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?"794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAyLpIGIT9
"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."794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYdjBBYyaX
“Sounds like a plan,” I say, stretching. “Ugh, I have a crick in my neck.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6ayB6Ee27
“Want me to massage it out for you?” Klef asks.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsGwRLDWeA
“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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRT9Mljsj2t
“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.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2VGFsXHfm
I nod. “Okay. Sounds like you guys have this all figured out. Sorry I missed out on the discussion.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpci05wTA9
“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.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM19V8OWSTs
I smile slightly. “You’re a little bit scary good at that, you realize?”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjIY7SJ3vn
Ama grins. “Ssh. Don’t tell Bobbi I said anything, they’ll kill me.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkdYm3QsBR
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?”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0akAUSr8lJ
“Fair point,” Ama says, pointing at Klef. “I like the way you think, Mister Thief.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJKQkajQxs
“Why thank you, Miss Wizard,” Klef says with a laugh in his voice.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KHy3hxw8P
“Careful not to get too cozy,” I tease. “If you do I might get jealous.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQYxAB3XKv
“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.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1c2YfQ9hZe
“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.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuw5FpPS2Ni
Klef laughs. “I love you, Ride. Platonically, romantically. I just love you.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOatXv3Qqi
“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!”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxVcgddSeU
“Aw, c’mon, Ride! Live a little!” he protests, continuing to tickle me.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9F5RybkyA
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!”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PquzPEX5A
“Okay, okay! I’m stopping!” Klef surrenders, holding his hands up.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6rFsNEoE8
“You’re ridiculous,” I tease, still laughing from the surprise attack.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojACLkkEAn
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxhMZwEoKK
“Don’t be,” Klef groans, rubbing his back. “I’m fine with getting bowled over by you any day.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh68dDnhuMv
“Flirt,” I laugh. “You’re such a flirt.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqTR2tL9tL
“Always, my dear,” Klef says with a wink.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQrzohUHkT
There’s a groan from the other side of the carriage along with a gag. “Do you two mind?” Hibiscus groans.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFlCov6cTX
“Seriously, we’ve been over this,” Ama adds. “It’s only cute for so long.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YBQSsLEtr
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?”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHcL3scEGL
“I do,” Flo interjects. “Ryhte and I would not shut up the first time we met.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzwYbixdx3
Rythe sighs. “Oh, those were the days. Back when you were fine with my relentless teasing you and flirting in general.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Nmb2nWEPH
Flo rolls her eyes. “I’m still fine with it if you don’t embarrass anyone, but lately you’ve been embarrassing everyone.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwT9BMqA02t
“What’s wrong with that?” they ask.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa27lV8LDHg
“Everything,” Flo says. “You need to respect people’s boundaries.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37OOZ1CM1E
Rythe shrugs. “I can’t tell people’s boundaries if they don’t tell me when enough is enough,” they reason.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlpCpdLDQM
“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.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0fiwt8H8m
“Not a thing,” Rythe teases, bopping a finger on Flo’s snout.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOb7pGAVEH
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfita73twj
She looks up and chews her lip. “Oh, I’d say… 10 minutes? Maybe 5, if Bobbi can convince the horses to go faster.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRGGpXlQds
There’s the sound of yelling outside the carriage and we pick up speed suddenly. Ama smiles. “5 minutes.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfCwQl4hZo
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9K7m4pp5oF
Klef blinks once, snapping to attention. “I’m awake,” he says. “I’m awake.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqzpyJnHve
“Barely. How much sleep did you get last night?”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHj6urJbfRP
“Ugh. Not enough,” he groans. “I feel like death.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QMzrXeipV
“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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iOexg1eSH
Lightning cracks a mile or so behind us, and everyone jumps. Ama groans. “Looks like we’ll be using my magic to teleport. Great.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQzmGlFyMy
Rythe groans in response. “Ugh, but teleporting makes me sick to my stomach.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Mw84YvYr2
Ama shrugs helplessly. “If it helps, I doubt I have enough in me to take us all directly to the base.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxILL2ZkeOn
“Could you use some of my Sight as sort of a boost?” I ask.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU6tAiDGaE
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?”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtVWLGfEVF
Ama nods slowly. “I might know how to do it… it might be painful on your end, though.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZL3klyGDOd
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.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyl7uu00kWj
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.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bVRh2HSwE
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.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6Pvatctcs
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc9DXJwriS
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkDe8PQ3Lh
I shrug. “Eh, nobody’s trying to kill us yet, let’s see where this cave takes us.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnyxmtc62z
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8eaU3WyCf
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.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8jIDK7X9J
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOygXVvvbJE
Klef looks down at me innocently. “I know, Ride.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzGIaNX9Fi
I narrow my eyes. “I know what you’re doing. Stop patronizing me.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7DUV4Fq0X
“Me? Patronize you? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Klef laughs, continuing to move forward and upward.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKcqrkuA6a
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!”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAPRXrtmlp
“But you wanted to be my protector so bad, and I didn’t want to hurt your feelings!” I tease.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdszxC2bmjE
“What?” Flo asks from behind me.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eSX26wr5x
“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.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliwehiL08O
“It’s not that they did that, it’s that they said those songs were the real ones!” Klef calls down.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6uid02qXv
“Hey! Is that my favorite thief I hear?” Ank calls. “You’re not still mad at us, are you, Klef?”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHRrQYEY0Q
I giggle as Klef pulls a face and glares at me. “This is your fault,” he mutters half-heartedly at me.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0m7PybmuQO
“Why, I have no idea what you’re talking about, Treble,” I tease.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMxCRW7GpQ
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?”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNyi1wNv8p
“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.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KverGVRxF
“Ugly?!” Ank asks indignantly.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLwChfIwyG
Klef grins. “Like I said, hard feelings.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1cEODWvj7
I walk up behind him with a smile. “Long time no see, Ank.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39Z13BB4F5
“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?”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfHl6boxXQ
“Shut up!” I laugh. “Just Miss, thank you very much.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zUHhQj3GY
Ank clucks his tongue. “Shame. I was hoping you had found a man who would treat you right since we met last.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4glMQSKaP
“I never said I was still looking, I just said I wasn’t married,” I point out to him.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wPFw6Fbr5
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?”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndRAYMov9q
“Depends on your definition of settling,” I say vaguely. “Half you crew wouldn’t seem to think so.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRC3YyJOWc
Cheers erupt around the room. I hold up a hand. “And Geo treats me right.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1etnITaTHr
The other half starts cheering, and Ank shakes his head at me. “You, my dear, are devious to the extreme.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZaVrwFWQW
“Thank you,” I say with a curtsey. “I’m glad you think so highly of me.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlIyiVRAAN
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.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxMgjjmh3E
I sigh. “Yeah, sure, fine. Tell ‘em.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLwpPttTRa
“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!”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡan4CrvtOAj
I nudge him as soon as the room erupts again. “Did you have to phrase it like that?”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBhKV9yYXP
“Did you have to say Geo?” Klef retorts.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh77CL8bLPx
I roll my eyes. “You. Are. Ridiculous.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0twhGZVGY
“Thank. You,” Klef says, turning and leaning towards me with a smirk.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovJmnbS93L
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?”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaDShR9fxC
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.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuX2Qy7xqc
I nod. “You’ve got it, ma’am.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBzqOoVXhY
She nods and leaves, and I take a shallow sip, coughing slightly. “Strong,” I rasp. “But it’s not bad.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKGGHClSuX
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.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoeyKZX9Q1
I nod and laugh a little. “Thank you for the offer, I’ll keep it in mind.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElGsUcIusB
Klef’s lips twitch a bit as he sits next to me. “Can I have a sip?” he asks.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduxxs7bXm7
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.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sH28UgDoI
“That’s something alcohol will do, yeah,” I say, taking another sip.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YBMmbqRnh
Klef glares at me and sulks on the counter, waving to the bartender. “Could I have a root beer, please?” he asks.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgPIE14fjZ
I grin. “Aw, how cute. You’re still asking for soda as a grown adult.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6A2KpEucF
Klef sticks his tongue out at me. “Root beer is good, no matter your age.”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2U4AVHasa
I shake my head and take another sip of my rum. “Agree to disagree,” I mutter.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkqofryZzt
Ama walks over and sits next to us at the bar. “You two know what we’re doing next?” she asks.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJvs2UHeAF
“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?”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4stkUjNneQ
Ama nods. “Maybe you have thought this through more than I originally assumed you did,” she admits.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1aYdm6Wj4
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?”794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh26zVrUHFu
Ama smiles.794Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS43KzfXUNJ
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