AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She held up the shiny object. “Does this look like trash to you?”
It was a silver dollar. “I think I need to invest in food for crows.”
She laughed. “You treat them well and they’ll remember. Treat them poorly and they’ll remember that too.” Her gaze skated to Kane. “I wish I’d known you were coming. I would’ve made your favorite.”
“It was unexpected. I need a favor.”
“For you? Anything.”
“We’re looking for a changeling brought here from Faerie about eighteen years ago. We need to find the adoptive mother, an adult female in Fairhaven named Sarah.”
She waited a beat. “That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“Okay, a first name should be enough to get you a list, but I’ve got to warn you, Sarah is a popular name around here.”
“Whatever you can compile for us would be appreciated,” I said.
She tilted her head toward the crows. “If we want their help, I’m going to need a better offering. Kane, would you do the honors?”
He gestured to the back door, and she nodded.
“You’re a special one, aren’t you?” Birdie said, once he disappeared inside the house.
My guard immediately went up. “What makes you say that?”
“I’ve known Kane for years, and this is the first time he’s brought anybody to see me.”
I relaxed slightly. Birdie wasn’t a goddess detector, only a Kane fan.
“He thinks you can help me find the right Sarah without going through traditional channels.”
Her eyes gleamed with mischief. “Yes, I’m sure that’s it.”
A moment later, Kane emerged from the house holding an egg. He handed it to Birdie, who proceeded to tap the egg on the side of her chair until the shell cracked.
“Hard boiled eggs are a delicacy for my crow friends,” Birdie explained. She broke the egg into pieces and tossed them across the patio. “This will help us get the information.”
I leaned over to Kane and whispered, “I thought you said she used a computer database.”
“She will, but isn’t this far more interesting?” He observed the crows as they went wild for the egg.
“I save the eggs for special occasions,” Birdie said. “It makes them sit up and pay attention.”
On cue, the largest crow ambled over to Birdie and stopped in front of her chair.
“He’s awaiting instructions,” Birdie told me.
I stepped forward. “Do you want me…?”
“Oh, he won’t listen to you, sweetie, only the hand that feeds him.” She shared my request with the crow.
“I don’t need any Sarah under the age of thirty,” I added quickly.
“Thirty?” Kane queried. “Shouldn’t that age be a little higher?”
“I’d rather be conservative than miss someone. What if she lies about her age now? Or what if she was a teen mom? I don’t want to skip her because I assumed more than I should have.”
