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?"859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflLPyi36o9
"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."859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2X0hydjqR4
“Sounds like a plan,” I say, stretching. “Ugh, I have a crick in my neck.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlvR6Im2Qx
“Want me to massage it out for you?” Klef asks.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPsRYxgBcK
“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.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJwuFXxCRN
“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.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbn9w8q5126
I nod. “Okay. Sounds like you guys have this all figured out. Sorry I missed out on the discussion.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O2uOZP3VB
“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.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvP3Jji4SJ6
I smile slightly. “You’re a little bit scary good at that, you realize?”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ7dJQRU4P
Ama grins. “Ssh. Don’t tell Bobbi I said anything, they’ll kill me.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAddtd9Dgy
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?”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB26MhFaHlc
“Fair point,” Ama says, pointing at Klef. “I like the way you think, Mister Thief.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡub8z0aA59Y
“Why thank you, Miss Wizard,” Klef says with a laugh in his voice.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw8qUYCXLT
“Careful not to get too cozy,” I tease. “If you do I might get jealous.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GHT4wVURp
“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.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMM6Hl4FUyg
“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.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrGweRxfYl
Klef laughs. “I love you, Ride. Platonically, romantically. I just love you.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA181NLmcS7
“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!”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQdGllndx4
“Aw, c’mon, Ride! Live a little!” he protests, continuing to tickle me.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNlKpFTsPj
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!”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEWsQDTuUG
“Okay, okay! I’m stopping!” Klef surrenders, holding his hands up.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdTw0XqEk4
“You’re ridiculous,” I tease, still laughing from the surprise attack.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9EnFu7Mq7
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.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQYTncKSZM
“Don’t be,” Klef groans, rubbing his back. “I’m fine with getting bowled over by you any day.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPFHHYla3d
“Flirt,” I laugh. “You’re such a flirt.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXOUmbM2Th
“Always, my dear,” Klef says with a wink.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfTJDVGeDn
There’s a groan from the other side of the carriage along with a gag. “Do you two mind?” Hibiscus groans.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTfTOYqGGs
“Seriously, we’ve been over this,” Ama adds. “It’s only cute for so long.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnnzaUyf0L
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?”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX83gv4mKRz
“I do,” Flo interjects. “Ryhte and I would not shut up the first time we met.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3NiMNNxKZ
Rythe sighs. “Oh, those were the days. Back when you were fine with my relentless teasing you and flirting in general.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrqSwIcCGQ
Flo rolls her eyes. “I’m still fine with it if you don’t embarrass anyone, but lately you’ve been embarrassing everyone.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2k5K5vOyDC
“What’s wrong with that?” they ask.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MzBa4a9N0
“Everything,” Flo says. “You need to respect people’s boundaries.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaogCaD4f1
Rythe shrugs. “I can’t tell people’s boundaries if they don’t tell me when enough is enough,” they reason.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpi90L2ojm
“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.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBSjuYlIQj
“Not a thing,” Rythe teases, bopping a finger on Flo’s snout.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHNDh7N8R3
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.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDCzkPnL0L
She looks up and chews her lip. “Oh, I’d say… 10 minutes? Maybe 5, if Bobbi can convince the horses to go faster.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vJHnbVf4D
There’s the sound of yelling outside the carriage and we pick up speed suddenly. Ama smiles. “5 minutes.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQanKtI9eak
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.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRzRhph0ZG
Klef blinks once, snapping to attention. “I’m awake,” he says. “I’m awake.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvKqUVXASx
“Barely. How much sleep did you get last night?”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebzzAthP67
“Ugh. Not enough,” he groans. “I feel like death.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5ZPIINaLh
“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.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gxcdLvvCe
Lightning cracks a mile or so behind us, and everyone jumps. Ama groans. “Looks like we’ll be using my magic to teleport. Great.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPt6AdstQ9
Rythe groans in response. “Ugh, but teleporting makes me sick to my stomach.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqbvOKNoqJ
Ama shrugs helplessly. “If it helps, I doubt I have enough in me to take us all directly to the base.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIh8ciUcwA
“Could you use some of my Sight as sort of a boost?” I ask.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGZMVpudPY
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?”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTu0l8SxpzO
Ama nods slowly. “I might know how to do it… it might be painful on your end, though.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5zOCuqv7L
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.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5Q5RgZI3A
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.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ePUqcAbYb
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.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfT9SCoQ7cN
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.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMk6oUIbC40
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.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EBD1rgV78
I shrug. “Eh, nobody’s trying to kill us yet, let’s see where this cave takes us.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokWDeKBeSZ
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.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTg1MXNaC7s
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.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEosdwrWtsU
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.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2K8KfpEoW
Klef looks down at me innocently. “I know, Ride.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUswdal2N4h
I narrow my eyes. “I know what you’re doing. Stop patronizing me.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWu9bVK2ekt
“Me? Patronize you? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Klef laughs, continuing to move forward and upward.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaopMFdwucQ
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!”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiSrnzlJ7l
“But you wanted to be my protector so bad, and I didn’t want to hurt your feelings!” I tease.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxe7mYU21VM
“What?” Flo asks from behind me.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPILmCqzfVS
“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.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuMmpR3Dbd
“It’s not that they did that, it’s that they said those songs were the real ones!” Klef calls down.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwallqOLUJ
“Hey! Is that my favorite thief I hear?” Ank calls. “You’re not still mad at us, are you, Klef?”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0dktOq1ye
I giggle as Klef pulls a face and glares at me. “This is your fault,” he mutters half-heartedly at me.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV8EAS0TJM
“Why, I have no idea what you’re talking about, Treble,” I tease.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7jenizCdE
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?”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1yq4QJvb3
“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.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG43nLrGGFJ
“Ugly?!” Ank asks indignantly.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkfelS7FD9
Klef grins. “Like I said, hard feelings.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwshPycIR7j
I walk up behind him with a smile. “Long time no see, Ank.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcwxHUZQK2
“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?”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr18RobPIeK
“Shut up!” I laugh. “Just Miss, thank you very much.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFlkEeuqyy
Ank clucks his tongue. “Shame. I was hoping you had found a man who would treat you right since we met last.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgN3mXyCTo
“I never said I was still looking, I just said I wasn’t married,” I point out to him.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuqayAkEs0
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?”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsh1CVBbij
“Depends on your definition of settling,” I say vaguely. “Half you crew wouldn’t seem to think so.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtjo9RENH5
Cheers erupt around the room. I hold up a hand. “And Geo treats me right.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbN7KPHBOfo
The other half starts cheering, and Ank shakes his head at me. “You, my dear, are devious to the extreme.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUVA3AGR0N
“Thank you,” I say with a curtsey. “I’m glad you think so highly of me.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDPKHs4ydx
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.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt87shfVhbj
I sigh. “Yeah, sure, fine. Tell ‘em.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Pp6lvI5cL
“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!”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1DU3PbsdV
I nudge him as soon as the room erupts again. “Did you have to phrase it like that?”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XPhXnZaQd
“Did you have to say Geo?” Klef retorts.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QunwJO6VA
I roll my eyes. “You. Are. Ridiculous.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvCPUDsCa5
“Thank. You,” Klef says, turning and leaning towards me with a smirk.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfB7TxZwjbM
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?”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cnUCtj2Km
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.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAxchx12s3
I nod. “You’ve got it, ma’am.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2TbkvP4fl
She nods and leaves, and I take a shallow sip, coughing slightly. “Strong,” I rasp. “But it’s not bad.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypx03TGPkS
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.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2k7D9Ktlu
I nod and laugh a little. “Thank you for the offer, I’ll keep it in mind.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQmhiwTk7L
Klef’s lips twitch a bit as he sits next to me. “Can I have a sip?” he asks.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA5Zv2Qcln
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.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJGmjI1d7Q
“That’s something alcohol will do, yeah,” I say, taking another sip.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡii8kwoVGlF
Klef glares at me and sulks on the counter, waving to the bartender. “Could I have a root beer, please?” he asks.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvESVDSobk4
I grin. “Aw, how cute. You’re still asking for soda as a grown adult.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lkvDUaqnL
Klef sticks his tongue out at me. “Root beer is good, no matter your age.”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0F1giow0n
I shake my head and take another sip of my rum. “Agree to disagree,” I mutter.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IzhCS3Mx6
Ama walks over and sits next to us at the bar. “You two know what we’re doing next?” she asks.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBS8vnHtgU
“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?”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5liGzXdNAz
Ama nods. “Maybe you have thought this through more than I originally assumed you did,” she admits.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wYz7HIerZ
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?”859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBhwS6NR6g
Ama smiles.859Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1GsDlqybW
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