I'm jerked back into reality for some reason I can't explain for a few seconds, until lightning cracks across the sky outside the carriage. "Woah," I say. "How long has that been going on?"942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbzMOtxWof
"You woke up from the first really loud one," Ama says. "So... maybe 10 minutes, at most? The storm's heading our way and we're running into it, because the nearest stop is maybe 20 minutes out from here at a horse's trot, and if we're lucky we can get there before the storm gets too bad."942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBHtX5leUF
“Sounds like a plan,” I say, stretching. “Ugh, I have a crick in my neck.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgejiJyimW
“Want me to massage it out for you?” Klef asks.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFfJQ1kV6f
“Please?” I respond, and he cracks his fingers before motioning for me to turn my back to him. As he starts to massage my shoulders, I glance at everyone in the carriage. Ama is reading a book disinterestedly. Hibiscus is reading over a map and talking in low tones to Bobbi on the other side of the carriage through a slot where there isn’t any canvas, probably giving instructions. Flo and Rythe and sitting next to one another, hands linked together. Flo is resting her head on Rythe’s shoulder and they are murmuring to her. All in all, everything seems pretty calm. It doesn’t do anything to make me feel any better, though. “What are we going to do once the storm dies down?” I ask.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QJNKce1h2
“Eh,” Ama shrugs. “Really, it all depends on how bad the roads are. If they’re really bad, I’m going to see if I can scrounge up enough magic to teleport everyone to the next base, though I’d really rather not do that, seeing as how I’ll be down for the count for several days, at least. If they’re not, we’ll keep going until we hit the port in the werewolf territory, which will take about a day once we’re out of the mountains. From there, we might be able to find a teleporter, or we could travel by boat. Really, there are a lot of options in there, and I’m just hoping that the roads aren’t so wet that the horses can’t continue.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjZvKMPaGd
I nod. “Okay. Sounds like you guys have this all figured out. Sorry I missed out on the discussion.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IiBW2qgS7
“I bet you’re not really,” Ama says with a little smile. “Talking strategy is all well and good, but only when you know what you’re saying. And you’ve said yourself that you’re not a very good strategist.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCBuuannOM
I smile slightly. “You’re a little bit scary good at that, you realize?”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1RKZn1jlq
Ama grins. “Ssh. Don’t tell Bobbi I said anything, they’ll kill me.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCqhbk3S3w
Klef snorts from behind me. “I bet they won’t. They’d never have you to talk with if they did. And besides, what would Luke think?”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzvxN1cs1v
“Fair point,” Ama says, pointing at Klef. “I like the way you think, Mister Thief.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnmzFeglXe
“Why thank you, Miss Wizard,” Klef says with a laugh in his voice.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKfPhNlHMu
“Careful not to get too cozy,” I tease. “If you do I might get jealous.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjkQKAGTsc
“Nah, you don’t work like that, Ride,” Klef says. “One of the reasons I love you, actually. You’re really nice and even if someone is hurting you, if they’re not about to do major damage and it helps them in the long run, you make sure that they’ll be okay. Even if it means that you’re injured more than you already are.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIkP62dLc2
“Mm. I’m not sure if that extends to break- ups, though,” I muse. “I wouldn’t know. I was the one who called off my first relationship, and my second one seems to have been going strong for a month now.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1jG7YZx6w
Klef laughs. “I love you, Ride. Platonically, romantically. I just love you.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWwipsxWDC
“The feeling is mutual, I assure you,” I chuckle. Then I full-out laugh, because Klef has moved from massaging my shoulders. “Klef! Don’t tickle my neck!”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxRAserukG
“Aw, c’mon, Ride! Live a little!” he protests, continuing to tickle me.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyYPAvOxIq
I duck my neck out of his reach and roll onto the floor, swatting his hands away when they reach for my sides. “Stop!” I yell. “Seriously, Klef! Stop!”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6QXAyvcc0
“Okay, okay! I’m stopping!” Klef surrenders, holding his hands up.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxTqDv7SjF
“You’re ridiculous,” I tease, still laughing from the surprise attack.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjzwW11uN7
Klef grins and pulls me up so I’m sitting again, just as we hit a bump in the road and I fly forward into him. I grunt as I ram into Klef, and he yelps when he hits the railing on the back of the carriage. I push myself off him and blush. “Sorry,” I say.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy33gChJT4D
“Don’t be,” Klef groans, rubbing his back. “I’m fine with getting bowled over by you any day.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixKYMZyGu8
“Flirt,” I laugh. “You’re such a flirt.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3XRIlhJC4
“Always, my dear,” Klef says with a wink.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxHOE1GauK
There’s a groan from the other side of the carriage along with a gag. “Do you two mind?” Hibiscus groans.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4JykPsYms
“Seriously, we’ve been over this,” Ama adds. “It’s only cute for so long.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIa9pVzgtM
I look at Klef and he shrugs. “I don’t really know how to stop the banter,” he says. “It just… sort of… happens, you know?”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqotyDTKeTp
“I do,” Flo interjects. “Ryhte and I would not shut up the first time we met.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQX632NoOTz
Rythe sighs. “Oh, those were the days. Back when you were fine with my relentless teasing you and flirting in general.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKs8UVKi2U
Flo rolls her eyes. “I’m still fine with it if you don’t embarrass anyone, but lately you’ve been embarrassing everyone.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZqXCVZWsp
“What’s wrong with that?” they ask.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtVl4MDEXB
“Everything,” Flo says. “You need to respect people’s boundaries.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVbduZqaks
Rythe shrugs. “I can’t tell people’s boundaries if they don’t tell me when enough is enough,” they reason.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfEkTQaEDu
“That’s why I’m here. To tell you when your joking has gone to far and you’re making people uncomfortable. Without me you’d be dead of embarrassment.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOPZ55DR96
“Not a thing,” Rythe teases, bopping a finger on Flo’s snout.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yqQgGUMI9
Flo mock-growls at them with a sly grin, before the carriage lapses into silence. I turn to watch the rain falling. It’s picking up speed at an alarming rate, and wind whips around the sides of the carriage, adding to the feeling that we’re stranded in the middle of nowhere with no hope of weathering out the storm. “How much longer until shelter?” I ask Ama.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlGQlOiSTi
She looks up and chews her lip. “Oh, I’d say… 10 minutes? Maybe 5, if Bobbi can convince the horses to go faster.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOGgMufwDS
There’s the sound of yelling outside the carriage and we pick up speed suddenly. Ama smiles. “5 minutes.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSz5g0gzsm9
I nod and look at Klef, whose eyes are starting to droop, despite everything going on around us. I nudge him lightly. “Melisma to Klef,” I say quietly.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlquGYqauf
Klef blinks once, snapping to attention. “I’m awake,” he says. “I’m awake.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKOLGJX77Q
“Barely. How much sleep did you get last night?”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1bmoxOAw6
“Ugh. Not enough,” he groans. “I feel like death.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJsel0NlY1
“You look a little like it too,” I say. :Your eyes are a bit glassy. Why don’t you try and relax some until we get to our rest stop? After that we can decide who gets sleep and who is taking care of what next.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiQPbJl14P
Lightning cracks a mile or so behind us, and everyone jumps. Ama groans. “Looks like we’ll be using my magic to teleport. Great.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDrpPLXDwF
Rythe groans in response. “Ugh, but teleporting makes me sick to my stomach.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemGV26REqT
Ama shrugs helplessly. “If it helps, I doubt I have enough in me to take us all directly to the base.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKOumz5T7Q
“Could you use some of my Sight as sort of a boost?” I ask.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MXtraxmm4
Everyone looks over at me confused. I shrug. “In my dreams, I think my magic- sensing abilities act as a conductor for the use of magic as well as simply just being able to see magic being used. I don’t know how we might achieve it, but we can try, can’t we?”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlDzVrrmeT
Ama nods slowly. “I might know how to do it… it might be painful on your end, though.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeM6NqLqaZ
I shrug and give a little grin. “What could possibly go so wrong that I’d never want to try channeling Sight again, short of the world ending or everyone I love dying? If I get a little sick, I get a little sick. It happens.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdKv9CciVF
Ama nods as thunder rumbles overhead. The carriage comes to an abrupt stop and Bobbi ducks into the carriage from the hole in the driver’s side. “The storm is nasty, you guys. We have to get inside, now. I’ll take care of the horses, you guys keep moving.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHB6YXnlIj
Everyone jumps out of the carriage with their things and run to an overhang in the mountain, which reveals a cave underneath, fitted with lightbulbs on the ceiling every so often as it continues. I take a few cautionary steps inside and inspect it. “It’s dry, and we won’t get zapped, and I don’t think we’ll get killed. Let’s go inside.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWB2iN26fA
Klef nods and follows me inside, and Hibiscus and Ama mutter to themselves as they follow after. Flo and Rythe are silent save for their footsteps.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZeOdH539x
The cave, for its attempts at being modern, is still woefully primitive. Whereever the lightbulbs fail to work, which is often, 2 candles on either side of the cave on the walls are burning, giving the rocks disfigured and sometimes disturbing shadows. Klef inches closer to me and draws his knife. “I don’t like this, Ride,” he whispers.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmX1QV1I1cb
I shrug. “Eh, nobody’s trying to kill us yet, let’s see where this cave takes us.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHGhJ7nBa7
The hall narrows until only 2 people at a time can scrape through together, and a staircase spiralling up marks the end of the cave. “Going up!” Ama yells, walking to the bottom of the steps and taking the lead.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nVz1U8GRz
Hibiscus laughs and shakes their head. Somewhere behind us, a horse whinnies. “Well, Bobbi made it inside safe, let’s go up and see what awaits us.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUN22TgOQzX
Klef moves towards the steps in front of us before I can, and I huff but follow behind him as he acts as a shield to me. “I can handle myself, you know,” I grumble.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXh5N5XqQK9
Klef looks down at me innocently. “I know, Ride.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPUlqpBtcY
I narrow my eyes. “I know what you’re doing. Stop patronizing me.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0fxYR9kUo
“Me? Patronize you? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Klef laughs, continuing to move forward and upward.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzydR8nvZ7
I growl under my breath until my hearing catches some familiar voices, including Ank. I smile, knowing Klef can’t hear them yet with his ears. I few steps later, he groans loudly. “C’mon, Ride, you should have warned me!”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq26BxFv1v
“But you wanted to be my protector so bad, and I didn’t want to hurt your feelings!” I tease.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijjzI0ANem
“What?” Flo asks from behind me.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORVCG91nRN
“Old friends,” I say drily, arching my eyebrows and nodding to Klef. “He’s not been a fan for a few weeks, because they made kid-safe lyrics to their sea shanties for him when he was a young one.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtvOALakIY
“It’s not that they did that, it’s that they said those songs were the real ones!” Klef calls down.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn7FycakvQ
“Hey! Is that my favorite thief I hear?” Ank calls. “You’re not still mad at us, are you, Klef?”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8LeFwmLFM
I giggle as Klef pulls a face and glares at me. “This is your fault,” he mutters half-heartedly at me.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2TDn6a9MB
“Why, I have no idea what you’re talking about, Treble,” I tease.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTOGqU7ikt
Klef pulls a face but walks up the last of the steps, and I follow. In front of us is a wide open room, set up like a cross between a bar and a tavern, with glass windows overlooking the trail we came up on, and old wooden tables thrown up against it. Ank is standing by the bar, grinning. “Well hello, there, my little thief! No hard feelings?”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYXL37812o
“Oh, there are hard feelings,” Klef says with a smirk, going over and hugging Ank. “It’s good to see your ugly mug again, Ank.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvb3ornKrK
“Ugly?!” Ank asks indignantly.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAdzsN6T4q
Klef grins. “Like I said, hard feelings.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIG2HA8ZSl
I walk up behind him with a smile. “Long time no see, Ank.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFDnS8pwS7
“My favorite death wish girl!” Ank cheers, lifting a glass of some alcohol or another up in my direction, before knocking it back. “It’s good to see you again, Miss Rides. Or is it Missus?”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOfT5dPMRP
“Shut up!” I laugh. “Just Miss, thank you very much.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMy9zKAcFJO
Ank clucks his tongue. “Shame. I was hoping you had found a man who would treat you right since we met last.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe55aUiIzKt
“I never said I was still looking, I just said I wasn’t married,” I point out to him.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TDGW1DrMz
Ama wolf whistles from over by the windows, and the rest of our entourage are walking their way over to either us or Ama. Ank raises his eyebrows. “Didn’t settle, did you?”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbFcrzQiOP
“Depends on your definition of settling,” I say vaguely. “Half you crew wouldn’t seem to think so.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJfvDPvqYM
Cheers erupt around the room. I hold up a hand. “And Geo treats me right.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2QLBa3Cqp
The other half starts cheering, and Ank shakes his head at me. “You, my dear, are devious to the extreme.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKM8XLKWUmW
“Thank you,” I say with a curtsey. “I’m glad you think so highly of me.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXMQeLylcx
Klef ribs me and says, “You know, what’s the harm if we tell ‘em? You know everyone on Melisma is going to know in about a month anyway. Well, anyone who cares.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QSiGvuZXb
I sigh. “Yeah, sure, fine. Tell ‘em.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVas32pHil0
“Hey guys! Rides is a liar! She’s not going out with Geo! She’s going out with me!” he yells into the room. “I am a very happy trophy boyfriend!”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51n4nZbc0e
I nudge him as soon as the room erupts again. “Did you have to phrase it like that?”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQzUF5kaEo
“Did you have to say Geo?” Klef retorts.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtffnkKbk6T
I roll my eyes. “You. Are. Ridiculous.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2mIKfPkvF
“Thank. You,” Klef says, turning and leaning towards me with a smirk.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcLEl34FgF
I shove him backwards just enough that he hits the bar counter before hopping on one of the stools and waving to the bartender. “Hey bartender? What do you recommend for a traveller who means business?”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtKivKQE9l
The aging woman walks over, taking the glass she was polishing and fills it with something from one of the barrels in the back. “Rum,” she says. “Don’t drink it all in one go if you’re not used to it, you’ll find yourself waking up in a pool of your own vomit tomorrow morning, and you’ll be the one to clean it up.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfogcqVB7G
I nod. “You’ve got it, ma’am.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7Zkhd1qtB
She nods and leaves, and I take a shallow sip, coughing slightly. “Strong,” I rasp. “But it’s not bad.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hrFB6ARAu
Ank smiles. “You sound like you have potential for drinking contests. If you ever feel like entering one on my ship, I’d be happy to train you.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxh5zR5qu63
I nod and laugh a little. “Thank you for the offer, I’ll keep it in mind.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMzara76tp
Klef’s lips twitch a bit as he sits next to me. “Can I have a sip?” he asks.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaR3BTlhtC
I pass it over and he takes one, immediately staring to hack when he tries to swallow. I burst out laughing, taking the glass back as Klef desperately gasps for air. “It burns!” he exclaims.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqtWVpZkLN
“That’s something alcohol will do, yeah,” I say, taking another sip.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9gfifYi8c
Klef glares at me and sulks on the counter, waving to the bartender. “Could I have a root beer, please?” he asks.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVmRUWfzfD
I grin. “Aw, how cute. You’re still asking for soda as a grown adult.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF34K5EvZed
Klef sticks his tongue out at me. “Root beer is good, no matter your age.”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwnoUOKHmB
I shake my head and take another sip of my rum. “Agree to disagree,” I mutter.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWp5jQWiDEr
Ama walks over and sits next to us at the bar. “You two know what we’re doing next?” she asks.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3XQ4AO68d
“Well a little break never hurt anyone,” Klef says, shrugging and nabbing his rootbeer off the counter. “And you could probably use some time to prepare your teleportation powers, whatever that entails. So I figure we rest for a bit, and then when we’re all ready, we try your teleportation powers. Does that sound reasonable?”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7i2pWHtmF
Ama nods. “Maybe you have thought this through more than I originally assumed you did,” she admits.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3eV3ZXxJt
Klef lifts his root beer to her and smiles. “It’s okay, we all make mistakes sometimes. Let’s just get this show on the road. I’ll buy you a drink, if you want?”942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnZdrVH8bx
Ama smiles.942Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvrQk2zAWv
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