Ash poked the last embers of their campfire as the sun was setting.
Luke finished wiping down a cast iron pan. “Thanks again for letting us travel with you Tasha.”
“Don’t mention it.” Tasha inspected the blades of the small wind turbines on the roof of her carriage. “I love meeting new people. It’s one of the benefits of traveling.”
Ave rolled out three bed rolls on the hillside next to the carriage.
The vehicle was parked next to a low stone wall that surrounded a field of hops and barley. Three small farm houses and a windmill could be seen on a distant hill.
Ave looked over at the door of Tasha’s carriage. “Eins? What are you doing?”
*Sniff*Sniff*
Eins sniffed the assorted junk in Tasha’s carriage. The dog turned and padded down next to Ave.
“Sorry.” Eins whispered. “I thought I smelled something.”
The dog helped Ave roll out the last bed roll. The canine sat down and tucked its feet under its fluffy body.
*Thunk*
*Clank*
Tasha was pulling on a moth-eaten sleeping pad that was trapped under a trunk in the cab of her carriage.
Ash knitted his brows together. “You don’t want to sleep in your carriage?”
Tasha yanked the bedroll out of the cab. There was a *Crash* from inside as something heavy toppled over.
Tasha grimaced. “Nah… it’s fine. Dust is bad for the skin.”
“Whatever.” Ash rolled his eyes. He sat down on his bedroll and made a pillow from his blanket.
Luke put away the cooking supplies, then stretched out on his bedroll. He looked at the last rays of sunlight over the horizon.
“Should be another clear day tomorrow.”
“You always say that.” Ash said.
“That’s because it’s true.”
“Except for every time it isn’t.” Ash snarked.
“Except for every time it is.” Luke parroted.
Tasha pulled a wooden case out of her carriage. She opened the case revealing a wooden frame holding multiple rows of ointments and salves.
“Do you get lonely traveling out here by yourself?” Luke asked.
“I’m way too busy to get lonely.” Tasha chuckled. “But it is good that I ran into you all.”
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Tasha warped her hair up. She began applying lotion to her face.
“There are rumors that people have seen Shadowbeasts on the roads.” She turned. Her face was smeared with dabs of cream. “They could be out there, right now, hiding in the bushes. Waiting to devour us.” She clicked her teeth. “Ha ha. Just kidding. Why do you guys look so pale? You shouldn’t believe those old stories.” Tasha went back to spreading the lotion.
“Heh, heh. Right. Shadowbeasts are only stories.” Luke smiled with painful effort.
#
*Cricket*Cricket*
Stars appeared in the sky overhead.
*Cricket*Cricket*
The four people and one dog lay down on their bed rolls.
“Tell us about Kaseihgaeu.” Luke spoke up. He looked over at Ave.
“Why?” Ave asked flatly.
“It’s your hometown. I thought you might want to talk about it.”
“Yeah. Tell us about it.” Tasha added.
“Haven’t you already been there?” Ave questioned.
“I have. But you don’t talk about yourself. I feel like I hardly know you.”
“That’s because we only met each other two days ago.”
“Is that right? It feels like so much longer.”
*Sigh* “There’s not much to talk about. Kaseihgaeu is a large town. Built on top of a hill. It serves as a major summoning center for the Kingdom. It shares a border with Franz to the north so it also gets a lot of tourists. Kaseihgaeu is known for having the finest luxury summoners in the Kingdom. You can find specialists for perfume, wine, clothing, all that kind of fancy stuff.”
Luke groaned. “Yeah, yeah, but what is the city like? All of the nobles used to tell stories. That there’s all kinds of gambling and betting. And that it goes on all night. The city never sleeps.”
“Yes.”
“So it’s all true.”
“Yes. The entertainment district uses diamond arc lamps to keep the streets lit even when the sun goes down.”
“That sounds amazing.” Luke imagined.
“That sounds annoying.” Ash assumed.
“What about you?” Tasha asked.
“What about me?” Ave countered.
“What was it like growing up there?”
“I had an… ordinary childhood. I had perfect attendance in school, no pets, and I never broke any bones. I received passing marks in literature and history, but perfect marks in mathematics.”
“What… about your family?” Tasha *Yawned*.
“My mother slices bread for a living and my father adds the glue to the back of stamps. I have a single brother six years younger than me. When I was fourteen I was apprenticed as a blacksmith. I made door knobs.”
Ave paused.
Luke’s breathing was deep and steady.
Ash took short quick breaths with the occasional snort.
Tasha whistled and drooled a little on her shoulder.
*Piter*Pat*
Ave glanced down. Eins’ dark eyes glittered with the stars as the dog curled up on her stomach.
Ave rolled her head back. She stared into the bottomless sky.
“When I was fifteen I graduated to making hinges. When I was sixteen I walked out of my parents house, down the road to the Guard station, and enlisted in the military. I was approved and sent off to training that day. I’ve never been back.”
Ave idly scratched Eins ears with one hand.
A heavy blanket of cool air rolled in under the dark skies and dragged her eyelids down.
#
*Scitter*Scrap*
The junk piles inside of Tasha’s wagon rippled ever so slightly.
*Scitter*Scrap*
♫“...close as clover, dead as doornails, pack the present glad and eager,
There’s no need to be dishearted, what you want the moon provides…” ♫
*Scitter*Scrap*