Back to Normalish: Fulcrum: Season One, #2

By J.J. Vega

Jack works his way through rebuilding his bar while trying to to help Corva heal. In the meantime, Corva is trying to figure out her place and how Zeke fits in with her strange ability to fight. Some of that has to go on pause, though, because a raid is coming to Bule.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Giant Coffee Blunderbuss
• Release date: Jul 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9781943474066

Book preview

Back to Normalish

Fulcrum: Season One, Episode Two

J.J. Vega

The Giant Coffee Blunderbuss

© 2022 Jason van Gumster, All rights reserved

1

Corva

You’re going to need these. The old woman’s raspy voice hissed as she jammed fist-sized bags of seed into the young girl’s hands. Don’t let them get wet. And never, never let anyone know how much you’ve got!

I don’t understand, Avó. How will I pay, then?

It was ten years ago and that girl didn’t know anything about anything. If she thought about it, it would be hard for her to imagine how she managed to survive the first week after that day. But the old woman was patient with her. Always patient. Avó wasn’t the old woman’s name; it’s what children in Fareburne called all of the elder women. However, this particular older woman was more than that to the young girl; she was like a grandmother to her.

The woman had paused a moment, gripping the girl’s hand in her wrinkled, earth-worn palm. The girl couldn’t help but notice how much smaller and softer her own hand was.

Before you get into a town, take out a small amount and stow the rest. You don’t use more than that little bit while in the town. Dear word, you’re not ready for this. She went back to frantically stuffing a sack with gear, mumbling. She’s not ready.

And the girl had stood there. Dumb. Watching her elder work. Trying to keep track of where the old woman put each item, and failing. It didn’t matter much; the girl didn’t know what half of those items were. The woman probably didn’t, either. She was on autopilot, grabbing through teary blindness at anything that might be remotely useful.

Will I see you again?

The girl’s question was simple enough, but it stopped the elder in her tracks. Her hands were trembling.

Me? No. I’ll be gone soon enough.

But what about the others. What if I—

You see anyone you think you recognize, you run, child! Do you understand? They aren’t those people anymore. They aren’t people at all. You stay out of sight and you run. The Shadowfold has come to Fareburne. The Umbrati and Karui won’t be far behind. The others—our people—they are gone. You’re all that’s left.

"We’re all that’s left." The girl reached out and placed her hand on the older woman’s arm, trying to console her, but not really knowing how to do it, or why.

The old woman smiled faintly, knowingly. She turned her head to the door and then nodded. For a little while longer.

Her hands had stopped trembling and returned to diligently stuffing the sack. Her renewed calm triggered panic in the girl, a sudden realization.

What will I have people call me? I’ve not yet earned a name.

The old woman stopped again. This time she made it a point to looked at the young girl. You can use my name. Have them call you Corva.

2

Static

Corva wakes, eyelids thick and heavy. The remnant smell of coffee tinges the air. There’s a strange sound, kind of like gurgling static. She shakes the fog from her head and notices her arm, outstretched forward and upward. At the end of her arm, she holds the throat of a flailing boy.

That boy!

This self-serving little snot was going to leave her flapping in the wind with Tretch and his ilk. And then after that, he shot her.

She squeezes harder. That gurgling static sound transforms into gasps and wheezing. She’s distantly aware of another noise. Screaming?

There’s a popping sound followed by something that sounds like the wind, and she’s suddenly no longer able to move.

A moment later, everything goes black.

3

Review

Jack holds his throat, still coughing.

Holy hell, that chick’s got a grip. And she hadn’t even fully come to.

You weren’t concentrating. The voice behind him is soft and melodic, a voice not fit for the harshness of this world. Lyia. Still, the rasp of frustration rings in her words. How can you expect to do this at all if I’m not here? You can’t only feed her once a day when I’m on a break. Using soulmancy for healing only goes so far. She needs food to regain strength.

Jack tests clearing his throat before speaking. It’s tender, but he can get words out. I know. I know. Stop treating me like I’ve never done this before.

Then stop acting like it. Lyia’s voice loses a bit of its edge. I’ve got to ask again. Is it even worth it to keep trying to tend to her?

I told Harris that she’s my new bouncer. I throw her out and he’ll take the bar. Still rubbing his throat, Jack turns to face Lyia. Despite his discomfort, he can’t help but smile at her. Of all the people in the world, she’s the only one who really gets him. She’s also known him longer than anyone else. Why can’t I just flip on the subsonic paralyzer and pour the broth down her throat?

He was able to scavenge one of the remaining subsonic paralyzers from the array mounted under the bar’s floor. Wiring it to work independently was a bit tricky, but it was worth it. Didn’t even need Slim’s help. Now, with it placed under her cot, he fires it up any time he needs to get close.

Lyia shakes her head. That piece of tech you shoved under her isn’t going to help for that. The swallow reflex isn’t like breathing or your heart pumping. You’ll drown her.

Well, whattya want me to do, then? Every now and then, her eyes open and she starts blindly lashing out. This go-round, her eyes didn’t even open first.

Lyia reaches out and pulls Jack’s hand down from his neck to inspect where they’d had to