The wagon jostled just then, making the water in Marri’s tub slosh around.

“There’s not even that much water in here and it’s threatening to spill out!” she muttered.

Another large bump sent everyone swaying again, and looking around in alarm.

“Let me go see what’s going on.” Arden stood and stumbled along to the back opening of the covered wagon. Holding onto the wooden frame, he managed to lean out and around the covering to see the front of the vehicle. From what he could see, the dirt road was full of pits and strange ruts. Hauling himself back in, he told them, “I think something big drove over it or walked over the road after it rained, and then the mud dried all rutted and bumpy.”

“Ah, that makes sense.” Rowan nodded.

“My bandages will get all wet at this rate!” Marrina sighed. “Oh well.”

“We can change them when we stop later for lunch, or if enough water splashes out of the tub.” Serha told her.

“Alright. Thank you.” Marri murmured.

“I guess we’re in for a long, bumpy trip. Might as well try to make the most of it.” Irving sighed, shifting into a squirrel and going to sit on Rowan’s flank, where he curled up and went almost immediately to sleep.

“If we do the same, it’ll pass the time more quickly.” Rowan said, stretching.

“You can always sleep!” Marri laughed.

“Yes, yes I can!” the centaur grinned at the mermaid. He shifted carefully, taking care not to disturb the already sleeping Irving-squirrel as he got comfortable. “Wake me when it’s time for lunch.”

“We will if we can.” Marri snorted.

“You are a pretty hard sleeper. If we can’t, we’ll keep your lunch for you until you wake up.”

“Alright.” Rowan yawned, closing his eyes.

“I guess that’s a good idea.” Serha sighed. “It’s not like there’s much to do whenever we’re riding.”

“No, but that’s okay. It’s better than being stared at. And Meeks doesn't like it when we nap while on display.” Marri rolled her eyes.

“I guess we’d be too boring if we did! No customers would want to come watch us if we slept all the time.” Serha smiled a little as she pulled her seal-skin over herself like a blanket and laid down.

“Yep.” the mermaid sighed.

Soon it was quiet.

“Why don’t you try and get some rest?” Arden asked her. “I’m sure more sleep will be good for those injuries.”

Marri sighed and leaned her head back against the edge of the tank. “I wish I could. But the water sloshing around is a little too distracting.”

“I’m sorry.” he murmured.

“It’s alright.” she shrugged. “I’ve been able to rest a lot the last couple of days anyways, so it’s no big deal.”

“Still.”

“I’ll be fine, I promise.” she paused, “But you should try and sleep, if you want.”

“No, I’ll stay awake and keep you company.” he smiled at her.

“Yeah?” her gorgeous azure eyes crinkled at the edges when she smiled earnestly.

“Yeah.” He liked her smile. It was bright and sunny and she often showed it, despite her sad circumstances.

Gods, he wanted to bust her out of there. He wanted to bust them all out of there. But how could he do that without drawing attention? Surely Bellows and Meeks, and possibly others would try to stop him once they felt him using magic. It would take a lot of concentration to suppress the runes, too, so he wouldn't be able to fight off anyone trying to prevent him from leaving with Marri, either. And anyways, even if it turned out that he could suppress the magic of the runes long enough to get any of the captive fey folk out of there, suppressing runes in the past had always required him to keep in contact with the item that bore the runes in question, and he only had two hands.

Maybe somehow he could bust just Marri out, go get help, and then come back for the rest of them? Although even as strong as he was, it would be difficult for him to carry her the entire way to his destination. That said, he didn’t think he could leave the bright little mermaid behind when he finally left the circus in order to make his way back to the new base of operations.

Despite the short time he’d been around her, he was already entirely too attached to leave her there, even if he did intend to come back with help to free them all.

Lear would help him, and Winna too. Or rather, Winna would want to help, but given how late it was in her pregnancy, she wouldn't be able to, nor would it be safe for her to do so. But Lear would certainly help.

Arden knew he needed to come up with a plan to get Marri out of there soon, since he’d need to depart from the circus in order to make his way west to get to Winna and Lear’s home. Of course, taking action would require him to reveal himself as fey to her, at least, but that was okay. Lear would probably be okay with that, given the situation. He’d only be doing it in order to spirit her away from there, anyways, no one else would need to know until he went back for them all, and then they could all know. Because they’d be free.

Freedom. His mother hadn’t tasted freedom until far too late in her life. She’d been just a shell of her former self once she did have her freedom.

“Hey, are you alright?” Marri’s concerned voice broke into his thoughts.

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Arden jolted in surprise, shaking his head, “Sorry. I was wool-gathering.”

“You okay? You looked…really distressed, or something.”

He sighed, “I hate it that you all are captives. It’s upsetting.” That was the honest truth. It upset him greatly.

“Oh, that. Yeah. Well, you can’t do anything about it, so don’t worry too much about it. Although I do appreciate that you hate it for us. We all do.” she motioned at the other fey in the wagon with them, meaning all the fey folk in general.

“That’s not how it works.” he said softly, “But I’ll do what I can to help.”

“I know.” Marrina smiled at him.

“Can I…ask you a personal question?”

She smiled broadly, leaning back and saying with a mischievous, suggestive giggle, “Oh, I wish you would!”

Arden felt his face heat. “Not like that.”

“Well, I’m an open book to you. Even if it was a ‘like that’ question. But only for you.” she leaned her chin on the edge of the tub, watching him expectantly with her lovely eyes.

The disguised half-fey man snorted, aware his face was still very red. “Thanks, I think. Just…if it’s too difficult, don’t answer. It’s fine.”

“Like I said, I’m an open book to you, Arden.” She was fey, so she couldn't lie either, so he knew she really meant it. He just hated the idea of accidentally hurting her in some way.

“How did you wind up here?” he grimaced and quickly added, “I mean, if it’s not too painful a memory.”

“Oh! My tragic backstory!” she straightened, clapping her hands a little and seeming amused. “Yeah, that’s alright! It’s a lot less tragic than some folks’ here.” she waved her hand absentmindedly at the other fey folk in the wagon. “I don’t mind talking about it! I was just a kid when it happened. I was very, very young, and very, very silly, and I was doing something my parents had always told me not to do. I was swimming in water fairly close to the surface. I think I’d been mad at them about something, so I was being a little rebellious…I didn’t see the net until it was too late. Next thing I know, I was hauled up and out of the water, and landed in a fishing vessel. Boy did those fishermen stare! Of course they didn’t want to let me go because they knew I’d be worth good money, so they took me ashore and sold me to the highest bidder. I was sold several more times before landing here, with Bellows. I knew very little about magic in general at that point, otherwise I might have been able to protect myself in the fishing boat. Learning siren-song came later. I can’t use normal magic, but the siren-song is enough. Or would have been, if I’d known how to use it sooner.”

“I’ve…never heard of siren magic being used quite the way you do.” Arden told her, frowning slightly.

“Well, everyone’s magic is different, right?” she shrugged a little.

Knowing he was showing he knew too much about magic, Arden shrugged as well, giving a non-committal, “If you say so.”

Marri smiled. “Once Rowan came, he helped me learn a lot more about magic. He’s obviously not any kind of expert on merfolk, but he at least knows magic.”

“How’d he get here?”

Sadness overtook her expression, “Bellows wanted a centaur, so he got a centaur. He paid fey slavers to capture one, and it was Rowan they brought. They attacked his home, and he fought them off hoping that his wife and children could escape. He’s not sure if they did, and Bellows will never tell him either way. But they’re not here. And he knows that his wife isn’t dead, at least, by the marriage bond they have.”

“I see.” Arden nodded.

“Serha was born into captivity, I believe, and was sold several times until Bellows bought her about five years ago now. Irving found himself in significant debt to another fey person and was enslaved that way. He was given to Bellows as satisfaction for some debt on his original captor’s account, presumably in that person’s place.” Marrina paused, then smiled, “So yeah, those are our sob stories. All of us captive fey folk have one, of course.”

“I imagine.” the fey soldier murmured. It made his own past seem cheerful and rosy in comparison, though he knew it hadn’t been a walk in the park either. “How do you all manage to stay so cheerful?”

“We’re all actually dead inside.” She snickered, “But it helps to not show it.” Marri paused, “And we do try to do what we can, where we can. Like when I moo at Meeks. Or when Irving sneaks in alcohol. Sometimes Rowan will tell the little ones bedtime stories. Serha will pick wildflowers she finds growing within the perimeters of the camp. And we all try to take care of one another. They’re all just small things.”

“Joy is in the little things.” Arden told her quietly.

Marrina was quiet for a moment. “Yes, I guess it is. Not that being free wouldn't bring joy, but you’re right, we find joy where we can right now, even if it’s just a stolen fraction of a moment.”

Arden reached out absentmindedly, putting his hand over hers and squeezing it gently. Her large blue eyes turned up to him, and it suddenly struck him that he was holding her hand. “Sorry.” he let go.

But Marri smiled a little, “I don’t mind. Not if it’s you.”

“I…am flattered. But right now the dynamic of me being free and you being captive is…not…not okay with me. Just because it’s a power imbalance in that way. A big, weird one.” he said haltingly.

The mermaid blinked, then broke into an even bigger smile, “And that only makes you even better! I know I’m really just a slave, but if I were free, there’s a phrase about a tree and climbing it in regards to a person, the person being the tree, I think. I can’t climb, given my general lack of feet, but…I think I’d give it a go, for you.”

Arden felt his face heat and he looked away, “Gods, woman.” He paused, then told her quietly, “I’d…probably let you.”

Marri burst into giggles. “You’re too precious for this world, Arden! I don’t know what fate brought you my way, but I’m so glad it happened!”

He knew she thought he was just a young, impressionable human man, and was enjoying flirting with him and seeing him blush, but he didn’t mind. He liked that it gave her something to smile about. It wasn’t every day he got hit on, either, being half-human.

What would she think if he did manage to get her to freedom? She would, of course, realize he was actually half-fey if he did. Would she still flirt like this then? Gods…hopefully she would. The confidence was altogether attractive. She was also admittedly, gorgeous, and really funny. Despite her saying that she had a cold, dead heart, Arden could see her warmth and kindness in her interactions with her eclectic family, as well as in how she treated him.

Forcing himself to be brave, he casually reached out and took her hand again, this time weaving his fingers through hers and telling her jokingly, “Maybe when I grow up.” He was already grown up, of course, so this was technically an untruth, but given it was a joke, it was fine.

A faint flush crept across her face, and she fanned it, “Shew. Keep that up and you’ll break my heart when you have to leave, Arden.”

“Maybe I’ll take you with me when I do.” he replied in a mild tone.

“I’d…like that.” She murmured, but tapped her tail so the metal ring clanked lightly against the tub. “But…I can’t. Bellows would never sell me. He’s too evil.”

“I know. I’ll figure it out. I wouldn't want to buy you anyways, even to set you free. That just…feels wrong, somehow.”

“Well, you don’t really want me anyways.” Marri shook her head, laughing, “I’m not even pretty, for a mermaid! I’m really kind of frumpy.”

“Yes, you are.” he told her, then frowned, realizing how his words could be misconstrued as him agreeing that she was frumpy, which made him panic a little. “Pretty, I mean. Not frumpy. I don’t think you’re frumpy. Not even for a mermaid. You’re pretty. Really pretty.” Now he was rambling, and his face burned hot once more.

Marrina’s cerulean eyes turned to him, a little sad. “I’m alright, I guess. But nothing special.”

“Yes, you are.” he paused, “I think you’re gorgeous, if it counts for anything.” She didn’t know that he couldn't lie to her.

She laughed a little, squeezing his hand gently, then letting it go. “Well, thanks. I appreciate it.”

He could see she didn’t particularly believe him. “It’s true,” he shrugged.

It fell quiet for a few long moments as the wagon rumbled on, rocking and swaying over the bumpy road.

Concerned that she was actually really upset and just hiding it with silence, he looked over, only to see that she’d closed her eyes and leaned back, her breathing easy and slow as she dozed.

Smiling a little, he shifted and lay down, quickly falling into an unexpectedly deep sleep.