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Chapter 1

Every spring there were caravans of gypsies, merchants, performers, and the casual travelers who would come to our village for the spring festival in honor of the cherry blossoms and our local guardian. Dad would take some of the medicines we made in the apothecary and mom would make food to sell at our booth, and what she didn't or couldn't sell we would eat ourselves. They would ask us to mind the stall while they went to barter for herbs and fabrics from the distant lands. I was always excited when my sisters and I had to watch the stall, but we had to be on guard when the gypsies were around, else they might try to cheat us out of a profit.

When I was ten I was watching the stall when my father handed me and my sisters a few coins and told us we could go buy whatever we wanted. Excited we hugged and thanked him as mom sat at the stall smiling before we dashed off. The crowd was noisy and the air was heavy with the scents of the different people, spices, and food. We were eating some of the baos we had bought when the sound of something jingling caught our attention. Pushing through the crowd we followed the sound until we saw the source of the noise: a small gypsy boy was dancing while a couple older ones played some weird looking instruments. A few girls joined him and their dance became even more hypnotic. When they finished the small crowd that had gathered clapped and tossed a few coins into the boys outstretched tambourine.

The other gypsies saw me starring and one tapped the boy on the shoulder and whispered in his ear. The boys face lit up and he looked our way, a mischievous grin on his face. We giggled as he came over and bowed to us before the others started up the music again. He held his hand out to me and waited expectantly for one of us to join him. My sisters whispered and giggled then pushed me out to dance with him, it was so embarrassing! He smiled and took my hand, making me spin around in time to the music, I had never danced like that before, it was fun and a little scary. When the music stopped my sisters and I ran away as fast as we could back to the stall. Dad looked up when we approached, his brow wrinkling in confusion at our racket. We decided to keep my dancing with the gypsies a secret.

The last night of the festival was when we honored our water guardian. We lite our lanterns and made the journey up to the lake where the legends say she resides. The village leader would make an offering of food and we would place flowers in the shrine and pray for another safe year. I once asked my mom why we had to go to the shrine every year and she had told me the legend of the guardian: "Long ago the world was covered in darkness, the guardians of the light were under siege and each day another would fall. The guardian of the northern waters had fallen and the priests had had a vision of another guardian taking their place. That was when they came to our village, and that was when Serinethe became the guardian. The weak girl from the upper class families was able to banish the darkness in this part of the world, and together with the others, they sealed the darkness away. She sleeps now beneath the waters of the lake, waiting and watching for the day when she would once again be needed."
That is why we come here," she continued, "our belief in her keeps her strong, if we don't believe in her then she grows weak and wouldn't be able to help us if trouble came our way."

But isn't it just a story?" I asked "What if we skip a year? Will she die?"

Well," she started thoughtfully," it's a tradition that is hard to break, and we don't really want to find out."

It was our turn at the shrine now, and I placed my flower on top of the big pile before bowing and thanking her for her protection. As we made our way back to the village I looked back at the lake, and I could have sworn that I saw a lady standing on the edge of the lake watching everyone. I blinked and she was gone, and I wondered for a second if I had actually seen someone...

When we got back to the village we went straight to bed, tomorrow would be an ordinary day, the visitors would leave and the villagers would go about their daily routines.

Chapter 2

The sun was still hours from rising but I knew that this was my chance. The festival had ended the night before and everyone had packed up their stalls and were ready to depart with the rising sun. It had been three years since I had danced with the gypsy boy, and now I hoped that my plan would work If I could sneak into the camp and pretend to be one of them long enough I should be able to be out of the village and far enough into the mountains before they noticed that I was missing. It was a long shot but, it was a risk I was willing to take.

I somehow got to the field where the visitors stayed without being seen, and started to hunt for the gypsy's leader. Only they could say weather or not I could join and as much as I wished that they would welcome me, a part of me wished that they would say no so that I could stay here with those I cared about...but that would mean that I would have to get married... Last night as the festival was winding down a man approached my father and reminded him of the agreement that I would be marrying him by the time summer came. He was a powerful man in the village,and he would be good to me but he was old enough to be my dad's big brother. It would be good for the family...but I didn't like the man and it was closed for debate, so I was running away.

I was still looking frantically when a man stood on top of a wagon and blew a horn. Instantly everyone assembled began moving, following the man. I guessed that he was the leader I was supposed to talk with? But I never got the chance. I was swept away with the crowd as they started to move out, and I had to jog a little to keep pace with them. Around midday they stopped for a short break and I collapsed to the ground panting, I wasn't used to walking so fast for so long, but if I fell behind I would be lost because we were no longer in my home province and were further south than I had ever been.

I had barely recovered when the people around me got up and began to move again, I guess that they were trying to cover as much ground as they could before dark...but it still made no sense why they were moving so fast until I came to the top of the hill and saw the storm brewing on the horizon.

Chapter 3

I chewed on my lip a little, I had to speak to the guy in charge but I didn't know where he was. I was looking around when I felt someone grip my shoulder hard.

Ahhhhh" I squeaked in shock, I hadn't heard anyone approach.

Well what have we here?" A voice boomed I was spun around. The guy before me was huge and dressed in a tattered traveling clothes. Embarrassed I looked down and noticed he wasn't wearing any shoes.

Looks like a wee little Shenkuu girl t' me." another replied., "Wonder what ol' Marko will think of this?"

I'm not little!" I said indignantly "I am twelve, that means I am an adult now!"

Ha she's a feisty one!" the one gripping my shoulder laughed, "Did you hear that Pesha? She's an adult. Whelp" he added scooping me up and slung me over his shoulder "let's see what Marko says." and that was that. I kicked and pounded on the man but he would not let me go, he just laughed!

Oye Marko!" he yelled as we approached a wagon, "I've got a present for ya!" he said as he pulled me off of his shoulder and held me in front of the man named Marko.

Luz why do you have a Shenkuu native?" he asked with a quirked eyebrow, "And why one so small? I didn't think your tastes swung that way." he added with a smirk. Luz's face turned bright red.

It's not like that Marko," he mumbled, "She's been following us since we left this morning, figured it'd be irresponsible t' let her get left behind and eaten by a bear." I flinched.

Not that there is enough meat on those bones t' make a good meal." Pesha chimed in.

That's enough you two." Marko cut in, "So why were you following us?" I looked up, determined to stare him down as I repeated the speech I had prepared, but his gaze was so intense I ended up starring at my feet.

I am to be betrothed so I am running away. I would like to join your band....please." the lines I had prepared sounded so small and weak, I could feel my cheeks heating up as the seconds dragged on. Finally I couldn't stand the silence anymore and I glanced up to see the man staring at me with a really weird expression.

Wh....what?" I asked, my voice shaking.

Why would you want to run away over a silly thing like that?" Marko asked callously, "No one becomes a gypsy as a whim or as a choice. You're born into this life and you die in this life. You're shunned by others, mistrusted and blamed for things that happen while you are around. Is that really a life you want? Weeks on the road, hungry nights, raids, stop me now if any of that sounds appealing to you lass."

I don't care." I said tersely "I'd rather live through all of that than marry that man. He'd take me away from my family and I'd rather be separated from them on my own terms."

We have no need of another member." He said and started walking away. "Luz, Pasha take her back to Shenkuu, take the horses."

Aye Marko!" Luz said and reached out to grab me, but I evaded.

Please Marko, I can be useful!" I begged, if they took me back it would be so shameful, I could just imagine the look on their faces, mother would be mortified, father would be furious.

And what can you do?" Marko asked, sparring me a glance.

I...I can make medicines! And I can cook and clean and mend clothing-" I was cut off as Luz finally caught me.

Medicines you say? We just might have a use for you yet."

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