And when my change was complete, they brought me out of that lonely room of shattered mirrors to display my grotesque form to the people of Codul.

I was brought out with chains around my wrists and ankles, and they laughed at me and mocked.

"This is the Crow!" the one pulling my leash called out. "The one we captured, who tried to kill Dr. Yves. Once dedicated to fighting Vermin, he has now become one himself. His own brethren will no longer recognize him, but will surely kill him on sight. And you can bet they will be back."

People in the crowd scooped up mud in their hands and flung it at me.

"Disgusting creature!"

"Want some cheese?"

Another clump of muck struck my face, stuck in my long whiskers.

"Oh! I think I hear a cat coming!"

Their mocking laughter stung my soul, and I hung my head in shame.

Yet, all their mockery came to a stop at the sound of bells from the gates.

"His friends are coming back! Arm yourselves!"

The people of Codul all retreated into their homes to take up weapons. I stared down toward the front gates of the city, pondering if I ought to feel hope or terror. I knew that if my fellow Crows saw me they would surely kill me, but for a moment I wondered if I should simply let them do so to put an end to the torment of being a Vermin.

But then I recalled what the next life would surely be for me. There would be no end to torment. All I could do was delay the eternal suffering just a little longer. Just long enough to pass along my knowledge to others.

As I thought on this, the townsman who'd been leading me around yanked on my chains, pulling me along toward a hitching post by the side of the street. He chuckled as he attached my chains to the post and secured them tightly.

"You're going to stay right here, Vermin," he said, grinning wickedly at me. "And when they see you, oh, they'll fill you with so many arrows the Devil himself would never survive!"

"Please," I said, my voice raspy and weak. "Mercy... I told Fulk not to kill Dr. Yves..."

"No mercy," he said, shaking his head. "You're an agent of the Church, and the Church showed our people no mercy when they took up arms against us." He punched me in the stomach, causing me to double over, then smacked me across the face with the back of his hand. "I hope there's a special place in Hell for you, Crow." He spat on my cheek, then walked away, leaving me alone in the street.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

The siege began, and in an instant I knew Sir Emeric had brought back a great force, capable of laying waste to this entire city. Stones flew through the air, smashing into the city walls and pelting those on the battlements.

I peered down on the thousands of men in armor beyond the city walls. Many loosed volleys of arrows up at the city guard, while others reloaded the catapults or helped carry the battering ram to the gates.

The Codul city guard loosed volleys of arrows down on their assailants, but the assault launched up at them soon proved more than they could handle, and they fell from the battlements.

The people of Codul emerged from their homes, men and women alike clad in quilted doublets. Swords, axes, bows, and crossbows were in their hands. From the back alleys strode forth an army of tiny men, each only as big as Garbage. They pushed crates and barrels into the streets, as if creating make-shift barricades in the moment, before going back to take up spears.

The gates down below crumbled, and in marched the army Sir Emeric had brought with him. From my spot up high, I could see them. Men in chain-mail, with tabards of all manner of colors and patterns. A mixed army. Men loyal to the Church, to local lords, and to the Crows.

At the front rode Sir Emeric, clad in his white plague doctor uniform, with his long-sword raised high and his shield on his arm.

The people of Codul took up positions on rooftops and behind the barriers the homunculi had built up for them, preparing themselves for the onslaught.

But perhaps they'd not thought through the battle as well as they thought, for the plague doctors brought in with them a wagon full of barrels. Though I could not make out the symbol inscribed on the barrels, I knew that these were surely full of dragon's bile. They were going to burn down Codul.

Oxen covered in plates of steel armor dragged the wagon through the city streets, no doubt spreading the fuel through the sinful city.

The distant catapults aimed higher, launching wooden barrels into the city itself. The barrels smashed against rooftops and broke in every avenue and boulevard.

It was possible that the Crows would never kill me because they'd never get the chance. It seemed likely now that they would simply burn down Codul, then come in again to wipe out all who were left. Yes, even as I thought it, I could see the armored men taking up barrels of the dragon's bile and spreading the stuff over the houses nearest the wall. Citizens of Codul rushed out to fight them and defend their city, but the armored men proved far too dangerous for them to stand against.

Sir Emeric and other knights on horseback rode through the city streets, slaughtering all who got in their way. Clearing a path for the dragon's bile to spread.

"Light arrows!" I heard one of the Codul men cry out.

To my horror, the archers nearest to me lit the arrows nocked to their bows.

"Draw!"

They drew back their bowstrings and aimed high.

"Loose!"

Flaming arrows sailed through the air in an arc, raining down on the Christian army. Those below raised their shields to defend themselves, realizing all too late that they were not, in fact, the targets of the attack.

The streets and rooftops all around them lit aflame, surrounding them in thick, black smoke and fire. The screams of agony and terror filled the air. Barrels of dragon's bile exploded, sending showers of flames everywhere.

And the people of Codul resumed their terrible, mocking laughter.