I knew not where we were heading, but something about the landscape seemed familiar. We weren't heading towards the mountains, but away. Sebastian said he didn't know where we were heading, but I had a feeling he did and he wasn't telling me.
"Where are we heading?" I asked again for the third time that day.
Sebastian sighed. "I told you, I don't know."
"I can tell when someone's lying, Sebastian. I know you are lying."
He growled and mumbled something like, "She wolves and their heightened senses. Why did I leave my mountain?"
"Well?" I asked impatiently.
"Reytor," he said in a mere whisper.
I growled. "REYTOR? Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you even ask?"
He didn't say a word.
"Well?" I growled louder, jumping in front of him and glaring him down.
"Thorn," he said tiredly.
"Well?" I asked again.
He didn't answer, but turned his head sharply to the left of us. I started to ask again, but I caught the sound that had caught our ears- a high-pitched whistle. A fairy flute. A smile crossed my lips and his in sync. We had been hungry the last two days. Maybe they would at least allow us to have some of their food.
Sebastian and I walked towards it tentatively for we didn't know if they would welcome two Halflings. After all, they belonged to the Beautiful Blood class while we were Dark Bloods. We finally came into a clearing that held the wagons of the gypsy fairies. The boy stopped playing his flute and called for his father, but instead I sensed another Dark Blood. I smiled. If they were housing one, perhaps they wouldn't mind us.
When the Dark Blood stepped into view, he didn't even glance at us at first, but instead ruffled the boy's hair.
"Why did you holler?" he asked.
The boy pointed back at us with a bony finger, which finally made the Dark Blood look at us.
"What can I do for you?" he asked, walking closer.
He was handsome, but I couldn't place what kind of Dark Blood he was. If he was a Halfling, he had gotten really lucky. He looked almost completely human.
"I…" I started to stammer.
"We are starving," said Sebastian.
The boy swept his gaze to Sebastian as if he hadn't even noticed he was there before. "Follow me. You'll have to talk to our leader first."
He turned on his heel and started walking. Sebastian and I followed right at his heel. As we neared the center of camp, I smelled stew and warm bread. I licked my lips.
"Jaspen, who are they?" asked a small girl.
"Travelers in need of food," he said, looking down at her. "Is Bowie around?"
She nodded.
"Will you go find him for me?" he asked.
She nodded again and ran off. It was obvious that she was smitten by him, but it was also easy to see he wasn't interested.
"So um… May I ask you something, Jaspen?" I asked.
He cocked his head to one side, obviously amused for a small smile played on his lips. Was it possible he would be more infuriating than Sebastian?
"Aye?"
"What kind of Dark Blood are you?"
His smile fell and Sebastian slid himself in front of me as if he expected Jaspen to hurt me.
"She didn't mean anything by it."
He shook his head as if shaking away his bad feelings.
"I'm a Raksheesh," he whispered.
I had never heard that term before, but Sebastian bowed, pushing me to my knees. Was he a form of royalty?
"Forgive us," breathed Sebastian in a rush.
The boy gave a slight smile. "Rise. Forgive you for what?"
Sebastian helped me to my feet.
"Your kind helped create us- the Halflings," said Sebastian. "And forgive us for not showing the proper respect."
"I'm a half demon, boy. I'm not a full blooded."
From what I was picking up, "Raksheesh" translated into half demon. The way he said it, it was as if he was seen as less within his culture too. As dark as his skin was and with his odd tongue, I knew he wasn't from around here.
The girl returned with an elderly man, who I guessed to be Bowie.
"You two must be weary," he said with a voice like two grinding rocks. "Please help yourself to some stew while I talk to Jaspen. Zoë will help you get settled."