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?"953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1rYdTHje2
"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."953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqC1CN5b91
“Sounds like a plan,” I say, stretching. “Ugh, I have a crick in my neck.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCO1pJYOsa
“Want me to massage it out for you?” Klef asks.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5CyVF0SWq
“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.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GDs9g9GQt
“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.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZynm1MmIGK
I nod. “Okay. Sounds like you guys have this all figured out. Sorry I missed out on the discussion.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8RkEhzQhH
“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.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yxWFG9CdN
I smile slightly. “You’re a little bit scary good at that, you realize?”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfWMHqoI94
Ama grins. “Ssh. Don’t tell Bobbi I said anything, they’ll kill me.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7HL6Nr4Vt
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?”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdw0mA0iDV
“Fair point,” Ama says, pointing at Klef. “I like the way you think, Mister Thief.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiHXQW0N9w
“Why thank you, Miss Wizard,” Klef says with a laugh in his voice.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7lW8JQfw4
“Careful not to get too cozy,” I tease. “If you do I might get jealous.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2TSaL5GJu
“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.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw914aywyov
“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.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJT6y0Gtmx
Klef laughs. “I love you, Ride. Platonically, romantically. I just love you.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBSX77T9GU
“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!”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjifSy8IhDC
“Aw, c’mon, Ride! Live a little!” he protests, continuing to tickle me.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS25hY1Sca8
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!”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaNWgR7roW
“Okay, okay! I’m stopping!” Klef surrenders, holding his hands up.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lacbPEv1w
“You’re ridiculous,” I tease, still laughing from the surprise attack.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I5Ysy87eu
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.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7iTLSCRm9
“Don’t be,” Klef groans, rubbing his back. “I’m fine with getting bowled over by you any day.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3svgfMOA52
“Flirt,” I laugh. “You’re such a flirt.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GUCjLwsUe
“Always, my dear,” Klef says with a wink.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARgsd6D6EF
There’s a groan from the other side of the carriage along with a gag. “Do you two mind?” Hibiscus groans.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62bQ5uoZgb
“Seriously, we’ve been over this,” Ama adds. “It’s only cute for so long.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89GWucTNRT
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?”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHwvW4yarK
“I do,” Flo interjects. “Ryhte and I would not shut up the first time we met.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ch1v0aVpf
Rythe sighs. “Oh, those were the days. Back when you were fine with my relentless teasing you and flirting in general.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOWkI3UZrd
Flo rolls her eyes. “I’m still fine with it if you don’t embarrass anyone, but lately you’ve been embarrassing everyone.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvl9g9k3En
“What’s wrong with that?” they ask.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQHPYCxPp7
“Everything,” Flo says. “You need to respect people’s boundaries.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4wqa1hr6y
Rythe shrugs. “I can’t tell people’s boundaries if they don’t tell me when enough is enough,” they reason.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AiGnb7ZyT
“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.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrW7G9cvuHG
“Not a thing,” Rythe teases, bopping a finger on Flo’s snout.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXrvhszKq6
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.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgbVxfnR9e
She looks up and chews her lip. “Oh, I’d say… 10 minutes? Maybe 5, if Bobbi can convince the horses to go faster.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QMAnlj7vl
There’s the sound of yelling outside the carriage and we pick up speed suddenly. Ama smiles. “5 minutes.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWLG6dU8D7
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.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KQBTYrmNv
Klef blinks once, snapping to attention. “I’m awake,” he says. “I’m awake.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOPTR1abZD
“Barely. How much sleep did you get last night?”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB58n6Zv9ta
“Ugh. Not enough,” he groans. “I feel like death.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfXJc8YAcT
“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.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ucMoarRwT
Lightning cracks a mile or so behind us, and everyone jumps. Ama groans. “Looks like we’ll be using my magic to teleport. Great.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxlqc9hl9z
Rythe groans in response. “Ugh, but teleporting makes me sick to my stomach.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡud0K7Q6UbK
Ama shrugs helplessly. “If it helps, I doubt I have enough in me to take us all directly to the base.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrggrZP1Ak
“Could you use some of my Sight as sort of a boost?” I ask.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCYqn5FGFh
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?”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2y4dTKCEM6
Ama nods slowly. “I might know how to do it… it might be painful on your end, though.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoRvBVysr6
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.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6uBO5V5xd
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.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvQDaGF7Ax
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.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jvpE96TX4
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.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtNdfTcnlf
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.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjezmuo66g2
I shrug. “Eh, nobody’s trying to kill us yet, let’s see where this cave takes us.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72UrW2FgTl
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.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx71RyyM5BH
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.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xgZvYcvEj
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.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG0IlvRCTM
Klef looks down at me innocently. “I know, Ride.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsOVdAOeil
I narrow my eyes. “I know what you’re doing. Stop patronizing me.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIImtrX2et
“Me? Patronize you? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Klef laughs, continuing to move forward and upward.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOGQFDv7VP
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!”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYB0IKyDeBc
“But you wanted to be my protector so bad, and I didn’t want to hurt your feelings!” I tease.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hWEk5kTWY
“What?” Flo asks from behind me.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcJBDc4UMW
“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.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto4r9WK1TN
“It’s not that they did that, it’s that they said those songs were the real ones!” Klef calls down.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhK0lzMpO4
“Hey! Is that my favorite thief I hear?” Ank calls. “You’re not still mad at us, are you, Klef?”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qm1O5AEoP
I giggle as Klef pulls a face and glares at me. “This is your fault,” he mutters half-heartedly at me.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpMbqysWwn
“Why, I have no idea what you’re talking about, Treble,” I tease.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiRqDoyVkt
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?”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojEs3iovIO
“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.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WFD7XZbbs
“Ugly?!” Ank asks indignantly.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4C8t3cncj
Klef grins. “Like I said, hard feelings.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjAsKeycZv
I walk up behind him with a smile. “Long time no see, Ank.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpsWzYJtBI
“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?”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsS4xuAVMr4
“Shut up!” I laugh. “Just Miss, thank you very much.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbynIGdjBYR
Ank clucks his tongue. “Shame. I was hoping you had found a man who would treat you right since we met last.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbj5l50x2IK
“I never said I was still looking, I just said I wasn’t married,” I point out to him.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNVkWj5d1x
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?”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSxR28IzAB
“Depends on your definition of settling,” I say vaguely. “Half you crew wouldn’t seem to think so.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVhkGNaiX2
Cheers erupt around the room. I hold up a hand. “And Geo treats me right.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyOSnqUlgP
The other half starts cheering, and Ank shakes his head at me. “You, my dear, are devious to the extreme.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPYzws8fuR
“Thank you,” I say with a curtsey. “I’m glad you think so highly of me.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQCuCD69k0
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.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLRZGzWv80
I sigh. “Yeah, sure, fine. Tell ‘em.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffTYs0GKxK
“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!”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzLiTKiTYH
I nudge him as soon as the room erupts again. “Did you have to phrase it like that?”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwSl8YCZRW
“Did you have to say Geo?” Klef retorts.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMNgaed9AF
I roll my eyes. “You. Are. Ridiculous.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuKSOFKiB9
“Thank. You,” Klef says, turning and leaning towards me with a smirk.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgM77R0Ggak
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?”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mmJ7cRX5P
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.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PXWxB4axw
I nod. “You’ve got it, ma’am.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQEdb0jeEW
She nods and leaves, and I take a shallow sip, coughing slightly. “Strong,” I rasp. “But it’s not bad.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsYylTIEmi
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.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNw3Csl0j8Q
I nod and laugh a little. “Thank you for the offer, I’ll keep it in mind.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9BpdPPqXa
Klef’s lips twitch a bit as he sits next to me. “Can I have a sip?” he asks.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIWxooxNcV
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.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsEFd9mHrq
“That’s something alcohol will do, yeah,” I say, taking another sip.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡma38qK5ZFg
Klef glares at me and sulks on the counter, waving to the bartender. “Could I have a root beer, please?” he asks.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wOswobDoe
I grin. “Aw, how cute. You’re still asking for soda as a grown adult.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkRHo0bned
Klef sticks his tongue out at me. “Root beer is good, no matter your age.”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7p9WRhWkd
I shake my head and take another sip of my rum. “Agree to disagree,” I mutter.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvmbB7TsyO
Ama walks over and sits next to us at the bar. “You two know what we’re doing next?” she asks.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0YFUfoEe6
“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?”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ38BsfZj9z
Ama nods. “Maybe you have thought this through more than I originally assumed you did,” she admits.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlFaBh4Mgr
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?”953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOwnAsxSnx
Ama smiles.953Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEdprvtAcy
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