Calliope [Book 2]

Lily dipped her nose into the cool river, her tail swishing at the flies in the breeze. The water rippled away from her muzzle. The air was quiet and calm around her. She lifted her head and pricked her ears forward at a giggle coming from the tall grass just yards away. She nickered softly as her master came into view with the witch in his arms. They smiled and kissed each other’s noses. Lily returned her attention to the clear water before her, quenching her thirst once more.

Calliope watched the mare for a moment before resting her head against Mido’s bare chest. She sighed and ran her fingers along his body for a moment before pushing away and getting to her feet.

“Come on,” she said, feeling anxious to continue their journey.

Mido groaned and pushed himself to his feet, stretching his arms above him.

“Can’t we just take our time and enjoy ourselves?” he said. “We’ve been traveling for over a month now.”

“Doesn’t that make you anxious to see something?”

Mido held his arms open in exaggeration. “There’s a whole world here for us to see.”

Calliope smiled. “Exactly. And we’ve barely touched it. I want to see people. Houses. Villages. Kingdoms.”

Mido let his hands drop. “I don’t think I want to be involved in another kingdom,” he said carefully. “I like this renegade thing.”

Calliope slouched, her eyes pleading with him. She turned and made her way to the mare, patting her lovingly on the neck and cooing to her. Mido sighed and pulled his shirt on over his head.

“Do you even know where we are?” Calliope asked.

“Not a clue.”

Calliope fished through the saddle packs and pulled out the pages to Samus’s journal. She bent down and sat on the river bank, letting her toes wiggle in the water; she reviewed the notes as she had done almost every day since they left Librona. Mido sat beside her and looked over her shoulder.

“Samus had some drawings of wolves and ravens in here,” Calliope said. “It sounds like Scarletta’s mother could shapeshift into animals. I think Scarletta tried to learn how at one point.”

“Can you do that?”

Calliope shrugged. “I don’t know. There’s no mention here on how it could be done.”

“Try it.”

Calliope raised an eyebrow and met his gaze. “How am I supposed to try it?”

Mido shrugged. “I don’t know. You’re the witch. How does your magic work?”

Calliope looked into the clear water. “I don’t know. I never thought about it before. I just summon it inside me.”

“Then do that.”

She sighed. “It doesn’t work like that. I have to-” she hesitated in thought. “-think about it, I guess. I have to focus on what I want to do and, I don’t know, I just do it.”

“Think about being a raven. Or a wolf.”

“Okay,” she said, defeated. “I’m thinking. I’m thinking of being a raven.”

“That’s your thinking face?”

Calliope twisted her face into her most exaggerated thinking face. Mido burst into laughter.

“Oh good god I hope that’s not your thinking face.”

Calliope rolled her eyes. “Maybe there are other witches around here and we don’t even know it. Maybe they can teach me things.”

Mido stood and stretched an arm out towards her. “I think one of you is more than enough.”

Calliope smiled and took his hand as he pulled her up off the ground.

“Let’s go, witch,” he said. “I know you’re anxious to see a person other than me.”

“You have no idea,” she muttered.

Mido cocked her head at her and smiled. “Ow.” He helped Calliope into the saddle and mounted behind her, taking the reins in hand and nudging Lily forward.

“Don’t you miss it?” she asked.

“Miss what?”

“Librona? Ian and Maria and William?”

Mido was quiet.

“I do,” she said softly.

Mido tried not to think of the life they left behind. He still woke up sweating every night from the nightmares. Flashbacks of the war and Jon’s death continuously played through his mind and churned his stomach. Calliope turned to check on him through the corner of her eye. Mido smiled in an attempt to keep her from worrying.

“I try not to think about it,” he said.

“Well, I hope they’re all okay.”

“I think I see civilization,” Mido said, changing the subject and pointing. Ahead of them, Calliope could see the looming walls of a distant city. Little colored flags flapped energetically in the breeze. Mido urged Lily faster toward the city and it grew quickly before them. Calliope looked on in awe and excitement. They slowed as they neared the gates and were greeted by two guards.

“You two look like you could use an inn,” one of the guards said to them as they approached.

“How long ye been travelin’?”

“Over a month now,” Mido said.

“Where from?”

“We passed through Librona.”

The two guards exchanged glances. “Librona? That’s quite a distance. Didn’t care to take in the sights?”

“They’re in the midst of war.”

Another glance was exchanged. “Shit,” one said.

“Ye don’t hear much of ‘em, bein’ so far ’way ’n all.”

“What are ya names?”

“I’m Avery,” Mido said, and then gestured to Calliope. “and this is Sophia.”

“Well, Avery and Sophia, welcome to Corvua, the of the kingdom of In’audis. The Red Door Inn is just beyond the center of town. Can’t miss it.”

“The one with the red door.”

The two guards stepped aside, allowing the two travelers to pass through and into the bustling city. Mido thanked them as they passed and joined the busy city. Horses pulled carts through the streets as others trotted by with their riders. Merchants called to those who passed, encouraging them to buy their goods. Curious eyes looked upon the two strangers, greeting them pleasantly as they passed.

“And I thought Alryn was big,” Calliope muttered, feeling overwhelmed by the crowd.

“At least no one hates us here.”

“People only hate you,” Calliope corrected him. “They love me.”

Mido smiled and rolled his eyes. He guided Lily aimlessly through the streets, taking in the sights.

“Do you want to stop for the night?” he asked.

“A bed would be nice.”

Mido was quiet as he searched for the inn the guards had mentioned. He felt unsure of staying long in the city, but he knew Calliope would feel more at ease knowing they weren’t alone in the world.

“We’ll stay for a bit,” he said cautiously.

“Just a bit?”

“We’re on the run, remember?”

“We don’t have to be.”

“If Librona falls, Asmar will stop at nothing to find you. It wouldn’t be safe to stay in one place for long.”

“Librona won’t fall,” Calliope whispered. “I won’t let them.”

“You’re not going back there. It’s not safe.”

“I can help.”

Mido sighed. “We’ve had this conversation, Calli. There’s no way you can help without destroying Asmar. Do you really want to be responsible for that?”

“If I don’t, either Librona does, or they fall.”

“Let Librona deal with it.”

Calliope was quiet. She knew he was right, but she couldn’t help feeling responsible. She wished she could do something to help them. She felt lost and hopeless.

Mido helped her off Lily’s back; the little inn was just before them.

“I know you struggle with this,” he said to her. “Go get a nice big bed and I’ll see you in there.” Mido kissed her forehead and guided Lily into the nearby stables.