Mamar sat on an old rickety chair in her covered wagon, a simple robe draped over her shoulders, bare feet pressed firmly to the wooden floorboards. One hand rested on the familiar deck in front of her.
Elspeth watched from the far seat. Before leaving any settlement, Mamar always performed a journey reading — the guiding ritual of the Travelers. Their road was chosen by fate and faith, all tied to their seer.
But today, Mamar did not speak of the journey.
"Demetri Swiftwind," she intoned softly.
The nearest candle guttered violently, its flame dancing sideways as if struck by wind — though the wagon was still.
Elspeth jerked in her seat. They did keep trick candles for performances, but this wasn't one of them.
"Mamar… why are you reading for him again? Isn't this supposed to be our departure fortune?"
Mamar didn't answer. She fanned a dozen cards across the table and flipped the first.
"The Jester," she murmured. "A powerful start."
Elspeth's mouth tightened. The jester often meant deception.
Mamar flipped a second card.
"The Gardener."
Elsie exhaled. Growth, cultivation, beginnings — another strong pull.
A third card turned over.
Mamar's breath caught. "The Tower… reversed."
Elspeth leaned forward. "Rebellion?"
Mamar ignored her and reached for a fourth card.
"Mamar!" Elspeth hissed. "We never draw more than three. Not for a single life."
"One more," Mamar insisted, voice low but steady.
She turned the fourth card.
"The Rich Man."
Elspeth's brow shot up. "Wealth? In the tribes? What are y—"
Mamar pressed her palm against the fifth card, almost reverently. "This fortune is strong. Our road is tied to his."
She flipped the card.
"The Hearth."
Elspeth let out the breath she'd been holding, staring at the cards — powerful symbols, all open to multiple interpretations. A skilled reader could twist them any direction… but Mamar wasn't twisting anything. She looked genuinely shaken.
Mamar began to read the spread aloud:
"Deception — Demetri Swiftwind is not his true name. This we know. A fosterling, a found child."
She drew the Gardener card closer. "Growth. Or rather, seeds being intentionally planted."
The Tower reversed moved next, its art vivid in the candlelight.
"Rebellion. Upheaval seeded long before we arrived. And soon to break open."
Her eyes shifted to the Rich Man. "This one… baffled me. Prosperity?" Her frown deepened.
Elspeth muttered under her breath, "That street rat has never been prosperous."
Mamar inhaled sharply, snapping her gaze to her daughter.
"The Rat…"
Elspeth blinked. "What about it?"
"Most think the Rat symbolizes plague or filth—incorrect. In old lore, the Rat is wealth. Fortune. Clever survival. Quiet prosperity…"
Her voice softened.
"One of the veils lifts."
She pulled the Hearth card into place.
"And the Hearth… in this spread, it signifies home. Or safety. Or the place where fate insists we remain."
Mamar leaned back, the meaning settling heavily over her.
"We must stay with the Tribals."
**
Dem danced with Yena several times after the musicians began playing, and then both Tam and Ai — though Ai spent most of the dance attempting (and failing) to step on his toes.
Ai laughed brightly under the lantern glow. "Dasai… you didn't let me step on your feet even once."
Dem raised a brow as he retrieved his egg from Yena. "Should I feel bad about that?"
Telo returned with Tam, only to whisk Ai away moments later.
"They leave tomorrow," he called over his shoulder. "Who knows when we'll see the Travelers again?"
Tam sat down beside Yena, still catching her breath. "As far as I know, they've never come to the Gathering before."
"I've seen their type in Thaigmaal," Dem said. "Not this exact troupe, but Travelers like them are common in bigger cities."
"Dem."
Elspeth approached with an unfamiliar seriousness. "If you would follow me, Mamar wishes to speak with you."
Dem nodded, wrapping the egg in his yurka. "Back soon. After that, we should all walk to the river."
Telo lit up. "Yes! Perfect!"
Dem followed Elspeth to the familiar wagon. Unexpectedly, she stopped at the steps.
"I will stay out here. Mamar is inside."
Dem glanced at the curtain. "So is Boph."
Elsie nodded. "They lead the Travelers. They want to speak with you."
The wood creaked softly beneath Dem's step as he ducked into the wagon. The dim interior felt bright compared to the star-strewn sky outside.
Boph stood behind Mamar, arms crossed. Mamar sat calmly, but her dark eyes fixed on Dem with unsettling intensity — as if peeling back layers to peer at something secret beneath.
"Thank you for coming," she said.
Dem dropped into the empty chair. "It's fine. What do you want?"
Mamar chuckled. "Always direct. I've heard about the Sentry force you're forming."
"Not surprising," Dem said. "Part of your scam is paying attention to gossip."
Boph bristled, but Mamar only nodded.
"You understand that many things called mystical can be explained," she said. "I won't deny that much of what we do relies on information. But you're from Thaigmaal. You know magic exists."
Dem nodded slowly. "The city was cooled by magecraft when I was young. When the Council fought with the mages' guild, the spells were allowed to expire. Three days without the cooling wards — crime exploded. Fights everywhere. People killing each other over water. So yes. I know magic is real."
Mamar inclined her head. "Then I won't waste time. The Travelers wish to join the Sentry force."
"No." Dem snorted. "We're meant to be a reactionary force. Quick. Mobile. Like an arrow."
"From where?" Mamar asked, voice soft but piercing. "When the Gathering ends, the clans will scatter across the continent. Will you stay with Swiftwind? How will you respond to threats against Frostridge if you're on the far side of the plains?"
"Logistically, the plan is to quarter on Frostridge lands. They raise carrier pigeons. We'll give some to each clan. If there's danger, we'll be notified."
"What if faster response is needed?" Mamar pressed gently.
Dem shrugged. "The territory of the nine clans is enormous. Even a much larger force would face delays."
"I can do better," Mamar said quietly. Her accent thickened, grounding every word. "I am a true Seer. I can give forewarning of attacks, ambushes, theft — any danger to the Sentry force."
Dem raised a brow. "Before they happen?"
Mamar nodded once. "Much faster than pigeons."
"And without all the bird shit," Dem added.
Mamar laughed — a deep, warm sound. "Yes. Without that."
Dem tapped the table thoughtfully, making the candlelight flutter. "I'm still hesitant to accept the Travelers into the Sentry."
"Understandable," Mamar said without offense. "What about a probationary membership? If I cannot do what I claim, we will leave."
Dem leaned back, considering. "There can only be one leader. Tribals who join will put aside their clans. They'll be clanless — like Massat — and they'll listen only to me."
Mamar inclined her head. "I will follow the orders of the Sentry Commander."
A short while later, Dem tucked the Tatzelwurm egg safely into his storage ring and settled on the riverbank with his small group of friends. The moonlight shimmered across the water, breaking in silver ripples at their feet.
"Wait… so Tam isn't actually related to you?" Telo asked, still prying into the Swiftwind clan structure. Dem listened quietly — he was learning new things too.
"Only distantly," Ai said. "She's from one of the larger Swiftwind families."
"Too big," Tam groaned. "Both my parents have a dozen siblings. I can't even remember all my aunts and uncles."
Yena glanced between Ai and Tam, smiling shyly. "I thought you were cousins. You're both so pretty."
Tam slung an arm over her shoulders with a playful grin. "We may have to adopt this one."
Ai nodded solemnly. "I told that Elsie my name was Tam and she predicted I'd keep winning archery competitions."
Tam burst out laughing. "The sooner we're done with those people, the better."
Dem just smiled and kicked off his shoes.
"I'm going in."
"Night swimming?" Telo perked up immediately, already stripping off his shirt. "Let's go!"
Within minutes, they were splashing into the cool river, laughter echoing across the water. Several nearby tribals drifted over to investigate the noise. After a brief debate, they joined in as well.
It didn't take long before the river was full of young people — diving, splashing, playing — happy to wash off the heat and heaviness of the day in the cool night water.