SECOND DRAFT: Hard Bank Left

25

"Put her down this instant."

Celeste's gaze snapped from Tawni to the source of the intrusive voice. She found herself staring down the long narrow barrel of an elegantly crafted handgun. This entity wasn't giving Celeste much of a choice as to what her options were. Letting go would rescue Krys faster. Releasing Tawni's neck, Krys turned to face the new threat.

Before her stood a fine, elegant woman with flowing black hair and an oval face. Her nose stood out prominently, but not distractingly. Her thin, fine strong frame carried an arrogant sort of weight, one draped in knee high boots and a white hooded blouse. Two figures stood a slightly more dominantly framed woman carrying what appeared to be a child. Celeste paid them no mind.

"I don't know who you think you are," said the woman with the gun, in a light French accent. "But that is not the way we treat our hosts."

Celeste sneered. She wasn't aware that she could sneer. It felt satisfying. "It is if they're torturing my friends."

The gun cocked.

"That probably wasn't the best choice of words," chimed the Graham in her head.

"If your friend is being tortured, there's probably good reason for it. So I ask you: Who are you and what are you doing in this camp?"

Celeste waited, thinking carefully over her response. "I came here seeking my friend, Kryseis Pride."

The hand with the gun started to shake. "Do you know Graham Cern?" the woman asked.

Celeste's breath fell short. "Y--- yes. I know Graham."

"Would he know you if he saw you?" This was a loaded question if ever there was one.

"It depends on how much he's forgotten about--. He's here, isn't he."

Celeste watched the woman's lips purse. She couldn't contain her excitement. Both of them, both of them here! Without another word, without waiting for a response from Tawni or the woman with the gun or the larger woman behind her carrying the child, Celeste dashed off in the direction from which she had heard the cry only moments before. Behind her, the woman with the gun knelt at Tawni's side, examining her with all tenderness. The woman carrying the child, turned to watch Celeste go. Celeste didn't care other than to note that she wasn't being followed.

She trusted Graham to guide her. The caravan never set up the same way twice, but they did follow a pattern. Krys would be near the shaman's vardo. The shaman parked near the healer, where they may take Graham if he were injured. If the state of that child told him anything, it was that Graham might be damaged. They headed south, where the shaman would have parked. Upon reaching outer edge of the first concentric ring of wagons, Celeste turned right, hesitated, turned herself around and headed the opposite direction. Graham directed her through a gap between the wagons, to the second concentric ring. They turned right again, this time coming to a wide alley between two wagons facing each other. Left, then right again through another, deeper alley, this one with three vardo facing each other lining it.

Warm lamplight pooled between the final two, illuminating a cluster of figures. One was sitting on the steps of a vardo, the other two were in a tight embrace. She could hear them clearly.

"Krys?" The voice belonged to Graham.

Celeste stopped. She could no longer move. Graham wasn't somewhere, he was right here, mere feet away.

The embracing pair split, one turned to him. "Yes?" That voice, so warm and familiar. How she had missed that voice.

Graham responded, "Have I ever hurt you?"