s real name was on that list. His history was on that list. But why would… Why would Teri be researching the War last night before … Read moreA Court For Crows (Part 31)
“You should’ve done something,” Tane said. “Jay didn’t want me to,” I said. “I’ll do something when we get him out of there. Why are they moving so fast?” “They’re trying to cover their asses,” Tane cut in, grimly. “So they’re going to scapegoat a convenient outsider, shove him off as the main culprit, and … Read moreA Court For Crows (Part 30)
It was down the street, where nobody else was around, that I turned to look at Jay. “Why did you leave last night?” Tane looked curiously over at Jay. “I heard a noise on the roof,” Jay said, flat. “I went to check it out to make sure it wasn’t dangerous, but when I got … Read moreA Court For Crows (Part 29)
The rest of the small procession of lookers dispelled piece by piece, until it was just the Scouts from Prime-nest, Jay, the Elder, and myself. Tane clicked her beak. “I don’t like this,” She tore her gaze from the small bird. The Elder sighed. “At least we know it’s not one of us.” Tane’s eyes … Read moreA Court For Crows (Part 28)
The dull roar of the rotors disappeared entirely to the slowly brewing storm. Grey clouds lanced overhead, overburdened, ready to drop hell upon the earth far below. I stared outside the small window and watched the drops slowly topple down the smooth glass face. Here it was, the last and hopefully final step, and we’d … Read moreGale Rising (Part 60)
Omoi awoke me with the normal alarms. I swished through math equations, dove through logic puzzles, and got awarded with a stream of dopamine dispersed into my neural cells that brought me slowly rising out of the bed. Then there was a knock at the door. Jay jumped awake in a flurry and opened it. … Read moreA Court For Crows (Part 27)
Leaving the sacred building, studded and adorned with the markings and voices of the dead, recorded messages left hovering in server banks divorced from tide and time, coming alight with their near infinite radioactive gemstones, the birds were watching us. From the tops of building, beady eyes watched. From the distance, birds stopped their mining … Read moreA Court For Crows (Part 26)
Forge-Nest stank like destruction. An old city had been there once, but the buildings had been cut in half. Pillars of old concrete and rebar grew out of the massive span of wreckage. Birds swarmed over top of it. Shadowed bird people chipped away at the concrete, sending rebar bouncing off far below. As the … Read moreA Court For Crows (Part 25)
Standing in front of the old USEC compound I felt a flutter in my heart at the white stone. Trees grew out of the rubble. Inside, what remained of my old life remained. Nothing much to say about it. I’d taken the watch. Found that Isaac had stolen the lion’s share of my anomalous memories. … Read moreA Court For Crows (Part 24)