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?"952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOofIi6O7R
"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."952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡor5hhIgets
“Sounds like a plan,” I say, stretching. “Ugh, I have a crick in my neck.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZze8tx79kx
“Want me to massage it out for you?” Klef asks.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BQkF5oiLu
“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.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj72PKcnl0Q
“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.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfZBr78VHS
I nod. “Okay. Sounds like you guys have this all figured out. Sorry I missed out on the discussion.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qygWRuUfd
“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.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4woeeot8S
I smile slightly. “You’re a little bit scary good at that, you realize?”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqmTVjQxnp
Ama grins. “Ssh. Don’t tell Bobbi I said anything, they’ll kill me.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8EBAu0IBg
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?”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLENtGTc7Lq
“Fair point,” Ama says, pointing at Klef. “I like the way you think, Mister Thief.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4FWL2le4Z
“Why thank you, Miss Wizard,” Klef says with a laugh in his voice.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNJBtM68ta
“Careful not to get too cozy,” I tease. “If you do I might get jealous.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRm1d4qXAV
“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.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6xDMkUvZJ
“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.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoEO1S5P0s
Klef laughs. “I love you, Ride. Platonically, romantically. I just love you.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ioh1cFmMC
“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!”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6i3omDbVoc
“Aw, c’mon, Ride! Live a little!” he protests, continuing to tickle me.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHEJ90MvrA
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!”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQc9bLg28Sf
“Okay, okay! I’m stopping!” Klef surrenders, holding his hands up.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ452SKub2sU
“You’re ridiculous,” I tease, still laughing from the surprise attack.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHAuRVlced
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.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZMyY7TMab
“Don’t be,” Klef groans, rubbing his back. “I’m fine with getting bowled over by you any day.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzisMFcLS7g
“Flirt,” I laugh. “You’re such a flirt.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjPX4Q3CPe
“Always, my dear,” Klef says with a wink.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnTwYIXJcZ
There’s a groan from the other side of the carriage along with a gag. “Do you two mind?” Hibiscus groans.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa0ntwGomC
“Seriously, we’ve been over this,” Ama adds. “It’s only cute for so long.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGKfAetHaz
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?”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxezCvjqKdT
“I do,” Flo interjects. “Ryhte and I would not shut up the first time we met.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulI7wxCcK8
Rythe sighs. “Oh, those were the days. Back when you were fine with my relentless teasing you and flirting in general.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkInoqJe4GO
Flo rolls her eyes. “I’m still fine with it if you don’t embarrass anyone, but lately you’ve been embarrassing everyone.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M4nbJbggI
“What’s wrong with that?” they ask.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXTF9v8TiF
“Everything,” Flo says. “You need to respect people’s boundaries.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLzX9uzdOZ
Rythe shrugs. “I can’t tell people’s boundaries if they don’t tell me when enough is enough,” they reason.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq68OiFLJa
“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.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrBPyykVjE
“Not a thing,” Rythe teases, bopping a finger on Flo’s snout.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvuaXDV0eT
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.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEtEHQw8fL
She looks up and chews her lip. “Oh, I’d say… 10 minutes? Maybe 5, if Bobbi can convince the horses to go faster.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq8nhmBm5e
There’s the sound of yelling outside the carriage and we pick up speed suddenly. Ama smiles. “5 minutes.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eJpjlmGmG
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.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmeRAYfMyj
Klef blinks once, snapping to attention. “I’m awake,” he says. “I’m awake.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0lugHzEAc
“Barely. How much sleep did you get last night?”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SJguySIo1
“Ugh. Not enough,” he groans. “I feel like death.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxbz4W8S5K
“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.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlE4A6q1TxH
Lightning cracks a mile or so behind us, and everyone jumps. Ama groans. “Looks like we’ll be using my magic to teleport. Great.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmcVesabCq
Rythe groans in response. “Ugh, but teleporting makes me sick to my stomach.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9oJTeCmBU
Ama shrugs helplessly. “If it helps, I doubt I have enough in me to take us all directly to the base.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nvinCHvHn
“Could you use some of my Sight as sort of a boost?” I ask.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHIRLLXW50
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?”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKup0i2xhu
Ama nods slowly. “I might know how to do it… it might be painful on your end, though.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjT4JfX4WY
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.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMHSZ7PbCm
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.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXq5dKmXj2r
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.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkujOXO9zHZ
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.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQ4IizKEHz
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.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgvB2AfJWW
I shrug. “Eh, nobody’s trying to kill us yet, let’s see where this cave takes us.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv69OGmmxA
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.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbdjlpCYwr
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.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pvGVmlnRC
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.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7DsKVtgjd
Klef looks down at me innocently. “I know, Ride.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhZycKEJ7t
I narrow my eyes. “I know what you’re doing. Stop patronizing me.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIvQESxQPN
“Me? Patronize you? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Klef laughs, continuing to move forward and upward.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESqA1axXUU
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!”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5frrrIktUp
“But you wanted to be my protector so bad, and I didn’t want to hurt your feelings!” I tease.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO8ai9TFn5
“What?” Flo asks from behind me.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWpIzKrchA
“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.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN21yDQk8zL
“It’s not that they did that, it’s that they said those songs were the real ones!” Klef calls down.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOgd3Sn9d4
“Hey! Is that my favorite thief I hear?” Ank calls. “You’re not still mad at us, are you, Klef?”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthKX3fjUs9
I giggle as Klef pulls a face and glares at me. “This is your fault,” he mutters half-heartedly at me.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2B9PtD3p9
“Why, I have no idea what you’re talking about, Treble,” I tease.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJEci8eyrO
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?”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF7v9Imxzc
“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.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IUFiQ6uhh
“Ugly?!” Ank asks indignantly.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdTwdtrnYP
Klef grins. “Like I said, hard feelings.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAq7RoIiu0
I walk up behind him with a smile. “Long time no see, Ank.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZqjUEGpXD
“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?”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2j2Gmox8af
“Shut up!” I laugh. “Just Miss, thank you very much.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN37t54Y65T
Ank clucks his tongue. “Shame. I was hoping you had found a man who would treat you right since we met last.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2reyPc2it
“I never said I was still looking, I just said I wasn’t married,” I point out to him.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HpLGBZU7x
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?”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCsPizSSUi
“Depends on your definition of settling,” I say vaguely. “Half you crew wouldn’t seem to think so.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpzxGpWVTX
Cheers erupt around the room. I hold up a hand. “And Geo treats me right.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pNsgdqS58
The other half starts cheering, and Ank shakes his head at me. “You, my dear, are devious to the extreme.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ehZSaEz3t
“Thank you,” I say with a curtsey. “I’m glad you think so highly of me.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Mc3rPteM9
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.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJbjc7f2q4
I sigh. “Yeah, sure, fine. Tell ‘em.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0z8S051GDn
“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!”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pp0tC7Kwy
I nudge him as soon as the room erupts again. “Did you have to phrase it like that?”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7RCwFadbC
“Did you have to say Geo?” Klef retorts.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutducDJYEC
I roll my eyes. “You. Are. Ridiculous.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIjBDjIGRP
“Thank. You,” Klef says, turning and leaning towards me with a smirk.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LDTrgtHx1
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?”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWoFOxxHuK
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.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4r3Vt3BlW
I nod. “You’ve got it, ma’am.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hp1myild8
She nods and leaves, and I take a shallow sip, coughing slightly. “Strong,” I rasp. “But it’s not bad.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEehQYrBhUI
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.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbunJbQb1K
I nod and laugh a little. “Thank you for the offer, I’ll keep it in mind.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHoxhT8RT5
Klef’s lips twitch a bit as he sits next to me. “Can I have a sip?” he asks.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmiCsZeHnk
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.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpf3B5ET31
“That’s something alcohol will do, yeah,” I say, taking another sip.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡti8Oqf3y7K
Klef glares at me and sulks on the counter, waving to the bartender. “Could I have a root beer, please?” he asks.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gmVERHCjM
I grin. “Aw, how cute. You’re still asking for soda as a grown adult.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBqQtDDrtn
Klef sticks his tongue out at me. “Root beer is good, no matter your age.”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWfUrkKYTA
I shake my head and take another sip of my rum. “Agree to disagree,” I mutter.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGNjpIGdGb
Ama walks over and sits next to us at the bar. “You two know what we’re doing next?” she asks.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNS8oh4XxzJ
“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?”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiSL2v5RfD
Ama nods. “Maybe you have thought this through more than I originally assumed you did,” she admits.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hHmJIhcdr
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?”952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDfHOKO6KE
Ama smiles.952Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiyN5IRyne
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