Arcane Crows Novels & Stories

Stumbling back, I crouched down, ready to attack, “What in the name of Loki are you doing? Go now before I change my mind and kick you, sorry little ass!” Arcane stood between us, blocking my view of her, and his eyes bored into mine. His fingertips had turned to long black talons, and almost black eyes focused only on me. Why the fucking hell did his beast interfere in this!?

The crow worked fast, driven by the blood that stirred in its veins, feeling the might of a God who they had silently thought of but never served. The crematorium was a place often watched by beady eyes, never finding titbits of flesh but enjoying what people did drop. Seeds from plants, crumbs from foods, often couple with the scent from the burners which their sensitive nostrils could pick up. The raised mounds with plain wooden markers haphazardly stabbed into them, indicated the latest residents. Unable to have anything more ornate until the ground had settled over their final bed. Without the aid of amulets, their renewed life would be short, but Am-Heh hoped it would be enough to have

The driver clicks to open the door and moves a bit to the sides. Dark red heavy shoes with a sharp point in the front land out of the gate on the ground. A light brown surcoat over a golden and white tunic sways out with a tall and wide man. The golden crown shines brightly on his head. Light brown skin with a darker shade of brown beards is under the green eyes.

After what felt like an eternity of training, it was finally time for the champions to showcase what they have learned from the five Sages to the packs. The arena was a massive circle, it was surrounded by high stone walls with rows of seats stacked in layers, where the crowd watched eagerly. Roxanne and the other champions stood in a line, all dressed in a dark-gray tunic that reached their mid-thigh, with leather straps across their shoulders and waists. Their slim pants tucked into knee-high boots and leather bracers on their wrists, and their hair was pulled back tightly, with arrows on their back and their bow at their side.

Avery's lilting accent is unmistakable, her words dripping with false sweetness. My breath catches in my throat. The crow tilts its head, those black eyes never leaving mine. "How are you doing this?" I whisper, glancing around to ensure the corridor remains empty. A sound like distant laughter echoes in my mind. "Dark witches have many talents, little wolf. This one simply allows me to check on your progress—or lack thereof." The crow hops closer along the windowsill, its movements jerky and unnatural. From beneath one wing, it produces a small crystal vial filled with clear liquid. The tiny container rolls across the stone sill toward me, catching the torchlight as it moves.

It was a smidgen of Marcellus’ telepathic powers that we acquired now from Azabrahs. Suddenly, the flock of crows appeared out of nowhere and started to scavenge the corpses of the fallen soldiers. A scene that could be seen on Morterra Bridge was Hitchcockian and gut-wrenching. Crows were chomping cadavers. Their mushed and mutilated corpses, which were evidence of a bloodbath that happened here just moments ago, were quickly vanishing as crows were pecking at them with their greedy beaks. “No rest for the wicked Kandreah”, Malleteagan said and stood up.

In that moment of weightlessness still carried from Makaran's spring from the boulder, the crow took flight. Red was at a loss for words as the crow wheeled silently in the morning light. The shock of seeing Makaran's body tear apart in midair was offset by the beauty of the animal he became and the speculative wonder that she might be able to do the same. Moments later the crow alighted on the boulder and turned a shiny black-button eye on her. "Hello beautiful," it croaked. "You can talk!" Red laughed. "Can you understand me as well?" "Aye," croaked Makaran the crow. "Crows have ears and voices. Watch now."

Looking up, the sky was not only dark because of the clouds but also the rattles and chirping of the crows was deafening… "What the hell is going on?" The crowd began screaming, especially women, when the black crows that were chirping, started falling down like rain…Creating an uncomfortable smell as they fell dead…

She turned and run in the direction of her room. ''You are grounded!'' Gore yelled after her. ''Aren't I always?'' Harlow yelled back. As soon as Gore’s scent faded from the house, Harlow cast a spell so she could call a murder of crows to her. Not long after, seven crows came flying into her room to settle on the footboard. They all made cawing sounds before speaking in her mind. ’’We are here to do your bid, just give us the command and we will get the task done.’’ They all spoke at once. ’’We take payments in peanuts and earth worms.’’

My hand slipped out of the box, and my body recoiled so quickly that my chair almost fell over. "What—" Aaric was immediately beside me, pulling me into his arms as my body began to shake. I couldn't breathe. My chest was tight. My vision blurred as the fear suddenly hit me. Aaric removed one hand from me and pulled the box closer, staring at it with a hardened jaw. Inside lay a dead crow. Its black feathers glistened in the light, but its body was already stiff. Its neck was twisted in an unnatural position, and inside its slightly open beak was a small piece of paper.