November 1-3

My Dearest Karolus –

I hated leaving while you were away, but portents are portents, and reading the flight paths of the crows, I knew we had to begin our journey now, or the time might never come again. The truth is, we got very little warning. It had been all geese flying overhead for weeks, just a normal fall. And then one morning, in between the flocks, I saw the crows.

At first, there were only a couple of them, and I hoped it was an anomaly. But by the afternoon, it was obvious, I knew that was not the case. The crows were leaving, and that meant it was time for us to leave, too.

Emilja tried to argue with me when I knocked on her door to tell her it was time. She claimed she still had too much to do to get her house and the fields ready for an extended absence. But as we were speaking, two crows arose from her corn and joined a murder passing overhead. She agreed to be at the meeting place come the morning’s sunrise.

Wojciech, young as he is, heard the news with great excitement, and barely let me finish speaking before he started dashing to and fro, with more energy than purpose. Luckily, his mother was there to provide some direction, even among her worry. She knows he is a man now, but still so young. She had always hoped that when he left her house, it would be to one of his own, perhaps with a young wife. No mother wants to send her only child out on a dangerous journey, no matter what the cards say. I wanted to promise her I would keep him safe, get him home to her, but I have spent too many years reading the possible futures to believe that any future is guaranteed.

I found Nadzia among mules, as you would expect. It has always seemed strange to me that such a sweet and accommodating girl would feel such an affinity for those stubborn creatures. But they steady and reliable, not something she has always had in her life, so perhaps that is it. She informed me that two of them would be joining us on our journey, twin mules, called Aleksy and Aleksa. I will be glad to have them to carry the heavier burdens, but worry that our path may take us in places they cannot go, and then what will happen to the creatures? And how will Nadzia cope?

Dymek had noticed the crows himself, and had already gathered everything he would need for the journey by the time I made it to his house. He was sitting outside, sipping his tea, a cast of runes in front of him. We both agreed that we must leave with the next morning’s light.

I wish you were traveling with me, but it is not in the cards, the runes, or the portents this time. I will be glad to have Dymek, and his strength and wisdom, on this journey with me. We follow the crows.

All my love,

Sibilia