The grasslands spread wide, sea-wind threading faint salt through the air. E’armos is still a ways away. Alexis has finished talking to Ca’armine and walks ahead of the wagon next to Gustav, hat brim angled against the sun. His whip hangs coiled at his side. A copper coin rolls steadily over his knuckles, an old rhythm as familiar as walking. The red jasper pendant shifts at his chest, hidden more than shown.
While looking straight ahead, he speaks—voice carrying just enough.
“Way up north, before the troll attack, you told us about Sally. How she only knew ‘go’ and ‘come.’ You said you’d train her to see more. Roads, rivers, maybe even her own trail back.”
The coin moves finger to finger, smooth and sure.
“I’ve been asking for updates as we’ve gone, and it’s that time again, friend.”
A sidelong glance at Gustav, a hint of dry amusement in his eyes.
“How’s her training coming?”
Gus is sitting and he looks up at Alexis.
“Sally is my dead mule.
I thought I told you the new progress of the crow already. Sorry if I forgot. The crow can now wake me up when there is danger. Also the crow can fetch small items I point to. I am now working on sending the crow 10 feet in the air and coming back and telling me what it saw. So far it is giving me images of trees. Usually nothing interesting or useful. One time it gave me an image of a rock.”
Alexis nods along.
“Excellent. Why did you choose going up 10 feet and reporting back? Usually when Red climbs a trees to look around he climbs 50 or more feet.”
“I am working up to more complex tasks. It isn’t just training the crow, I need to learn how to understand what the crow gives me. I could send the crow up 500 feet in the air and it might see plenty up there. But would I be able to understand what the crow is trying to tell me about what it saw. Probably not that well. 10 feet in the air allows me to already know what is available to be seen and match with what the crow tells me.I suppose I need to connect deeper with the crow. Which is what I was afraid of. The deeper my connection, when it is hurt or killed, the greater affect it will have on me. It’s death could mean my death. I don’t know. Most of you don’t seem to understand this and think of it as a ladder or a glass tube. You think it is just a tool.
I have given into connecting deeper with it and that means if it is in danger from a falcon attack, I am in danger. It should not be taken lightly.”
“We understand Sally is not a tool, and is a part of you. I’ve said before that I see her like I see your arm. Not you, but a part of you.
I see you wiggling your fingers, and I’m asking about moving the whole arm. Not because I want you to put your arm in danger, but because I see how rewarding it could be for you to be able to use your arm.”
Alexis studies Gustav to see if his comparison is making sense.
“Ok, I understand your point. But like I said, I am taking it slow for the crow and my safety. The crow needs to be able to take my commands, but also keep care of predators. I’d rather die in battle than die because a falcon kills my crow because it is distracted by my commands. Also I need to take time slowly connecting more to be able to have a base of understanding of the visions the crow gives me.”