A Coursing Passage (A Life of Magic Book 3) (6 page)

I sat there and stared for a moment while Raven looked shocked that the woman knew this information. "Why are you disclosing this now?"

"Ah, so you do not deny my words?" Her smile grew even wider. "Very good. Your master is sneaky, even when telling the truth he hides it. Yet he does so in an honorable fashion." Her expression changed and she looked at me with concern, "Do you intend harm to my people?"

I shook my head, "I intend no harm."

"Good. I disclose this information so we might have an honest discussion." She stood. "When your master returns have him bring you to Tulip's tent. That is me, Tulip. I wish to talk to all three of you and we need to do so in my tent." She walked away from the fire and into the growing darkness.

"That was unusual." Raven seemed to still be in shock at Tulip's words.

"Yes it was." I commented.

We sat there a few moments, simply enjoying the sounds of the camp. Stain could be seen leaving the large tent and heading our way. He walked up to the fire and sat down. "We will be leaving at first light and we will be behind Tulip's wagon." He looked at us and his expression changed to worry, "What happened?"

"Tulip was just here. She knows what we are and wants to talk." I pointed to where she had walked off.

Stain sat there a moment then asked, "When did she want to talk?"

Raven fielded his question, "When you returned to our fire."

Stain stood up and nodded, "Then let us go attend to her. Follow my lead." He pulled us both to our feet and we headed across the camp to a beautiful green tent.

***

"Come in and sit." Tulip's voice called out from within her tent. We entered and found ourselves inside a large tent made of a multitude of colors. Tulip pointed to three stools. "Sit and we shall talk." She was sitting on a stool and working with some yarn.

"My companions said you paid us a visit and wished to discuss matters of importance." Stain sat down and jumped right into why we were here.

"So very blunt. Yet devious." Tulip smiled. She turned to me, "So, did you have a good rest? After such a nap I would desire action."

I looked to Stain for direction, his nod let me know to go ahead and answer. "I feel too rested, as if I have been sick and must now recover."

She nodded, "Such is the way when you overreach yourself." She pulled out a medallion that rested around her neck. "Have you ever seen such an amulet?" She directed this to Stain.

He leaned forward and shook his head. "It's design is foreign to me. It reminds me of some I have seen, yet is unique." I could see his magic reach out and touch the amulet. The amulet sparked slightly at the touch. Stain looked startled. Tulip smiled a crafty smile.

"You underestimate me." She pulled the amulet over her head and set it down on the ground. Stain's eyes grew in surprise. We could all suddenly see that Tulip was a mage, a strong one by the look of it. "That amulet is something I shall teach you, that way you may stay safely hidden when you have need."

"So you know what we are." Stain stated this gently and dryly.

Tulip nodded, "Yet I allowed you to travel with us. Most mages who harbor evil and selfishness in their hearts would never pose as a healer. They pretend to be entertainers, sword masters, and the like."

Stain grinned, "And what kind of mage are you?"

Tulip's grin grew, "Why the worst kind. I am a seer. I see future possibilities."

Stain grimaced, "I have known seers. It is not a gentle gift."

"Yet, I have survived and tamed my gift. Which is one reason we were where we were when you arrived at the road. I saw the possibility of your arrival and felt that you would be interesting traveling companions." She looked pleased with herself at this statement.

"How did you manage such a feat?" Stain asked this gently, seeming to really wonder at her claim.

"I will teach you, so that you may add my knowledge to your's. I think we can help one another along the road." She looked over at Raven. "You I find interesting. I have never met a mage like you."

Raven blushed and grinned crookedly, "Neither has almost anyone else. I am a harmonic mage."

Tulip's eyes went round, "Truly?"

Raven blushed deeper, "I am. I just found out recently."

"I have heard of such a thing. Yet I have also heard it is rare." She looked at Stain and grinned, "I do not think it is you she resonates with." Stain chuckled and shook his head. Looking at me she stated, "You are a lucky young man. Does she also hold your heart?"

Now it was my turn to blush. "Yes she does." I choked out these words. Raven grinned and ducked her head.

Tulip noticed. "I can imagine your travels have been interesting." She stood and grabbed a pitcher of juice. She passed it around, "Drink, talking is such dry work." Sitting back down she continued, "I believe that you should travel with me and we shall share stories."

"That sounds like a good idea." Stain agreed with her. "I would love to hear your stories."

She smiled, "As long as you share equally." She gave Stain a wry grin, "Plus I would enjoy the company of an older man. All the other men in the troupe are too young and scared of me."

Stain grinned, "Well, I can promise you I am an older man." Raven and I both grinned broadly at this.

Tulip looked at all of us, "I feel that shall be one of the stories you must share, if your companions grins are any indication."

Stain nodded, "I will share what I may. I have oaths and vows that may restrict my tongue."

Tulip nodded, "That is understandable." She leaned forward, "Now, you seem to know a lot about my people. Our habits, beliefs, even how our camps are set up. Care to explain that?"

Grinning, Stain explained about the arrangement that he had made with the Travelers of our kingdom. He also pulled out a small token and handed it over to Tulip. She examined the token at length and finally handed it back.

"Well, that makes you a brother of the road. What of your charges? Have they been grafted in yet?" She motioned to Raven and myself.

Stain shook his head, "I had hoped to do so this next season. They were to be wed and I thought to do the in-grafting at the same time. They will be living lives much like your people, therefore I figured it would be a wise idea."

Tulip nodded, "That would be a reasonable idea." She leaned back and considered what Stain had said. "What skills outside of magic do you possess?" This she directed at Raven.

Raven thought a moment, "I have some basic smith skills and am working towards knife juggling mastery. I am fair with most weapons but excel with small blades."

"And you young man?" Tulip turned to me.

I grinned, "Well, I was raised learning wood lore and basket making. My uncle, a healer, made sure I had a working knowledge of his trade. I also learned some basic smith skills also, but in a sporadic manner."

Tulip smiled, "Very well. You both seem to know who you are. I think the match is well made." She looked at Stain. "I will let it be known that these two are betrothed, that way no confusion will occur. It will also keep the young idiots from making fools of themselves." She turned to Raven, "If any young men bother you, simply let me know. I will make sure they get warned." Turning to me she grinned, "Do not be deceived The young women will most likely pester you also. If there is a problem simply come and talk to me. I will address the issues." She looked at Stain once more. "And if you would like to share some tea in the evening I would enjoy the company."

Stain nodded, "That sounds most agreeable. Thank you for your intervention in my charges welfare."

She stood once more, "It is partially a selfish offer. Singles cause too many problems already. No reason for their to be more because they perceive attraction that does not exist. Now, it is getting later in the day. I must deal with a few matters. Thank you for your visit and your friendship." She ushered us out of the tent and with a few more words headed across the camp.

"An unusual woman." Stain muttered. He led us back to our tents. "We will be following behind her wagon during our travels. Occasionally one of you might drive her wagon so as to gain experience." He sat down beside the fire. "I would like you both to pay attention and learn how these people handle camp matters. The road is their life, much as it will be for the rest of yours."

"How was the visit?" Mophar asked.

I gave him a quick overview and he laughed at moments. "It seems as if she is a sneaky, old woman." Mophar finally stated. "I like that."

"I do also." Stain replied. "There are not enough good, sneaky people in this world."

We sat beside the fire, listening to the camp settle in for the night. People walked by on errands, some casting out greetings. Some also gave us sly looks and grinned.

"I guess word of the betrothal is making the rounds." Stain said after one particular group of young women walked by and giggled.

"What did she mean by a match well made?" Raven asked Stain.

"In a betrothal here they make sure that the couple compliments one another. Not just in feelings but also in skills and temperament She felt that your skills work well together." Stain looked between us, "I also agree. It is a good match."

Raven and I looked at one another and grinned silly grins.

"I am going to bed." Stain stood up. "Do not stay up too late, we start traveling tomorrow." He headed into his tent and we could hear him settling down for the night.

Raven walked around the fire and sat beside me. "I am glad everyone seems to approve of us. I just wish they did not feel that we had to have their approval." She leaned against my shoulder. "You have my heart also. Just so you know."

I grinned and leaned against her slightly. We sat there watching the fire deep into the night. Just enjoying the quiet and company. Finally, we both went to our tents and went to sleep. I laid there for a while until Mophar asked, "What is on your mind?"

I looked up at him, "Things change so fast, yet many things stay the same. I wonder what will have changed when I wake up tomorrow."

Mophar looked down at me, "It will be morning and you will be packing up this tent getting ready to head down a road to a city you have never seen." He summed it up nicely.

I grinned and rolled over, "Good night Mophar. Sleep well."

"Sleep well yourself." Mophar closed his eyes and went to sleep. I followed soon after.

***

The next morning I awoke to the sounds of people and animals bustling around. The rest of the camp must already be packing up and getting ready to move down the road. I roused myself and left my tent. The rest of the camp was slowly folding up and being packed into wagons. Stain and Raven were sitting near the fire, eating.

"About time you woke up." Raven grinned at me. She held out some food. "Eat, then we finish packing."

I sat down and started to eat. Most of their stuff was already packed and loaded on Tag or Evins. "When do we leave?" I asked Stain.

He looked up and smiled. "You still have some time. We will also help. We have enough time to take care of it." He looked back down at the scrolls he held.

I smiled and ate. The next bit of time was a blur of packing and loading. Finally everything was either loaded on Tag and Evins or in our own packs.

"Good. You are all packed." Tulip walked up to us. "You will be behind me today. My wagon is the blue one." She pointed at a round wagon that looked like a massive wooden tub was laid on it's side and had been painted all manner of blues by a blind artist.

"That would be hard to miss. I believe we should be able to follow it with little problems." Stain was grinning broadly.

Tulip stuck her tongue out at him. "My granddaughters repainted it for me. It is the Wind Wagon, as they put it." She smiled and turned to Raven. "Today you ride with me and learn how to handle the wagon and team." She walked off and talked to a few other people.

Stain stood there and watched her walk through the camp. "That is one unusual woman." He picked up his pack. "Ott, you and I will be walking behind the wagon while Tag and Evins follow us. We will be traveling all day with a short break at midday." He helped Raven to her feet. "You had better assume your place, I think we shall be leaving shortly."

Raven picked up her pack and headed to Tulip's wagon. Once there she climbed onto the driver's bench and settled her stuff. Tulip appeared on the other side of the wagon and started explaining things to Raven.

"We should move into position so that when the line moves we will be ready." Stain led the way over to Tulip's wagon, taking up a position behind the wagon. Tag and Evins moved behind Stain and maneuvered into position in front of a wagon that bore a resemblance to Tulip's. This one was painted with wildflowers, they covered every surface. A young man sat on the driver's bench and a few other people were still attaching things to the outside of the wagon. A team of donkeys stood ready to pull the wagon. They looked bored.

I looked around and realized that while there were many different colors of wagons, most looked about the same in shape and design. Each had been painted and had unique features, yet the overall look was similar. I mentioned this to Stain.