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?"764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynjXH2JL33
"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."764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSC55dyP5n
“Sounds like a plan,” I say, stretching. “Ugh, I have a crick in my neck.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcflPJIdhXr
“Want me to massage it out for you?” Klef asks.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLv8UA45COW
“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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqw6QrCS9We
“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.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaD2TEfkDvC
I nod. “Okay. Sounds like you guys have this all figured out. Sorry I missed out on the discussion.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnCHNds8Xs
“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.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhDsaP7sVD
I smile slightly. “You’re a little bit scary good at that, you realize?”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0wMjQA5K2
Ama grins. “Ssh. Don’t tell Bobbi I said anything, they’ll kill me.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl4x9WzMIn
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?”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcvZfAAKxO
“Fair point,” Ama says, pointing at Klef. “I like the way you think, Mister Thief.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdxaMUjSls
“Why thank you, Miss Wizard,” Klef says with a laugh in his voice.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbowVje7lU6
“Careful not to get too cozy,” I tease. “If you do I might get jealous.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m3U0Q6TPw
“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.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhffBnZlKr
“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.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1O2i14vk7
Klef laughs. “I love you, Ride. Platonically, romantically. I just love you.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjCiMqP1z6
“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!”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIpMBGBpro
“Aw, c’mon, Ride! Live a little!” he protests, continuing to tickle me.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ3CiA5wcw
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!”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPeiqPSSPG
“Okay, okay! I’m stopping!” Klef surrenders, holding his hands up.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIVDWYXU5T
“You’re ridiculous,” I tease, still laughing from the surprise attack.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAyGYq2mEw
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUvyIkqt4y
“Don’t be,” Klef groans, rubbing his back. “I’m fine with getting bowled over by you any day.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFYt0B1xZ1
“Flirt,” I laugh. “You’re such a flirt.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bV98BUpbf
“Always, my dear,” Klef says with a wink.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUHw9g7vmL
There’s a groan from the other side of the carriage along with a gag. “Do you two mind?” Hibiscus groans.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwl2e8Uwm4
“Seriously, we’ve been over this,” Ama adds. “It’s only cute for so long.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BOghzgOCv
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?”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcVBpHeHFH
“I do,” Flo interjects. “Ryhte and I would not shut up the first time we met.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVgcScnzwN
Rythe sighs. “Oh, those were the days. Back when you were fine with my relentless teasing you and flirting in general.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu32bJFuHMA
Flo rolls her eyes. “I’m still fine with it if you don’t embarrass anyone, but lately you’ve been embarrassing everyone.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCv8EwFeSy
“What’s wrong with that?” they ask.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbJIEjCZYD
“Everything,” Flo says. “You need to respect people’s boundaries.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnlzA55tNR
Rythe shrugs. “I can’t tell people’s boundaries if they don’t tell me when enough is enough,” they reason.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡym85pL0oaK
“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.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1lmcql6qh
“Not a thing,” Rythe teases, bopping a finger on Flo’s snout.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLSekQkewC
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CZ0GeeK7B
She looks up and chews her lip. “Oh, I’d say… 10 minutes? Maybe 5, if Bobbi can convince the horses to go faster.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2FrmjoIua
There’s the sound of yelling outside the carriage and we pick up speed suddenly. Ama smiles. “5 minutes.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFvv5JABPS
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TvXtKW2w8
Klef blinks once, snapping to attention. “I’m awake,” he says. “I’m awake.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaQfWlO7YS
“Barely. How much sleep did you get last night?”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdNxl2SziT
“Ugh. Not enough,” he groans. “I feel like death.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6JuMZmdO2
“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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQIbAVnnF1
Lightning cracks a mile or so behind us, and everyone jumps. Ama groans. “Looks like we’ll be using my magic to teleport. Great.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsD4eEP9dc
Rythe groans in response. “Ugh, but teleporting makes me sick to my stomach.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9Te2kodXT
Ama shrugs helplessly. “If it helps, I doubt I have enough in me to take us all directly to the base.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQdjuCdRUM
“Could you use some of my Sight as sort of a boost?” I ask.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5DRhZY2lA
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?”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3p9EtzYLDz
Ama nods slowly. “I might know how to do it… it might be painful on your end, though.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgjR2LeWvZ
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.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzTUesfq8M
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.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtLfucuCnr
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.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzxvrcxb2X
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Vr37T0bBR
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvRj30dRFV
I shrug. “Eh, nobody’s trying to kill us yet, let’s see where this cave takes us.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkh5A2kjpp
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaM1xT3mpIA
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.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWmQbAa6hp
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlhZQIGfDl
Klef looks down at me innocently. “I know, Ride.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4ACN4J6IT
I narrow my eyes. “I know what you’re doing. Stop patronizing me.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZ8WNIBMMm
“Me? Patronize you? I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Klef laughs, continuing to move forward and upward.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzyFn0R0cK
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!”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUBNmKsahK
“But you wanted to be my protector so bad, and I didn’t want to hurt your feelings!” I tease.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEFPJ7mbGv
“What?” Flo asks from behind me.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjPPrN9U7C
“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.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3abrd2Mfc
“It’s not that they did that, it’s that they said those songs were the real ones!” Klef calls down.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0zBvSx5j1
“Hey! Is that my favorite thief I hear?” Ank calls. “You’re not still mad at us, are you, Klef?”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaIb2rFEew
I giggle as Klef pulls a face and glares at me. “This is your fault,” he mutters half-heartedly at me.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGKExBzMhq
“Why, I have no idea what you’re talking about, Treble,” I tease.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaY3Sfg1lT
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?”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblmts37apg
“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.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdD1z2RLzJk
“Ugly?!” Ank asks indignantly.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c3CHChhfv
Klef grins. “Like I said, hard feelings.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOERrAwksT
I walk up behind him with a smile. “Long time no see, Ank.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxoORMcxyN
“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?”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0zDozO8ag
“Shut up!” I laugh. “Just Miss, thank you very much.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbg4bPFnVK
Ank clucks his tongue. “Shame. I was hoping you had found a man who would treat you right since we met last.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AzwyS00jv
“I never said I was still looking, I just said I wasn’t married,” I point out to him.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOSEpzz39C
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?”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ726IFDwRHl
“Depends on your definition of settling,” I say vaguely. “Half you crew wouldn’t seem to think so.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKJRqI6fKF
Cheers erupt around the room. I hold up a hand. “And Geo treats me right.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYI3P5SOMV
The other half starts cheering, and Ank shakes his head at me. “You, my dear, are devious to the extreme.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEA6o6T0Ppl
“Thank you,” I say with a curtsey. “I’m glad you think so highly of me.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRVfyv4BFL
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.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSaS7bufHK
I sigh. “Yeah, sure, fine. Tell ‘em.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyPCc4WxOD
“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!”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuA6X1gxHiD
I nudge him as soon as the room erupts again. “Did you have to phrase it like that?”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMEi61XbNU
“Did you have to say Geo?” Klef retorts.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4fe3sE9Tt
I roll my eyes. “You. Are. Ridiculous.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5M65i6pbw
“Thank. You,” Klef says, turning and leaning towards me with a smirk.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriOUtKpukI
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?”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBXqT6oyht
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.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7ihgKWJAX
I nod. “You’ve got it, ma’am.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAEFiegtP2
She nods and leaves, and I take a shallow sip, coughing slightly. “Strong,” I rasp. “But it’s not bad.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fMGdLYgFe
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.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkzpDocZmL
I nod and laugh a little. “Thank you for the offer, I’ll keep it in mind.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJSt8qGwnF
Klef’s lips twitch a bit as he sits next to me. “Can I have a sip?” he asks.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY29aJpy0Pi
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBP8aRibx8r
“That’s something alcohol will do, yeah,” I say, taking another sip.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsH3v5oX87
Klef glares at me and sulks on the counter, waving to the bartender. “Could I have a root beer, please?” he asks.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Kn8WKjQK3
I grin. “Aw, how cute. You’re still asking for soda as a grown adult.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMpL7DXU6h
Klef sticks his tongue out at me. “Root beer is good, no matter your age.”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmUG7yCYN1
I shake my head and take another sip of my rum. “Agree to disagree,” I mutter.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Y8cX05Vl7
Ama walks over and sits next to us at the bar. “You two know what we’re doing next?” she asks.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAVurQ10Uk
“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?”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GArEcVu2H
Ama nods. “Maybe you have thought this through more than I originally assumed you did,” she admits.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9BjKty91g
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?”764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkESjXjFoJ5
Ama smiles.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6KgZ6Bm1z
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