12
Minutes later, the crow landed in an old oak close to the forest edge and sidled along the branch, c*****g its eye at Rainstorm who had, this time, been trusted to stay in the front line of action. The young woodman kept very still until the crow had looked him up and down. Then he smiled and slowly held out his arm. The crow ruffled its feathers uncertainly but after a moment, hopped up onto his arm and allowed him to remove the twist of paper from the ring on its leg.
Rainstorm gently released the crow and waited until it had shuffled away along the branch before untwisting the little piece of parchment. He found it very strange dealing with the crow. Although on the one hand, it was being directed and reassured from afar and Tarkyn could see him through its eyes; on the other hand,
