Key Element

Chapter 2

I woke up to the smell of cooking sausages. I smiled sleepily, but that was interrupted by a churning nervousness in my stomach.  Suddenly I didn't feel like I could eat anything. With a tired groan, I began to roll of the hammock. I gasped loudly as I realized too late that I had slept on the top hammock and I fell to the floor with a thud.             

  "ow" I muttered, I was not the first to do that, Eric had fallen from the top hammock a number of times. But having them on top of each other saved space. I was the last to wake up and everyone was outside. I stretched and got dressed. Lastly wrapping the scarf around my neck. Mother had said it was important that I wear it especially around 'non-wagon rider folk'. Today I'd visit a whole town of them, so I guessed I would need it.             
After quickly fixing my bed head, I stepped out into the morning sunlight. It was warm enough but there was a slight chill to the air, a sign that summer was ending.

       Mother, Eric, and Masha, we're sitting around a smoking fire pit, it's flames reduced to low burning coals. Everyone had already eaten their sausages, mine was on a stick leaning against a log, cold. But that was no problem, I sat down and with a hand full of fire roasted the sausage.

      I looked around the camp. Val was sitting on a stump, talking to her husband while he hung up the laudry. Denzel sprinted across, chasing the other kids laughing hysterically. And Delphi was showing a card trick to Tabitha, who was knitting something. It looked like a happy, ordinary day, but to me the day felt different and strange.  Today I would leave camp for very first time in my life.

       I had dwelled on that thought, that I didn't even notice right away that I had accidentally over cooked my breakfast and it was now just a black charred inedible chunk. With a sigh, I threw it to the ashes. I probably wouldn't have been able to keep it down anyway. I looked over to Masha, who was sitting across from me, "what are their names, my birth parents that is." I wanted him to tell me more about them. Masha seemed to think for a moment then said, "Their names are William and Sarah Selvit, and by now they would both be 39 years old." I thought for a moment, it felt odd that, if was never adopted, my name would be Riley Selvit. I decided I liked Riley Bec much better. "If not too much has changed, Sarah works as a seamstress and William runs a stand in the market where he sells vegetables from his garden." Mother told me a market was something where shops and stores were all in one place where people could buy things. It sounded like a lively place and was looking forward to seeing one. But then another question began to stir, and I just had to ask. "Why isn't it safe for me to leave the camp?" I'd said it louder than I had anticipated, and embers flaired from the coals unexpectedly. Masha sighed, "As long as you wear that scarf you shouldn't have any trouble." I could tell he wanted me to drop it, but I had to know more. "Why?" I asked. "Because of this?" I pulled down my scarf to show the birthmark on my neck. Masha nodded, "Not so long ago people felt threatend by those born with marks. It was a dark time, and many people died." He paused for a moment, "Nowadays the panic has died down but people are still wary." He stood up and stretched, "But if you still want to know more you're gonna have to ask William and Sarah. Let's be off." 

       While I saddled Cloud and Raji, Masha kissed mother goodbye. Eric came jogging to Masha's side, a small bag slung over his shoulder, smiling broadly. Masha held his shoulder, "No son, this is involving Riley's own, personal matters." His voice was calm and mannerly.

"That's not fair!" Eric exclaimed. "I want to go to the festival too!" Eric never did like not getting what he wanted, which is probably why he stole so much. Masha smiled and ruffled his hair, "We'll bring you with us tomorrow, if you finish your chores, and keep your mother company." He nodded over to Fala. Eric gave an exasperated sigh and turned, grumbling about me going to a festival while he stayed and did chores.

       After hugging mother goodbye, I hopped up onto Raji and settled into the saddle. From my tall view, I felt like a had a better view of of the town. Masha climbed up into Cloud's saddle, once he was on he was breathing heavily, "I'm not as young as I used to be." He said smiling. Raji sensing my excitement got restless. So, at a fast canter, we started toward Garred.