Twist of Fate

Chapter 8: Silkrose Caravan

A/N: Skip the italic if you don't wish to read the song. I only added it to make the chapter longer. And by the way, this chapter wouldn't open before so I had to retype the whole thing again, so there may be mistakes. Thank you for reading.

I watched with glazed over eyes for what seemed like the hundredth time as Miss Malise performed her signature Dance of the Dragons. It was enchanting. Miss Malise was a beautiful woman with a gorgeous, smooth face, long shiny curls cascading down her back, and deadly curves that made the sacred dance she performed captivating even to a child's eyes. She was also the leader of the Silkrose Caravan, the caravan Zulén chose for us to join.

It had been four days since we joined the small group of fifteen other members. The Silkrose Caravan was more of a troupe than a caravan. They were a wondering group of wandering of performers that traveled all around the country. The group had a variation of singers and dancer of many styles that performed for their enjoyment and profit.

All the members of the caravan were talented in their area of expertise and it made me wonder. Why were Zulén and I accepted into such a group? I didn't know about Zulén, but I, obviously, could neither sing nor dance. And yet, they allowed us to enter the caravan. We had to work to earn our keep, but other than menial tasks, we didn't perform or anything. While even the youngest in the group, a ten-year-old girl named Ría, performed a dance.

Why were Zulén and I the exception?

"What's with the frown, Lareria?"

I jumped at the sound of the voice so close. I turned the person slowly. "M-Miss Malise?"

Without me noticing, the performance of the Dance of the Dragons had ended. Miss Malise had moved off the stage and slipped through the crowds of spectators from the village nearby watching her dance. She was still wearing her brightly colored layered dress that hugged her no figure and was fanning herself with paper fans she danced with. Swift as the wind, she had said as an explanation for them.

"Oh, its nothing," I sighed. "I was just wondering..."

Miss Malise looked at me with her glittering brown eyes surrounded by smokey makeup. "About what?"

I shook my head. "It's nothing."

"Really," she asked, tilting her head. "Then, come on. Let's go watch Leon sing."

She grabbed my hand and pulled me to get a better view of the stage. We sat on the low wooden rails of a nearby dark building. I didn't think it was the politest thing to do, but I had to admit, it was a spectacular view of the twenty-year-old Leon. He wasn't at all bad to look at and had a beautiful tenor voice that's resounding echo silenced the crowd.

I relaxed as I heard his beautiful voice and words. "Beautiful." It could be compared to songs from Europe, and had a calming affect that I never experienced before. The entire crowd swayed in tune with Leon's resonating melody. Though the songs I usually liked were more upbeat, Leon had my full attention.

"I wish I could sing like that," I muttered, closing my eyes to sway with the beat as well.

"Oh, do you now?" Miss Malise asked in a light almost mischievous tone.