Kirin allowed the gypsy woman to help her up onto the small wagon. She huddled into the most out-of-the-way corner, aware that she was now an extra burden. Luckily the vanner horse didn't seem to mind. Except for giving Fritz a nod of acknowledgement she rode along with them in silence, hugging her knees to her chest. When they finally rolled up to the edge of a camp, she looked up.
"Does that hurt?. I mean, your wings look hurt, are you okay?" She jumped slightly, then glanced down over her shoulder, seeming to notice the damage for the first time.
"Oh… no it's just…" she giggled a little at the boy's concern. Even as she did so the crumpled wings began to straighten themselves out. They shone a soft crystal blue color and stretched out to their full size. The shape was reminiscent of a butterfly's wings, but their construction was gauzy, like lace. They even sparkled a bit when the light caught them. The color matched that of her eyes. "It doesn't hurt," she explained to Fritz, "It's more just for show." She twirled to show him and they fluttered whimsically around her shoulders.
The moment was cut short though with Ada and Duplo's alarm. Kirin shrunk back into the wagon as the thundering of hooves drowned out all other sounds, Fritz joined her shortly and they huddled fearfully. "Centaurs!" Fritz gasped excitedly, peeking out to see what was going on. Ada soon gave them the all clear, seeming suddenly cheerful. Fritz was eager to go out and see, but the fae girl hung back, only gathering the courage to step out at Fritz's urging. He kindly helped her off the wagon, though she was perfectly capable of getting down herself, it was reassuring that the boy was looking out for her. She stuck close to him as he began to explore.
“I’ve never met a centaur before,” said Fritz. Kirin shook her head, she'd never met one either, but then he added. “I’m from a very sheltered place and actually before I met you I hadn’t met a fae before either… well apart from one I think, but I’m not so sure I’d like to meet him again.”
"Well," a familiar voice called out indignantly, "That's just hurtful. Really Fritz, after all we've been through?" Kirin turned to find the source of the voice. A devilish-looking fae man stood not far off from them, his arm around a pretty red-haired gypsy girl. Her first thought was that, while his appearance was young, he seemed much older than he looked. His skin was a cool gray-greenish tone, and his hair looked like a wild mat of grass and leaves. Two little gold horns sprouted from his hairline, accentuating luminous amber eyes. His thin lips were curled into a mischievous smile. He leaned over and whispered something into the gypsy girl's ear and she laughed and blushed. Plucking a daisy that seemed to be growing out of his scalp, the imp handed it to her and she skipped away to join her friends across the camp who were fawning over the centaurs.
"Who's this?" the imp darted over to Kirin, poking his finger in her face much as he had probed Fritz not so long ago. "Your girlfriend? She's much too pretty for you." He rolled his eyes back to Fritz. "I won't keep you from enjoying the festivities. Welcome to Emansaria, human." He laughed jovially and cartwheeled away before either of them could formulate a response.
Fritz turned and headed toward Ada and the rabbit-girl. Kirin hurried to keep up with him, a look of confusion on her innocent face. "Who was that?" she wondered, "Is he the one you were talking about?" She stopped when they reached the others, and was momentarily distracted by the centaurs. They looked so wild, more brutish than the folks she was used to, but not unkind. She couldn't understand what they said though, and was curious about the old woman translating. She sounded foreign too.
Aergar
Aergar Wald chuckled to himself. Certainly Fritz was not happy to see him. As he strode through the camp he passed a group of gypsy girls who giggled and shrieked when he looked their way. The imp might have been infamous to causing trouble, but more often than not he liked to invite himself to these gypsy camps, for these folks found any reason to celebrate, and they welcomed anyone who contributed to the festivities. Speaking of which…
As everyone began to build the bonfire and the ale began to be rolled out, a small boy ran up to Aergar and placed a bow and violin in his hands. He thanked the child and lifted the instrument up, drawing the horsehair strands of the bow across the worn steel strings, producing a rich, eerie note. The girls chattered excitedly, and he glanced over at them with a wink. At least two of them swooned. Without missing a beat, the imp began to play a slow, haunting tune. All those near him fell silent to listen. He took long slow steps across the camp, many of the smaller children following at his heels. As he approached the center of events, the large fire where dinner was beginning to be cooked, the tune sped up and so did his footsteps. Soon he was running pellmell through the camp followed by shouts and whoops.
Without breaking melody or stride he leapt up unto the air to alight on the supporting pole of the nearest tent, standing on his toes with perfect balance. A handful of gypsies began to clap their hands and stomp in time to the rhythm. Aergar's fingers flew over the neck of the violin, the bow drawing out a lively tune. People started to dance and he grinned. The soulful voice of the violin stirring up their feet as well as their spirits. The song was not known by anyone, but listening to it made one think of the stars and the wind and autumn. It was happy with brief moments of sobriety with an overall sassy attitude. One might say that the music seemed to fit Aergar quite well.
By the time he ceased playing, the meal had been cooked. The imp sprang from the tentpole in an impressive display of acrobatics and handed the instrument off to the person nearest him. In turn he was handed a mug of ale, and downed half the flagon in a single gulp. Sprinting over to one of the female centaurs, he gave her his sweetest face and murmured something inaudible to anyone else. She scowled and slapped him hard across the face. He reeled away, accompanied by laughter and cat-calls from the onlookers. Unfazed, he turned his nose up at the mare and stalked off. The red-haired girl from before ran up to him and clung to his arm, and he spun her around playfully in a little jig. Other musicians had brought out their instruments by now, carrying on a cheerful tune.
Aergar made his way over to Ada and company, affording them a sweeping bow, his mug held outstretched. "Ah what a lovely evening. Although I didn't expect you to turn up here, Lady Lovelace."
