Free Nature Mage by Duncan Pile Page A

on end. It was staring at a colourfully dressed gypsy girl who sat cross-legged in the back of one of her family’s painted wagons, three cards turned down on the wagon bed before her. She was turning them over one by one, a far-off look in her eye, and talking in a hushed, sincere manner to the man walking alongside.
    The little monkey stretched out a finger towards her and let out a hissing screech, lips pulled back tightly over bared, sharp teeth and bright red gums. And then it leaped to the ground, skittering through the crowd at frightening speed before springing up onto the back of the girl’s wagon. The young girl started fearfully, and then, realising it was just a little monkey, began to smile; a smile which froze as the creature lashed out at her face. Emea shrieked as the monkey attacked the young gypsy girl, but instead of clawing or biting her it just slapped its palm across her cheek, and bounced off as quickly as it had arrived, shrieking excitedly until it disappeared among the wagons.
    Emea recovered from her shock first and quickly made her way over to the girl, who was clearly unnerved, holding a hand to her cheek. Gaspi and Taurnil followed along behind her. “Are you alright?” Emea asked, full of concern.
    “I’m fine…I think,” the girl mumbled, still staring into space, in a lingering state of shock. Shaking herself out of it, she recovered a remarkable semblance of poise, and smiled warmly at Emea. Gaspi couldn’t help noticing she was really very pretty when she smiled, her dark gypsy complexion so different from the paler girls he had grown up around. Taurnil was staring too, his jaw hanging open and eyes a little too wide. Gaspi snapped his own teeth shut self-consciously, hoping Emea hadn’t noticed his reaction.
    “Thanks for asking after me,” she said. “I must admit I was a bit scared for a moment there. That nasty little creature and its horrible scream! But of course it’s nothing to worry about, really. I was just being silly.” Though she spoke calmly, Gaspi thought he could detect a lingering hint of unease. “I mean, after all, it’s such a small thing,” the gypsy girl continued. “What could it have done to me?”
    Emea put her hand on the girl’s arm. “I’m sure you’re right, but I don‘t think you were being silly. Anyone would be a little jumpy after that.”
    There was a slight pause as they all stared at each other, reminded suddenly that they were strangers. “I’m Lydia,” the gypsy girl announced confidently, holding her hand out to Emea, who took hold of it warmly.
    “I’m Emea, but you can call me Emmy,” she chirped, beaming at Lydia. “And this is Gaspi and Taurnil,” she added, turning towards the boys.
    “Hullo,” they both mumbled awkwardly. Gaspi was a little red in the face and Taurnil was staring at his right foot as he toed the ground, earning a puzzled look from Emea.
    “It’s good to meet you all,” Lydia said, thankfully dragging Emea‘s attention away from the two boys. “What are you three doing on the Great South Road?”
    “We’re going to Helioport,” Emmy responded brightly. “Gaspi is going to train as a Mage,” she announced proudly, beaming with excitement.
    “Really?” Lydia responded just as enthusiastically. “That’s fantastic! That’s what I’m doing too. Helioport is the best place in the world to be if you have talent. As it turns out, I have a little myself,” she said, with an air of mystery.
    “Really? What kind of talent?” Gaspi jumped in, distracted from his embarrassment by genuine interest.
    “My mother says I’m a Seer,” Lydia said.
    “What’s a Seer?” Emmy asked.
    “It’s someone who has the natural ability to sense patterns in complicated events, to see the truth, if you know what I mean. Seers can even sometimes see glimpses of the future,” Lydia answered. “Among my people, a few women in every generation are born with the ability,” she continued. “That’s what I