The Reader - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Emmeline was tired but she stayed up for the bonfire. It was a routine for her, she couldn’t miss it - no matter what. Besides, Newt was already pestering her about sleeping in and she didn’t want to make it seem like anything else was wrong.

But the boy’s Reading haunted her. 

The soldiers had seemed skeptical, but they had left without saying anything or even paying. Emmeline decided not to mention it to Master Zoro. 

“Everything okay?” Newt asked as he took a seat beside Emmeline. She moved aside so there was room on the blanket for him and drew her knees to her chest. Internally she was debating if she should tell Newt about the odd boy. Maybe he would know what to do. Or maybe he would laugh at her. It was hard to tell with Newt. 

“I’m fine,” Emmeline lied. “Just tired. It was a long day and you know how the Readings get to me.” 

She fell silent. It was always uncomfortable to talk to someone who wasn’t a Reader about Reader things. Newt would never understand what it felt like to have visions. He would never feel the weight of them pulling him down, not like Emmeline did. 

“Be glad you’re not a Royal Reader,” Newt pointed out. 

Emmeline shrugged, but she couldn’t help but agree with him. Sometimes a castle would kidnap and enslave a Reader to do Readings on whoever needed them. But Royal Readers were often mistreated and forced to Read the same person over again. The visions rarely changed and the Readers rarely lived. 

“How was your act?” Emmeline asked, changing the subject, although she was curious about how Newt had done. 

“Good, I suppose,” he shrugged, covering his failure yet again. 

Because they weren’t sure whether Newt was Cursed or Blessed, they could never be sure his act would work. He was supposed to summon a spirit - particularly one with a tie to someone in the crowd. But it never seemed to work for who he tried to summon. 

“This spirit didn’t try to kill anyone,” Newt continued. “But he was ugly and the woman he was summoned for cried so hard she had to leave.” 

That wasn’t anything knew, of course. “Anything else interesting?” Emmeline asked, knowing fully the answer would be no. The circus never had anything fun if you had worked there your whole life. At least she didn’t need Willow to write down her records for her anymore. 

“So,” Newt whispered, sitting even closer to Emmeline now. “You want to tell me what actually happened? What did you Read?” 

“What…” Emmeline said, trying to fake confusion. But Newt knew her too well. 

“I know what’s going on, Echo. We’ve been friends for longer than I can remember. So please stop lying and tell me what you Read,” Newt whispered. 

“Not here,” Emmeline told him. “I’m saying I need to go change my skirt because it’s too cold. Say you’re going to the bathroom and meet me in my trailer.” She stood up without a word and left. 

“Where are you going, Echo?” one of the other acts shouted after her. Emmeline turned to see Titus of Waelia watching her. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, which would’ve surprised anyone in the cold night air. But Titus was a Blessed and coming from Wailea meant he was immune to the cold and the heat. His body was always at the right temperature. 

“Changing my skirts,” Emmeline replied sweetly. The others began to mumble among themselves. 

Emmeline was always distant from them. Just like Newt, they would never understand what she Read and how she felt. Besides, she didn’t want anyone else asking for a Reading, and she knew they would want one. That was part of the reason Titus didn’t wear a shirt. 

Emmeline hurried into her trailer and shut the door behind her. A few minutes later, there was a knock and Emmeline let Newt in. 

Emmeline took a moment to light a lantern so it wasn’t completely dark and sat it on the tiny desk. Newt took a seat across from her on the cold floor, sitting upright to show he was listening. Emmeline couldn’t help but admire how she could always vent to him. 

“There was a boy,” she began quietly. “Escorted by two soldiers from the Green Kingdom. They brought him for a Reading but wouldn’t let me write anything down. I Read him and I saw death, destruction, war, and … myself. I lied to the guards when they asked and then they left.” 

Newt frowned. “I thought your Readings were always accurate.” 

“They are,” Emmeline protested. “I don’t know what to do. They boy looked so scared…” 

“We need to find him,” Newt interrupted. “The boy has to be special.” 

“How?!” Emmeline cried out. “He’s gone, Newt. I have no idea where the soldiers went.” 

“If they were from the Green Kingdom we know the boy will be somewhere in that general area,” Newt reasoned. “We could run away and find him.” 

“And search the entire Green Kingdom?” Emmeline raised an eyebrow. 

Newt thought for a second. “We’ll head to Ibeni. There we can find the Library of Knowledge and talk to Ibenily or a Blessed. They can tell us where to find the boy and then we’ll head out from there.” 

Emmeline thought about this plan. It seemed like it truly could work… “How close are we to Ibeni?” 

“Pretty close. Since we’re in the Crossover Forest we are actually really close. I’d say a day or so of travel and we’d be there,” Newt explained, tapping the floor.

“Our next stop is the border of Quigon and Ibeni,” Emmeline said out loud. “If we run away on the trip we’ll be close.” 

Newt nodded to himself. “Is this really that important to you?” 

Emmeline didn’t hesitate. “Of course.” 

“Then I’m coming too,” Newt smiled. “I won’t let you go alone.” 

“We leave tomorrow at sunset. We should be at the peak of our travels by then,” Emmeline stated. “That leaves all of tomorrow to pack.” 

Newt nodded. “Of course. Are you sure you want to do this? It’s just a boy, after all.” 

Emmeline looked straight at Newt, meeting his eyes with fierce determination. “He’s not just any boy. There’s something special about him. I can feel it.” 

Newt sighed, but there was a smile on his face. “Come, the others are probably wondering what’s taking us so long. But I’m definitely in. I’ve never been on an adventure before!” 

Emmeline wished she could share his excitement as they stepped out of the trailer. It was going to be a long journey to the Library of Knowledge. 

Even worse, how would she say goodbye to the only thing she ever knew - the circus? And Willow had always been kind to her. 

But Master Zoro hasn’t, Emmeline reminded herself. The boy needs you. 

So she followed Newt back to the fire, keeping her expression blank despite her excitement. 

The next morning was even more taxing on Emmeline and Newt. Since the circus had to keep moving it meant that the whole circus had to be packed up. Normally, the work was a challenge. But Emmeline and Newt also had to gather their supplies in private, which involved a lot of hiding and sneaking, especially from an insistent Titus. 

Emmeline had to pack up her records which left a lot of the secret stashing to Newt. She only hoped he could find everything they would need - especially coins. 

They wouldn’t be taking horses because they weren’t sure how many different ways they would have to travel. Emmeline would gather enough clothes to hide her bare arms later after they began moving. 

Master Zoro seemed oblivious to their planning, even though we walked in on them twice. He just laughed it off and blamed the two of them for flirting rather than working. 

But Emmeline decided she could deal with the embarrassment for the rest of the day. It was better than the alternative - everyone knowing they were leaving. Master Zoro would give her so many lashes his threat from the previous day would come true. 

Excitement was the only thing that powered Emmeline through the day. She worried for the young boy and how the soldiers were treating him. 

Newt managed to steal one of Master Zoro’s many maps, the colorful thing so bright Emmeline was sure that her eyes would fall out of their sockets long before they reached the Library of Knowledge. 

Newt didn’t seem worried and by noon the caravan was moving. Emmeline was forced to stay in her own trailer with Willow and the only other girl acts - Violet and Marlene. Violet was originally from Maconia - she was the girl who could float in the air. Marlene, on the other hand, was from Golla. She wasn’t Blessed like everyone else, quite the opposite. She could disappear but never on command and parts of her hadn’t returned - including part of her ear and one of her toes. She claimed they were still there but Emmeline wasn’t so sure. 

Willow, Violet, and Marlene were all gossips. They knew Emmeline despised their incessant chatter but they were still bitter she got her own trailer. Even Willow had to share with her father. 

Emmeline had tried to tell them multiple times they were allowed in her trailer to sleep - she stayed in the closet. But Violet and Marlene were scared of her - whether they would admit it or not. Both of them always wore sleeves that covered the length of their arms as to hide their markings. Not that Emmeline would ever want to Read them. Her clients were enough stress. 

“The baker in Golla is going out with the seamstress from Waelia,” Marlene whispered through giggles. “But I heard that Gollare doesn’t like that because she thinks Wylia is too happy and bright. So Gollare is making the child Cursed.” 

“Don’t upset the goddesses,” Violet agreed with a laugh. 

Emmeline frowned. The Cursed were nothing to laugh at. She wanted to snap back and say that Marlene was one to talk, but she kept quiet. The girls hated her enough and she would be gone later. Newt and her could find the little boy and save him. Maybe start their own life somewhere. 

“Well I heard that the Temple of Purity was finally broken into yesterday,” Willow says, her voice eerie but filled with giddiness over new rumors. “They took the boy that was in it out - and they say he’s barely aged since last century!” 

Emmeline perked up, hoping to hear more but the girls had already moved on. 

“Who told you that?” Violet asked, excited. 

“You’ll never guess…” Willow giggled with a wink. 

Marlene rolled her eyes before breaking out in a smile. “You mean that the boy from Quigon came again? He really fancies you.” She sighed like she wanted someone to fancy her too. 

Willow blushed, but Emmeline could tell she liked the attention she was getting. 

The girls continued to gossip and Emmeline tuned them out when it became clear they weren’t going to talk about the Temple of Purity anymore. Instead, she began to formulate a plan of what she would say to Ibenily when they got to the Library of Knowledge. 

Talking to a goddess would be no easy feat. Even getting Ibenily to pay attention would be tricky. The Library of Knowledge would be the best place since people went there to pray to her. Ibenily would probably be there, basking in the praises even if the people couldn’t see her. One had to do something special or be someone special to get Ibenily to even show herself. 

Emmeline was confident either Newt’s abilities to summon the dead or her own being a Reader would be enough to spark Ibenily’s interest. But what would they say to get her to help them? Goddesses wouldn’t help for free - even though they already had everything they could ever want. 

Once again, Emmeline questioned whether she was really doing the right thing by trying to find the boy. His markings were telling the truth, but why were they in his future an no one else's? Why were the soldiers escorting him? 

Emmeline pushed the question aside in her mental note for what she was supposed to ask Ibenily when they found the Library. 

Hopefully Newt had collected enough food and other supplies to get them to Ibeni in the first place. Emmeline was relying on him - and with no contact she had no way of knowing what he was missing. 

The caravan didn’t stop until after the sun set and by then Emmeline was sure that if she had been given a knife she probably would’ve killed all of the girls in her trailer. Including herself. 

Master Zoro pulled to the side of the dirt road and the caravan stopped. Titus climbed out of one of the boys trailers and winked at Emmeline before finding some firewood. 

Just as Newt and Emmeline had planned, she found him at the back of the first trailer. He was clutching two satchels - bulging - and a knapsack. Emmeline had her own bulging bag - but it was filled with clothing and wasn’t quite as heavy. 

Without saying a word, Emmeline took one of the satchels from Newt and pulled the other over her head. She took the knapsack from him and fastened it around her waist as he took her bigger bag and wore it on his back. Titus was just starting a fire by the time they were ready to run, but the forest around them was dark. 

“You are completely sure you want to do this?” Newt asked her. 

Emmeline nodded. “Of course. Are you sure you want to come?” 

“As I said before,” Newt smiled. “The forest is no place for a girl like you to be alone. I’m coming - whether you like it or not.” 

“No turning back,” Emmeline agreed, trying not be insulted by the fact that Newt thought she couldn’t handle herself. He was probably right, though. Sometimes, Readers would be abducted by traders who would sell them or force them into work. 

Emmeline couldn’t control her Reading. As long as all the markings on someone’s skin were exposed, if she touched them she would be subjected to the visions. 

“No turning back,” Newt repeated with an even bigger smile. “I’ve been waiting for an adventure my whole life!” 

“Well, now you’re getting one,” Emmeline replied. “Let’s head out before anyone notices we’re missing.” Newt nodded and they gathered their courage before heading into the dark woods. 

It was a tough journey. Traders would be on the trails, looking for anyone who looked suspicious or important. 

After they were far enough away from the caravan that the darkness obscured everything and they were sure they weren’t be followed, Emmeline and Newt stopped for a moment to change. It would’ve been suspicious if they had done so at the caravan. 

Their clothing was dark in color, and Newt had thought to bring cloaks to keep out the chill. Emmeline had brought tunics and leggings that were thin and light, easy to travel in. the tunic also covered her bare arms. She didn’t want anyone to know she was a Reader unless it was last resort. 

After the change Emmeline ditched her old skirts, figuring she wouldn’t need them. They ate a quick dinner of fruit - although Emmeline couldn’t tell which in the darkness. 

Before they were ready to move again, Newt suddenly remembered something else he had stolen from the caravan. He held it up, and although Emmeline couldn’t see she knew what it was. 

“A lantern?” she asked in disappointment. They had no fire or way of making flames. 

Newt grinned. “Not just any lantern.” 

He held it up higher so the moonlight struck the glass. Immediately, a white flame appeared in the center, providing a dim light. “It draws energy from the moonlight,” Newt explained. “It takes the light and turns it into fire. Magic, I suppose.” 

“Good find,” Emmeline smiled, genuinely happy to have something to see with. 

As much it pained her to admit, she hated the dark. It reminded her of her Readings and the visions she had seen. 

“I could find us a tour guide,” Newt said as they began walking again. Emmeline had consulted a map - also pilfered from Master Zoro’s supply - so they knew they were headed towards Ibeni. 

“A dead one,” Emmeline mumbled and Newt laughed. 

A tour guide might be good, Emmeline decided. But that was if Newt actually summoned one and if it didn’t attempt to kill them.

“It’s better than nothing,” Newt shrugged. 

“At least your talent is useful,” Emmeline spat. She stopped when she saw Newt’s hurt expression. She knew it wasn’t fair to blame him, but she couldn’t help but feel bitter.  “Sorry.” 

“It’s fine,” Newt mumbled. “I know you don’t like Reading.” 

Emmeline shrugged, suddenly feeling guilty for taking it out on Newt. What if her only friend left her alone in the forest? He had taken the brunt of supplies - which had to weigh a lot - and he hadn’t complained at all. 

Emmelien’s boots crunched on the leaves and she was beginning to wish she hadn’t ditched her flat slippers back at their camp. Blisters were already forming on her heels. 

As they walked on, their cloaks began to flap in the breeze and Emmeline had to clutch hers tightly to ensure it didn’t blow away entirely. But the wind was frigid and it soon became clear that Emmeline and Newt would freeze to death if they tried to keep walking. 

Newt found branches on the ground and started a small fire using the lantern. It didn’t do much for light but it was certainly warm and Emmeline wrapped her cloak around her even tighter. The excitement of the adventure had worn off, leaving behind the feeling of being nervous and tired. 

However, Newt had worked harder and Emmeline still felt sorry about what she had said earlier so she let him sleep first. 

Newt’s soft snores soon took over the sounds of the forest. Emmeline felt exhausted too, but she forced herself awake. Sleep would bring visions and she would be letting Newt down. But his snores were strangely melodic and Emmeline found herself drifting off multiple times. The fire was warm and the surrounding air was cold - it made her feel at home. 

If home was the caravan. 

Emmeline was so consumed by her thoughts she didn’t hear the cracking of branches and leaves until the sounds were directly behind her. 

Emmeline screamed but it was cut off abruptly as a large hand wrapped around her mouth and nose. She felt the ground beneath her and realized that it was trampled, well travelled. They were one the path. 

The hand was turning her around, and Emmeline already knew the traders had found them.