The shrieking white-haired girl turned towards them with a broad grin and burst into uncontrollable fits of laughter.

“Um, are you alright?” Karn spoke tentatively, half expecting the girl to burst into a shower of ash.

The sudden noise spooked the horse that shielded Karn from view, resulting in a cloud of dust, and Karn totally exposed in only his boxer briefs.

The girls stared wide eyed Karn struggled to keep some modicum of modesty.

"Oh, sorry!" the blonde said, blushing as she turned her face away, giggling.

Karn's face burned with embarrassment.

The other woman, however, didn’t avert her gaze. “He’s a bit skinny,” she commented, smirking as if she’d caught fresh prey.

"Um, can you look away for a second?" Asked Karn, shifting his weight uncomfortably under the scrutiny of her wild eyes. Grudgingly, the woman turned away with a roll of her eyes, while Karn worked furiously to clothe himself.

"I'm done," he said. Breathing heavily, he fastened a leather belt around his waist.

The two women faced Karn once more. Vague disappointment showed across the brunet's face while the blonde’s cheeks still flushed, but her smile widened as she examined him with green intelligent eyes. She came forward and handed the book over to him. "So, you are a Magic man?" she asked softly.

"Magic man?" Karn mumbled. Wondering why the book seemed not to affect her.

"You must be. I saw what happened to those men," said the brunette. "You also glowed when you killed the big man.” She then pointed to her face. “And you ended the ghost eyes."

Karn shook his head. "No. I'm... What’s ghost eyes?"

"You must be!" The brunette ignored the question and pointed towards the book. "You have a book of events. A power that only Magic men have. Are you a Warlock like the men said?" Her eyes kept darting between the book and Karn.

“I’m not magic, or a Warlock,” Karn replied with hands up in an innocent gesture. “I just got this book.”

The blonder searched deep into Karn’s eyes. "I think he’s telling the truth. In my hometown, there’s a man called Farlen, who has two books of events. Even though he is no sorcerer, he can use the magic."

"Well, I am not a sorcerer or a magic man." Karn walked over and reached for his torn bag. The main zip had been ripped, yet he quickly restitched the metallic teeth with the zipper and placed the book inside. "I've only had the book a short while. It brought me here."

The brunette woman's determination faltered as she studied his face. "I still say you are a Magic man."

"No." He sighed, frustrated at the spiralling conversation. "I'm a man. Nothing else."

The savage woman stood in quiet silence while the other just kept staring at him. The scrutiny was uncomfortable.

A rustle of leaves broke the unease as a concealed slave handler ran from cover and out of sight.

"We have to leave now!" the wild woman said urgently. "They'll be back soon. You, Magic man, I must take you to see my father. He must know you’ve banished the ghost eyes."

"What about me?" asked the blonde girl.

"Don't care. Begone, woman."

"My name is not woman." She snapped back. "It's Hope."

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Hope. Begone." Repeated the wild girl.

Karn stood back from the woman. The way she moved made the back of his neck tingle. Each movement she made revealed a hint of a hidden danger. She eyed the two of them and let out a sigh of frustration.

"If you wish to speak. My name is Ralina. Now, Magic man, we need to go!"

“Ralina?” Karn asked, a rush of realisation dawned.

She was Lyra’s lost Felren girl. No wonder she’s so wild, Karn thought.

She nodded.

“We saw your friend,” Karn spoke quickly. “Lyra told us she’s looking for you.”

Ralina studied Karn's face. “There’re coincidences, then there's this,” she paused. “Still, I should take you to my father.”

She turned, bounding to the wagon. With surprising ease, Ralina pulled herself on top and began impatiently sorting through a long wooden box.

"And what's your name, Magic man?" asked Hope. She stroked her blonde hair sheepishly as she spoke.

"Karn." He said back, giving her a slightly uncomfortable smile. The sting of embarrassment was still fresh in his memory. She tiptoed towards him with an exaggeratedly secretive step she leaned in close.

"Are you a Magic man? Really?" she asked in a whisper.

"Afraid not," Karn answered.

She leaned away with a look of feigned disappointment. She clearly didn't believe him.

“This will do,” said Ralina. She had found a rusty blade that had been crudely bolted together from scraps of metal. Karn stared at her in awe. The way Ralina was perched on top of the wagon made her look like a wild animal. She looked ferocious, with an expression of grim determination. She tied the blade across her back with a loose strap of leather and disappeared behind the other side of the wagon.

I wonder how the slaver caught her, wondered Karn.

“Here,” Ralina spoke, reappearing behind the wagon and tossed a short sword.

The metal flashed as it soared towards Karns who only just managed to snatch it before hitting the ground. Grimacing, he quickly switched the weapon to his other hand and held his wrist in the crook of his left arm.

Alec emerged unsteadily from behind a wooden wheel, surprising the two strangers with his sudden rocky appearance.

"About time you showed up," Karn remarked, his voice revealing his frustration. "How was your nap?"

The rock creature, bewildered by his surroundings, approached cautiously. "What happened?" he questioned, shocked.

Hope's eyes widened with excitement as she spotted Alec. "I found you!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her joy. "You're the Elementelet."

Ralina's ears perked up, her curiosity piqued.

Alec glanced at the blonde girl, slightly taken aback by her excitement. "Yes, I am, and the name's Alec."

Karn let out a breath of exasperation. “I needed your help back there.”

Alec scratched his rough stone head and sheepishly said, “sorry. I can’t control my core as well as I use to.”

Hope clapped her hands in glee, her face beaming with excitement. "Alec? I've been looking for you."

Alec studied her intently, trying to gauge her intentions. "Well, aren't you happy? You found me," he remarked, his tone tinged with a mixture of curiosity and caution.

Hope's smile faltered, replaced by a look of confusion. "Happy? What do you mean?" She looked genuinely puzzled. "Well, anyway, I've been looking for you for days."

Her smile returned as she knelt, extending a friendly greeting. Karn observed the exchange between them, growing increasingly confused. The rock Elementelet reached out his knobbly arm, which Hope eagerly caught in her own.

"Hope, why were you looking for me?" Alec whispered, his voice barely audible.

She briefly averted her gaze before responding, "Akana sensed you, but I don't really know what she means by that."

"Akana?" Alec questioned cautiously, intrigued by the name.

"I shouldn't say," Hope hesitated, her voice filled with uncertainty. "Akana said she's a secret. But you're an Elementelet, so I think it should be okay." She glanced at Karn and Ralina before leaning closer to Alec, whispering into his ear.

Alec's expression shifted, an unmistakable surprise spreading across his features. His bearing seemed to brighten.

"Ha!" Alec exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement. "This Akana really said that? We need to meet her then."

Karn interjected, his confusion evident. "We do?"

Alec nodded eagerly. "She's the one we've been looking for.”

“Ah.” Karn recognising that Akana must be the Elementlet they were walking towards.

“Well, it's very good to meet you, Hope! Are you in any condition to keep moving?"

Before he could finish his sentence, Hope scooped Alec up, her strength surprising given her small stature. "I'm obviously better now, since you two saved me."

Alec shook his stoney head, a grateful smile spreading across his face. "It wasn't me. It was him," he gestured toward Karn.

"Well, thanks, Karn," she said. "It seems we'll all be heading north together."

Before Karn could say anything, Ralina reappeared holding the harnesses of two startled horses.

Handing the reins to Karn, she commanded. "Get on. We've got to get going now. Those warriors will be back and out for revenge. And probably sooner rather than later. And I guess they will really want the magic man’s head."

"She's right," said Alec. "We should go with this Felren before it's too late."

"Go," Ralina ordered.

Karn nodded. His hand clasped the leather strap tighter, and with a groan, pulled himself up. Hope outstretched an arm with Alec atop her shoulder. With a firm grip, he grimaced as he hoisted Hope behind him.

"Follow closely. If you fall behind, you’ll get lost." Ralina said.