(eng) Niall Teasdale - Thaumatology 07 by Eagle's Shadow

Author:Eagle's Shadow [Shadow, Eagle's]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Part Four: Black Crows

Black Crow Camp nr Sioux Falls, Tribal Territories, February 17th

It had taken almost twenty four hours to drive from Black Fields across what seemed like half of America. After two hours in the back of a van with no windows, Ceri had finally given up and asked if Nita knew how to cast sleep spells.

Gentle shaking pulled Ceri out of a dream where she was being chased across a wide, open plain by old, nineteen-thirties pick-up trucks with gnashing teeth for front grills. ‘We’re here, love,’ Lily’s voice said and Ceri opened her eyes to find a tired looking half-succubus looking down at her. ‘Blanket,’ Lily added, holding one up. ‘It’s not even vaguely warm.’

Pulling the blanket around her shoulders, Ceri shuffled to the open van doors and climbed out. ‘Where are we?’ They did seem to have come to a stop in the middle of nowhere, but instead of grassy plains they were surrounded by snow-covered grassland. Turning around slowly she spotted lights from what looked like a city to the north, and then the camp. ‘Oh wow,’ she said. ‘Real tepees. I mean… wow.’

‘This is Katarina’s camp,’ Kangee said as he rounded the van. He waved toward the lights in the north. ‘That’s Sioux Falls, but I don’t suppose that means much to you.’

Ceri smiled slightly. ‘Not a lot. American geography isn’t a major topic in British schools.’

‘We’re about ten miles over the border with US territory. How about that?’

There had been a world map at school with the boundary line on it. It ran almost due south from Lake Winnipeg to the southern edge of what had been South Dakota, then it bulged out a little to follow the old state boundaries. Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana still belonged to the States, everything to the west was tribal land. ‘It helps a little.’

‘Come on,’ Kangee said, ‘Katarina wants to see you. We’ve put your friend in a tepee for now. You can join her later.’ He turned without waiting for an answer and started through the conical, hide tents toward the middle of the camp where a large fire was blazing. There were various people gathered around it, some in wolf form, others human. Ceri was almost disappointed to see that they were all wearing modern clothing, where they were wearing anything. They did not stop there, however; walking to one of the nearby tents, Kangee pulled the flap aside and waved Ceri and Lily in.

Katarina could have been Alexandra’s twin. She had the same long, silver hair and the same features; youthful beauty holding its own against advancing age, but with the added hint of dignity that aging well brought. Alexandra, however, was usually seen in a long dress, and seeing Katarina in patched, blue jeans and a heavy, plaid shirt was a little incongruous. She had the same knowing smile though. ‘Welcome, Ceridwyn Brent and Lily Carpenter. I’ve been expecting you. Come, sit down.’

The centre of the floor was a fire pit, the smoke rising to vent through the top of the tepee.

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