Kelia freezes. I notice, with some satisfaction, that she looks surprised to see me. No doubt she thought the mobs had killed me. Ha, I'm not so easy to kill. I think smugly. Now, how to go about this... but Kelia gets there first. Her surprise has already been replaced with a natural, cold aloof. "I didn't think I'd see you again," she says easily.

"I wish," I say. "But you signed a contract to take me to Spots, and you didn't honor it. I get my gold back." I say stonily. For the first time, I almost see a smile playing on Kelia's lips. What is she playing at!? Urrrgh!

"Actually, there was nothing in the contract that said I had to keep you safe. In fact, it said in the circumstances of injury, death, or disability the contract would be considered void-" I flinch at the word and hope she didn't notice it, "and I could go on my way, all payment kept." she says.

"Well, I wasn't dead, disabled, or injured-" I start,

"Yes, you were. When you fainted from the heat, you hit your head on a rock. Injured." I conclude with some anger and resentment about how Kelia is enjoying our little debate. And I have no arguments for once, besides,

"Well, you shouldn't have taken Pint, and also I'm here and uninjured. That means the contract isn't up and unless you take me to Spots, I get my money back now." I say, mustering all my composure once again and regaining some ground knowing she hasn't totally won. But the takeaway is that she doesn't look disgruntled at all, only cool, calm, and cold-hearted. As always.

With deft experience Kelia unties Pint and the llamas, tossing me my lead. We continue in silence down the gradually sloping countryside and towards the sea. The sun is hot on my back but not nearly as hot as when we were climbing up and down the windless sides of the basin. That was torture hot, no wonder Kelia has no doubts I simply fainted from the heat. I do not feel comfortable revealing my flashbacks to her as she might find a way to use them to her advantage.

I love the way the lush green grass stays short and crisp, enticing me like a cool summer day. I haven't put up my mental shield yet today, but I don't see why unless the voice starts up again. Putting up the shield dulls my senses and keeps me agitated while I try to keep the shield balanced and enjoy my own thoughts and actions.

Kelia has still not said a word, but as we approach another Llama Inn as I take it, she seems a little more... I'm not sure perky is the word or relieved... but something exciting. Kelia ties up the llamas quickly, her fingers weaving and gathering the strings into their usual complex pattern. I simply wrap Pint's lead a few times around the fence pole and secure it with a couple of tucks.

This Inn is much less crowded - and, I suppose, much more remote. A queer-looking shakket girl who has orange-blonde hair, tanned skin, deep brown eyes, and wears a blue blouse and grey pants much like mine works behind a counter, and an older-looking couple sits at the only occupied table in the moderately sizable room.

I can't help wondering whether or not the shakket girl was brought here from the last shakket or another far-off one by a llama trader to work, or if there is another shakket nearby. Either way, she looks lonely. And then something odd happens - her face brightens at the sight of Kelia. And then the two embrace.

"Kelia!" the young-looking maid cries, embracing my cold companion. And Kelia seems to force a smile. And she manages a grin! Kelia manages a grin. I am hallucinating. I am totally and utterly hallucinating.

"Aeve!" Kelia says, holding the girl in an airy hug which contrasts with the girl's clenching, desperate embrace.

"How is Mother? Is Father okay? What's going on back home? Oh Kelia, I've missed you!" The girl, apparently 'Aeve' asks desperately.

"Father... he's no longer with us. Mother is... well, we all miss him - and you, of course." Kelia adds hastily. So, the two are sisters? Then - isn't Kelia bad or something? "Aeve, I think I'll go out and scope the water, okay? I'll come and see you for a bit before we leave." Aeve looks sad and confused for a moment when she sees me and registers the 'we' bit.

"So... you didn't come to see me?" she asks, sounding as though someone has just wrenched out her soul or something. "After... all these months," she chokes.

"I'm taking my customer here to Spots. I wish I could stay," she says. Suddenly I wonder if something has clicked. Could Kelia have tried to get rid of me so she wouldn't have to bring me to Spots and she could stay here? But... what kind of person leaves someone to die to spend a few days with their sister. Something's not quite right. And her smiles didn't look super authentic... but if they both acknowledge they're sisters, then why wouldn't they be?

As Kelia leaves I decide to start up a conversation with the pathetic, sad girl behind the counter. "Hi... I'm S. Is that your sister?" I ask. I'm not one for a lot of small talks, but I have too much empathy for my own good. An odd mix to be sure.

"Yes... that's Kelia, which I'm sure you know," she says shortly, looking resentful.

"So where are you from? A shakket, of course, but then how is Kelia a llama guide?" I ask.

"Kelia snuck off when I was young to become a llama trader because she was the one drafted to run this place. When she left the shakket the leaders made me, her younger sister take her place here." Aeve says. I feel sorry for her. Judging by her earlier questions she hasn't been able to visit her family very often.

"Is Kelia okay... she's kind of... cold?" I dare to ask. I immediately regret it as Aeve bursts into tears and tries to talk through her sobs. I can feel the old couple's eyes on my back.

"Ever since right before she was drafted she's been odd and cold - not the same like there's some voice in her head telling her to be the best and the greatest and the wealthiest! She's not Kelia anymore!" Aeve sobs and sobs, and sobs. I awkwardly pat her and make my way outside. Kelia didn't want to take me all the way to spots, she just wanted the gold and then easy wealth, no work included. Has she done this to anyone else before? She might have, but maybe they weren't as lucky as me.

Kelia comes to greet me with the short words, "I got the boats ready." and then she breaks me with some very unwelcome news. "If you pay me two more gold ingots I can take Pint behind the boat, otherwise he has to stay here. No arguments, that's how it works," she says stiffly. It takes a moment to sink in. Pint might be very useful in Spots, but can I really give my last gold ingots to this wealth-craving sold-hearted llama guide of a girl? I fight with myself mentally but eventually manage to force my hand carrying my last gold into hers.

She snatches it up like a starving bird who spots a crab sitting in the middle of an abandoned beach - and then some. I growl to myself and stalk off to get Pint ready - which basically means stroke him a bit and try to calm down. I suppose I should ask Aeve for some provisions since Kelia obviously isn't intending to back inside. But then I realize Kelia has already gotten them from a shed nearby and comes out with bundles of carrots, bread, apples, cakes, and smoked fish for the saddlebags.

"Alright, in the boat," Kelia says firmly, taking Pint's lead from me and tying it to the boat. She has such a dominative personality, not unlike mine, yet somehow I feel she is but a plastic toy. She has no heart, no true personality, and no goal or motivation other than wealth. But still, I hope desperately that there is more to her... or else, well... there is no telling what and when she'll do something for her purposes... that will end permanently.

Author's Note

Wow, I had no idea at all of Kelia's backstory until just now. That is purely spur of the moment pantser writing for you. At first, I thought she might turn out to be really kind and miss her sister and be cold because she's worried about her family - but then I realized just how awesome it would be if she turns out to be a real villainous character.

You just witnessed another character suggestion courtesy of Jack. L. He does not have a Wattpad account, but this chapter should be dedicated to him.

Also, should I do NaNoWriMo this November? It's up to you guys because then I wouldn't be able to update this story nearly as often. I encourage all of you to check NaNoWriMo out, too - it's a great way to get engaged with other young authors and learn how to really get your book out there on Wattpad - or even Amazon! I have a book on Amazon 'Red Sea Explorers' under my great friend Cecilia Tannaci's author page.

Anyway, consider voting if you want, and please leave me some suggestions. Character comps part two are almost open, so that will be epic!

Just Be!