Chapter Sixteen: Partners United

Chapter Sixteen

Partners United

Castor walked out into the hum of excitement. The chatter simmered down when people began to notice that he had emerged. Mabel stood up and brushed off the dirt;  her face wary. He took one look at the crowd staring at them, then grinned at her, and said out of the corner of his mouth,
“Get me out of here.”
She returned the smile and pulled him around the corner, away from the crowd, and they took a roundabout route to Ameline and Solin’s. On the way there they passed Ange, on her way to buy more food for all the people now staying with her. Mabel stopped short, nearly causing Castor to run into her. Impatiently, she ignored him, and went over to Ange, who had pulled her horse to a stop.
“Glandias ,” she said. “I almost forgot.”
She scooped him off Castor’s shoulder despite his protests.
“No!” he squealed. “I like riding with Castor. He doesn’t knock me off with his mane!”
His eyes flicked a glance  at Mabel but she just laughed at his small punch swings as she dangled him in the air.
“Well, now you’re riding with Ange. I need you to tell Roana, Fablen, and Firethorn to come to Ameline and Solin’s.”
She looked back at Ange who nodded in consent.
“I’ll drop him off,” she said.
And with that Glandias resigned himself to Ange’s pocket, and the groups went their separate ways.

* * *

Ange felt the brownie squirming in her pocket.
“Almost there,” she said soothingly.
He just grumbled inaudibly.
When they arrived, the crowd was still outside Castor’s workshop, though he had left a while ago. Easily Ange could spot Fablen’s light hair, and she crept over quietly. She slipped Glandias onto her shoulder, then slipped away so she could get her shopping done.
“Oh, Glandias, how did you get here?”
“Long story,” he muttered. “You’re wanted at Ameline and Solin’s. They need your help.”
Fablen and Firethorn exchanged confused glances, but Roana knew exactly what was going on.

* * *

Roana had told the others to go ahead without her. She ran into her tent to retrieve the coarse brown bag with the masks.  She had made them late at night so no one would see. She held the top closed and ducked out of her tent.

Reviews

[BrynnaW.]

Thank you for the short chapter. I like that it doesn't keep on going because it keeps me wanting more. Good job and keep on writing!