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?"944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuDPKJeNDT
"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."944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgnVd8HMW7
“Sounds like a plan,” I say, stretching. “Ugh, I have a crick in my neck.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOq77YqaBo
“Want me to massage it out for you?” Klef asks.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfjTnWbezd
“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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbqt87NhM4
“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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCgLYEno2d
I nod. “Okay. Sounds like you guys have this all figured out. Sorry I missed out on the discussion.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MuogWWxeD
“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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkG81WY976U
I smile slightly. “You’re a little bit scary good at that, you realize?”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzpRMmmMWG
Ama grins. “Ssh. Don’t tell Bobbi I said anything, they’ll kill me.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0BN1sUnkc
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?”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgv3ptQqurX
“Fair point,” Ama says, pointing at Klef. “I like the way you think, Mister Thief.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFDcUDNbMd
“Why thank you, Miss Wizard,” Klef says with a laugh in his voice.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHXNzeshSN
“Careful not to get too cozy,” I tease. “If you do I might get jealous.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Cg5HdlzEG
“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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sx86LZUqj
“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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4NzJmSJTU
Klef laughs. “I love you, Ride. Platonically, romantically. I just love you.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItoZWlOUJ1
“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!”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdgFRvDlnx
“Aw, c’mon, Ride! Live a little!” he protests, continuing to tickle me.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uK1eqE44q
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!”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuL1KKoMTsx
“Okay, okay! I’m stopping!” Klef surrenders, holding his hands up.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hQjGZvsLu
“You’re ridiculous,” I tease, still laughing from the surprise attack.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMnwzCWsQW
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVm17hbEPxb
“Don’t be,” Klef groans, rubbing his back. “I’m fine with getting bowled over by you any day.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06BKpJ8PvS
“Flirt,” I laugh. “You’re such a flirt.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScWdPIyMM5
“Always, my dear,” Klef says with a wink.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdTPWXbZwx
There’s a groan from the other side of the carriage along with a gag. “Do you two mind?” Hibiscus groans.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZNJDwve6t
“Seriously, we’ve been over this,” Ama adds. “It’s only cute for so long.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRbMfqkGZn
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?”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yXFIJf3CL
“I do,” Flo interjects. “Ryhte and I would not shut up the first time we met.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC8mObOhHy
Rythe sighs. “Oh, those were the days. Back when you were fine with my relentless teasing you and flirting in general.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANHCdj9ufQ
Flo rolls her eyes. “I’m still fine with it if you don’t embarrass anyone, but lately you’ve been embarrassing everyone.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqvVByvlGi
“What’s wrong with that?” they ask.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkkZTbgXSO
“Everything,” Flo says. “You need to respect people’s boundaries.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFjIo4exz5
Rythe shrugs. “I can’t tell people’s boundaries if they don’t tell me when enough is enough,” they reason.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6HqtYGiFn
“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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8sEy9Rrnv
“Not a thing,” Rythe teases, bopping a finger on Flo’s snout.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsjQ25WjWu
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVE0GQtJXk
She looks up and chews her lip. “Oh, I’d say… 10 minutes? Maybe 5, if Bobbi can convince the horses to go faster.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ085FrC4gf4
There’s the sound of yelling outside the carriage and we pick up speed suddenly. Ama smiles. “5 minutes.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZRrtoERxI
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGb0Ptyb36m
Klef blinks once, snapping to attention. “I’m awake,” he says. “I’m awake.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLTzBIS6SM
“Barely. How much sleep did you get last night?”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eHjPnnJxn
“Ugh. Not enough,” he groans. “I feel like death.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYVMaLSAc9
“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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4N4Q0gtK5
Lightning cracks a mile or so behind us, and everyone jumps. Ama groans. “Looks like we’ll be using my magic to teleport. Great.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdMQ0v8Mvy
Rythe groans in response. “Ugh, but teleporting makes me sick to my stomach.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJHcu76vfU
Ama shrugs helplessly. “If it helps, I doubt I have enough in me to take us all directly to the base.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9UjAlex0s
“Could you use some of my Sight as sort of a boost?” I ask.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAh8oGV2dQr
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?”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoV9ei4FrFY
Ama nods slowly. “I might know how to do it… it might be painful on your end, though.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLstxOE1pe6
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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjG3cHUAjj
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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNuItH7CdK
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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOpfN212Pt
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnV7kgSt9M7
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMD6wPLRXo
I shrug. “Eh, nobody’s trying to kill us yet, let’s see where this cave takes us.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqtdBfpIS1
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFnuO9uSiu
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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVdeXGigdt
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAuiZ3LcDL
Klef looks down at me innocently. “I know, Ride.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeLY3S84nj
I narrow my eyes. “I know what you’re doing. Stop patronizing me.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebYAHmBUwJ
“Me? Patronize you? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Klef laughs, continuing to move forward and upward.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytRg8TidZH
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!”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaM45XDsMoD
“But you wanted to be my protector so bad, and I didn’t want to hurt your feelings!” I tease.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08upBFsZBS
“What?” Flo asks from behind me.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXakmR36YFb
“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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsn5TOmx21
“It’s not that they did that, it’s that they said those songs were the real ones!” Klef calls down.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUbvolcBiy
“Hey! Is that my favorite thief I hear?” Ank calls. “You’re not still mad at us, are you, Klef?”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FdBy1lJyk
I giggle as Klef pulls a face and glares at me. “This is your fault,” he mutters half-heartedly at me.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaDschn2Sk
“Why, I have no idea what you’re talking about, Treble,” I tease.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUni0IOzD3
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?”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvAmEFM3dQ
“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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCjdYEm1Se
“Ugly?!” Ank asks indignantly.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmBDPx47Cd
Klef grins. “Like I said, hard feelings.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLeyRmYvR2
I walk up behind him with a smile. “Long time no see, Ank.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4yFxoafHB
“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?”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4p7C1jwiN
“Shut up!” I laugh. “Just Miss, thank you very much.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrMzFJeIVB
Ank clucks his tongue. “Shame. I was hoping you had found a man who would treat you right since we met last.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwz4cUS3Uf
“I never said I was still looking, I just said I wasn’t married,” I point out to him.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlCoso24BA
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?”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8rqjabS0d
“Depends on your definition of settling,” I say vaguely. “Half you crew wouldn’t seem to think so.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy85rCB7Uh6
Cheers erupt around the room. I hold up a hand. “And Geo treats me right.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnIbD4sY0k
The other half starts cheering, and Ank shakes his head at me. “You, my dear, are devious to the extreme.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSBxpxRgSg
“Thank you,” I say with a curtsey. “I’m glad you think so highly of me.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAyeDyXa73
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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgY4NuD8Cgf
I sigh. “Yeah, sure, fine. Tell ‘em.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmL8DWkAoVS
“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!”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTM9yJelQS
I nudge him as soon as the room erupts again. “Did you have to phrase it like that?”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrWaRQg4TW
“Did you have to say Geo?” Klef retorts.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyWkSSAKbO
I roll my eyes. “You. Are. Ridiculous.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNu1vNlHVZ
“Thank. You,” Klef says, turning and leaning towards me with a smirk.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuDDsAQaIr
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?”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzJW47pcPR
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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1ZgGe7HzX
I nod. “You’ve got it, ma’am.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGwqYpMn0N
She nods and leaves, and I take a shallow sip, coughing slightly. “Strong,” I rasp. “But it’s not bad.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡck5R2Q6pik
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.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqX9toNcLZM
I nod and laugh a little. “Thank you for the offer, I’ll keep it in mind.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcZcw8Vb0w
Klef’s lips twitch a bit as he sits next to me. “Can I have a sip?” he asks.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VcMeXl1sD
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.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2q5i6IFSI
“That’s something alcohol will do, yeah,” I say, taking another sip.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOku3feXRh
Klef glares at me and sulks on the counter, waving to the bartender. “Could I have a root beer, please?” he asks.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaBXJ778bu
I grin. “Aw, how cute. You’re still asking for soda as a grown adult.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkWXIQUI5z
Klef sticks his tongue out at me. “Root beer is good, no matter your age.”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGi56IulLqg
I shake my head and take another sip of my rum. “Agree to disagree,” I mutter.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEwu896jvC
Ama walks over and sits next to us at the bar. “You two know what we’re doing next?” she asks.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcUUhYNQ2S
“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?”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJ2X17ZgtL
Ama nods. “Maybe you have thought this through more than I originally assumed you did,” she admits.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78whUGSdXE
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?”944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56442iY4hr
Ama smiles.944Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9aYzN5YI2
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