Capturing Caroline by Anya Bast

to her mouth as if she could stop herself
from heaving.
    All of a sudden
she felt like she was going to throw up. “I really feel
sick.”
    The thought
struck her like a slap in the face…was she pregnant? Would morning
sickness happen so soon if she was? With a human pregnancy, she
suspected not…but Torrent wasn’t human.
    "We'll be
okay," he whispered back.
    She turned to
look down the road in front of them. Two huge black gates rose at
the end of the lane. Their little group definitely wasn’t the only
one attempting to gain entrance. The line went at least twenty
carts deep.
    Torrent had
told her before they'd left that there were ways of getting into
Titan without having to pass through Magica gate security. However,
by passing through a set of gates they obtained the Magica's
approval for being the city and would be able to travel without
trouble inside. Because of Torrent’s height, this was necessary. He
would be calling attention to himself once inside and needed that
stamp of approval from the guards. It was a little sleight of hand
that was risky, but could pay off in a major way.
    Her stomach did
another little flip, and she swallowed hard. Now was not the time
to toss her cookies.
    They pulled up
behind a group of sedate men dressed in loose black pants and white
shirts, all of them traveling by foot. From the look of their dirty
and worn boots, they'd come a long way. They all carried dark green
packs on their backs.
    "Good
afternoon, fellow travelers," Jessa greeted them. "Returning from a
sales trip to Yaccabich, I'm betting."
    Most of them
ignored her, but one man found his manners and glanced at her.
"Yes, mistress. It was not a good journey, I'm afraid. We're
returning with most of our wares still in our packs.
    "May I ask what
items you're selling?"
    Oh, now the men
were more interested. A couple of them turned and smiled. The line
moved forward, and her stomach lurched again. Nerves....nerves. She
needed to steady herself.
    "We have the
latest edition of the Magica Compendium, mistress," answered the
first man.
    Caroline knew
from listening to Jessa's continuous lessons about the Magica that
the Compendium was sort of like their Bible. The books contained
all the magick that was legal for the masses to practice, plus all
the rules—and there were many—that pertained to the spells. They
came out with a new compendium every year.
    So these guys
were like traveling Bible salesman. Their garb made more sense now.
They were akin to holy people. That meant they enjoyed a position
of power in Magica culture, no matter how beat up their boots or
how poor they seemed. It also meant they were powerful in the
magical arts. The fact they were in front of them did not ease her
anxiety...or her nausea.
    "Well, you’re
in luck then, my friends!" said Jessa. "We just happen to be in
need of several such volumes, isn't that right?" Jessa turned and
looked Logan, Caroline and Torrent in turn.
    Caroline
blinked, then understood. Jessa was putting all the odds on their
side by buttering up these holy men. Who knew when they might need
a little extra help getting through the gate? Seeming to be friends
with these guys would help them out. Her estimation of Jessa
rose.
    "Oh, yes, we
certainly do," Caroline spoke up. "Why, I, myself, need five. I
haven't purchased my new version yet and I have four family members
who haven't, either. I’ll pick some up for them."
    "We'll take ten
total," said Jessa with a beaming smile. "What luck to have you in
front of us! We have been away from the city for so long and there
were no compendiums available where we were. This is so very
fortunate!"
    The salesmen
were all very friendly now that it looked likely they'd be
unloading some of their wares. The first man fumbled for his pack.
"Most definitely, mistress. Ten it is."
    Jessa pulled
out a wad of money and made the exchange. Once they stacked the ten
thick volumes in the back of the cart, Jessa, Logan and the men
chatted easily