Page 44 of Queen Takes Queen
I barely recognized my own property when we stepped outside. A massive oak tree with sweeping branches sat just off the path to the main house. Roots had pushed up through the ground in places and though the branches didn’t have many leaves, I could easily imagine the shade in the summer. The bare limbs were heavy with a large murder of crows. Nevarre’s friends, I guessed. “Good morning,” I said to them with a nod. I didn’t know if they could understand me, but what would it hurt? “Thank you for your help last night. I hope you enjoyed thefeast.”
One of them opened its wings and hopped off the branch to glide down toward me. I didn’t move or duck, but it did freak me out a little. I’d seen what these birds were capable of and I didn’t care to have my eyes gougedout…
But the crow settled on my shoulder andsquawked.
“Hello.”
It hopped up my shoulder, closer to my head, but I didn’t get any bad vibes from it. Its talons tangled up in my hair and then it nestled in close to my neck. “Aw, look. I made afriend.”
Daire snorted. “Wait until it craps all down yourback.”
The bird on my shoulder didn’t move or make a sound, but half a dozen up in the tree suddenly dive-bombed at Daire. Wings flapping, talons reaching for his hair. He waved his arms around and yelled until they settled back on the branch above, but he kept a wary eye onthem.
The crow on my shoulder was surprisingly heavy. Its talons dug into my shoulder, though it made a low chirp and rustled its wings inapology.
:Nevarre, can you talk to thebirds?:
:On my way, myqueen.:
I hadn’t meant to order him back from his duty, but I was interested in what the crows had to say. Or what they wanted, if anything. They were on my property now, in my nest, and after they’d helped me, I felt responsible for them. If they were hungry… I needed to know what kind of bird seed they’deat.
As we reached the back door, Nevarre swooped down still in his gigantic raven form. He cocked his head to the side, lifted a wing, then the other. His tail feathers flipped up, down, in a complicated greeting. Or maybe that was their language. I wasn’t reallysure.
:She’s the equivalent of their queen.:Nevarre finally replied in our bond.:She likesyou.:
“Aw, I like you too.” Gingerly, I reached up with my hand, not wanting to frighten her. I stroked my index finger over her wing and she made that soft chirp again. “Are they hungry? Do they need us to build birdhouses oranything?”
:They’re not hungry and appreciate the offer of a house, but they much prefer their own nests. They’re building new ones now. She will swear her clan to you in exchange for atoken.:
I’d always heard that crows liked sparkly and shiny things. I didn’t have much in my bag that might interest her, other than my pocket knife, and I didn’t want to give that up. Though I would if that was what shewanted.
:All she wants is some of your hair to line her nest. She believes it will protect her eggs and help her hatch healthy babies in thespring.:
“Of course. She can have somehair.”
He cawed a fairly long bird sentence and she sprung up into the air, the sudden flap of her wings startling me. She yanked out a few strands of hair and flew back up into thetree.
“Hey,” Daire yelled after her. “You hurther!”
“It’s all right.” I rubbed the stinging spot in my scalp. “I told her she could. Let’s eat. I’mstarving.”
As if he heard me coming, Winston opened the door. “That’s music to my ears, Your Majesty. I’m glad to see you up and about so early today. I’m hoping that means you’re recovering from your ordealquickly?”
“He’d be better off asking ifwe’verecovered from helping her recover,” Erza muttered. Daire poked him in the ribs. “What? We all gave her blood twice already. I’ve never seen a queen drink from seven able-bodied Blood twice and still needmore.”
:You’ve never seen a queen build Morrigan’s grove before either.:Nevarre didn’t sound angry in the bond, but the raven hopped toward the big man and flashed his pointed beak. It reminded me of the way Guillaume always had a blade ready in his palm when he needed to flash a threat.:My mother had a dozen Blood and she barely survived. You arrived after our queen’s suffering. So count yourself lucky you only felt a fraction of what sheendured.:
“Even more impressive, this is America,” Mehen said with a sour twist of his lips. “A land so far removed from Celtic magic, that they can’t even say it correctly and named a basketball team after them. There are barely any ley lines to pull from, and certainly no Stonehenge or standing stones of any significance. This was all blood. All Shara. And if she needs to drain us all three or four times a day, then I’mgame.”
Ezra huffed. “I wasn’tcomplaining.”
Mehen snorted but thankfully let it go. These two were going to drive me nuts if they didn’t stop harping at each other like two old men, fighting over their prized secret fishinghole.
“I’m moving a bit slowly this morning,” I told Winston as we entered. “But I’m grateful to be up. Is Gina hereyet?”
“She’s on her way,” Winston replied. “She called a few minutes ago. She’s bringing some pastries and fresh bread from a bakery intown.”
My stomach rumbled as loudly as Rik’s rock troll and Ezra’s grouchy bear combined. Rik hustled me to the table and Daire brought me a cup of coffee while Winston started pulling food out of the fridge. “Sorry to drop in on you so earlytoday.”
