“I wish you had found me years ago.” She breathed heavily, her lips only inches from his.
“I wish I didn’t have to leave.” Ralis sighed as he looked up at her. She had positioned herself atop him and rested her hips temptingly across his lap.
She frowned at the reminder. “You don’t have to leave. You could stay here.”
Ralis felt his heart ache at the comment, he wanted her to understand but there was no way he could without revealing the details of his quest. “It’s not that simple.”
It was clear that she didn’t like his answer, but instead of pulling away she leaned in closer and whispered seductively into his ear. “What does she have that I don’t?”
Ralis blinked, not sure what Raigh was insinuating, but was spared answering as a knock sounded against the wooden frame of the wagon’s door.
Raigh hardly pulled away as she called out. “Busy.”
“We need to talk to Ralis.” He recognized the voice of Amri at the door and hurriedly sat up. An action which almost knocked Raigh to the floor.
“One second.” Ralis replied as he pulled himself from under Raigh.
She frowned with frustration as Ralis quickly straightened his pants and ran his fingers through his hair a few times. As he worked, she adjusted her own hair and clothes with irritation. Finally, Ralis went to the door and pulled the curtain aside, then opened the iron bars. Amri was precariously standing on the stairs of the moving wagon while the other walked alongside it.
The inside of Raigh’s wagon was small and quickly felt crowded as everyone climbed inside. Ralis frowned as he noted the concerned looks on his friend’s faces. Miri especially looked worried and her eyes continually flicked over to Raigh, who sat with her arms crossed on the bed.
“Is everything alright?” Ralis asked as he also took a seat on the bed to make room for the others to stand.
“We cannot go to the roadhouse.” Miri said. She had finally pulled her gaze away from Raigh and settled it on Ralis instead.
Ralis frowned, he had been looking forward to his first performance, but it was Raigh who spoke up for him. “Why not?”
“It is dangerous.” Miri answered as she looked at Ralis, her expression was trying to tell him something more than her words did, but he shook his head slightly, not understanding the deeper meaning.
“Miri has a bad feeling about it.” Amri offered, in an attempt to help Ralis understand.
“I don’t know what it is you’re running from, but I promise that you are safe with us. No one messes with the Carnival of Dreams. Have you seen those brutes that Ringmaster Vergo employees?” Raigh sighed in frustration.
“Miri had a… bad dream.” Ezra was finally the one to make Ralis realize what the others were meaning. Miri had a vision.
“How bad?” He asked now with the same concern as the others.
“It was truly awful.” Miri answered, her mouth had been pressed into a thin line of concern.
“Do we have to leave?” Ralis cast a longing look towards Raigh, he wasn’t ready to leave her yet.
“I do not think so, we need only avoid the roadhouse.” Miri answered.
“Are you really going to miss out on your first performance because of a bad dream?” Raigh looked to Ralis with confused shock.
Ralis sighed, he wanted to tell Raigh everything. He trusted her with the truth but from the way Miri glared at Raigh, he doubted that she did. “It was only going to be a practice anyway; I’ll get my real chance in Goldwyn.”
“It would be safest if you are able to convince the caravan to avoid the roadhouse altogether.” Miri now crossed her arms with a little frustration in her voice.
“If there’s money to be made somewhere, there is nothing anyone could say to make the Ringmaster avoid it.” Raigh glared at Miri. “It’s just a roadhouse, they aren’t even that busy usually.”
“Perhaps we should leave.” Miri then challenged. “We do not require the caravan to get to Esper.”
“Fine, Ralis doesn’t need to perform. We’ll just say he’s not feeling well or something.” Raigh continued to glare at Miri.
“Thank you.” Ralis offered as he rested a hand on Raigh’s shoulder. He hated the tension that was stifling the room. He looked to Miri and gave her a soft smile. “We can stay outside in our tents.”
“It would be best if we are not seen at all.” Miri replied, her expression still stern as she locked eyes with Raigh.
“In that case, Raigh could we stay in your wagon for the night? So that we’re out of sight.” Ralis asked, all too aware of how tight a fit it would be.
“Seriously?” Raigh then turned her frown on Ralis and pulled away slightly from his hand, a gesture that stung. “What is actually going on here? What aren’t you telling me?”
Ralis looked to Miri pleadingly but she only looked away with a stubborn frown.
“Ralis do you trust Raigh?” Ezra asked, exasperated.
Ralis nodded.
“Miri gets visions of the future.” Ezra finally answered surprising everyone.
“Ezra!” Miri snapped and turned her glare on her.
Ezra shrugged. “It’s not the end of the world if she knows and lying wasn’t getting us anywhere.”
“So that’s what it is.” Raigh mused, her expression softened almost into disappointment.
“Promise you’ll keep it a secret.” Ralis asked, turning to Raigh. “If anyone finds out our lives will be in danger.”
Raigh looked up at Ralis. “Even you?”
Ralis nodded.
“I promise to try, I can’t do better than that.” She looked away with a pained expression.
“Try?” Miri blinked. “You must keep this secret!”
“That’s the best I can do ok!” Raigh snapped as she stood and glared at Miri. Then she took a breath and looked over the group curiously. “So, something bad is going to happen at the roadhouse?”
“Only if we are present. There should be no trouble otherwise.” Miri confirmed, her face flush.
“We can stay here right Raigh? Just for the night.” Ralis asked again.
Raigh took her seat on the bed again with a nod. “For one night. I’ll get a room at the roadhouse.”
“You don’t have to do that.” Ralis frowned, he hadn’t meant to put her out.
“It’s going to be crowded in here, even if I sleep elsewhere.” Raigh answered.
“It’s so small in here I don’t know how you sleep normally.” Ezra teased in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Raigh smiled at the opportunity. “I’m sorry your highness, if you have trouble sleeping you could always try the bear or the lion’s cages, they’re much roomier.”
Ralis was taken aback by Raigh’s comment but shook off the shock of it, there was no way that she knew that Ezra was actually a princess. The others were not as quick to cover their surprise and Raigh raised an eyebrow at the strange reactions.
“Your friends are so strange Ralis.” She decided to tease rather than question it further.
“You’re not very normal either.” He laughed back.
“Too true.” She smiled proudly.
“Well it’s settled, we’ll come back here before we get to the roadhouse then leave in the morning after we’ve passed it.” Browen confirmed.
Everyone agreed.
Shortly after Miri, Amri, Ezra and Browen departed from the small wagon, Raigh moved to drop the curtain once again over the barred door. Alone again, she relaxed and returned to the bed where Ralis waited.
She looked him over curiously for a moment then noted. “You didn’t mention that when you were telling me about yourself.”
“Which part?” He asked, confused.
“That Miri can see the future.”
“It’s supposed to be a secret, and it isn’t
really my story to tell.” Ralis replied, with a serious expression. “She is the last of her people born with the gift of Sight.”
“Is that why you’re going to Esper?” Raigh asked as she moved her finger to draw abstract shapes on Ralis’s firm abdomen.
“That’s part of it.”
“And what’s the other part? Why can’t you tell me?”
“I want to… but I can’t…” Ralis moaned in frustration, he felt torn between two forces.
The sound seemed to excite Raigh who once again pulled herself atop his lap. “You know all of you could have a place here, not just you. If Miri really can see the future, she would make a killing as a fortune teller. We had someone who did that for a while, Karrenna. She couldn’t actually see the future, but she was damn good at lying about it, until one day she said the wrong thing to the wrong person. I haven’t seen her since.” Raigh looped her arms around Ralis’s neck, her hands now playing with the edges of his sensitive wings. “But if Miri is the real deal then she shouldn’t have any problems like that. Then you could all stay with us instead of going to Esper.”
“I’ve told you that it’s not that simple.” Ralis couldn’t help but close his eyes in delight as she played with the sensitive skin of his wings.
“What is so special about Esper?” She asked again, she seemed perplexed that he didn’t want to stay with her and Ralis didn’t blame her.
He sighed deeply at not having an answer for her.
“Never mind, forget I asked.” She leaned over him and brushed her lips playfully against his. “We only have a few hours left alone, let’s make them count.”
It was already dark by the time they neared the roadhouse and Miri, Amri, Ezra and Browen returned to Raigh’s cabin.
“The Ringmaster isn’t going to be happy that you’re not performing tonight.” Raigh sighed as the wagons finally stopped in front of a large building.
“I will in Goldwyn, I promise.” Ralis confirmed.
“I’ll bring you guys dinner when I can. Try not to trash the place.” Raigh laughed as she left them alone in her wagon.
“How are we supposed to sleep in here?” Ezra asked as she looked at the one very narrow bed with a frown.
“We’ll figure it out.” Amri had already found a place on the floor and had leaned her back against the door of a tall cupboard. She patted a spot next to her and Ezra joined her with a sigh.
“What exactly did you see in your vision Miri?” Ralis asked, finally alone to ask deeper questions.
“We arrived here; it looks exactly like my vision.” Miri shuddered as she looked out at the roadhouse. “And you… you performed on the stage inside, it was very beautiful, and everyone loved it.”
Ralis beamed sadly at what could have been.
“We were sitting at the back when these cloaked figures attacked us. They were not soldiers, but they were well armed and trained to fight. They knocked each of you unconscious and then put us in shackles. Then they dragged us out of the roadhouse.” Miri wrapped her arms around herself and leaned her back against the wall of the wagon.
“That must have been awful to see.” Browen sympathized.
Miri didn’t respond but continued to look watchfully out through the barred door.
“Bounty hunters most likely.” Ezra commented. She idly ran her fingers over the flaming tattoo on her left arm. “We should be careful about letting people see our faces. My mother will have certainly put a huge bounty on us. And her spies are everywhere.”
“But she only knows what you look like.” Amri stated, a little doubt in her voice.
“Me... and likely Browen.” Ezra replied. “The rest of you should be safe. Other than basic details, the Queen doesn’t know what you look like.”
“I hope my family…” Browen couldn’t finish the thought as he looked down.
“We don’t know that anything has happened yet.” Ezra smiled sympathetically. “Lord Farris Serrelli is really good at getting out of trouble, I’m sure he figured out a way to keep himself and your family safe.”
“I knew that there would be consequences to my leaving…” Browen sighed heavily. “I told Forrens, my teacher, that I was running away… um… it doesn’t matter. I thought that would be the end of it.”
Ralis knew the fear that Browen was feeling. He had felt it more often than anyone should have to. Every time his mother left to buy or sell in the town, he wondered if that would be the last time he would see her.
He stood from the bed and stepped over Ezra and Amri to the place where Browen stood. Wordlessly they looked into each other’s eyes, then Ralis embraced Browen. He knew that there was nothing that could be said that would take away the pain, other than confirmation that his family was safe. Browen embraced Ralis back tightly.
“You’re sure we’re safe as long as we’re in here?” Amri asked Miri, allowing the pair their moment.
“I am not certain, but the danger of the vision occurred inside. Either way it is safest if someone keeps watch.” Miri responded as she stoically returned her gaze back towards the roadhouse.
Ralis and Browen pulled away naturally and Browen smiled thanks to Ralis, who nodded with a kind smile of his own.
“Who gets the bed tonight?” Ezra asked with a yawn.
“I don’t mind sleeping on the floor.” Ralis offered, taking a seat beside Amri.
“Miri, why don’t you take the bed.” Amri added. “You look like you could use a good night of rest. I can take first watch tonight.”
“I do not want that bed.” Miri replied, her gaze was locked on the outside world.
Ralis frowned and could not resist the question that rested on his lips. “Why don’t you like Raigh? She’s been nothing but nice to us.”
Miri didn’t answer.
Ralis sighed. “Is it the same reason why you didn’t like me when we first met?”
“What? No.” Miri turned to look at him flustered. “I… something… something about her simply…”
“Rubs you the wrong way?” Amri asked, eager to be done with the awkward question.
“That is it, although I would not have put it so… plainly.” Miri frowned. “I am sorry Ralis, if you thought that there was a time that I did not like you…” She then blushed furiously. “I like you as much as I like all of the chosen.”
Ralis smiled, their relationship had been strained upon first meeting, it had not helped that his magic had charmed her into being awestruck with him for several days. It was nice to hear that the tension between them had been imaginary, although he wondered why he had thought that she hadn’t liked him.
“If no one else wants it, I’ll take the bed.” Ezra volunteered moving stiffly from the hardwood floor to the narrow but soft bed.
Ralis smiled at each of his friends. Growing up, his mother had been his only friend. He had lost one but gained four more, four friends that he would fight to his last breath for.
Chapter Eight
Browen
It was a tight fit in Raigh’s wagon, but after some shifting, they all eventually found a place to sleep. Browen was surprised at how well he slept, even with the brief interruption he had in the middle of the night to keep watch. He sat up with a stretch as he woke that morning. Ezra had taken the last watch that night and was broodily seated by the door. Her focus wasn’t on the potential dangers outside, however. She held her right hand, palm side up, before her and four small rocks juggled smoothly in the air above it. Black and green tendrils of magic coiled around her arm and moved through the rocks as she focused on them. Ezra’s eyes flicked towards Browen as she noticed his movement and the rocks fell back into her palm as the magic dissipated.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt you.” Browen offered with an apologetic smile.
Ezra sighed and looked back at her palm again. After a second of concentra
tion, green and black shadows twisted from her and again the rocks floated into the air to spin around each other in an intricate dance. Browen had only ever seen Ezra’s magic used in the most destructive of ways and it was entrancing to see just how delicate it could be.
“It helps.” She answered coldly before Browen could ask the question.
“Helps with what?” He asked instead as he watched curiously.
“Keeping my mind focused.”
It wasn’t long before the others woke and shortly after that Raigh arrived with a breakfast provided by the inn. The six of them ate in mostly strained silence and it was a relief when the caravan began moving once again. As was agreed the night before, they left Raigh and Ralis alone in the wagon once they had put some distance between themselves and the roadhouse.
They covered significantly more ground over the next few days as the caravan followed the road towards Goldwyn. While the travel was boring, the evenings were filled with activity. The performers delighted in having fresh eyes to try their acts on and there was always delicious food and drink to be enjoyed. Slowly they met more members of the Carnival of Dreams and yet somehow every night there were new faces. Regardless, Miri was overly insistent that they keep to themselves as much as possible and Browen was not able to mingle as much as he would have liked.
From a distance they watched the family of acrobats perform complex flips and rolls using each other as springboards and obstacles to volley over. Skiv was always playing with his knives whether anyone was watching or not. Browen couldn’t believe the expertise in which he juggled the deadly blades. Gram, after a few drinks, could easily be talked into showing off by literally picking up one of the horses and holding it over his head. Jei kept mostly to herself but one evening she treated them to a magic performance. It was different from Ezra’s magic in that it was not so flashy or obvious. Her tricks were subtle, if you blinked you could miss it, and it was in the subtlety that the beauty of them could be found. Skhr’rahj even brought out the lion and bear that they kept and showed a few of the tricks that they had prepared with the animals. It was terrifying to be so near such deadly beasts but Skhr’rahj insisted that they were safe. And of course, through it all the musicians would play their lively songs, more often than not with Ralis joining in at some point.
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