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?"885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiP2d0e2xQT
"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."885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfCK5vzIhh
“Sounds like a plan,” I say, stretching. “Ugh, I have a crick in my neck.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fM4Eq0L20
“Want me to massage it out for you?” Klef asks.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8xiIoZ5sT
“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.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqGJ10syUf
“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.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV2ijbvYyq
I nod. “Okay. Sounds like you guys have this all figured out. Sorry I missed out on the discussion.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGjW70wzN1
“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.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQRaRmCyJi
I smile slightly. “You’re a little bit scary good at that, you realize?”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VXKhsPJjt
Ama grins. “Ssh. Don’t tell Bobbi I said anything, they’ll kill me.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVDMOLZBJG
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?”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPTMtGoQ5k
“Fair point,” Ama says, pointing at Klef. “I like the way you think, Mister Thief.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOFbGVm0pJ
“Why thank you, Miss Wizard,” Klef says with a laugh in his voice.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QDdAmHXzb
“Careful not to get too cozy,” I tease. “If you do I might get jealous.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIdLr3ire2
“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.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8Psuqd9vg
“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.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpnVimQSbA
Klef laughs. “I love you, Ride. Platonically, romantically. I just love you.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFq5XbBSec
“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!”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwc5k7aPeg
“Aw, c’mon, Ride! Live a little!” he protests, continuing to tickle me.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEbgwDj0Rz
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!”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB55xANRd8b
“Okay, okay! I’m stopping!” Klef surrenders, holding his hands up.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkM7KJrJkq
“You’re ridiculous,” I tease, still laughing from the surprise attack.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTSg1PcWqG
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.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS6IuXoUB3
“Don’t be,” Klef groans, rubbing his back. “I’m fine with getting bowled over by you any day.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVvi5zAmrr
“Flirt,” I laugh. “You’re such a flirt.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DxPptc2kb
“Always, my dear,” Klef says with a wink.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWHJpSFCl0
There’s a groan from the other side of the carriage along with a gag. “Do you two mind?” Hibiscus groans.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0VLIaVnBy
“Seriously, we’ve been over this,” Ama adds. “It’s only cute for so long.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzN29tEKst
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?”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEySl9jx3V
“I do,” Flo interjects. “Ryhte and I would not shut up the first time we met.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6DrVFWjrE
Rythe sighs. “Oh, those were the days. Back when you were fine with my relentless teasing you and flirting in general.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNtzWAY9y5
Flo rolls her eyes. “I’m still fine with it if you don’t embarrass anyone, but lately you’ve been embarrassing everyone.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZtcYJ5aKQ
“What’s wrong with that?” they ask.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYtQjdsffG
“Everything,” Flo says. “You need to respect people’s boundaries.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIlvoFJtE7
Rythe shrugs. “I can’t tell people’s boundaries if they don’t tell me when enough is enough,” they reason.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjED3D93V0P
“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.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLaJOAVP1k
“Not a thing,” Rythe teases, bopping a finger on Flo’s snout.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4dOX82Dfp
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.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lpNvxEsBf
She looks up and chews her lip. “Oh, I’d say… 10 minutes? Maybe 5, if Bobbi can convince the horses to go faster.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahEMm9Vmfq
There’s the sound of yelling outside the carriage and we pick up speed suddenly. Ama smiles. “5 minutes.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhChOQYfknK
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.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BGI2ubuVE
Klef blinks once, snapping to attention. “I’m awake,” he says. “I’m awake.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8ZrXxnrsN
“Barely. How much sleep did you get last night?”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKNqpU0TWM
“Ugh. Not enough,” he groans. “I feel like death.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0id5116bAR
“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.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjVisG3MGr
Lightning cracks a mile or so behind us, and everyone jumps. Ama groans. “Looks like we’ll be using my magic to teleport. Great.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbakaCqzsxE
Rythe groans in response. “Ugh, but teleporting makes me sick to my stomach.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2jjtG85iS
Ama shrugs helplessly. “If it helps, I doubt I have enough in me to take us all directly to the base.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeCERlACMI
“Could you use some of my Sight as sort of a boost?” I ask.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNs9h1SCCL
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?”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayRadpZOMy
Ama nods slowly. “I might know how to do it… it might be painful on your end, though.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqy9ADm7ha
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.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbBWEDPgeL
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.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeIWjc3MZA
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.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpubQSzMo7
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.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8e1sBLPW6
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.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7F7Ky4cZ4I
I shrug. “Eh, nobody’s trying to kill us yet, let’s see where this cave takes us.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkNVOJ1CwK
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.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxuYpd4ijM
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.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuXaqRgm0Z
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.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mAA3ncafi
Klef looks down at me innocently. “I know, Ride.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NtZf7LXhc
I narrow my eyes. “I know what you’re doing. Stop patronizing me.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36Pw5VijQc
“Me? Patronize you? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Klef laughs, continuing to move forward and upward.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LgxIGnc1O
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!”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4wBSvubPk
“But you wanted to be my protector so bad, and I didn’t want to hurt your feelings!” I tease.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMn3P0sV57
“What?” Flo asks from behind me.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIIDFIb1U7
“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.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7AzC2bz2W
“It’s not that they did that, it’s that they said those songs were the real ones!” Klef calls down.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK1ChFtqkq
“Hey! Is that my favorite thief I hear?” Ank calls. “You’re not still mad at us, are you, Klef?”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hiiWVmNWQ
I giggle as Klef pulls a face and glares at me. “This is your fault,” he mutters half-heartedly at me.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH3F5zq7jw
“Why, I have no idea what you’re talking about, Treble,” I tease.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHm6KVGD1PX
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?”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqr0IzoAYOq
“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.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGmDqWTQNs
“Ugly?!” Ank asks indignantly.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAU5w6AsRcC
Klef grins. “Like I said, hard feelings.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5B5KPaMlOq
I walk up behind him with a smile. “Long time no see, Ank.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHBTnfmzPi
“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?”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHF5TbiTU0
“Shut up!” I laugh. “Just Miss, thank you very much.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVfcfl3CvR
Ank clucks his tongue. “Shame. I was hoping you had found a man who would treat you right since we met last.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCqMNAng7u
“I never said I was still looking, I just said I wasn’t married,” I point out to him.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSJmi1AZgg
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?”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d9Za3CzjE
“Depends on your definition of settling,” I say vaguely. “Half you crew wouldn’t seem to think so.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpm40PxpST
Cheers erupt around the room. I hold up a hand. “And Geo treats me right.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9N8pyoU353
The other half starts cheering, and Ank shakes his head at me. “You, my dear, are devious to the extreme.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7luFf5sBl
“Thank you,” I say with a curtsey. “I’m glad you think so highly of me.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D80RMVapb
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.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5m8XMHlwBt
I sigh. “Yeah, sure, fine. Tell ‘em.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZAIQhsoVH
“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!”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4lVZR7Wlp
I nudge him as soon as the room erupts again. “Did you have to phrase it like that?”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp5OHGNQTK
“Did you have to say Geo?” Klef retorts.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdVCqo4Oxn
I roll my eyes. “You. Are. Ridiculous.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEzKEbl6DI
“Thank. You,” Klef says, turning and leaning towards me with a smirk.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunVD3cklbw
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?”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3wk4Pu0vY
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.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmD9cksfRxv
I nod. “You’ve got it, ma’am.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBZQIp0UGI
She nods and leaves, and I take a shallow sip, coughing slightly. “Strong,” I rasp. “But it’s not bad.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRF7oK7aM1j
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.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabz6xEIk0w
I nod and laugh a little. “Thank you for the offer, I’ll keep it in mind.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nj7WY4yc9
Klef’s lips twitch a bit as he sits next to me. “Can I have a sip?” he asks.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zK5H4inrU
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.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5W9fxqKZn
“That’s something alcohol will do, yeah,” I say, taking another sip.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ksVPX1JZr
Klef glares at me and sulks on the counter, waving to the bartender. “Could I have a root beer, please?” he asks.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJD6FpVJsq
I grin. “Aw, how cute. You’re still asking for soda as a grown adult.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfn3n0XaDh
Klef sticks his tongue out at me. “Root beer is good, no matter your age.”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXXCSUuXnp
I shake my head and take another sip of my rum. “Agree to disagree,” I mutter.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCACz7wVmIM
Ama walks over and sits next to us at the bar. “You two know what we’re doing next?” she asks.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgTV27q4rf
“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?”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAOqzsNWTq
Ama nods. “Maybe you have thought this through more than I originally assumed you did,” she admits.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweTJexDYQE
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?”885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMzz5ShfBQ
Ama smiles.885Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkxhw9gnSC
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