The Sorceress's Murderous Companion

Chapter 2: Kali

Kali took a bite out of a juicy, green apple with one hand while the other gently heated a pot of cooked rice. Her palm went red with flame, then cooled as she set the pot down carefully onto a laid-out towel. She wrapped a spoonful of rice and some cooked meat into a steamed cabbage leaf and traded off to eat at the wrap and the apple. She wrapped another as she finished hers and handed it off to Sophie.

Sophie sprinkled some sort of spice onto hers before taking a bite, careful not to let any crumbs fall onto the cushioned floor.

"Soph, you told me traveling would be fun. Everything here looks the same as it does back home." Kali drew back the curtains to watch the trees pass by as their caravan moved ever closer to Linlea. She was immediately homesick for Sylvan Hollow. "It's only been a few hours and I already miss it. I don't understand why Catherine sent me that message. As though I can help her deal with fire primordials? They're way out of my league."

Sophie drew an ugly carving knife from a holster at her side and started slicing apples. She smiled and gently put a slice of apple to Kali's lips. "Your sister knows you're strong and good with fire. If she thinks you can handle it, you probably can."

Kali opened her mouth to accept the fruit. "What about the changes?" She said, chewing. "You said the path to Linlea would be interesting and new. I just see the same old trees we have at home."

"The changes aren't immediate," Sophie said, chewing her own apple slices before wrapping more rice and meat into a cabbage leaf. "Trust me, in a little bit you'll get to see all sorts. Remember those blue pines I told you about? There'll be lots of those. And the terrain gets a little rockier too if I remember correctly." She chewed the wrap thoughtfully and swallowed. "If you'd like, we can stop when we reach the blue pines. It'll give us a chance to stretch our legs and explore a tiny bit." Sophie wrapped an arm around Kali and squeezed her into a tight hug. "I can't believe the only time you've been to visit your sister you slept through the whole ride."

"To be fair, Catherine lives in Alden Town, and now she's telling me to meet her in Linlea. And last time, I went by myself. I didn't have you here to keep me company."

Kali's hands found their way around Sophie's back and lingered in the warm embrace. "You think they'll let us stop for a break? Wouldn't they rather keep moving?"

Sophie put a hand over her mouth to stop a laugh, "Oh Kali, of course, they'll let us take a break. You think they don't need one as well? It's a long trip. Pam, that's our driver, she's the best. She and her usual crew, though the others who are on today aren't the usuals. Roland, I suppose, is with her on most occasions. They hang out at The Midnight Baker Cafe all the time. The other one, Thorn, I've seen him around a lot more lately."

Kali scrunched up her face, embarrassed that she hadn't remembered their names.

"Don't give me that look Miss Fire Hands, you're not the only one who's bad with names."

Their caravan had two wings on either side for the escorts to perch when they needed a break or the caravan was faster than their pace. Roland slumped against the wood, one foot stretched out, the other balancing him on the platform. Thorn was walking, and from the look of his pace, he was still going strong.

He caught her looking, grinned, and waved. Thorn had been sociable enough, greeting them at the hub, offering to take their bags to the front, and helping them up into the wagon. It was Roland who rubbed her the wrong way. He always hunched over and murmured too softly when they tried to talk to him. His face was stuck in a permanent scowl which Kali had to remind herself, was probably just his face and not how he felt about them. At least she hoped so. She rubbed at her arms and bare thighs, feeling suddenly cold and exposed.